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…

The point whereunto the Apostle aimeth, is to make the abjection of Christ glorious in the eyes of the faithful. For when he saith that he clothed himself with our flesh, it seems he meant to set Christ among the common order of men. And then the cross being added, it abaseth him below all sorts of men. ¹Wherefore good heed must be taken that Christ be not the less esteemed, because that of his own good will he made himself of none account for our sakes. And this is the point which is now handled in this text. For the Apostle shows that even for this cause the Son of God ought to be honourably esteemed; in regard he was thus consecrated to be the Prince of our salvation. First of all he takes it for granted, that Gods ordaining of it ought to be rested in, because that as all things are sustained by his power, so ought they also to serve to his glory. Wherefore we ought to seek no better cause than this; It so pleased God. Hereunto appertains that circumlocution ⟨p. 40⟩of words which he useth: By whom, and for whom are all things: he might in one word have named God; but his meaning was to show that we must hold and esteem that to be chiefly good, which God hath ordained and appointed, whose will and glory is the very right end of all things. Yet notwithstanding it seems that which he would say is not yet fully proved, to wit, that it was convenient that Christ should be consecrated after this manner. But this depends upon the ordinary course which God is wont to hold in his dealing with those that are his. For his will is they should be exercised with divers miseries, and that their whole life should be a continual cross. It was necessary then that Christ, as he was the first borne, should be consecrated by the cross, thereby entering into his principality; because it is the rule and common condition of all. This is the conformity of the head with the members, whereof S. Paul entreateth, Rom. 8.29.

THe point whereunto the Apostle aimeth, is to make the abiection of Christ glorious in the eyes of the faithfull. For when he saith that he clothed himselfe with our flesh, it seemes he meant to set Christ among the common order of men. And then the crosse being added, it abaseth him below all sorts of men.