HEB. XII, 1, 2 by J. H. Waggoner

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 4, 1869

By J. H. Waggoner

THERE are two expressions in these verses which are very often misapprehended.

1. “We also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.” This is frequently urged as an incentive to duty, in that “so great a cloud of witnesses” are beholding our actions; but this is not the sense of the text. These witnesses are not beholders, but testifiers, who, as in chap. xi, have left their testimony on record to the power of faith. As witnesses are brought into court, not to behold the proceedings, but to testify to the truth.

The Greek word μαρτυρ, (martur,) is defined, “a witness; one who bears testimony;” and has this signification only, in all its forms. Those who died for the word of God were, pre-eminently, called marturs, or witnesses, because they were willing to testify to the faith of Jesus to the loss of their lives.

The excellent hymn, commencing thus:

“Awake, my soul! stretch every nerve,”

has this misapprehension incorporated in it, in the lines,

“A cloud of witnesses around Hold thee in full survey.”

2. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” From this it is inferred that Jesus finishes our faith, by putting an end to it in bringing the realization of its object. The Greek τελειωτης, is used in this form in no other text. It is defined, “A finisher, perfecter, one who completes and perfects anything.” Hence, this scripture does not teach that Jesus terminates our faith, but that he both originates and perfects it, or carries it on to completeness. It recognizes a progression in faith, and teaches us to look to Jesus, who is the author and perfecter of faith, for help and assurance when our faith is tried by chastisement or afflictions.

J. H. WAGGONER.

HEB. XII, 1, 2.