Fit you in all goodness, that you may do his will; doing in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom is glory for ever and ever. Amen.
καταρτισαι υμας εν παντι εργω αγαθω εις το ποιησαι το θελημα αυτου ποιων εν υμιν το ευαρεστον ενωπιον αυτου δια ιησου χριστου ω η δοξα εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων αμην
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Again he bears witness to their great virtues, because what is perfected is something that has a beginning and continues to be fulfilled. Moreover, he prays for this, and therefore he greatly desires it for them. And note: in other epistles he prays at the beginning, but here at the end.
"May He perfect you in every good work." He shows that they had good works and needed only to be perfected in them. This is what he prays for on their behalf.
See that we ourselves must first begin, and then ask perfection from God. "To do His will." One who has been perfected in every good work also does the will of God, not one who does good only by halves.
"Working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory unto ages of ages. Amen." Therefore, when we do good, God works this in us through Jesus Christ, Who is the Mediator and Perfecter.
For if He accomplished our salvation in the beginning, what is surprising if He also acts as Mediator in our perfection in the virtues? He fulfills in us the Father's will, Himself strengthening us and breathing into us power for the doing of good works.
To the word "well pleasing" he added, "in His sight." For we truly please God when we are found good before God, not when we are found good before men.
David also says, "according to the purity of my hands in His sight" (Ps 17:25). And Isaiah says, "Put away your evil deeds from before My eyes" (Isa 1:16).
May He perfect you, having freed you from your law, in every good work, so that you may do His will in all things, and not the powerless ordinances of the Law.
To the teaching the Apostle necessarily added a blessing, and placed, as it were, certain seals upon his many words. He called the Master Christ the “great Shepherd” of the sheep. For these are His words: “I am the good shepherd” (Jn 10:11). He called the New Covenant “eternal,” because there will be no other after it. Lest anyone suppose that this covenant too will cease for the sake of another, he rightly pointed to its endlessness.
"May He perfect you in every good work, to do His will." He says, the One Who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep, in the Blood of the eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus, "may He perfect you."
That is, may He perfect you in every good thing, so that no imperfection remains in you. For when we do good works, God perfects us in them, and without Him there is no perfection in virtue.
The one perfected in every good work and who has attained the fullness of perfection has strength to do the will of God. By every work he means works in general and faith.
"Working in you what is well pleasing before Him." That is, perfecting you in what is pleasing to Him. "Through Jesus Christ," Who assists you in doing good. Or, the Father works in you through the Son, as Mediator between God and men.
"To Him be glory unto ages of ages. Amen." Glory always befits Him, for Scripture says, "He has been gloriously glorified" (Ex 15:21).
Or, "to Him be glory" means from us, who glorify Him not only in word, but also in deed. For the Lord says, "Let them see your good works and glorify your Father Who is in heaven" (Mt 5:1).
After this the Apostle concludes his epistle with a blessing. He asks the readers to receive his epistle favorably, informs them of his release from prison, άπο λελυμένον, compare Lk 22:68; 23:16 and following, greets the presiders and the whole flock, and adds that the Italian Christians send them greetings (vv. 22-25).
The expression, "God brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep," is formed according to the pattern of an expression found in the book of the prophet Isaiah (Isa 63:11), which refers to Moses.
The prophet Isaiah, speaking in the name of the Hebrew people, cries out to God: Where is He Who brought them up with the shepherd of His flock, Moses? Having this passage in mind, the Apostle calls Christ the great Shepherd.
He says that God brought Him out of the realm of the dead, as before He brought Moses out of the sea. God raised Jesus because He shed His Blood for the founding of the New Covenant (vv. 20-21).
The expression αί’ματί is equivalent to the expression in Zech 9:11, bedam beritech. There this expression signifies the basis by virtue of which deliverance from captivity is promised to the Hebrew people.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 30 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS