SEV Biblia, Chapter 6:12
que no os hagis perezosos, sino imitadores de aquellos que por la fe y la paciencia heredan las promesas.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hebrew 6:12
Verse 12. That ye be not slothful] This shows how the full assurance of hope is to be regulated and maintained. They must be diligent; slothfulness will deprive them both of hope and faith. That faith which worketh by love will maintain hope in its full and due exercise. Followers of them] mimhtai de -] klhronomountwn tav epaggeliav? That ye be mimics or imitators of them who are inheriting the promises.
And they inherited these promises by faith in him who is invisible, and who, they knew, could not lie; and they patiently endured, through difficulties and adversities of every kind, and persevered unto death. "The promises made to Abraham and to his seed were, 1. That Abraham should have a numerous seed by faith as well as by natural descent. 2. That God would be a God to him and to his seed in their generations, by being the object of their worship and their protector. 3. That he would give them the possession of Canaan. 4. That he would bless all the nations of the earth in him. 5. That he would thus bless the nations through Christ, Abraham's seed. 6. That through Christ, likewise, he would bless the nations with the Gospel revelation. Four of these promises the believing Gentiles were inheriting at the time the apostle wrote this letter. 1. They were become Abraham's seed by faith. 2. God was become the object of their worship and their protector. 3. They were enjoying the knowledge of God in the Gospel Church, and the gifts of the Spirit. Gal. iii. 4. All these blessings were bestowed upon them through Christ. By observing that the believing Gentiles were actually inheriting the promises; i.e. the four promised blessings above mentioned, the apostle appealed to an undeniable fact, in proof that the believing Gentiles, equally with the believing Jews, were heirs of the promises made to Abraham and his seed." See Dr. Macknight. The promises may be considered as referring to the rest of faith here, and the rest of glory hereafter.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. That ye be not slothful , etc..] With respect to hearing the word, and attendance on every ordinance; with respect to the use of means for the increase of knowledge, faith, and hope; and with respect to ministering to the saints; but on the contrary, should take every opportunity of improvement and doing good: but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises ; or things promised; not the land of Canaan, nor the coming of the Messiah; but either grace and salvation by Christ; or eternal Life, which is expressed by a promise, to show that it is not by any works, or merits of men; that it is wholly of grace, and shall certainly be enjoyed: and it is expressed in the plural number, promises, because it is the grand promise, which is inclusive of all others; and because it has been given out at various times, and in different manners: and the possession of it being signified by inheriting, it shows that this is their Father's gift and legacy, which they have as children; and which comes to them through the death of Christ, and of which the Spirit is the seal; and comes not by works of righteousness done by them: and the means through which saints that are gone before are come to the enjoyment of this happiness, are faith and patience; not that faith is the cause of, or what gives right to the inheritance, but it designs a course and walk of believing, at the end of which, saints come to glory; and faith is connected with salvation, and salvation with that; and through faith believers are preserved unto it: and patience is joined with faith, as a fruit and evidence of it; and supposes troubles which are patiently endured before men come to the possession of the inheritance: now the apostle exhorts these Hebrews to be followers and imitators of such, in diligence, faith, and patience, when they need not doubt of inheriting the same promised blessedness they do.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-20 - The hope here meant, is a sure looking for good things promised through those promises, with love, desire, and valuing of them. Hop has its degrees, as faith also. The promise of blessedness God has mad to believers, is from God's eternal purpose, settled between the eternal Father, Son, and Spirit. These promises of God may safely be depended upon; for here we have two things which cannot change, the counsel and the oath of God, in which it is not possible for God to lie; it would be contrary to his nature as well as to his will. And a He cannot lie; the destruction of the unbeliever, and the salvation of the believer, are alike certain. Here observe, those to whom God ha given full security of happiness, have a title to the promises by inheritance. The consolations of God are strong enough to support his people under their heaviest trials. Here is a refuge for all sinner who flee to the mercy of God, through the redemption of Christ according to the covenant of grace, laying aside all other confidences We are in this world as a ship at sea, tossed up and down, and in danger of being cast away. We need an anchor to keep us sure an steady. Gospel hope is our anchor in the storms of this world. It is sure and stedfast, or it could not keep us so. The free grace of God the merits and mediation of Christ, and the powerful influences of his Spirit, are the grounds of this hope, and so it is a stedfast hope Christ is the object and ground of the believer's hope. Let u therefore set our affections on things above, and wait patiently for his appearance, when we shall certainly appear with him in glory __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
ινα 2443 μη 3361 νωθροι 3576 γενησθε 1096 5638 μιμηται 3402 δε 1161 των 3588 δια 1223 πιστεως 4102 και 2532 μακροθυμιας 3115 κληρονομουντων 2816 5723 τας 3588 επαγγελιας 1860
Vincent's NT Word Studies
12. Slothful (nwqroi). See on ch. v. 11. Or sluggish, as you will become if you lose hope.
Followers (mimhtai). Rend. imitators.
Faith and patience (pistewv kai makroqumiav). For patience rend. long-suffering, and see on Jas. v. 7. Faith and long-suffering go together. Faith does not win its inheritance without persevering endurance; hence long-suffering is not only presented as an independent quality, but is predicated of faith.
Inherit (klhronomountwn). Notice the present participle, are inheriting. Their present faith and perseverance are now making for their final inheritance. Comp. Eph. i. 14.
