PERFECTION

PERDITION

OR

The LXX uses the word translated `dull' in Proverbs 22:29 to translate `mean' in the expression `mean men', and

the verse speaks of one diligent in his business. In Proverbs 12:8 it is used for `perverse'. It would appear from the

usage of the word that the A.V. `dull' is hardly strong enough. The Hebrew word in Proverbs 22:29 is chashok

`obscure' or `darkened', and the cognate chosek is translated scores of times `darkness'.

The spiritual ear and eye are of the first importance. Peter in his second epistle uses the word myopia (`cannot

see afar off') of those who had become forgetful of the purification of old sins (1:9). We trust our readers will

immediately remember the strong emphasis upon `purification for sins' found in Hebrews, especially the fact that in

the opening summary this alone is written of the Lord's work on earth. `When He had made purification for sins'

(Heb. 1:3). 2 Peter 1 speaks of `adding to your faith', a parallel expression to the words of Hebrews 6, `things that

accompany salvation'. These added things have in view the rich furnishing of the entry into the aionian kingdom of

our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:11). So in Hebrews the perfecting is connected with the aionian

This reference to the dullness of hearing is additionally a gathering up of the words of the great historic type of

chapters 3 and 4. `Today if ye will HEAR His voice'. `Some, when they had HEARD, did provoke'. `The word

preached did not profit them, because they were not united by faith with them that HEARD'. Dullness of hearing,

moreover, is another mode of expressing the truth of Hebrews 2:1:

`Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we drift away'

(not AV JP).

`Hearing' together with `seeing' may be reckoned as the chiefest of the senses. How sad to allow any precious sense, even

in the physical realm, to be atrophied through lack of use! How doubly sad to have the precious gift of hearing

spiritually and then through not having `the senses EXERCISED' (Heb. 5:14) to fail, to come short, to drift! Over

against this drifting and dullness the apostle places endurance, obedience, suffering, steadfastness unto the end.

Surely we, too, need the exhortation of the Lord, `Take heed how you hear'.

Not only were there many things to say about Melchisedec, but the apostle said that they were `hard to be

interpreted (not uttered)'. The word translated `uttered' is dusermeneutos which is cognate with hermeneuo which

occurs in Hebrews 7:2 again in connection with this same Melchisedec:

`First being by interpretation King of righteousness'.

Paul had no difficulty concerning `utterance'; his difficulty was `to make intelligible to you' (Moffatt). This

difficulty of interpretation could reside in the apostle himself, or could arise from some quality or lack in his hearers.

This is what he actually said. Their dullness of hearing, made for dullness of teaching. It is good to remember that

there could be no `buyers' if there were no `sellers', no `borrowers' if no `lenders', and the teacher is dependent

upon the hearer. If the hearer be `dull' the `interpretation' will be thereby rendered difficult. That this is an integral

part of the apostle's lesson here, the structure makes manifest, the words `dull' and `slothful' (Heb. 5:11; 6:12) being

the only occurrences of the Greek word nothros in the New Testament. These dull and slothful ones were not laying

aside every weight, but were evidently cumbered with useless impediments, `the other things' that choke the word.

Not only does this dullness of hearing seriously hinder the growth of the believer, it prevents him from exercising

that most blessed office, the ability to teach others. Teaching demands of the teacher many precious gifts, but the

most important of all is that he too shall have the `hearing ear'. The `tongue of the learned' is most closely related

to the `ear of the learned' (Isa. 50:4) `As I hear I speak' said the greatest Teacher of all. This dullness of hearing the

apostle associates with stunted growth and in Hebrews 5:12-14 he expands his meaning under six heads:

(1) It indicates lack of progress.

`For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need

that one teach you'.

(2) It indicates spiritual infancy.

`Ye have need of milk, and not of solid food'.

(3) It indicates lack of experience.

`For every one that useth milk is without experience of the

word of righteousness'.