Nielsen’s Nook

Nielsen’s Nook
Nielsen’s Nook
Contemplative, reflective, and irenic we pray.
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Translation and Commentary on Hebrews 3:4-6

Will Nielsen
July 21st, 2008
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Translation

4 For the whole house is built by someone, but the one who built all things is God. 5 On the one hand, [1] Moses was faithful, as servant, in all his [2] house for a testimony of the things to be spoken later; 6 but on the other hand, Christ is faithful as Son, over his [3] house. We are his house if hold fast [4] the openness [5] and hope of which we boast. [6]

Commentary

[1] μὲν … δὲ If for some reason the contrast being made is not clear in English translations, the μὲν … δὲ construction is explicit in Greek.

[2] Ambiguity, does αὐτοῦ refer to Moses or God or Christ?

[3] The ambiguity of αὐτοῦ persists and now the question of how many houses are there. Is there one house, such that Moses and Christ were over this singular house at different times? Or are there two houses, one of Moses and one of Christ?

[4] κατάσχωμεν hold fast, faithfully retain (BAGD, 422). We find it used in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 when scripture teaches us πάντα δὲ δοκιμάζετε, τὸ καλὸν κατέχετε. But examine everything that you may hold fast to what is good (author’s translation).

[5] παρρησίαν openness, confidence. Jesus is marveled at because he spoke openly (παρρησία) in John 7:26, 11:54.

[6] The Byzantine Text adds μέχρι τέλους βεβαίαν, firm until the end (author’s translation). τέλος here has to do with the goal, perfection and completion of something, not merely arriving at the end of one’s own life.

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