9:15 And so he is the mediator 2 of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, 3 since he died 4 to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.
12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 5 we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,
1 tn Grk “have taken refuge”; the basis of that refuge is implied in the preceding verse.
2 tn The Greek word μεσίτης (mesith", “mediator”) in this context does not imply that Jesus was a mediator in the contemporary sense of the word, i.e., he worked for compromise between opposing parties. Here the term describes his function as the one who was used by God to enact a new covenant which established a new relationship between God and his people, but entirely on God’s terms.
3 tn Grk “the promise of the eternal inheritance.”
4 tn Grk “a death having occurred.”
5 tn Grk “having such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us.”