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…

Which first began to be preached by the Lord.] Here he opposeth the Son of God, who was the first preacher of the Gospel against the Angels. Now withal he useth a prevention, to take away a doubt which might enter into many mens phantasies. For they had not been taught by the mouth of Christ immediately, because the most part of them had never seen him. Had they only respected men then, by whose ministry they were brought to the faith, it is likely they would not have regarded that which they had learned of them. And therefore the Apostle admonisheth them that the doctrine which was delivered unto them by the ministry of others, did not therefore cease to proceed from Christ. For he saith, that they were the disciples of Christ, who faithfully reported that which they had heard and received of him. And therefore he useth this word confirmed: as if he should say, it was not a matter of report scattered abroad hand over head, as if they knew not whence it came, or as if they had it by suspected witnesses: but that it hath authors both grave, and also men of good credit. ⟨p. 31⟩Furthermore, we may know by this place that this Epistle was not penned by S. Paul: for he useth not so to diminish his authority, as to make himself one of the disciples of the Apostles, not that he meant thereby to purchase any glory to his own person: but because false teachers under this colour endeavoured so much the more to lessen the credit of his doctrine. It appears then that it is not S. Pauls, seeing the author writes that he had the Gospel by the report of others, and not by revelation.

Which first began to be preached by the Lord.] Here he opposeth the Sonne of God, who was the first preacher of the Gospell against the Angels. Now withall he vseth a preuention, to take away a doubt which might enter into many mens phantasies. For they had not beene taught by the mouth of Christ immediatly, because the most part of them had neuer seene him. Had they onely respected men then, by whose ministerie they were brought to the faith, it is likely they would not haue regarded that which they had learned of them. And therefore the Apostle admonisheth them that the doctrine which was deliuered vnto them by the ministerie of others, did not therefore cease to proceede from Christ. For hee saith, that they were the disciples of Christ, who faithfully reported that which they had heard and receiued of him. And therefore he vseth this word confirmed: as if hee should say, it was not a matter of report scattered abroad hand ouer head, as if they knew not whēce it came, or as if they had it by suspected witnesses: but that it hath authors both graue, and also men of good credit.