Commentary on Hebrews and the Catholic Epistles John Calvin (continued)
John Calvin to him, all his knowledge will be cold and useless.
35. Cast not away, therefore, etc. He shows what especially makes us strong to persevere, even the retaining of confidence; for when that is lost, we lose the recompense set before us. It hence appears that confidence is the foundation of a godly and holy life. By mentioning reward, he diminishes nothing from the gratuitous promise of Salvation; for the faithful know that their labor is not vain in the Lord in such a way that they still rest on God's mercy alone. But it has been often stated elsewhere how reward is not incompatible with the gratuitous imputation of righteousness.
Heb 10:36-39
Hebrews Chapter 10:36-39
36. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
36. Patientiae enim opus habetis, ut quum voluntatem Dei feceritis obtineatis promissionem.
37. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 37. Adhuc enim pusillum temporis, quando qui venturus est veniet et non tardabit.
38. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
38. Justus autem ex fide vivet, et si subductus fuerit non oblectabitur anima mea in eo.
39. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
39. Nos autem non sumus subductionis in perditionem, sed fidei in acquisitionem animae.
36. For ye have need of patience, etc. He says that patience is necessary, not only because we have to endure to the end, but as Satan has innumerable arts by which he harasses us; and hence except we possess extraordinary patience, we shall a thousand times be broken down before we come to the half of our course. The inheritance of eternal life is indeed certain to us, but as life is like a race, we ought to go on towards the goal. But in our way there are many hindrances and difficulties, which not only delay us, but which would also stop our course altogether, except we had great firmness of mind to pass through them. Satan craftily suggests every kind of trouble in order to discourage us. In short, Christians will never advance two paces without fainting, except they are sustained by patience. 198 This then is the only way or means by which we can firmly and constantly advance; we shall not otherwise obey God, nor even enjoy the promised inheritance, which is here by metonymy called the 198Or, "patient waiting," as rendered by Erasmus and Stuart, and not "perseverance," as rendered by Macknight. They were to suffer patiently their trials, looking forward to their termination; and in order to encourage them patiently to endure, he reminds them in the next verse that it will only be for a very short time. — Ed.