Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Hebrews 12:8
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
8. whereof all are partakers ] He speaks of God’s blessed and disciplinary chastisement as a gift in which all His sons have their share.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But if ye be without chastisement – If you never meet with anything that is adapted to correct your faults; to subdue your temper; to chide your wanderings, it would prove that you were in the condition of illegitimate children – cast off and disregarded by their father.
Whereof all are partakers – All who are the true children of God.
Then are ye bastards, and not sons – The reference here is to the neglect with which such children are treated, and to the general want of care and discipline over them:
Lost in the worlds wide range; enjoind no aim,
Prescribd no duty, and assignd no name.
Savage.
In the English law, a bastard is termed nullius filius. Illegitimate children are usually abandoned by their father. The care of them is left to the mother, and the father endeavors to avoid all responsibility, and usually to be concealed and unknown. His own child he does not wish to recognize; he neither provides for him; nor instructs him; nor governs him; nor disciplines him. A father, who is worthy of the name, will do all these things. So Paul says it is with Christians. God has not cast them off. In every way he evinces toward them the character of a father. And if it should be that they passed along through life without any occurrence that would indicate the paternal care and attention designed to correct their faults, it would show that they never had been his children, but – were cast off and wholly disregarded. This is a beautiful argument; and we should receive every affliction as full proof that we are not forgotten by the High and Holy One who condescends to sustain to us the character, and to evince toward us, in our wanderings, the watchful care of a Father.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. Then are ye bastards] This proceeds on the general fact, that bastards are neglected in their manners and education; the fathers of such, feeling little affection for, or obligation to regard, their spurious issue. But all that are legitimate children are partakers of chastisement or discipline; for the original word does not imply stripes and punishments, but the whole discipline of a child, both at home and at school.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
But if God chasten you not, or if he do, and ye have not grace, or do not rightly endure it, are not managing yourselves well under it, nor are profited by it, when all and every one of his children are partakers of it, then are ye a false and spurious seed, and not Gods genuine offspring,
bastards in his account; and indeed so the most forlorn, wretched persons of all others, left under the power and dominion of sin, hurrying them on to their utter destruction, Joh 8:41. These visible church members have a bastardly disposition, hearts alienated from God and his law, and inclined to the will and works of the flesh, expressing it in their conversation, running into the excess of sin, having no chastening to restrain them, and are deserted by God for it, Isa 1:4-6; Hos 4:14,17.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. if ye be withoutexcludedfrom participation in chastisement, and wishing to be so.
allall sons:all the worthies enumerated in the eleventh chapter: all thewitnesses (Heb 12:1).
areGreek, “havebeen made.”
then are ye bastardsofwhom their fathers take no care whether they are educated or not;whereas every right-minded father is concerned for the moralwell-being of his legitimate son. “Since then not to bechastised is a mark of bastardy, we ought [not to refuse, but]rejoice in chastisement, as a mark of our genuine sonship”[CHRYSOSTOM].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But if ye be without chastisement,…. Or have no affliction:
whereof all are partakers; that is, all the children of God; they are all alike children; they are all in a state of imperfection, and prone to sin; God has an impartial respect unto them: and though they are not all alike chastened, nor chastened at all times, yet none are exempted from chastisement, but have it in some way or another, and at some time or another.
Then are ye bastards, and not sons; all are not sons that are under a profession of religion; all that are under a profession of religion are not chastised; but then those are not the children of God, but the children of the world, of Satan, and of the antichristian harlot; for though all that are chastised are not children, yet all that are children are chastised: hence we learn, that outward peace and prosperity is not a note of a true church; and that such have reason to distrust their state, who know not what it is to have the chastising rod of God upon them; and that afflictions are rather arguments for than against sonship.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
If ye are without chastening ( ). Condition of first class, determined as fulfilled. Note position of (are) between the preposition and (ablative case).
Have been made (). Perfect active indicative of .
Partakers (). Partners (3:14).
Then (). Accordingly, correspondingly.
Bastards (). Old word, here only in N.T. Illegitimate.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Of which all are partakers [ ] . Rend. “of which all have been made partakers.” For metocoi partakers see on ch. Heb 3:14. All, that is, all sons of God.
Bastards [] . N. T. o. See Wisd. 4 3. They might think that they would not suffer if they were really God ‘s sons; whereas the reverse is the case. If they did not suffer, they would not be God ‘s sons.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “But if ye be without chastisement,” (ei de choris este paideias) “But if you all are without discipline,” if you all never have, or have never had discipline, divine chastening; Disciplinary, Divine chastisement or correction comes to every child of God to turn him from overt or covert sin, Joh 16:33; 1Co 11:31-34.
2) “Whereof all are partakers,” (hes metoichoi gegonasin pantes) “Of which all (sons) have become sharers; or bearers of chastisement or correction for wrongs, Heb 12:6; Rev 3:19.
3) “Then are ye bastards,” (ara este nathoi) “Then you are all (as) bastards; not by birth what or who you claim to be, such as were not permitted to enter the congregation of Israel, even to the tenth generation, Deu 23:2.
4) “And not sons,” (kai ouch huioi) “And not sons,” or heirs of God at all. To be without chastisement, which God uniformly or impartially administers to all of, or each of his children, would only prove that one is not a genuine or true child of God, Heb 12:5.
SEVERE DISCIPLINE
A child was taken ill with that dangerous disorder, the croup. It was a child most ardently loved, and ordinarily, very obedient; but, in this state of uneasiness and pain, he refused to take the medicine which was needful, without delay, to administer. The father, finding him resolute, immediately punished his sick and suffering son. Under these circumstances, and fearing that his son might soon die, it must have been a most severe trial to the father; but the consequence was, that the child was taught that sickness was no excuse for disobedience, and, while his sickness continued, he promptly took whatever medicine was prescribed, and was patient and submissive. Soon the child was well. Does any one say that this was cruel? It was one of the noblest acts of kindness which could have been performed. If the father had shrunk from duty here, it is by no means improbable that the life of the child would have been forfeited.
-W. Abbott
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(8) Whereof all are partakers.Better, whereof all (Gods children) have been made partakers. Were it possible that they have never known this fatherly chastening, it must be that they are not sons whom a father acknowledges, and for whose training he has care.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Nay, these persecutions are a proof of sonship, and should call forth a filial feeling.
All The sons, as in the catalogue of chapter 11, and as in the case of we, (Heb 12:1,) and of Jesus, Heb 12:2. Suffering is the necessary condition of divine heroism, the badge of divine sonship, from the highest Son to the humblest.
Bastards Offspring of the harlot, and not sons of God. Such were the Judaic oppressors; sons of an adulterous Church, and exempt from the hierarchical persecution.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘But if you are without chastening, of which all have been made partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons.’
Indeed God’s disciplining and chastening is a sign of high favour. It is the true born son who is disciplined and chastened because the father is concerned to train him properly with a view to his future responsibilities. He is an heir and therefore proper concern must be shown for his upbringing. He bears the family name. What he becomes is important. It is the illegitimate children, who will have no rights to inherit, who have no name to uphold, who can be left with no proper training, so that they can behave as they like. So it is if they find themselves without chastening that they need to be concerned, not when they are chastened, for not to be chastened will simply demonstrate that they are not true believers, true born sons at all.
(This is not to be taken as God’s views on illegitimate children. The writer is using an illustration from how things were at the time, not passing a judgment on whether it was right or not).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Heb 12:8. Then are ye bastards, and not sons The meaning is, “No care is taken of you; no concern is shewn about your welfare.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Heb 12:8 . ] If, on the other hand, ye are free from chastisement (have been spared it). Wrongly Theodoret: .
] of which all ( sc . whom God like the saints of the O. T. enumerated chap. 11 has really acknowledged as His sons) have become partakers . That the relative clause contains no statement of entirely universal import, applicable also to the relation towards the earthly fathers (Camerarius, Beza, Limborch, al .), but, on the contrary, one affecting exclusively the relation towards God, is clear from the parallel with Heb 12:7 , as well as from the perfect .
] bastards , begotten out of wedlock, for whose weal or woe their father is not wont to be greatly concerned.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Ver. 8. Then are ye bastards ] Qui exclpitur a numero flagellatorum, excipitur a numero filiorum, saith one. He that escapes affliction may well suspect his adoption. I have no stronger argument against the pope’s kingdom, saith Luther, than this, quod sine cruce regnat, that he reigns without the cross. They have no changes, surely they fear not God.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
8 .] But if ye are without (separate from, no partakers in) chastisement, of which all (God’s sons: or those above mentioned, ch. 11, which is better, on account of the perfect verb) have been made partakers ( , see reff. and note), then ye are ( , the inferential particle, in late and N. T. Greek, is found at the beginning of a clause: but never in classical Greek. Delitzsch compares two examples, one from Lucian, Jup. Tragd. 51, , , , the other, the well-known “cogito, ergo sum;” which in later and modern Greek is , ( ). He proceeds to say that Klotz’s view, that is not properly syllogistic but only expresses “ leviorem et liberiorem quandam ratiocinationem,” is not confirmed by N. T. usage, nor indeed by classical, cf. Plato, Phdo 26, ) bastards ( , , , Phavorinus. But it is only one side of the similitude which is brought out. So Philo, De Confus. Ling. 28, vol. i. p. 426, speaking of the who built Babel, says that they were . . Chrys. explains it well: , : , , , , . , , ), and not sons .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
if. Greek. ei. App-118.
without. Greek. choris. See Heb 4:15.
chastisement = chastening, as verses: Heb 12:5, Heb 12:7, Heb 12:11. are = have become.
partakers. Greek. metochos. See Heb 1:9.
bastards. i.e. fictitious. Greek. nothos. Only here.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
8.] But if ye are without (separate from, no partakers in) chastisement, of which all (Gods sons: or those above mentioned, ch. 11, which is better, on account of the perfect verb) have been made partakers (, see reff. and note), then ye are (, the inferential particle, in late and N. T. Greek, is found at the beginning of a clause: but never in classical Greek. Delitzsch compares two examples, one from Lucian, Jup. Tragd. 51, , , , the other, the well-known cogito, ergo sum; which in later and modern Greek is , (). He proceeds to say that Klotzs view, that is not properly syllogistic but only expresses leviorem et liberiorem quandam ratiocinationem, is not confirmed by N. T. usage, nor indeed by classical, cf. Plato, Phdo 26, ) bastards (, , , Phavorinus. But it is only one side of the similitude which is brought out. So Philo, De Confus. Ling. 28, vol. i. p. 426, speaking of the who built Babel, says that they were . . Chrys. explains it well: , : , , , , . , , ), and not sons.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Heb 12:8. ) If ye are and wish to be, etc.; , without, a melancholy particle.-, partakers) A favourable word.-, all) all sons, Heb 12:7 : all the witnesses, Heb 12:1.- , in that case ye are bastards and not sons) An Enthymeme (covert Syllogism), in which this may be understood: but we do not wish to be bastards but sons; therefore we shall receive the discipline.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
, , , .
. Syr., aliens, foreigners, strangers. Vulg. Lat., adulteri; which the Rhem. render bastards, because of the palpable mistake in the Latin. Bez., supposititil; which, as Renius on Valla observes, is , properly spurii, bastards, children illegitimate, who have no right to the inheritance.
Heb 12:8. But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
The rule which the apostle hath laid down concerning chastisements, as a necessary, inseparable adjunct of the relation between father and son, is so certain in nature and grace, that to the inference which he hath made on the one hand unto the evidence of sonship from them, he adds here another no less unto his purpose on the other; namely, that those who have no chastisements are no sons, no children.
There is in the words,
1. A supposition of a state without chastisement;
2. An application of the rule unto that state, All sons are chastised;
3. An inference from both, that such persons are bastards, and not sons: whereunto we must add the force of this reasoning unto his present purpose.
1. The introduction of the supposition by , but if, declares that what he speaks is of another, contrary nature unto that before proposed: But if it be otherwise with you, namely, that ye are without chastisement.
Take chastisement materially for every thing that is grievous or afflictive, and no man is absolutely without it. For all men must die, and undergo the weaknesses or troubles that lead thereunto; and commonly this is most grievous unto them who have had least trouble in their lives. But comparatively, some even in this sense are freed from chastisement. Such the psalmist speaks of, There are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men, Psa 73:4-5 : which he gives as a character of the worst sort of men in the world.
But this is not the chastisement here intended. We have showed before that it is an eruditing, instructive correction; and so doth the design of the place require that it should here signify. And this some professors of Christian religion may be without absolutely. Whatever trouble they may meet withal, yet are they not under divine chastisements for their good. Such are here intended. Yet the apostles design may reach farther; namely, to awaken them who were under troubles, but were not sensible of their being divine chastisements, and so lost all the benefit of them. For even such persons can have no evidence of their sonship, but have just ground to make a contrary judgment concerning themselves.
2. To confirm his inference, the apostle adds the substance of his rule: Whereof all are partakers. The Syriac reads it, Wherewith every man is chastised; but it must be restrained to sons, whether the sons of God or of men, as in the close of the foregoing verse. This, therefore, the apostle is positive in, that it is altogether in vain to look for spiritual sonship without chastisement. They are all partakers of it, every one of his own share and portion. There is a general measure of afflictions assigned unto the church, Head and members, whereof every one is to receive his part, Col 1:24.
3. The inference on this supposition is, that such persons are bastards, and not sons Their state is expressed both positively and negatively, to give the greater emphasis unto the assertion. Besides, if he had said only, Ye are bastards,it would not have been so evident that they were not sons, for bastards are sons also; but they are not such sons as have any right unto the paternal inheritance. Gifts they may have, and riches bestowed on them by their fathers; but they have no right of inheritance by virtue of their sonship. Such doth the apostle here declare them to be who are without chastisement. And we may hence observe,
Obs. 1. That there are no sons of God, no real partakers of adoption, that are without some crosses or chastisements in this world. They deceive themselves, who expect to live in Gods family and not to be under his chastening discipline. And this should make every one of us very well contented with our own lot and portion, whatever it be.
Obs. 2. It is an act of spiritual wisdom, in all our troubles, to find out and discern divine, paternal chastisements; without which we shall never behave ourselves well under them, nor obtain any advantage by them. So should we do in the least, and so in the greatest of them.
Obs. 3. There are in the visible church, or among professors, some that have no right unto the heavenly inheritance. They are bastards; sons that may have gifts and outward enjoyments, but they are not heirs. And this is a great evidence of it in any, namely, that they are not chastised; not that they are not at all troubled, for they may be in trouble like other men, (for man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward,) but that they are not sensible of divine chastisement in them; they do not receive them, bear them, nor improve them, as such.
Obs. 4. The joyous state of freedom from affliction is such as we ought always to watch over with great jealousy, lest it should be a leaving of us out of the discipline of the family of God. I do not say, on the other hand, that we may desire afflictions, much less cruciate ourselves, like some monastics or Circumcelliones; but we may pray that we may not want any pledge of our adoption, leaving the ordering and disposal of all things unto the sovereign will and pleasure of God.
Lastly, There is great force from this consideration added unto the apostles exhortation, namely, that we should not faint under our trials and afflictions: for if they are all such divine chastisements as without which we can have no evidence of our relation unto God as a father, yea, as without a real participation wherein we can have no right unto the eternal inheritance, it is a thing unwise and wicked to be weary of them, or to faint under them.
Fuente: An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews
Heb 12:6, Psa 73:1, Psa 73:14, Psa 73:15, 1Pe 5:9, 1Pe 5:10
Reciprocal: Deu 23:2 – General Psa 73:5 – They are Pro 1:32 – and the Hos 4:14 – punish
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Heb 12:8. Bastards and not sons. Even so-called “illegitimate” boys are sons of men and women, and are brought forth by the same law of reproduction that is the source of all human beings. Hence the term as used In contrast with sons is employed in a technical or legal sense. The idea is that if a man refrained from using discipline on a boy it would be on the ground that he was not his son; that he belonged to another outside his own family. Likewise, if a professed Christian objects to being chastised by the Lord, it implies that he does not claim to be a son of the Lord.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Heb 12:8. If ye be without (be severed from, have no part in) chastisement (filial discipline), of which all (Gods sons, or better, because of the tense, the sons mentioned in chap. 11) have become partakers (or have had their share), then are ye bastards (of spurious parentage) and not sons.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 8
Bastards; pretended sons.