9:1 Now the first covenant, 16 in fact, had regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary.
2:1 Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2:2 For if the message spoken through angels 17 proved to be so firm that every violation 18 or disobedience received its just penalty,
5:1 For every high priest is taken from among the people 19 and appointed 20 to represent them before God, 21 to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Then” to reflect the implied sequence in the discourse.
2 tn Or “Helper” or “Counselor”; Grk “Paraclete,” from the Greek word παράκλητος (paraklhto"). Finding an appropriate English translation for παράκλητος is a very difficult task. No single English word has exactly the same range of meaning as the Greek word. “Comforter,” used by some of the older English versions, appears to be as old as Wycliffe. But today it suggests a quilt or a sympathetic mourner at a funeral. “Counselor” is adequate, but too broad, in contexts like “marriage counselor” or “camp counselor.” “Helper” or “Assistant” could also be used, but could suggest a subordinate rank. “Advocate,” the word chosen for this translation, has more forensic overtones than the Greek word does, although in John 16:5-11 a forensic context is certainly present. Because an “advocate” is someone who “advocates” or supports a position or viewpoint and since this is what the Paraclete will do for the preaching of the disciples, it was selected in spite of the drawbacks.
3 tn Grk “In that day.”
4 tn Grk “I do not say to you.”
5 tc A number of early
6 sn Here and in the remainder of the verse the second person pronouns are singular, so only Peter is in view. The name “Simon” has been supplied as a form of direct address to make this clear in English.
7 sn That your faith may not fail. Note that Peter’s denials are pictured here as lapses, not as a total absence of faith.
8 tn Grk “And when.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
9 tn Or “turned around.”
10 sn Strengthen your brothers refers to Peter helping to strengthen their faith. Jesus quite graciously restores Peter “in advance,” even with the knowledge of his approaching denials.
11 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
12 tn Or “reported it.” This verb is used three times in the next few verses (vv. 36, 37), showing how the healing became a major topic of conversation in the district.
13 tn Or “city.”
14 tn Or “prefiguration.”
15 tn The word “sanctuary” is not in the Greek text at this point, but has been supplied for clarity.
16 tn Grk “the first” (referring to the covenant described in Heb 8:7, 13). In the translation the referent (covenant) has been specified for clarity.
17 sn The message spoken through angels refers to the OT law, which according to Jewish tradition was mediated to Moses through angels (cf. Deut 33:2; Ps 68:17-18; Acts 7:38, 53; Gal 3:19; and Jub. 1:27, 29; Josephus, Ant. 15.5.3 [15.136]).
18 tn Grk “through angels became valid and every violation.”
19 tn Grk “from among men,” but since the point in context is shared humanity (rather than shared maleness), the plural Greek term ἀνθρώπων (anqrwpwn) has been translated “people.”
20 tn Grk “who is taken from among people is appointed.”
21 tn Grk “appointed on behalf of people in reference to things relating to God.”
22 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of the war in heaven.
23 tn Grk “it”; the referent (the beast) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
24 tn The prepositional phrase “since the foundation of the world” is traditionally translated as a modifier of the immediately preceding phrase in the Greek text, “the Lamb who was killed” (so also G. B. Caird, Revelation [HNTC], 168), but it is more likely that the phrase “since the foundation of the world” modifies the verb “written” (as translated above). Confirmation of this can be found in Rev 17:8 where the phrase “written in the book of life since the foundation of the world” occurs with no ambiguity.
25 tn Or “slaughtered”; traditionally, “slain.”
26 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
27 tn The word “name” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
28 tn Grk “he”; the pronoun has been intensified by translating as “that person.”