The Memory Page Online Study Bible added footnote (supplementing The New Defenders Study Bible footnotes)


succour

Hebrews 2:18


Succour (succor) means "To help or relieve when in difficulty, want, or distress; assist and deliver from suffering" (from the Century Dictionary).

From Barnes: "This does not mean that he would not have had 'power' to assist others if he had not gone through these sufferings, but that he is now qualified to sympathize with them from the fact that he has endured like trials... The idea is, that one who has himself been called to suffer is able to sympathize with those who suffer; one who has been tempted, is able to sympathize with those who are tempted in like manner... Hence, it is that ministers of the gospel are often -- like their Master -- much persecuted and afflicted, that they may be able to assist others...

And they should be willing to endure all this; because:

  1. Thus they are like their Master (compare Colossians 1:24; Philippians 3:10); and,
  2. They are thus enabled to be far more extensively useful.
Many a minister owes a large part of his usefulness to the fact that he has been much afflicted; and for those afflictions, therefore, he should unfeignedly thank God."

Philippians 1:29 says it is [graciously] given (Greek "charizomai") -- i.e., a priviledge -- to suffer for Christ; see Added Footnote.


   This Page Last Updated: 2024/01/20