Hebrews 12:23 (WEB)
to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Hebrews 12:23 (KJV)
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Key words
- πνεύμασι δικαίων τετελειωμένωνpneumasi dikaiōn teteleiōmenōn · Greek
- 'the spirits of just men made perfect' — the righteous in heaven are already without sin.
Why it matters
The righteous in heaven are 'made perfect.' Pitre closes the New Eve chapter with this verse (p 41): Scripture already teaches that redeemed humans will be wholly free from sin in the age to come, so a sinless Mary is not a contradiction but a preview. She is the living sign of what grace will do in everyone Christ saves.
Catechism · 2
"I Believe in Life Everlasting"
“…cross to the good thief, as well as other New Testament texts speak of a final destiny of the soul -a destiny which can be different for some and for others.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Lk 16:22; 23:43; Mt 16:26; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23; Heb 9:27; 12:23.
The Third Commandment
“If a country's legislation or other reasons require work on Sunday, the day should nevertheless be lived as the day of our deliverance which lets us share in this "festal gathering," this "assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven."” — Catechism footnote: Heb 12:22-23.
Fathers and councils · 13
Origen
- Origen, Against Celsus VIII.5Book VIII
“…of God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and Church of the first-born, which are written in heaven.”” — editor's note: Heb. xii. 22, 23.
Read the whole comment - Origen, De Principiis IV.1Book IV
“And in another of his Epistles he says: “But ye are come unto mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, and to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, and to the Church of the first-born which is written in heaven.”” — editor's note: Cf. Heb. xii. 22, 23.
Read the whole comment - Origen, De Principiis IV.2Book IV
“And in another Epistle: “But ye are come unto mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and to the Church of the first-born which are written in heaven.”” — editor's note: Heb. xii. 22, 23.
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“And it is rightly named (Ecclesia) because it calls forth and assembles together all men; according as the Lord says in Leviticus, And make an assembly for all the congregation at the door of the tabernacle of witness.” — editor's note: ἐκκαλεῖσθαι. Cf. Heb. xii. 23.
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Eusebius of Caesarea
“…Zion, and the supramundane city of the living God, in which innumerable choirs of angels and the Church of the first born, whose names are written in heaven, praise their Maker and the Supreme Ruler of the universe with hymns of praise unutterable and incomprehensible to us,—who that is mortal is able worthily to…” — editor's note: Cf. Heb. xii. 22, 23.
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John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences I–X I.14Conference I
“…Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, and the church of the first born, who are written in heaven, and the spirits of just men made perfect.”” — editor's note: Heb. xii. 22, 23.
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Athanasius of Alexandria
“For not we alone are affected by this, but because of it, even the heavens rejoice with us, and the whole church of the firstborn, written in heaven, is made glad together, as the prophet proclaims, saying, ‘Rejoice, ye heavens, for the Lord hath had mercy upon Israel.” — editor's note: Heb. xii. 23.
Read the whole comment“But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, and to the general assembly and Church of the first-born, which are written in heaven.’” — editor's note: Heb. xii. 18–23
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Basil the Great
“Thy true country is the heavenly Jerusalem; thy fellow-citizens and thy compatriots are “the first-born which are written in heaven.”” — editor's note: Heb. xii. 23.
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John Chrysostom
“Hebrews xii. 18–24” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“For such is the city of God, having “the Church of the first-born, the spirits of the just, the general assembly of the angels, the blood of sprinkling,”whereby all are knit into one, and Heaven hath received the things of earth, and earth the things of Heaven, and that peace hath come which was of old longed…” — editor's note: Heb. xii. 22, 23, 44. [The citation is free; but it is evident that Chrysostom accepts the view indicated in the R.V. margin: “the general assembly of…
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Gregory of Nazianzus
“…be my rest for ever, when I have been passed on from the church here to the church yonder, the general assembly of the firstborn, who are written in heaven.” — editor's note: Heb. xii. 23.
Read the whole comment“But, if I must treat of her case in a more philosophic and lofty strain, Gorgonia’s native land was Jerusalem above, the object, not of sight but of contemplation, wherein is our commonwealth, and whereto we are pressing on: whose citizen Christ is, and whose fellow-citizens…” — editor's note: Heb. xii. 22, 23.
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Cross-references · 12
Cited together in Festal and Personal Letters Festal Letters.28.
Cited together in Catechism §1021.
Cited together in Catechism §1021.
Cited together in Catechism §1021.
Cited together in Against Celsus VIII.5.
Cited together in Against Celsus VIII.5.
Cited together in Catechism §1021.
Cited together in Catechism §1021.
Cited together in Festal and Personal Letters Festal Letters.28.
Cited together in Catechism §1021.
Cited together in Catechism §1021.
Cited together in Catechism §1021.