Hebrews 7:11

Jesus and the Priesthood of Melchizedek

7:11 So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood – for on that basis ¹  the people received the law – what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order?

Hebrews 11:39-40

11:39 And these all were commended ²  for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. ³  11:40 For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us. ⁴ 

Hebrews 11:1

People Commended for Their Faith

11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.

Hebrews 1:11-12

1:11 They will perish, but you continue.

And they will all grow old like a garment,

1:12 and like a robe you will fold them up

and like a garment ⁵  they will be changed,

but you are the same and your years will never run out.” ⁶ 

¹ tn Grk “based on it.”

² sn The expression these all were commended forms an inclusio with Heb 11:2: The chapter begins and ends with references to commendation for faith.

³ tn Grk “the promise,” referring to the thing God promised, not to the pledge itself.

⁴ tn The Greek phrasing emphasizes this point by negating the opposite: “so that they would not be made perfect without us.”

⁵ tc The words “like a garment” (ὡς ἱμάτιον, Jw" Jimation) are found in excellent and early mss (Ì⁴⁶ א A B D* 1739) though absent in a majority of witnesses (D¹ Ψ 0243 0278 33 1881 Ï lat sy bo). Although it is possible that longer reading was produced by overzealous scribes who wanted to underscore the frailty of creation, it is much more likely that the shorter reading was produced by scribes who wanted to conform the wording to that of Ps 102:26 (101:27 LXX), which here lacks the second “like a garment.” Both external and internal considerations decidedly favor the longer reading, and point to the author of Hebrews as the one underscoring the difference between the Son and creation.

⁶ sn A quotation from Ps 102:25-27.