Hebrews 10:38,39 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Now That is, in the mean time, as it is there added; the just, δικαιος, the righteous He that is pardoned and renewed, or justified and regenerated, and who therefore is humble, meek, sincere, resigned to the will of God, and relying on his wisdom, power, goodness, and faithfulness; shall live Shall be supported and preserved even in the midst of surrounding dangers, trials, and troubles, and shall live in God's favour a spiritual and holy life; by faith See on Romans 1:17; namely, as long as he retains that gift of God. In this passage the prophet, as well as the apostle, speaks of the efficacy of faith to support and comfort a man under temptations and afflictions in such a manner, that he neither faints in the combat, nor withdraws from it. But if any man The words any man are not in the original, and certainly are not necessary to be here supplied. The Greek, και εαν υποστειληται, are, and, or but, if he (who lived by faith) draw back If he make shipwreck of his faith, and cease to believe and rely on God's promises; or if, by reason of sufferings and temptations, he cease to exercise faith in Christ, and in the truths and promises of the gospel, and in consequence thereof renounce his profession of Christ, and withdrew himself from communion with other professors; my soul shall have Or rather, hath, (the word being in the present tense,) no pleasure in him That is, I withdraw my favour from him, nay, and cast him off in my displeasure. But we are not But I am persuaded that the persons to whom I address my letter, together with myself and my fellow-labourers; are not of the number of those that draw back unto perdition Like him who backslides and apostatizes, as mentioned in the preceding verse; but of them that believe That continue in the faith grounded and settled; to the saving of the soul To the attaining of final eternal salvation.