The Bible Answer Man says that the "witnesses" of Hebrews 12:1 are simply the objects of inspiration to us running the race. Their "witness" to the Christian faith is our example. He alleges that this verse does not support the Roman Catholic doctrine of the Communion of Saints; that somehow these "witnesses" are witnessing us. He says that there is no reason to accept this interpretation and there is every reason to reject it. What do you say?
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1)
ebrews 11 gives a long list of the great men of the OT and it is these who are the
"witnesses
" of Hebrews 12:1. What the Bible Liar Man fails to mention are other relevant NT verses:
Jesus said unto her, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die." (John 11:25-26)
But this [man]{Jesus}, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:24)
It seems to me that the "cloud of witnesses" can only refer to the heavenly gallery of righteous men from the OT as they look down on us from above. Clouds are above us in the heavenly realm. If the author of Hebrews wanted to talk about a list of witnesses, why did he use a word that harkened the common image in their day of the Greek gods looking down on mankind from above?
Art Sippo
