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…

22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no remission.

23 It was then necessary, that the similitudes of heavenly things should be purified with such things: but the heavenly things themselves are purified with better sacrifices than those.

23 It was then necessarie, that the similitudes of heauenly things should be purified with such things: but the heauenly things themselues are purified with better sacrifices than those.

Wherefore also &c.] Vers. 18 By this it appears that he insists chiefly upon the substance, rather than simply grounding his speech upon the name: although the Apostle hath turned the word which the language afforded him wherein he wrote, to his profit. As if some speaking also of the covenant of God (which the Greeks often call Martyria, that is to say, witness) to praise and extol the same; amongst other commendations should use these words; Surely this Covenant must needs rightly be called Testimony, to which the heavenly Angels gave testimony from above; to the which there were also so many credible witnesses here on earth, to wit, all the holy Prophets, Apostles, and so infinite a company of Martyrs: yea to the sealing whereof even the Son of God was given as a witness thereof in his own person: if one should speak on this manner, no man would say there were any absurdity in it. And yet notwithstanding the propriety of the Hebrew word Theuda, doth not expressly conclude this: but because nothing is said herein which agrees not very well to the matter, no wise man will stand to descant too curiously about the word. Thus then the Apostle affirms that the old Testament was dedicated with blood. From whence he gathers that men were thereby admonished, it could not be otherwise