Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Hebrews 13:24
Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
24. Salute all them that have the rule over you ] This salutation to all their spiritual leaders implies the condition of Churches, which was normal at that period namely, little communities, sometimes composed separately of Jews and Gentiles, who in default of one large central building, met for worship in each other’s houses.
They of Italy ] This merely means “the Italians in the place from which I write,” just as “they of Asia” means Asiatic Jews (Act 21:27. Comp. Act 17:13, Heb 6:9, &c.). The phrase therefore gives no clue whatever to the place from which, or the persons to whom, the Epistle was written. It merely shews that some Christians from Italy perhaps Christians who had fled from Italy during the Neronian persecution formed a part of the writer’s community; but it suggests a not unnatural inference that it was written to some Italian community from some other town out of Italy. Had he been writing from Italy he would perhaps have been more likely to write “those in Italy” (comp. 1Pe 5:13).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Salute all them – see the notes on Rom 16:3 ff. It was customary for the apostle Paul to close his epistles with an affectionate salutation.
That have the rule over you – notes, Heb 13:7, 17. None are mentioned by name, as is usual in the Epistles of Paul. The cause of this omission is unknown. And all the saints. The common name given to Christians in the Scriptures; see the notes on Rom 1:7.
They of Italy salute you – The saints or Christians in Italy. Showing that the writer of the Epistle was then in Italy. He was probably in Rome; see the introduction, section 4.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 24. Salute all them that have the rule over you] Salute all your leaders or guides, . See Clarke on Heb 13:7 and “Heb 13:17“.
And all the saints.] All the Christians; for this is the general meaning of the term in most parts of St. Paul’s writings. But a Christian was then a saint, i.e. by profession a holy person; and most of the primitive Christians were actually such. But in process of time the term was applied to all that bore the Christian name; as elect, holy people, sanctified, c., were to the nation of the Jews, when both their piety and morality were at a very low ebb.
They of Italy salute you.] Therefore it is most likely that the writer of this epistle was then in some part of Italy, from which he had not as yet removed after his being released from prison. By they of Italy probably the apostle means the Jew’s there who had embraced the Christian faith. These salutations show what a brotherly feeling existed in every part of the Christian Church even those who had not seen each other yet loved one another, and felt deeply interested for each other’s welfare.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He sends his salutations, which were good wishes and prayers for the peace, prosperity, health, and happiness of their souls and bodies, and success in all their concernments; first unto their excellent guides and rulers, Heb 13:7,17, that they may prosper and succeed in their work among the saints; and then unto
the saints themselves, conveying the gospel peace, according to Christs command, Mat 10:12; Luk 10:5. Which saints were all those Hebrews dispersed in several places, and there convening, and maintaining church society; and to whose hand the Epistle first came, they were to receive the salutations themselves, and transmit them to others. With his own he transmits the salutations of all that part of the church of Christ which was in Italy to them. Which salutations, though commonly abused, yet are of great weight and worth where communicated and received by the churches in which the Holy Spirit abideth.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
24. allThe Scriptures areintended for all, young and old, not merely for ministers.Compare the different classes addressed, “wives,” Eph5:22; little children, 1Jo2:18; “all,” 1Pe 3:8;1Pe 5:5. He says here “all,”for the Hebrews whom he addresses were not all in one place, thoughthe Jerusalem Hebrews are chiefly addressed.
They of Italynotmerely the brethren at Rome, but of other places in Italy.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Salute all them that have the rule over you,…. The pastors and officers of the church of the Hebrews, the same with those in Heb 13:7 and all the saints; the several members of the church, who were set apart to holiness by God; whose sins were expiated by Christ; to whom Christ was made sanctification; and who were internally sanctified by the Spirit of God, and lived holy lives and conversations; to these the apostle wished all prosperity, inward and outward, spiritual and temporal; and he uses the word “all” in both clauses; and, including every officer and member, expresses his universal love to them, whether high or low, rich or poor, greater or lesser believers:
they of Italy salute you; that is, the brethren, as the Vulgate Latin version reads; the Italian brethren; such as were at Puteoli, and other places, in that country; see Ac 28:13. Italy is a famous and well known country in Europe; a very fruitful and delightful one; of which Rome, where the apostle very likely now was, is the chief city: it has been called by different names, as Saturnia from Saturn; and Ausonia, Aenotria, and Hesperia Magna; and it had its name Italy, some say, from Italus, the son of Penelope and Telegonus; others, from Italus, a king of the Arcadians, or, as some say, the Sicilians; but, according to Timsaeus and Varro e, it was so called from the multitude of oxen in it, which in the old Greek language were called , “Italoi”, to which comes near in sound the Latin word “vituli”, used for “calves”; and Italy is frequently, by Jewish writers f called , “Italy of Greece”; and formerly it was inhabited by Greeks, and was called Great Greece g: it is bounded on the east with the Adriatic sea; and on the west by the river Var, with the Alps, which separate France from Italy; and on the south with the Tyrrhene, or Tuscan sea, called the lower, and on the north, partly with the Alps, which are on the borders of Germany, and partly with the Adriatic sea, called the higher. There were Christians in this country before the Apostle Paul came to Rome, both at Rome, and other places, as before observed. It is said h, that Barnabas was first at Rome, and planted the church there; that he went round Lombardy, and lived at Milain; that in the “first” century, Apollinaris preached at Ravenna, and Hermagoras at Aquileia; and there were Christian churches in the “second” century, not only at Rome, but in many other cities and places; and so likewise in the “third” century, as at Verona, Spoletum, Beneventum, c. and in the “fourth” century, there were great numbers of churches in this country as at Verona, and Capua, in Calabria, Campania, and Apulia; and which might be traced in following centuries.
e Apud Aul. Gell. Noct. Attic. l. 11. c. 1. Vid. Apollodor. de Orig. Deorum, l. 2. p. 101. f Bereshit Rabba, sect. 67. fol. 59. 4. T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 56. 2. R. Sol. Jarchi in Gen. xxvii. 39. g lsidor. Hispal. Origin. l. 14. c. 4. h Hist. Eccl. Magdeburg. cent. 1. l. 2. c. 2. p. 17. cent. 2. c. 2. p. 4. cent. 3. c. 2. p. 4. cent. 4. c. 2. p. 6.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
They of Italy ( ). Either those with the author in Italy or those who have come from Italy to the author outside of Italy.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
They of Italy [ ] . This may mean, “those who are in Italy send greeting from Italy “; or,” those of Italy (Italian Christians with the writer at the time) send greeting’ from the place at which the letter is being written. See Introduction. The phrase affords no reliable indication as to the residence of the persons addressed.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Salute all them that have the rule over you,” (aspasasthe pantas tous hegoumenos humon) “Greet all those having or holding the leadership (rule) over you all; Note the church brethren are called on to remember, “them,” Heb 13:7; obey “them,” Heb 13:17; and Salute them,” the elders in the plural, never a “him,” that had the rule over them. See Mat 20:25-26.
2) “And all the saints,” (kai pantas tou hagious) “Even all the saints,” all the “Holy brethren,” members of the “House” that Jesus built, the church, Heb 3:1; Heb 3:6; The term “Saints” is never used to refer to all the saved, but to the saved restrictedly who have specifically, voluntarily, and obediently identified themselves with the Lord in service and worship, Jud 1:3.
3) “They of Italy salute you,” (aspazontai humas hoiapo tes Italias) “Those from Italy greet you all; Theological controversy abounds with speculation whether or not this letter was written by Paul from Rome or some other locality in Italy, to the Hebrew brethren in Jerusalem and Judea, which seems to be the correct view – or whether it was written from some other country and Paul had with him brethren from Italy who sent their greetings to the Hebrew church brethren, together with his greetings.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
24. Salute, etc. As he writes his Epistle generally to the Hebrews, it is strange that he bids some, separate from the rest, to be saluted; but he sends this salutation, as I think, more particularly to the rulers, as a mark of honor, that he might conciliate them, and gently lead them to assent to his doctrine. And he adds, —
And all the saints. He either means the faithful from among the Gentiles, and refers to them that both Jews and Gentiles might learn to cultivate unity among themselves; or his object was to intimate, that they who first received the Epistle, were to communicate it to others.
END OF THE COMMENTARIES ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(24) That have the rule over you.Better, that are your leaders: see Heb. 13:7; Heb. 13:17.
They of Italy salute you.These much discussed words are consistent with either of two hypotheses:(1) That the writer is in Italy, and salutes the Hebrews in the name of the Christians of Italy: (2) That the writer is addressing a Church of Italy, and sends greeting from Christians who have their home in Italy, but are now with him. (See Introduction.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
24. Them that have the rule over you Same word as in Heb 13:7; Heb 13:15, and signifying leaders. The antithesis here between leaders and all the saints implies a distinct and authorized drawn line between ministry and laity. The doctrine that such distinction is post-apostolical is inadmissible. And the duty of the latter to the former is expressed in Heb 13:17 (where see notes) in terms rarely used by modern Congregationalism.
They of Italy That is, (as the best criticism now interprets the Greek,) the Italian Christians. The Greek phrase is, ‘ , they from Italy. The German critic Bleek, in reviewing Stuart on Hebrews, maintained that the Greek signified that the they were away from Italy, and so the epistle could not have been written in Italy. But Stuart triumphantly quoted instances where the phrase simply implied origin, or birthplace, or residence. Thus Joh 11:1: Lazarus, of ( ) Bethany; Lazarus being both a resident of the place, and at that time in Bethany. A salutation to the Hebrews at Jerusalem from so wide-spread a body as “Italian Christians” generally, might seem strange. But, 1. Paul says to the Corinthians, (1Co 16:19,) “The Churches of Asia salute you.” And St. Peter (1Pe 1:1) addresses the Churches in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. 2. The leading body of Christians in Italy were doubtless known to Paul; his writing this epistle was doubtless known to them; he was authorized in spirit to salute the Jerusalem Church in their name. 3. What Church was more suitable or more likely to be saluted from Rome than the mother Church of all, in whose streets Jesus had preached, and without whose gates he was crucified Jerusalem? And in this we have a strong confirmation of the judgment of Christian antiquity, unwisely impugned by modern “criticism,” that this epistle was written to the Church of that city.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Salute all those who have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.’
He then calls on them to pass his greetings on to the leadership of their church, and all the other Christians who are there. This would seem to confirm that he is writing to a group within that church, possibly a house group or a special interest group, for he wants his greeting passed on to ‘all the saints’, all God’s people in that area.
‘They of Italy salute you.’ Paul regularly passed on greetings from those whom he was with, and no doubt his fellow-workers, especially those who worked as his emanuenses (personal secretaries), had also learned the habit from him. This might suggest that he was writing from Italy. But it may equally signify ‘those who come from Italy’, that is, possibly, those who have brought him news of this group of people and their troubles, having arrived from Italy to where the writer was to be found.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Heb 13:24 . Request for the delivering of salutations, together with the conveying of salutations to the readers.
] This designation of persons has about it something surprising, since according to it the letter would have the appearance of being addressed neither to the presidents of the assembly, nor to the whole congregation, but to single members of the latter. Probably, however, the meaning of the author is only that those to whom the epistle is delivered, for reading to the congregation, should greet as well all the presidents as also all the other members of the congregation.
] is not to be explained from the absorption of one local preposition into another; in such wise that it should stand for , which is thought possible by Winer, Gramm. , 7 Aufl. p. 584. It signifies: those from Italy, i.e. Christians who have come out of Italy, and are now to be found in the surroundings of the writer. The general expression: , seems to point to a compact number of persons already known to the readers. It is highly probable, therefore, that those referred to are Christians who, on the occasion of the Neronian persecution, had fled from Italy, and had settled down for the time being at the place of the author’s present abode. The expression shows, moreover, that the epistle was written outside of Italy. See p. 13.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
Ver. 24. Salute all them ] This Epistle then was first read to the people, who are required to deliver the apostle’s comments to their ministers. The Papists debar the people, not of the Scriptures only, but of all books of the reformed religion; and for a terror not to retain such books prohibited, I have seen (saith Sir Edwin Sands) in their printed instructions for confession, the hearing or reading of books forbidden set in rank among the sins against the first commandment.
They of Italy salute you ] Few saints there now; the Italians hold integrity for little better than silliness; they blaspheme oftener than swear, they murder more than revile or slander. And yet even in Italy there are fully four thousand professed Protestants. But their paucity and obscurity (saith mine author) shall enclose them in a cipher.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
24 .] Salute all your leaders, and all the saints. They from Italy salute you (on this, see Prolegg. ii. 13).
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Salute. Greek. aspazomai. See 3Jn 1:14.
saints. See Act 9:13.
They of Italy. Latins dwelling in the place whence Hebrews was dispatched. No clue here to the locality or to whom the Epistle was originally sent.
of. Greek. apo. App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
24.] Salute all your leaders, and all the saints. They from Italy salute you (on this, see Prolegg. ii. 13).
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Heb 13:24. , all them that have the rule over you) They laboured under dulness of apprehension; but this epistle has solid food for them that are perfect. Therefore if any epistle needed to have been withdrawn from the general multitude, this certainly was that epistle. And yet this epistle too is directed to the general multitude, rather than to the ministers, to whom it was less necessary. [So the discourse is addressed to women, children, servants, young men, etc., Eph 5:22, etc.; 1Jn 2:18; 2Jn 1:1 : and to all together, 1Pe 3:8; 1Pe 5:5. Paul gives an injunction to Archippus through the Col 4:17.-V. g.] The writings of the apostles were read in the public assembly, as those of the prophets formerly were: how much more ought it so to be left free to every individual to read them in private, as much as is requisite, so that it should not be granted only by a dispensation from the Pope! For it is more profitable often to read, what it is safe once to hear. Paul elsewhere mentions the bishops and deacons: Php 1:1. Here he only names , them that rule-the ministers: comp. 1Th 5:12; 1Ti 5:17. He sends salutations to them all; for those to whom he writes were in many places.- , all the saints) believers, especially Israelites.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Salute: Rom 16:1-16
the rule: Heb 13:7, Heb 13:17
and all: 2Co 1:1, 2Co 13:13, Phi 1:1, Phi 4:22, Col 1:2, Phm 1:5
They: Rom 16:21-23
Italy: Act 18:2, Act 27:1
Reciprocal: Act 21:7 – and saluted Rom 12:8 – ruleth 1Co 12:28 – God 1Co 16:20 – the brethren 1Ti 5:17 – rule
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Heb 13:24. Salute means to give a friendly greeting which implies a wish for the wellbeing of the one saluted. This was to include the rulers (elders) as well as other saints (Christians). Others in Italy (of which Rome was the capital) joined Paul in his salutation for the brethren in Judea.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Heb 13:24. Salute all your leaders, the chief men among you, and all the saints, i..e either of the Church or those Christians outside of the Church, whom they or their leaders might meet. They of Italy, i..e those who belonged to Italy, whether then residing in Italy or not (comp. Act 17:13). In these expressions there seems an intentional indefiniteness intended to conceal the place where the Epistle was written.
Grace be with you all (rather, Grace be with all of you; an order of words that gives individuality to the message as well as universality).
Amen: Grace, the free result of Divine love; grace which justifies and sanctifies and guides us; grace which begins and completes our salvation; an especially appropriate ending of this Epistle, and the characteristic ending of each of Pauls Epistles, and of his only, in the New Testament.
The only subscription that has any critical value is To the Hebrews. Variations are found in some MSS.; was written from Italy by Timothy, one MS. adding in Hebrew; from Rome (A). But no argument can be based on these readings.
Three lessons are suggested by the structure and argument of this Epistle.
1. The teaching which distinguishes doctrine from precept, and makes precept the more important, is rebuked by the very order of the Epistle itself, as in all Pauls Epistles. The doctrinal teaching suggests the form of the precepts, and supplies the strongest reasons for obedience. Spiritual truths on sin, Christ, redemption, eternal life, are largely the foundation and the motive-forces of practical duty.
2. The need of a priesthood, and the fact that Christ is the great High Priest, superseding every other, all-sufficient and eternal, are essential parts of the Gospel. Without the recognition of the first, there is no adequate sense of sin and of God. Without the recognition of the second, there is no pacifying of the conscience, and no free personal access to God as the loving Father of all who believe.
3. False conceptions of the Gospel and of Gods way of peace, when based on institutions and teaching that are originally Divine, are among the greatest hindrances to salvation, and among the most fruitful sources of apostasy. Because Judaism was Divine, and the Jews believed it, they were in danger of rejecting Christin greater danger than if they had been heathens. Truth blended with error, Gods word misunderstood and believed, may be as great hindrances to holiness and charity as heresy or unbelief.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 24
They of Italy; the Christians of Italy. Paul is supposed to have been at Rome when this Epistle was written.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
The term "leaders" refers to local church leaders (cf. Heb 13:7; Heb 13:17). The letter probably went to one house-church. The evidence indicates that most first-century churches had more than one leader (cf. Tit 1:5; Act 14:23; Act 20:17; Php 1:1). It would be strange if the writer sent this letter to someone in a church who was not a leader.
"The multiplicity of house churches suggests why diversity, disunity, and a tendency toward independence were persistent problems in the early Church. Unity and organization became matters of urgent concern. The members of the several house churches in a particular center needed to keep in touch with one another. It was of vital importance that the greetings of the writer be conveyed to ’all the saints’ . . ." [Note: Lane, Hebrews 9-13, p. 570. Cf. F. V. Filson, "Yesterday": A Study of Hebrews in the Light of Chapter 13, p. 76.]
"Those from Italy" probably refers to Christians who had left Italy rather than to believers currently living there (cf. Act 18:2). [Note: Westcott, pp. 451-52. Cf. Tenney, pp. 234-35.] If this is true, the writer probably wrote from somewhere other than Italy.