Commentary on Hebrews and the Catholic Epistles John Calvin
John Calvin
27. And this word, yet once more, etc. The words of the Prophet are these, ``Yet a little while;'' and he means that the calamity of the people would not be perpetual, but that the Lord would succor them. But the Apostle lays no stress on this expression; he only infers from the shaking of the heaven and the earth that the state of the world was to be changed at the coming of Christ; for things created are subject to decay, but Christ's kingdom is eternal; then all creatures must needs be brought into a better state. 273
He makes hence a transition to another exhortation, that we are to lay hold on that kingdom which cannot be shaken; for the Lord shakes us for this end, that he may really and forever establish us in himself. At the same time I prefer a different reading, which is given by the ancient Latin version, ``Receiving a kingdom, we have grace,'' etc. When read affirmatively, the passage runs best, --- ``We, in embracing the Gospel, have the gift of the Spirit of Christ, that we may reverently and devoutly worship God.'' If it be read as an exhortation, ``Let us have,'' it is a strained and obscure mode of speaking. The Apostle means in short, as I think, that provided we enter by faith into Christ's kingdom, we shall enjoy constant grace, which will effectually retain us in the service of God; for as the kingdom of Christ is above the world, so is the gift of regeneration. 274
By saying that God is to be served acceptably, {εὐαρέστως}, with reverence and fear, he intimates that though he requires us to serve with promptitude and delight, there is yet no service approved by him except it be united with humility and due reverence. Thus he condemns froward confidence of the flesh, as well as the sloth which also proceeds from it. 275
29. For our God, etc. As he had before kindly set before us the grace of God, so he now makes known his severity; and he seems to have borrowed this sentence from the fourth chapter of Deuteronomy. Thus we see that God omits nothing by which he may draw us to himself; he begins indeed with love and kindness, so that we may follow him the more willingly; but when by alluring he effects but little, he terrifies us.
And doubtless it is expedient that the grace of God should never be promised to us without being accompanied with threatening; for we are so extremely prone to indulge ourselves, that without the application of these stimulants the milder doctrine would prove ineffectual. Then the Lord, as he is propitious and merciful to such as fear him unto a thousand generations; so he is a jealous God and a just avenger, when despised, unto the third and the fourth generation. 276
273See Appendix Y 2. 274See Appendix Z 2. 275The Vulgate is, "with fear and reverence;" Beza's "with modesty and reverence and religious fear;" Schleusner's, "with reverence and devotion." Stuart has adopted our version. See Appendix A 3. — Ed.
276The conjunction {καὶ} at the beginning of this verse is commonly omitted by translators, but Macknight has retained it, ``For even our God,'' etc. The intimation clearly is, that under the Gospel no less than under the Law God is a consuming fire to apostates; and apostasy or idolatry is the sin especially referred to in Deuteronomy 4:24, from which this passage is taken. --- Ed