Commentary on Hebrews and the Catholic Epistles John Calvin
Chapter
Heb 5:1-6
Hebrews Chapter 5:1-6
1. For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
1. Omnis namque Pontifex ex hominibus assumptus, pro hominibus constituitur de eis quae (vel, ordinat ea quae) ad Deum pertinent, ut offerat dona et sacrifia pro peccatis;
2. Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
2. Qui possit placabilem (vel, moderatum) se praebere ignorantibus et errantibus, quando ipse quoque circumdatus est infirmitate.
3. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
3. Et propter hanc debet, quemadmodum pro populo, ita et pro seipso offerre pro peccatis.
4. And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
4. Ac nemo sibi usurpat honorem, sed qui vocatur a Deo, sicut et Aaron. 5. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
5. Quare nec Christus seipsum glorificavit ut esset Pontifex, sed qui loquutus est ad eum, Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te.
6. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
6. Quemadmodum et alibi dicit, Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedec.
1. For every high priest, etc. He compares Christ with the Levitical priests, and he teaches us what is the likeness and the difference between them; and the object of the whole discourse is, to show what Christ's office really is, and also to prove that whatever was ordained under the law was ordained on his account. Hence the Apostle passes on at last to show that the ancient priesthood was abolished.
He first says that the priests were taken from among men; secondly, that they did not act a private part but for the whole people; thirdly, that they were not to come empty to appease God, but furnished with sacrifices; fourthly, that they