Hebrews 12:22-23

_ _ are come — Greek, “have come near unto” (compare Deuteronomy 4:11). Not merely, ye shall come, but, ye have already come.

_ _ Mount Sion — antitypical Sion, the heavenly Jerusalem, of which the spiritual invisible Church (of which the first foundation was laid in literal Zion, John 12:15; 1 Peter 2:6) is now the earnest; and of which the restored literal Jerusalem hereafter shall be the earthly representative, to be succeeded by the everlasting and “new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven” (Revelation 21:2-27; compare Hebrews 11:10).

_ _ to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church — The city of God having been mentioned, the mention of its citizens follows. Believers being like the angels (Job 1:6; Job 38:7), “sons of God,” are so their “equals” (Luke 20:36); and being reconciled through Christ, are adopted into God’s great and blessed family. For the full completion of this we pray (Matthew 6:10). English Version arrangement is opposed: (1) by “and” always beginning each new member of the whole sentence; (2) “general assembly and Church,” form a kind of tautology; (3) “general assembly,” or rather, “festal full assembly,” “the jubilant full company” (such as were the Olympic games, celebrated with joyous singing, dancing, etc.), applies better to the angels above, ever hymning God’s praises, than to the Church, of which a considerable part is now militant on earth. Translate therefore, “to myriads (ten thousands, compare Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalms 68:17; Daniel 7:10; Jude 1:14; namely), the full festal assembly of angels, and the Church of the first-born.” Angels and saints together constitute the ten thousands. Compare “all angels, all nations” Matthew 25:31, Matthew 25:32. Messiah is pre-eminently “the First-born,” or “First-begotten” (Hebrews 1:6), and all believers become so by adoption. Compare the type, Numbers 3:12, Numbers 3:45, Numbers 3:50; 1 Peter 1:18. As the kingly and priestly succession was in the first-born, and as Israel was God’s “first-born” (Exodus 4:22; compare Exodus 13:2), and a “kingdom of priests” to God (Exodus 19:6), so believers (Revelation 1:6).

_ _ written in heaven — enrolled as citizens there. All those who at the coming of “God the Judge of all” (which clause therefore naturally follows), shall be found “written in heaven,” that is, in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 21:27). Though still fighting the good fight on earth, still, in respect to your destiny, and present life of faith which substantiates things hoped for, ye are already members of the heavenly citizenship. “We are one citizenship with angels; to which it is said in the psalm, Glorious things are spoken of thee, thou city of God” [Augustine]. I think Alford wrong in restricting “the Church of the first-born written in heaven,” to those militant on earth; it is rather, all those who at the Judge’s coming shall be found written in heaven (the true patent of heavenly nobility; contrast “written in the earth,” Jeremiah 17:13, and Esau’s profane sale of his birthright, Hebrews 12:16); these all, from the beginning to the end of the world, forming one Church to which every believer is already come. The first-born of Israel were “written” in a roll (Numbers 3:40).

_ _ the spirits of just men made perfect — at the resurrection, when the “JUDGE” shall appear, and believers’ bliss shall be consummated by the union of the glorified body with the spirit; the great hope of the New Testament (Romans 8:20-23; 1 Thessalonians 4:16). The place of this clause after “the JUDGE OF ALL,” is my objection to Bengel and Alford’s explanation, the souls of the just in their separate state perfected. Compare Notes, see on Hebrews 11:39, Hebrews 11:40, to which he refers here, and which I think confirms my view; those heretofore spirits, but now to be perfected by being clothed upon with the body. Still the phrase, “spirits of just men made perfect,” not merely “just men made perfect,” may favor the reference to the happy spirits in their separate state. The Greek is not “the perfected spirits,” but “the spirits of the perfected just.” In no other passage are the just said to be perfected before the resurrection, and the completion of the full number of the elect (Revelation 6:11); I think, therefore, “spirits of the just,” may here be used to express the just whose predominant element in their perfected state shall be spirit. So spirit and spirits are used of a man or men in the body, under the influence of the spirit, the opposite of flesh (John 3:6). The resurrection bodies of the saints shall be bodies in which the spirit shall altogether preponderate over the animal soul (see on 1 Corinthians 15:44).