Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Hebrews 4:8

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"For if Joshua had given them rest he would not afterward have spoken of another day." It is evident, that he says these things, as of persons who are to attain some recompense.

Homily on Hebrews 6 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

By all this he endeavors to show that Joshua could not have led them into that rest of which both David speaks and we now speak. Since Joshua did not lead them in, and David "after so long a time" again says: "do not harden your hearts," like the fathers who did not enter because of unbelief, he gives us grounds to conclude by contrasting argument that we shall enter if we believe. It is evident that this is a future rest, and it awaits us. …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗

Justin Martyr

"I shall give you another testimony, my friends," said I, "from the Scriptures, that God begat before all creatures a Beginning, [who was] a certain rational power [proceeding] from Himself, who is called by the Holy Spirit, now the Glory of the Lord, now the Son, again Wisdom, again an Angel, then God, and then Lord and Logos; and on another occasion He calls Himself Captain, when He appeared in human form to Joshua the son of Nave (Nun). …

Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter LXI ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, For if Joshua had given them rest, God would never have afterwards spoken of another day, he proves that it remains for others to enter, because if Jesus Nave, i.e., Joshua, had given the children of Israel final rest, God would never have spoken of another day, i.e., another rest would not remain for us, nor would David have spoken of another rest after that day. Hence, it is clear that that rest was a sign of spiritual rest.

Commentary on Hebrews ↗