Hebrews 9:28

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Hebrews 9:28 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.
Hebrews 9:28 — American Standard Version

Context — Hebrews 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
28so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, etc..] As man dies but once, Christ was offered but once, or he suffered and died but once; and that was not on his own account, or for his own sins, “but to bear the sins of many”: not of angels but of men, and these not a few, but “many”; which is said to magnify the grace of God, to exalt the satisfaction and righteousness of Christ, and to encourage souls to hope in him: hence many are brought to believe in him, and many are justified by him, have their sins forgiven them, and are glorified; though Christ bore not the sins of all men; for as all men have not faith, all are not justified, pardoned, and saved: what he bore were “sins”;…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Christ--Greek, "THE Christ"; the representative MAN; representing all men, as the first Adam did. once offered--not "often," Heb 9:25; just as "men," of whom He is the representative Head, are appointed by God once to die. He did not need to die again and again for each individual, or each successive generation of men, for He represents all men of every age, and therefore needed to die but once for all, so as to exhaust the penalty of death incurred by all. He was offered by the Father, His own "eternal Spirit" (Heb 9:14) concurring; as Abraham spared not Isaac, but offered him, the son himself unresistingly submitting to the father's will (Gen. 22:1-24). to bear the sins--referring to Isa…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“So Christ was once offered - Since people are to die but once; and as all beyond the grave is fixed by the judgment, so that his death there would make no change in the destiny, there was a propriety that he should die but once for sin. The argument is, there is one probation only, and therefore there was need of but one sacrifice, or of his dying but once. If death were to occur frequently in the existence of each individual, and if each intermediate period were a state of probation, then there might be a propriety that an atonement should be made with reference to each state. Or if beyond the grave there were a state of probation still, then also there might be propriety that an atoning…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Christ having once died to bear the sins - The punishment due to them. Of many - Even as many as are born into the world. Will appear the second time - When he comes to judgment. Without sin - Not as he did before, bearing on himself the sins of many, but to bestow everlasting salvation. Next: Hebrews Chapter 10”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“was: Heb 9:25; Rom 6:10; Pe1 3:18; Jo1 3:5 to bear: Lev 10:17; Num 18:1, Num 18:23; Isa 53:4-6, Isa 53:11, Isa 53:12; Mat 26:28; Rom 5:15; Pe1 2:24 them: Phi 3:20; Th1 1:10; Ti2 4:8; Tit 2:13; Pe2 3:12 he appear: Zac 14:5; Joh 14:3; Act 1:11; Th1 4:14-16; Th2 1:5-9, Th2 2:1; Jo1 3:2; Rev 1:7 without: Rom 6:10, Rom 8:3 unto: Isa 25:9; Rom 8:23; Co1 15:54; Phi 3:21; Th1 4:17; Th2 1:10 Next: Hebrews Chapter 10”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification