Teks -- Hebrews 12:10 (NET)

12:10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Heb 12:10 - They

They ( hoi men ).

Demonstrative hoi in contrast (men ).

Robertson: Heb 12:10 - Chastened

Chastened ( epaideuon ).

Imperfect active, used to chasten.

Robertson: Heb 12:10 - As seemed good to them

As seemed good to them ( kata to dokoun autois ).

"According to the thing seeming good to them."Dokoun is present active neuter singular articular participle of dokeō .

Robertson: Heb 12:10 - But he

But he ( ho de ).

Demonstrative with de vs. men .

Robertson: Heb 12:10 - For our profit

For our profit ( epi to sumpheron ).

Present active articular neuter singular participle of sumpherō , to bear together as in 1Co 12:7.

Robertson: Heb 12:10 - That we may be partakers

That we may be partakers ( eis to metalabein ).

Articular second aorist active infinitive of metalambanō with eis for purpose, "for the partaking."

Robertson: Heb 12:10 - Of his holiness

Of his holiness ( tēs hagiotētos autou ).

Genitive with metalabein (to share in). Rare word, in N.T. only here and 2Co 1:12.

Vincent: Heb 12:10 - For a few days

Much difficulty and confusion have attached to the interpretation of this verse, growing out of: (a) the relations of the several clauses; (b) the meaning of for a few days , and how much is covered by it. The difficulties have been aggravated by the determination of commentators to treat the verse by itself, confining the relation of its clauses within its own limits, attempting to throw them into pairs, in which attempt none of them have succeeded, and entirely overlooking relations to the preceding verse.

For a few days ( πρὸς ὀλίγας ἡμέρας )

This clause is directly related to be in subjection to the father of spirits and live , and points a contrast. On the one hand, subjection to the Father of spirits, the source of all life, has an eternal significance. Subjection to his fatherly discipline means, not only the everlasting life of the future, but present life, eternal in quality, developed even while the discipline is in progress. Subjection to the Father of spirits and life go together. On the other hand, the discipline of the human father is brief in duration, and its significance is confined to the present life. In other words, the offset to for a few days is in Heb 12:9. To read for a few days into the two latter clauses of the verse which describes the heavenly discipline, and to say that both the chastening of the earthly and of the heavenly father are of brief duration, is to introduce abruptly into a sharp contrast between the two disciplines a point of resemblance. The dominant idea in πρὸς is not mere duration , but duration as related to significance: that is to say, " for a few days" means, during just that space of time in which the chastisement had force and meaning. See, for instances, Luk 8:13; Joh 5:35; 1Th 2:17; 2Co 7:8. The few days can scarcely refer to the whole lifetime, since, even from the ancient point of view of the continuance of parental authority, parental discipline is not applied throughout the lifetime. It signifies rather the brief period of childhood and youth.

Vincent: Heb 12:10 - After their own pleasure

After their own pleasure ( κατὰ τὸ δοκοῦν αὐτοῖς )

Better, as seemed good to them . The αὐτοῖς has a slightly emphatic force, as contrasted with a higher intelligence. The thought links itself with παιδευτὰς in Heb 12:9, and is explained by as seemed good to them , and is placed in contrast with subjection to the Father of spirits. The human parents were shortsighted, fallible, sometimes moved by passion rather than by sound judgment, and, therefore, often mistaken in their disciplinary methods. What seemed good to them was not always best for us . No such possibility of error attaches to the Father of spirits.

Vincent: Heb 12:10 - But he for our profit

But he for our profit ( ὁ δὲ ἐπὶ τὸ συμφέρον )

The contrast is with what is implied in as seemed good to them . The human parent may not have dealt with us to our profit. Συμφέρειν means to bring together: to collect or contribute in order to help: hence, to help or be profitable . Often impersonally, συμφέρει it is expedient , as Mat 5:29; Mat 18:6; Joh 11:50. The neuter participle, as here, advantage , profit , 1Co 12:7; 2Co 12:1. There is a backward reference to live , Heb 12:9, the result of subjection to the Father of spirits; and this is expanded and defined in the final clause, namely:

Vincent: Heb 12:10 - That we might be partakers of his holiness

That we might be partakers of his holiness ( εἰς το μεταλαβεῖν τῆς ἁγιότητος αὐτοῦ )

Lit. unto the partaking of his holiness . Ἑις marks the final purpose of chastening. Holiness is life. Shall we not be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For, in contrast with the temporary, faultful chastening of the human parent, which, at best, prepares for work and success in time and in worldly things, his chastening results in holiness and eternal life.

Wesley: Heb 12:10 - For they verily for a few days

How few are even all our day on earth! Chastened us as they thought good - Though frequently they erred therein, by too much either of indulgence or severity. But he always, unquestionably, for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness - That is, of himself and his glorious image.

JFB: Heb 12:10

Showing wherein the chastisement of our heavenly Father is preferable to that of earthly fathers.

JFB: Heb 12:10 - for a few days

That is, with a view to our well-being in the few days of our earthly life: so the Greek.

JFB: Heb 12:10 - after their own pleasure

Greek, "according to what seemed fit to themselves." Their rule of chastening is what may seem fit to their own often erring judgment, temper, or caprice. The two defects of human education are: (1) the prevalence in it of a view to the interests of our short earthly term of days; (2) the absence in parents of the unerring wisdom of our heavenly Father. "They err much at one time in severity, at another in indulgence [1Sa 3:13; Eph 6:4], and do not so much chasten as THINK they chasten" [BENGEL].

JFB: Heb 12:10 - that we might be partakers of his holiness

Becoming holy as He is holy (Joh 15:2). To become holy like God is tantamount to being educated for passing eternity with God (Heb 12:14; 2Pe 1:4). So this "partaking of God's holiness" stands in contrast to the "few days" of this life, with a view to which earthly fathers generally educate their sons.

Clarke: Heb 12:10 - For - a few days

For - a few days - The chastisement of our earthly parents lasted only a short time; that of our heavenly Father will also be but a short time, if we submit: and as our parents ceased to correct when we learned obedience; so will our heavenly Father when the end for which he sent the chastisement is accomplished. God delights not in the rod; judgment is his strange work.

Calvin: Heb 12:10 - NO PHRASE

10.=== For they verily for a few days, === etc. The second amplification of the subject, as I have said, is that God’s chastisements are appointed to subdue and mortify our flesh, so that we may be renewed for a celestial life. It hence appears that the fruit or benefit is to be perpetual; but such a benefit cannot be expected from men, since their discipline refers to civil life, and therefore properly belongs to the present world. It hence follows that these chastisements bring far greater benefit, as the spiritual holiness conferred by God far exceeds the advantages which belong to the body.

Were any one to object and say, that it is the duty of parents to instruct their children in the fear and worship of God, and that therefore their discipline seems not to be confined to so short a time; to this the answer is, that this is indeed true, but the Apostle speaks here of domestic life, as we are wont commonly to speak of civil government; for though it belongs to magistrates to defend religion, yet we say that their office is confined to the limits of this life, for otherwise the civil and earthly government cannot be distinguished from the spiritual kingdom of Christ.

Moreover when God’s chastisements are said to be profitable to make men partners of his holiness, this is not to be so taken as though they made us really holy, but that they are helps to sanctify us, for by them the Lord exercises us in the work of mortifying the flesh.

TSK: Heb 12:10 - after their own pleasure // but he // partakers

after their own pleasure : or, as seemed good, or meet, to them

but he : Heb 12:5, Heb 12:6

partakers : Lev 11:44, Lev 11:45, Lev 19:2; Psa 17:15; Eze 36:25-27; Eph 4:24, Eph 5:26, Eph 5:27; Col 1:22; Tit 2:14; 1Pe 1:15, 1Pe 1:16, 1Pe 2:5, 1Pe 2:9; 2Pe 1:4

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Heb 12:10 - For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure // But he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure: as God hath his prerogative in paternity, so he hath the transcendency in the end of chastening his children; for our natural parents, fathers of our bodies, nurtured us by the word and rod for a little time, the days of childhood and youth, as they would and thought good, as they apprehended their power over them, arbitrarily, passionately, without reaching what is best for them by it; their own thoughts, whether good or bad, were the rule of their chastening, and such as their thoughts are, such is their end; how imperfect and defective must that be!

But he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness but God, the Father of our spirits, corrects us epi to sumferon , which strictly notes comportation, intimating, that in his chastening his children he brings in his help, puts as it were his shoulder to it, brings in his stock of grace, and so bears together with them unto their advantage and profit in spiritual life, and this during our whole lives. That which he bears home to them, and puts in them by his chastening, is his holiness; of which being made partakers, they thrive mightily as to their spiritual life, and increase in the Divine nature with all the increases of God, Eph 3:13,19 Col 2:19 .

Gill: Heb 12:10 - For they verily for a few days chastened us // after their own pleasure // but he for our profit // that we might be partakers of his holiness

For they verily for a few days chastened us,.... Which respects not the minority of children, during which time they are under the correction of parents, and which is but a few days; nor the short life of parents; but rather the end which parents have in chastening their children, which is their temporal good, and which lasts but for a few days; which sense the opposition in the latter part of the text requires: and this they do

after their own pleasure: not to please and delight themselves in the pains and cries of their children, which would be brutish and inhuman; though corrections are too often given to gratify the passions; nor merely in an arbitrary way, and when they please; but the sense is, they correct as seems good unto them; in the best way and manner; to the best of their judgments, which are fallible:

but he for our profit; saints are no losers by afflictions; they lose nothing but their dross and tin; they do not lose the love of God; nor their interest in the covenant of grace; nor the presence of God; nor grace in their own hearts; nor spiritual peace and comfort: on the contrary, they are real gainers by them; their graces gain by them fresh lustre and glory; they obtain a greater degree of spiritual knowledge; and a larger stock of experience; and are hereby restored to their former state, duty, and zeal; and become more conformable to Christ; yea, their afflictions conduce to their future glory; many are the profits arising from them. The Alexandrian copy reads in the plural number, "profits": particularly God's end in chastening of his children is,

that we might be partakers of his holiness; not the essential holiness of God, which is incommunicable; but a communicative holiness of his, which it is his determining will his people should have: it comes from him, from whom every good and perfect gift does; it is in Christ for them, and is received out of his fulness; and is wrought in them by the Spirit; and it bears a resemblance to the divine nature: now men are naturally destitute of this holiness; they have it not by nature, but by participation; as God's gift; and they first partake of it in regeneration; and here an increase of it is designed, a gradual participation of it; and it may include perfect holiness in heaven: afflictions are designed as means to bring persons to this end; to bring them to a sense of sin, an acknowledgment of it, an aversion to it, and to a view of pardon of it; to purge it away; to wean the saints from this world; to increase their grace, and lead them on to a perfect state of glory, where there will be no more sin, and no more sorrow.