Principles
Principles
(, Heb 5:12; Heb 6:1)
In Greek philosophy is an element or first principle-that by which anything begins to be. When it is distinguished from -the terms are often interchanged-it means the formal and active as opposed to the material cause. The two words are used together in Heb 5:12, the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God ( ). The tautology is studied and effective. The writer is chiding his readers for not endeavouring or perhaps caring to advance beyond the ABC (in Luthers phrase, die ersten Buchstaben) of the gospel. He reminds them that they are no longer . Milk is the natural food of babes, but babes are potential adults, and the food of men (, perfect, i.e. full-grown, is emphatic), and of those who aspire to be such, has to be more solid than that of infants (Heb 5:14). The backwardness which the writer reproves is alike intellectual and spiritual, while his grave tone differs from that of Horaces blandi doctores, who give their pupils cakes elementa velint ut discere prima (Sat. I. i. 25 f.). That there is an immense difference between the and the of Christianity; that Jesus is not only the Beginner but the Perfecter of our faith ( , Heb 12:2)-these are the truths he wishes to drive home. Childhood is beautiful, but only a false sentiment would prolong it. The same thought is frequent in St. Pauls writings (1Co 3:1; 1Co 13:11, Eph 4:14). The Rabbis spoke of their younger pupils as sucklings. Perhaps in Heb 5:13-14 we have a case of one Alexandrian echoing another, for Philo says (de Agric. ii.): Since milk is the food of infants, but cakes of wheat ( ) are the food of full-grown men, so also the soul must have a milk-like nourishment in its age of childhood, namely, the elementary lessons of art and science ( ), but the perfect food which is for men is education in prudence, temperance, and every virtue.
James Strahan.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
Principles
prinsi-p’lz: Found twice (Heb 5:12; Heb 6:1). The Greek word (, stoicheon) is also translated in the King James Version as elements and rudiments. As rendered in He, its meaning is clearly related to the elementary knowledge of Christian truth or doctrine. See ELEMENTS; RUDIMENTS.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Principles
“beginning,” is used in Heb 6:1, in its relative significance, of the beginning of the thing spoken of; here “the first principles of Christ,” lit., “the account (or word) of the beginning of Christ,” denotes the teaching relating to the elementary facts concerning Christ. See BEGIN, B.
is translated “principles” in Heb 5:12. See ELEMENTS.