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Obey those who have the rule over you, and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Verse Takeaways
1
Conditional Submission
The call to "obey" and "submit" to church leaders is not absolute. Commentators like Calvin, Barnes, and Henry stress that this applies to faithful leaders whose guidance aligns with Scripture. Christians are to test teachings against the Word of God, as submission is owed to those genuinely watching for their souls, not to those who would lead them astray.
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Book Overview
Hebrews
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10
18th Century
Presbyterian
Obey them that have the rule over you. The marginal reading is guide. (See Notes on verse 7.) The reference here is to their reli…
Obey (πειθεσθε). Present middle imperative of πειθω with dative case.
Submit (υπεικετε). Present active im…
19th Century
Anglican
The present section of the chapter begins (Hebrews 13:7) and ends (Hebrews 13:17) with a reference to the rulers of the Chu…
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Baptist
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do i…
The readers must obey their leaders. In v.7 the leaders were men who had died. Here, however, those alive and currently in positions of authority a…
16th Century
Protestant
Obey them, etc. I have no doubt that he speaks of pastors and other rulers of the Church, for there were then no Christian magist…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
Obey them that have the rule over you Not the ecclesiastical rulers among the Jews, for to these they were no longer obliged, …
We must, according to our power, give to the necessities of the souls and bodies of men: God will accept these offerings with pleasure, and will ac…
13th Century
Catholic
After showing them how to act regarding their deceased leaders—that is, by continuing in their teachings—the Apostle now shows how to act toward li…
