Do We Not Have A Cloud Of Witnesses Around Us?

Therefore, then, let us also, now that we have such a great cloud of witnesses around us, lay aside every burden and the sin that so easily stands in our way, and with endurance run the race that lies before us.
Hebrews 12:3 NBG 51

Some conclude from this verse that all the people mentioned in Hebrews 11 are witnesses of what we do and how we act. That is a misunderstanding. A witness here is not an observer, but someone with a testimony. And in the preceding chapter, an impressive number of examples of testimonies has been given.

Still, all these have not obtained the promise, and they will not reach perfection apart from us (11:39,40). All the believers mentioned, therefore, are still in the rest of death and, from their position, cannot observe us; nevertheless, they speak, even after they have died (compare Hebrews 11:4). And that is why they are a cloud of witnesses around us.

Share: