John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you , etc..] The apostle addresses the believing Hebrews, as beloved; being beloved by the Lord, not as the descendants of Abraham, but as the elect of God, and so as loved with an everlasting love; and which might be known to themselves, by its being shed abroad in their hearts, and by their being called by grace, and by their love to him, and to his people: and from hence they might conclude they should not fall away, as the apostates before spoken of; since, in consequence of being beloved by God, they were chosen in Christ unto salvation; Christ was given to die for them; they had the Spirit sent down into their hearts; they were justified, pardoned, and adopted; nor could they be separated from the love of God: and the apostle also so calls them, because they were beloved by him, not merely as being his countrymen, but as saints: and this he says to testify his affection to them; to show that what he said was not from hatred of them, or prejudice to them; and that his exhortations, cautions, and reproofs, might be better taken; and particularly that they might credit what he here says, that he was persuaded better things of them, than what he had said of others in ( Hebrews 6:4-6) even such as are expressed in ( Hebrews 6:10) he was persuaded they had the true grace of God; whereas the above mentioned persons had only gifts, when in the height of their profession; and the least degree of grace is better than the greatest gifts men can be possessed of: grace makes a man a good man, not gifts; a man may have great gifts and not be a good man; grace is useful to a man's self, gifts are chiefly useful to others; grace makes men fruitful, when gifts leave them barren in the knowledge of Christ; grace is lasting, when gifts fail, and cease and vanish away; grace will abide the fire of persecution, when gifts will not; grace is saving, gifts are not: and things that accompany salvation ; which enter into salvation; are ingredients in it, and parts of it, and with which salvation is connected; such as faith, love, etc.. or which mutually touch or follow one another in the chain of salvation; as to be predestinated, justified, called, adopted, sanctified, and, at last, glorified: though we thus speak ; concerning others, as in the preceding verses: the hard things spoken by him of some, were consistent with such persuasions in general; for there might be some among them to whom the aforesaid characters belonged; and saying such things might be a means to make others watchful and careful.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 9, 10 - There are things that are never separated from salvation; things tha show the person to be in a state of salvation, and which will end in eternal salvation. And the things that accompany salvation, are bette things than ever any dissembler or apostate enjoyed. The works of love done for the glory of Christ, or done to his saints for Christ's sake from time to time, as God gives occasion, are evident marks of a man' salvation; and more sure tokens of saving grace given, than the enlightenings and tastings spoken of before. No love is to be reckone as love, but working love; and no works are right works, which flow no from love to Christ.
Greek Textus Receptus
πεπεισμεθα 3982 5769 V-RPI-1P δε 1161 CONJ περι 4012 PREP υμων 5216 P-2GP αγαπητοι 27 A-VPM τα 3588 T-APN κρειττονα 2909 A-APN και 2532 CONJ εχομενα 2192 5746 V-PPP-APN σωτηριας 4991 N-GSF ει 1487 COND και 2532 CONJ ουτως 3779 ADV λαλουμεν 2980 5719 V-PAI-1P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. But the writer refuses to believe that his readers will incur such a fate. Beloved (agaphtoi). Only here in the epistle. It often suggests an argument. See 1 Cor. x. 14; xv. 58; 2 Cor. vii. 1.We are persuaded (pepeismeqa). We are firmly convinced. The verb indicates a past hesitation overcome.
Better things (ta kreissona). The article gives a collective force, the better state of things, the going on unto perfection (ver. 1). For kreissona better, see on ch. i. 4.
That accompany salvation (ecomena swthriav). Ecesqai with a genitive is a common Greek idiom meaning to hold one's self to a person or thing; hence to be closely joined to it. So in a local sense, Mark i. 38; in a temporal sense, Luke xiii. 33, next. He is persuaded that they will give heed to all things which attend the work of salvation and will enjoy all that attaches to a saved condition.
