A commentary on the whole Epistle to the Hebrews. By M. John Calvin. Translated…A commentarie on the vvhole Epistle to the Hebrevves. By M. Iohn Caluin. Translated…

And bearing up all things] Properly it is, bearing all things. ⟨p. 14⟩But the word to bear is taken to maintain, or bear up, and to cause all creatures to continue in their estate. For his meaning is that all things would presently fall to ruin, if they were not upheld by his power. Notwithstanding when he saith by his word, this may be expounded as well of the Father as of the Son: but because the second exposition is the more received, and agreeth very well to the scope of the text, I am content to satisfy my self therein. Word for word it is by the word of his power: but according to the manner of the Hebrews, it is as much as if he had said by his mighty word. For whereas some do thus turn the text, that Christ maintains all things by his Fathers word, that is, by himself who is the word; it hath no colour at all. Besides, what need is there of so constrained an exposition? For when the Scripture calls Christ the word of the Father, it is not wont to use the word which is put here, that is, Rhema, but another, to wit, Logos. Wherefore the word doth here simply signify to will: and the sense is, that Christ who conserves the world by his only will, and as it were with his only beck; notwithstanding refused not to take upon him the office by which he made the purgation of our sins. And this is the second member of the doctrine which is handled in this Epistle. For the main groundwork of all the disputation consists in these two points: §1First, that Christ ought to be heard above all others, because he hath the chief and soveraign• authority. §2Secondly, that in as much as by his death he hath reconciled us to his Father, he hath thereby put an end to the old sacrifices. Now where he saith, by himself: we must supply an Antithesis: to wit, that the shadows of Moses law were of no force to assist him in the doing of it. And hereby he shows the difference between him and the Levitical Priests: for it was also said of them that they purged sins: but they borrowed this virtue from another: to wit, from Christ. To be short, his meaning is to exclude all other means, or helps: in laying the power and price of the purgation of our sins only upon Christ.

And bearing vp all things] Properly it is, bearing al things. ⟨p. 14⟩