Hebrews 12:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Wherefore, seeing— The word also in our translation of this verse should by all means be expunged. The connection is this: "Seeing, therefore, that we Christians are, as it were, surrounded with this great number of believers, as the spectators and witnesses of our conduct, who at the same time encourage us to follow the example of their faith and patience, that we may be hereafter rewarded with them; Let us lay aside every thing that would hinder us, &c." The word witnesses refers to the Olympic race, where persons not only stood in great crowds to observe the contest, but many were appointed to stand at the goal or mark, to observe who reached it first, and give evidence in favour of the conqueror, who obtained the crown according to their testimony. Preserving this allusion, the words laying aside every weight, or incumbrance, will need no further illustration. We must not understand by the word Ογκος, rendered weight, any particular vice, such as pride, vanity, ambition, or whatever may elate us (which this term sometimes signifies); but any thing and every thing which is burdensome to a Christian in acting steadily and uniformly, according to the will of our Lord: and consequently the word sin is to be understood, not as spoken of any one sin, but of every sin which is apt to get round us, and entangle us, and thus to hinder us in our course;— ευπεριστατον. "This is a very difficult word, says Parkhurst, being found in no Greek writer before the time of the apostles. After examining various interpretations of it, both ancient and modern, I acquiesce (says he) in Chrysostom's exposition;—which easily encompass or surrounds us." It seems very probable, that in this epithet the apostle alludes to the long flowing garments of the ancients, which if not put off in running a race, would cling about their legs, and impede their course.