Hebrews 6:13–20

Having boldly reflected on the faults of the Hebrews, and sufficiently alarmed them, he consoles them, first, by praises, and secondly (which also is the stronger ground), by the thought that they would certainly attain the object of their hope. Moreover he draws his consolation, not from things future, but again from the past, which indeed would the rather persuade them. For as in the case of punishment, he alarms them rather by those things future, so also in the case of the prizes set before them, he encourages them by these things past, showing herein God's way of dealing. And that is, not to bring in what has been promised immediately, but after a long time. And this He does, both to present the greatest proof of His power, and also to lead us to Faith, that they who are living in tribulation without having received the promises, or the rewards, may not faint under their troubles.

And omitting all the rest, though he had many whom he might have mentioned, he brought forward Abraham both on account of the dignity of his person, and because this had occurred in a special way in his case.

And yet at the end of the Epistle he says, that "all these, having seen the promises afar off, and having embraced them, received them not, that they without us should not be made perfect." "For when God made promise to Abraham" (he says) "because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise." How then does he say at the end of the Epistle that "he received not the promises," and here, that "after he had patiently endured he obtained the promise"? How did he not receive? How did he obtain? He is not speaking of the same things in this place and in the other, but makes the consolation twofold. God made promises to Abraham, and after a long space of time He gave the things spoken of in this place, but those others not yet.

"And so after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise." Seest thou that the promise alone did not effect the whole, but the patient waiting as well? Here he alarms them, showing that oftentimes a promise is thwarted through faintheartedness. And this he had indeed shown through the instance of the Jewish people: for since they were faint-hearted, therefore they obtained not the promise. But now he shows the contrary by means of Abraham. Afterwards near the end of the Epistle he proves something more also: that even though they had patiently endured, they did not obtain; and yet not even so are they grieved.

Of those who through faith inherited the promises, many have died, but they were kept safe for others; he only remembers Abraham, both because of the dignity of his person and because he especially was deemed worthy and attained the promises. And through this, he shows that one should not be faint-hearted, but should wait for God, having the habit not to hastily bring about the promised things, but through a long time. "He swore by Himself." When did God swear by himself? In those very words, in which he says, "By myself I have sworn." (Gen. 22:16) Perhaps also the word "Amen" could be considered a divine oath; for "Amen," truly "Amen," signifies nothing else but a confirmation of the truth; and what else could truth be but God? Therefore, when you see Christ saying, "Amen, amen, I say to you," understand that he swears by having no one greater than himself, and the "Amen" is an oath, just as the Father also swears. Yet some have thought that the Son swears to Abraham; for the Word swears, "Amen, I will bless you." For Scripture says that the angel spoke to Abraham. But nowhere do they say that the Father is an angel, but the Son is the angel of the great counsel.

As God has no one superior to him (he is saying), his oath was witness; he swore by himself, in fact.

Since there were many who inherited the promises by faith, he has for now passed over all the rest, leaving them for later, and recalls only Abraham, both because of the importance of his person, and especially because he both was deemed worthy of and received the promise. And by this he also shows that one must not give in to faintheartedness, but hope in God, Who customarily does not fulfill a promise quickly, but after a long time. And when did God "swear by Himself"? Either in the very words in which He says: "I have sworn by Myself." Or perhaps someone might say that in the word "truly" is contained God's oath by Himself; for "truly" means "in truth." This is nothing other than an affirmation of truth; but who can truth be other than God? So too the Lord in the Gospel, saying: "Truly, truly, I say to you" (e.g., John 6 and others), swears with this very same oath; He swears by Himself, just as the Father does, since He has no one higher by whom to swear. However, some have thought that the Son Himself was the one then conversing with Abraham; for Scripture says: "the Angel said to Abraham" (Gen. 18). But in no way, they say, could the Father be an Angel, but the Son is the Angel of great counsel.

311. – Above, the Apostle showed why he had confidence in them, namely, because of the good they performed; here he shows the same because of the promise made to the Patriarchs. Hence, he does two things: first, he mentions the promise; secondly, he assigns the reason for what he says (v. 16). In regard to the first he does three things: first, he shows to whom the promise was made; secondly, he shows that the way the promise was given was suitable (v. 13b); thirdly, the effect of the promise (v. 15).

312. – When God made a promise to Abraham: 'To Abraham were the promises made and to his seed' (Gal. 3:16). The reason for this is that by faith we adhere to God; consequently, by faith we obtain the promise. For the first example of faith was found in Abraham, and this because he was the first to withdraw from associating with unbelievers: 'Go forth out of your country, and from your kindred, and out of your father's house' (Gen. 12:1); secondly, because he was the first to believe something above nature: 'Who against hope believed in hope' (Rom. 4:18). Hence, Gen. (15:6): 'Abraham believed God and it was reputed to him unto justice.' For he was the first to receive the seal of faith, namely, circumcision (Rom. 4:11).

313. – The manner in which the promise was suitable for two reasons: first, because of the oath; secondly, by reason of the words of the promise (v. 14).

314. – He says, therefore: God, wishing to show that His promise is firm and stable, since he had no one greater by whom to swear: 'The Lord is high above all nations' (Ps. 112:4), swore by himself: 'By my own self have I sworn, says the Lord' (Gen. 22:16). In this you have an example that an oath is not of itself unlawful, because the Scripture does not attribute to God anything which of itself is a sin. For Scripture intends to direct and lead us to God: 'Be you followers of God, as most dear children' (Eph. 5:1). Nevertheless, frequent swearing is forbidden: 'Let not your mouth be accustomed to swearing' (Sir. 23:9), and so are oaths taken in vain: 'You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain' (Ex. 20:7).

315. – Then (v. 14) he shows the manner in which the promise was made. As if to say: Do not believe me, unless I bless you. A blessing refers to bestowing benefits: 'The blessing of the Lord makes men rich' (Pr. 10:22); I will multiply you, which pertains to numerous offspring. Both promises were made to Abraham, as is clear from Gen. (14 & 15). But he repeats the words, blessing, I will bless, in order to designate both temporal and spiritual goods, and the continuance of his blessing. Or, 'blessing I will bless' in the multitude of holy offspring, which is designated by the stars of heaven: 'Look up to heaven and number the stars if you can. And he said unto him: So shall your seed be' (Gen. 15:5). And multiplying, I will multiply in the number of evil and perverse children, which are designated by the sands of the seashore. Or I will bless you in the good things of grace and multiply you in the good things of glory: 'How great is the multitude of your sweetness, O Lord' (Ps. 30:20).

"And so, having patiently." You see that the patience of Abraham accomplished something? He said that by being patient he obtained the promise, in order to show the great power of patience, and that it was not the promise alone that accomplished everything; but also patience. "he attained the promise." And yet in the end, it says that all these, having seen them from afar and embraced them, did not receive the promises, so that they would not be made perfect apart from us. How then does he say here, "he attained the promise?" And we say, he did not speak about the same things. For the things here he has given to him, concerning which he now spoke, but those there, he keeps, concerning which he says at the end of the Epistle, "And the end of all their opposition." (Heb. 12:3) And the end of all opposition and dispute to confirm the things spoken by him is the oath. Both, however, the obtaining and the not yet obtaining, serve as encouragement to the faint-hearted; the one, that we also, if we endure patiently, will obtain; the other, that, since he has not yet obtained it, though perfected many years ago, we who are still struggling are not foolish because we have not yet obtained it.

Yet though making a promise and doing it with an oath, he did not immediately fulfill the promise; instead, the patriarch needed great patience, and only with the passage of a great length of time did he thus see the realization of the promise.

In what way does he say at the end of the epistle that they "saw them only from afar" and "rejoiced" at the fulfillment of the promises (Heb. 11:13), yet now says that Abraham "received what was promised"? He is not speaking of the same thing here and there; rather, here he speaks of earthly promises, which Abraham received after a long time, while there he speaks of heavenly ones, which he had not yet received. Nevertheless, both—what he received and what he had not yet received—serve as consolation for the fainthearted: the one because we too shall receive if we show patience, the other because if the one who attained perfection so many years before has not yet received, then we are exceedingly foolish to be indignant that we have not yet received. Notice how he said "having patiently endured, he received what was promised," in order to show the great power of patience, and that the promise alone did not accomplish everything, but patience as well. Here he also instills fear in them, making clear by way of the opposite that faintheartedness hinders the fulfillment of the promise. And this is what happened in the wilderness with the ancient people, who grew fainthearted and utterly failed to receive the promise. So then, someone may ask: why did the saints, having endured long, not receive, as it says at the end of the epistle? They will certainly receive. But the murmurers among the people neither received nor will receive.

316. – The effect of the promise was that Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. For patient endurance consists not only in doing something great, but also in waiting a long time. But Abraham had the promise, although he never possessed the pace of a foot of land, as it says in Ac (7:5); furthermore, even until his old age he possessed no offspring. But he still kept his hope: 'Take, my brethren, for an example of suffering evil, of labor and patience, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord' (Jas. 5:10); 'Look unto Abraham your father and to Sarah that bore you' (Is. 51:2).

A promissory oath is made for preserving fidelity, and this is done in three ways, namely for restraining malice, for settling controversy, and for clearing away infamy. First, it is made for restraining malice, so that a man may neither deny the true nor affirm the false; and this is the reason for the usefulness of the oath. Second, it is made for settling controversy. Whence the Apostle says to the Hebrews: "The end of all controversy is an oath." Third, it is made for clearing away infamy.

"For men verily swear by the greater, and an Oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. But God because He could swear by no greater, sware by Himself." Well, who then is He that sware unto Abraham? Is it not the Son? No, one says. Certainly indeed it was He: however, I shall not dispute thereon. So when He the Son sweareth the same oath, "Verily, verily, I say unto you," is it not plain that it was because He could not swear by any greater? For as the Father sware, so also the Son sweareth by Himself, saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto you." He here reminds them also of the oaths of Christ, which He was constantly uttering. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, he that believeth on Me shall never die."

What is, "And an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife"? It is instead of, "by this every doubtful question is solved": not this, or this, but every one.

"an end of all dispute." And the conclusion of all contradiction and dispute to confirm what is said is the oath. For indeed many things are spoken and disputed on each side; but the oath, coming last and confirming, resolves all doubts.

That is, an oath resolves the dispute in every contradiction. For much is said and objected in argument from both sides, but the oath, being the final word and confirming, resolves everything that is doubtful.

317. – Then when he says, Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, he states the reason for the foregoing. In regard to this he does three things: first, he mentions a human custom; secondly, the reason behind the custom; thirdly, the fruit of the promise (v. 18).

318. – Two human customs are mentioned: one in regard to that by which one swears; the other in regard to the effect of an oath: in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. Now that by which one swears is greater, and reasonably so. For swearing is nothing more than settling a doubt. Therefore, just as in the sciences nothing is settled except by something more certain, so, because nothing is more certain with men than God, one swears by Him, as by something greater and more certain.

319. – But sometimes one swears by the Son, Who is less; as when one says, 'by Christ' or by the creature, as Joseph swore by the health of Pharaoh (Gen. 42:16). I answer that there are two ways of swearing by God: one is by a simple attestation, as when one says, 'By God, it is so.' As if to say: God is my witness that it is as I say: 'For God is my witness, who I serve in spirit' (Rom. 1:9). Another way is by execration, which occurs when something, such as the head of the soul or something of that sort, is offered unto God for vengeance, if it is not so. This is the way the Apostle swore in 2 Cor (1:23): 'But I call God to witness upon my soul.' As if to say: I offer my soul as witness, for which I take God's name. And this is very solemn. But one swears by a creature not as such, but inasmuch as some sign of God's power is resplendent in it. For since all power is from God (Rom. 13:1), then, inasmuch as someone exercises power over a group, if he swears by it, he swears by God, Whose power is reflected in it. This is the way Joseph swore by the health of Pharaoh. This, therefore, is what he says, Men swear by one greater than themselves.

320. – But it should be noted that those who are otherwise known as perjurers must be kept from taking oaths, because the greatest reverence should be shown an oath, and from their past actions it is presumed that they will not show an oath proper reverence. Likewise, children should not be compelled to take an oath before the years of puberty, because they do not yet have perfect use of reason to know what reverence must be paid an oath. Also persons of high stations; because an oath is required of those about whose words or actions there is doubt. But it detracts from persons of high station, when one doubts the truth of what they say. Hence, in the Decretals (q. 2, ch. 4) it says that a priest should not take an oath for some slight cause. But the causes in which it is lawful to swear are the following: for strengthening peace, as Laban swore (Gen. 31:48); secondly, for preserving one's good name; thirdly, for pledging fealty, as vassals swore to their lord; fourthly, for having obedience fulfilled, if something honorable is commanded by a superior; fifthly, for obtaining security; sixthly, for attesting to a truth, which is the way the Apostle swore: 'God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit' (Rom. 1:9).

321. – Then when he says, and an oath is final for confirmation, he mentions the effect of an oath, which is to put an end to all controversy. For just as in the sciences one stops when he has reduced his proof to the first principles, so is the divine law, when one comes to the first truth, he stops and this is the time, when the first truth is invoked as a witness: 'The master of the house shall be brought to the gods and he shall swear' (Ex. 22:8). Thus all questions and all controversies are settled.

"Through this" oath "God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise" that God's promise, because indeed it is God's, will never be changed. God's oath was infallible in its being interposed, that is, between God, the angel and Abraham.

God, however, ought to have been believed even without an oath: "wherein" (he says) "God willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath." In these words he comprehends also the believers, and therefore mentions this "promise" which was made to us in common with them. "He mediated" (he says) "by an oath." Here again he says that the Son was mediator between men and God.

It was necessary, therefore, he says, to believe in God who had promised without an oath, but since God wanted to do something more, he mediated the promise by an oath. "to show the firmness of His counsel." He also came to us. For we are the heirs of the promise, being the seed of Abraham; and if we are the seed, then we are also heirs. "He mediated with an oath." See what he prepares. That the Son was thereafter the mediator of God and men (for he has also become a mediator in the incarnation); and then he mediated with the Father and with Abraham, confirming him with an oath; for the Word was he who both spoke to Abraham and swore. The meaning of the interpretation is well-founded, so that it may be thus. God, that is, the Word, wanting to show the unchangeable nature of those glorifying the Father, mediated with the Father and with Abraham with an oath, that is, he became a mediator in the oath. For through him, as the Word, God and the Father swore.

When he said above, "the full assurance of the hope," he made clear that God furnished to Abraham "full assurance," not that which belonged to his conduct through works but that which belonged to him through God's redemptive plan.

That is, precisely because an oath gives people full assurance, God also swears. Or, "therefore," instead of: in that He swore, he says, God by Himself, He abundantly proved to us that He will in every way and immutably fulfill what He promised. For although God ought to have been believed even without an oath, nevertheless He condescends for our sake and looks not to His own dignity, but, in order to convince us, permits unworthy things to be said about Himself. For we who are faithful, blessed in his seed, which is Christ, are heirs of the promise. See how even then he says that the Son is the mediator between God and men. For by Himself, as the Word, God and Father swore.

322. – Then when he says, So when God desired to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his purpose, he interposed an oath, he states the reason why God willed to swear, namely, to show the immutability of His promise. Hence, he says, wherein, i.e., by the fact that He interposed an oath, desiring more abundantly to show; for it was abundant that He promised, but more abundant that He swore, desiring, I say, to show to the heirs of the promise, i.e., of the thing promised: 'They that are the children of the promise are accounted for the seed' (Rom. 9:8), to show, I say, the immutability of his purpose. It should be noted in regard to things which proceed from God that two things must be considered, namely, the coming-forth of things and God's counsel by which such a coming-forth is caused. God's counsel is absolutely unchangeable: 'My counsel shall stand and all my will shall be done' (Is. 46:10). But the disposition is quite changeable, for the Lord sometimes announces something according as the order and coming-forth of things requires, as in Is (38:1) 'Take order with your house, for you shall die and not live'; for the cause of his sickness was such that he should die from it. Also in Jonah (3:4): 'Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be destroyed', because it had deserved destruction: 'I will suddenly speak against a nation and a kingdom, to root out, to pull down and to destroy it. If that nation against which I have spoken shall repent of their evil, I also will repent of the evil I have thought to do to them' (Jer. 18:7). In this case the prophecy is a threat. But sometimes something is announced according to God's eternal counsel, and in that case God never repents or retracts it: 'But the triumpher in Israel will not spare, and will not be moved to repentance' (1 Sam. 15:29). Yet it should be noted that whenever God promises something under oath, it is a prophecy of predestination which reveals God's plan. Such a promise is absolutely unchangeable.

Through Moses God gave commandments about sacrifices, and the whole book of Leviticus is taken up with acceptable ways for them to be carried out. The Lord, through the prophets, found fault with those who contemptuously misstated these things, calling them disobedient to the commandment. He told them, "I have not asked you to do these things!… Neither did I speak to your fathers about sacrifices, nor give them commands about whole burnt offerings."Some have put forth the opinion that either the Scriptures do not agree or that God, who gave the commandment, is a liar. But in this there can be no disagreement—far from it. The Father, who is truth, cannot lie, "for it is impossible for God to lie," as Paul affirms. Actually, these things are plain to those who accept the writings of the law with faith and look at them in the right way. Here is my explanation, and may God grant by your prayers that I am not too far from the truth. It does not appear to me that God gave the commandments and the law concerning sacrifices right away when he led them out of Egypt. Nor did he who gave the law really pay any attention to the whole burnt offerings, as such. He was looking ahead to those things that were prefigured and pointed out by them. "For the law has but a shadow of the good things to come." And "Those regulations were set forth until the time of reformation."9 That is why the whole law did not deal with sacrifices, although it did include commands concerning them. By means of these commands it began to teach people, calling them away from idols and drawing them to God, giving them proper teaching for the times in which they lived. So you see, God did not give the people those commands about sacrifices and offerings when he brought them out of Egypt, nor even when they first came to Mount Sinai. God is not like people, that he should want those things for himself. No, he gave the commandment so that they might know him and his Word (the Son)—and forget about those so-called gods that do not really exist but appear to do so because of the show people put on.

The second disposition for the inflowing of the gift of fortitude is through the imperturbable consolation of hope. Hence the Apostle to the Hebrews: "We have the strongest consolation, we who have fled to hold fast the hope set before us."

With this hope, then, let us attach ourselves to the one who is faithful to promises and just in judgments. The one who bids us to refrain from lying is all the less likely to lie. For nothing is impossible to God, save lying.

"Through two unchangeable things" … the former is that he swore by himself. The latter is that David said, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, that you are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." It is by this means that we who have been made coheirs of his promise "might have strong encouragement." We "have fled for refuge" in order to protect ourselves, not for God's justice, in order that God may draw and drive us away from the evils of this world, and may open for us the way "into the inner shrine behind the curtain." We do not go in first. We do not go into the shrine of the tabernacle, where Moses went, but into the inner shrine in heaven, "where Jesus has gone as a forerunner, having become a high priest forever," not in order to offer the victims of sacrifices, like Aaron, but to offer the word for all nations, like Melchizedek.

"That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible that God should lie." What are these two? The speaking and promising; and the adding an oath to the promise. For since among men that which is confirmed by an oath is thought more worthy of credit, on this account He added that also.

Seest thou that He regardeth not His own dignity, but how He may persuade men, and endures to have unworthy things said concerning Himself. That is He wishes to impart full assurance. And in the case of Abraham indeed the Apostle shows that the whole was of God, not of his patient endurance, since He was even willing to add an oath, for He by whom men swear, by Him also God "sware," that is "by Himself." They indeed as by one greater, but He not as by one greater. And yet He did it. For it is not the same thing for man to swear by himself, as for God. For man has no power over himself. Thou seest then that this is said not more for Abraham than for ourselves: "that we" (he says) "might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us." Here too again, "after he had patiently endured he obtained the promise."

"Now" he means, and he did not say "when He swore." But what the oath is, he showed, by speaking of swearing by a greater. But since the race of men is hard of belief, He condescends to the same things with ourselves. As then for our sake He swears, although it be unworthy of Him that He should not be believed, so also did the Apostle make that other statement "He learned from the things which He suffered," because men think the going through experience more worthy of reliance.

What is "the hope set before us"? From these past events (he says) we conjecture the future. For if these came to pass after so long a time, so certainly the others will. So that the things which happened in regard to Abraham give us confidence also concerning the things to come.

"that by two unchangeable things." Two things, both that God has promised, and that He has added an oath to the promise. For since among men the oath seems more trustworthy, on account of this He also added it Himself. "In which it is impossible." In which, instead of "from which," from these two things, the promise is shown to be most trustworthy, and it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, just as He swore by us (although it is unworthy of Him to swear), so also understand the "from which" He learned what He suffered. For men also consider it more credible to come through experience. "we might have a strong encouragement," That is, a great exhortation and urging. "who have fled." To him, he says. "to hold," let us have strong encouragementto lay hold to the hope set before us. From those, he says, that were said to Abraham, let us be faithful also to the things to come, and to the kingdom of heaven. For this is our hope, which now is set before us in expectation, but then will be realized, as it was said; From those things, this will be understood. There it was made true, that in these things we may believe. And that for this reason he swore then, that now we may believe concerning the things to come. For there was nothing else, he says, and the things then promised with oaths, or the future hope of the faithful.

"Through two unchangeable things," namely, that God would never be able to lie about what had been promised and that he made the promise with an oath.

What kind and what kind? Both by the fact that He simply spoke and promised, and by the fact that He joined an oath to the promise. Since among people that which is confirmed with an oath is considered more trustworthy, God also joined one. "In which," instead of "from them" — from these two things the promise is most trustworthy, and "it is impossible for God to lie." Therefore, just as He swore for our sake, even though it is unworthy of Him to swear, so also understand that He "learned from the things which He suffered" (Heb. 5:8). For people also consider more trustworthy that which is known from experience.

That is, great consolation and encouragement. This is said not so much in relation to Abraham as in relation to us who have fled to Him, that is, who have placed our hope in Him. In what then do we have encouragement? In holding fast to "the hope set before us": that is, that we, on the basis of what was given to Abraham, would be convinced also regarding the promises concerning us, and would not doubt regarding the future and heavenly blessings for which we hope; on the contrary, that we would firmly and securely hold fast to this hope and not lose it. For the promise to Abraham is a promise to us as well, and preeminently to us who have believed in Christ, as was said above.

323. – Then (v.18) he shows the fruit of the promise: first, he shows what that fruit is; secondly, what follows upon it (v. 19).

324. – The fruit, of course, is that our hope is certain; hence, he says, that we might have strong, i.e., firm, encouragement of hope, by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should be false, namely, by God who promises and does not lie: 'God is not a man that he should lie' (Num. 23:19) and by the oath in which there is a stronger confirmation of the truth. But it should be noted that just as sensual delight is a sense experience and memory of the past, so hope is of the future: 'None that trust in him shall fail in strength' (1 Mac 2:61); 'They that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength, and they shall take wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint' (Is. 40:31). We may have, I say, we who have fled for refuge from the evils of the world and the onslaught of the enemy, to seize the hope set before us: 'Lord, you have been my refuge' (Ps. 89:11); 'The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the just runs to it and shall be exalted' (Pr. 18:10).

"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil." He shows, that while we are still in the world, and not yet departed from this life, we are already among the promises. For through hope we are already in heaven. He said, "Wait; for it shall surely be." Afterwards giving them full assurance, he says, "nay rather by hope." And he said not, "We are within," but "It hath entered within," which was more true and more persuasive. For as the anchor, dropped from the vessel, does not allow it to be carried about, even if ten thousand winds agitate it, but being depended upon makes it steady, so also does hope.

And see how very suitable an image he has discovered: For he said not, Foundation; which was not suitable; but, "Anchor." For that which is on the tossing sea, and seems not to be very firmly fixed, stands on the water as upon land, and is shaken and yet is not shaken. For in regard to those who are very firm, and philosophic, Christ with good reason made that statement, saying, "Whosoever hath built his house on a rock." But in respect of those who are giving way, and who ought to be carried through by hope, Paul hath suitably set down this. For the surge and the great storm toss the boat; but hope suffers it not to be carried hither and thither, although winds innumerable agitate it: so that, unless we had this hope we should long ago have been sunk. Nor is it only in things spiritual, but also in the affairs of this life, that one may find the power of hope great. Whatever it may be, in merchandise, in husbandry, in a military expedition, unless one sets this before him, he would not even touch the work. But he said not simply "Anchor," but "sure and steadfast," that is not shaken. "Which entereth into that within the veil"; instead of "which reacheth through even to heaven."

"we have as an anchor," which stabilizes the wavering ships, and hope makes those who are shaken by temptations brave, committed, and patient. "safe and committed." Not simply an anchor, but also safe and secure. For there is an anchor that does not keep the ship unshaken when it is smaller than it ought to be. "which enters." In order that, he says, while we are still here, hope may enter into the kingdom of heaven, that is, so that we may already be in our hopes. See what hope does. It anticipates what is to come. "enters into the inner sanctuary behind the curtain." The inner part of the curtain is called heaven.

Keep fast hold upon the hope that Christ cannot lie, according to Paul's counsel to us, "To lay hold of the hope which is promised to us; which we have as an anchor fixed in our soul that it may not be moved." For as the anchor which is cast down into the sea by its weight holdeth fast and restraineth the ship in the waves that it may not wander and drift away out of its proper course, so also is the hope which is promised to us in heaven, and which is the hidden anchor which is set above us, and is sunk and hidden from us in the heaven of heavens; let us make fast our minds to it, and let us fasten the ship of our soul thereto that it may not shift about and be disturbed by the storms and waves of the world which beat upon it, and drift out of its proper course. In spite of the things which thou hearest abide thou in thy simplicity, and let not those who speak against thee change thee and make thee to become like unto them.

By "curtain" he referred to heaven: the Lord promised to give the kingdom of heaven to those believing in him.

We have this hope as an anchor. For just as an anchor gives stability to ships during a storm, so too hope makes firm and patient those who waver under the influence of temptations. He did not simply say "anchor," but "sure and steadfast." For there is an anchor that does not preserve the stability of a ship, either when it is damaged or when it is too light. Quite rightly he recalled not a foundation, but an anchor: because a foundation applies to people who are very firm and wise, whereas an anchor applies to those undergoing a storm, which is what they were, being buffeted by temptations.

Above he said: hope, for what we hope for will come to pass. Now, assuring more perfectly, he says that we already possess this in hope. For hope, having entered within heaven, has brought it about that we are already at the promised blessings, even though we are still on earth, even though we have not yet received them. Such power does hope have, that it makes the earthly into the heavenly. But just as in the Old Testament the veil separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the tabernacle, so too heaven is for us a veil separating the earthly from the most divine and supraheavenly.

325. – Then when he says, we have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, he shows that faith will obtain that promise; and he makes use of a simile. For he compares hope to an anchor, which just as it secures a ship in the sea, so hope secures the soul in God in this world, which is, as it were, a kind of sea: 'So is this great sea, which stretches wide its arms' (Ps. 103:25); hence, it is made of iron: 'I know whom I have believed and I am certain' (2 Tim. 1:12). Also it should be firm, so that it is not easily removed from the ship; thus a man should be held fast to that hope as an anchor. And hope is that the anchor is fixed to a low place, but hope is fixed in the highest, namely, to God. For nothing in the present life is so firm that the soul could be secure and at rest; hence, it says in Gen. (8:8) that the dove found no place where her foot might rest. And, therefore, he says that this hope should enter into the inner shrine behind the veil. For the Apostle understands the present condition of the Church by the holy things that were in the tabernacle; but by the holy of holies, which was separated from the saints by a veil, he understands the state of future glory. Therefore, he wills that the anchor of our hope be fixed in that which is now veiled from our eyes: 'The eye has not seen, O God, besides thee, what things you have prepared for them that wait for you' (Is. 64:4); 'How great is the multitude of your sweetness, O Lord, which you have hidden for them that fear you!' (Ps. 30:20).

I speak of those heavens from which we expect the Lord will come, who will transform us from corruption to incorruption, and take us up where He himself has entered before us. For this also he says elsewhere: The forerunner himself hath for us entered.

Then after this he led on to Faith also, that there might not only be hope, but a very true hope. For after the oath he lays down another thing too, even proof by facts, because "the forerunner is for us entered in, even Jesus." But a forerunner is a forerunner of some one, as John was of Christ.

Now he did not simply say, "He is entered in," but "where He is entered in a forerunner for us," as though we also ought to attain. For there is no great interval between the forerunner and those who follow: otherwise he would not be a forerunner; for the forerunner and those who follow ought to be in the same road, and to arrive after each other.

"Being made an High Priest forever after the order," he says, "of Melchisedec." Here is also another consolation, if our High Priest is on high, and far better than those among the Jews, not in the kind of Priesthood only, but also in the place, and the tabernacle, and the covenant, and the person. And this also is spoken according to the flesh.

Those then, whose High Priest He is, ought to be greatly superior. And as great as the difference is between Aaron and Christ, so great should it be between us and the Jews. For see, we have our victim on high, our priest on high, our sacrifice on high: let us bring such sacrifices as can be offered on that altar, no longer sheep and oxen, no longer blood and fat. All these things have been done away; and there has been brought in their stead "the reasonable service." But what is "the reasonable service"? The offerings made through the soul; those made through the spirit. ("God," it is said, "is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth"); things which have no need of a body, no need of instruments, nor of special places, whereof each one is himself the Priest, such as, moderation, temperance, mercifulness, enduring ill-treatment, long-suffering, humbleness of mind.

"where Jesus has entered as a forerunner on our behalf." Having said that our hope enters into heaven, he confirms what has been said, trusting this by the facts. For Christ himself entered there; and not only did he enter, but he entered on our behalf. And where our forerunner has entered, there it is necessary for us also to enter. For the forerunner is the forerunner of those who follow; and the difference between the forerunner and those who follow is not very great, just as between John and Christ. Do not be disturbed, then; as long as we have not yet entered, we will enter where our forerunner is. The "on our behalf" is extended so that he may be called our forerunner. The fact that he entered in the flesh is on our behalf, so that we also, having flesh, may obtain entrance. "Having become a high priest." And this is a great encouragement, if indeed our high priest is above and much better than those among the Jews; first, in manner; for he is not according to their order, but according to the order of Melchizedek; then, in place and tabernacle; for he is above and in heaven; third, in the covenant; for it is upon greater and more perfect promises; likewise, in permanence; for he is eternal, and not temporary; lastly, in person; for he is the Son of God. Therefore, do not lose heart. And well is the term "having become," because it was according to the flesh that he became a high priest.

Paul added that "Christ" has become "an eternal high priest" for us, in that Christ leads all those believing through him in each generation to God based on the hope of the resurrection.

He augmented their confidence with the name forerunner: if he is our forerunner and has gone up for us, we too must follow and be granted ascent.

He is a high priest forever, not in offering sacrifices (having offered his own body once), but in being a mediator leading the believers to the Father; through him (he says, remember) we both have had access to the Father. The Lord himself says in the sacred Gospels, "No one comes to the Father except through me." We must be aware, of course, that the divine apostle made mention of the oaths sworn to Abraham so that the unchanging character of the divine will should be brought out; it endures in advance the stability of high priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek, the oath being linked to the word at this place.

Having said that our hope ascends to heaven, he confirms what was said by attesting it with deeds. For He too, Christ, entered; and not simply entered, but entered as a forerunner, that is, as if persuading us that we too must enter. For a forerunner goes ahead of someone following after him, and the distance between the forerunner and those following after him is not great at all, just as between John and Christ. Therefore do not be troubled: soon we too shall enter there, where our forerunner is. But he was not satisfied with saying "forerunner," but added also "for us," for greater persuasiveness, as if saying: He Himself had no need to enter there, for why would He, when He is God? But just as He assumed flesh for our sake, so too for our sake He entered within heaven, in order to open the way for us. Therefore we ourselves shall necessarily enter as well. Or the expression "for us" means: to intercede for us before the Father, just as the high priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year, praying for the people.

And this is the greatest consolation: if our High Priest is in heaven, then He is also far superior to the Jewish high priests, namely: in the manner of appointment, for He is not after the order of those, but "after the order of Melchizedek"; and in place and tabernacle, for He is on the mountain and in heaven; in covenant, for it concerns greater and more perfect blessings; and in permanence, for He is eternal, not temporary; and finally, in person, for He is the Son of God. Therefore do not lose heart. But all this is said of Christ according to the flesh, for according to the flesh He also became High Priest.

325 (cont.). – This, our forerunner, who has entered there, has fixed there; hence, it says in Jn (14:2): 'I go to prepare a place for you.' 'He shall go up that shall open the way before them' (Mic. 2:13). Therefore, he says that Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf within the veil and has fixed our hope there, as it says in the collect of vigil and of Ascension day. Yet because the high priest alone was permitted to enter within the veil (Lev 16), he says that Jesus has entered on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. Notice how elegantly the Apostle returns to his main theme. For he had begun to speak of the priesthood and then digressed; but now he returns to it, as is obvious.