Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Hebrews 6:17

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

God, however, ought to have been believed even without an oath: "wherein" (he says) "God willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath." In these words he comprehends also the believers, and therefore mentions this "promise" which was made to us in common with them. "He mediated" (he says) "by an oath." Here again he says that the Son was mediator between men and God.

Homily on Hebrews 11 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

That is, precisely because an oath gives people full assurance, God also swears. Or, "therefore," instead of: in that He swore, he says, God by Himself, He abundantly proved to us that He will in every way and immutably fulfill what He promised. For although God ought to have been believed even without an oath, nevertheless He condescends for our sake and looks not to His own dignity, but, in order to convince us, permits unworthy things to be said about Himself. …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗

Oecumenius

It was necessary, therefore, he says, to believe in God who had promised without an oath, but since God wanted to do something more, he mediated the promise by an oath. "to show the firmness of His counsel." He also came to us. For we are the heirs of the promise, being the seed of Abraham; and if we are the seed, then we are also heirs. "He mediated with an oath." See what he prepares. …

The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

322. – Then when he says, So when God desired to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his purpose, he interposed an oath, he states the reason why God willed to swear, namely, to show the immutability of His promise. …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗