Philippians and Philemon - MR Vincent - 1906.pdf

III. 5] A HEBREW OF HEBREWS 97
nation habitually called itself was ' Israel ' or ' the Children of
Israel.' In the N.T.'appears in Acts vi. i, where the
native Palestinian Jewish-Christians are distinguished from the
Hellenists or Greek-speaking Jews. This distinction marks a difference
of language. The O.T. does not know the word ' Hebrew
with reference to language. The old Hebrew is called ' the language
of Canaan' (Is. xix. 18), indicating the close relationship
of this Semitic tongue with that of the Canaanites, especially the
Phoenicians. In the Apocr. and N.T. the term ' Hebrew ' is used
almost exclusively of the Aramaic vernacular. (See Jn. v. 2, xix.
13, 17, 20; Acts xxi. 40, xxii. 2, xxvi. 14.) Here the term
expresses the difference of language. Though a Hellenist, Paul
was trained in the use of the Hebrew tongue by Hebrew-speaking
parents. Though born outside of the Holy Land, yet as a child
of Hebrew ancestors, and 'the son of Pharisees' (Acts xxiii. 6),
in speech and habits of life he remained aUied to the people of
Palestine. He might have been an Israelite and not a Hebrew
speaker; but he emphasises the fact that he
Israelite and one who used the language of his
was both a
forefathers.
true
He
was trained under a Hebrew teacher at Jerusalem (Acts xxii. 3) ;
he spoke Hebrew, i.e. Aramaic (Acts xxi. 40, xxii. 2) ; and he
quotes often from the Hebrew Scriptures. (See Riehm. Handw.
des bibl. Alterthutns, sub " Eber " and " Hebraer " ; Trench, Syn.
xxxix.)
Similar expressions, denoting position or character as resting upon birth
from parents of like position and character, are common in class. (See
Aristoph. J^an. 730; Soph. Elect. 589; Philoc. 384; Eur. Ale. 677; Hdt.
ii. 143, etc.)
These four specifications of inherited privilege are summed up
by Paul in Gal. ii. 15. Matheson, Spiritual Development 0/ St. Paul,
remarks that a man trained under such influences must, on every
side, have been repelled by the spectacle of the cross of Jesus.
He was required to accept him precisely at the point where his
national characteristics were assailed (pp. 36, 37).
He now passes to advantages of a distinctly personal character,
relating to his theological and ecclesiastical position.
:
' as touching the law a Pharisee.' (Comp.
Acts xxii. 3, xxiii. 6, xxvi. 5.)
: The Mosaic law, the standing authority of which was the
principle on which the Judaisers insisted. This is confirmed by
,Acts xxvi. 5 ; by the allusions here to concision and circumcision,
and also by the fact that in all the words connected
with in vs. 5, there is an immediate reference to the Jewish
race and ideas. Moreover,..iv . corresponds with
'