Nielsen’s Nook

Commentary

[a] κεκοινώνηκεν perfect active indicative of κοινωνέω, to share, participate (BAGD, 438).

[b] κεκοινώνηκεν αἵματος καὶ σαρκός by the last half of the second century (i.e., shortly after St. Polycarp was martyred for his life) we find in the record of his martyrdom a similar phrase, κοινωνῆσαι τῷ ἁγίῳ αὐτοῦ σαρκίῳ (Martyrdom of Polycarp [MP], §17.1). … to receive part of his holy body … (author’s translation). A difference here is that Hebrews 2:14 employs a perfect active indicative form of κοινωνέω while MP employs an aorist infinitive. Apparently, at the time of the writing of MP, it was customary for Christians to receive a part of the martyr’s sarcophagus as a holy relic (BAGD, 438). Perhaps, that ancient tradition stems from Hebrews 2:14.

[c] παραπλησίως The word does not show clearly just how far the similarity goes. But it is used in situations where no differentiation is intended, in the sense in just the same way (BAGD, 621).

[d] μετέσχεν in light of the modifier, παραπλησίως, emphasizing the sameness of participation of the children and that of the Son, μετέσχεν would seem best regarded as a synonym for κοινωνέω here. In other words, there is a mutual participation or sharing in the children’s partaking of the flesh and blood and his participation in the flesh and blood.

[e] τούτους, ὅσοι literally, those, as many as.

[f] ἔνοχοι ἦσαν δουλείας literally, were subject to slavery.

[g] διὰ παντὸς τοῦ ζῆν through all the life (literally an infinitive, to live).