Clement of Rome : Thus the humility and godly submission of so great and illustrious men have rendered not only us, but also all the generations before us, better; even as many as have received His oracles in fear and truth. Wherefore, having so many great and glorious examples set before us, let us turn again to the practice of that peace which from the beginning was the mark set before us; and let us look steadfastly to the Father and Creator of the universe, and cleave to His mighty and surpassingly great gifts and benefactions of peace. Let us contemplate Him with our understanding, and look with the eyes of our soul to His long-suffering will. Let us reflect how free from the wrath He is towards all His creation. — Letter to the Corinthians (Clement) Ephrem the Syrian : "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses" about the weight of our life, that is, about the fact that we have ahead of us a cloud of sad afflictions, which lead many who trust in Christ and die for him to honor, "let us lay aside everything" from us.… And "let us run with perseverance the race that is set for us" not only by our persecutors but by the devil himself. — COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS John Chrysostom : "Wherefore" (he says) "we also being compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses." In many places the Scripture derives its consolation in evils from corresponding things. As when the prophet says, "From burning heat, and from storm, and rain." (Isa. iv. 6.) This at least he says here also, that the memory of those holy men, reestablishes and recovers the soul which had been weighed down by woes, as a cloud does him who is burnt by the too hot rays of the sun. And he did not say, "lifted on high above us," but, "compassing us about," which was more than the other; so that we are in greater security. What sort of "cloud"? "A load of witnesses." With good reason he calls not those in the New Testament only, but those in the Old also, "witnesses" [or "martyrs"]. For they also were witnesses to the greatness of God, as for instance, the Three Children, those with Elijah, all the prophets. "Laying aside all things." "All": what? That is, slumber, indifference, mean reasonings, all human things. "And the sin which doth so easily beset us"; euperistaton, that is either "which easily circumvents us," or "what can easily be circumvented," but rather this latter. For it is easy, if we will, to overcome sin. "Let us run with patience" (he says) "the race that is set before us." He did not say, Let us contend as boxers, nor, Let us wrestle, nor, Let us do battle: but, what was lightest of all, the contest of the foot-race, this has he brought forward. Nor yet did he say, Let us add to the length of the course; but, Let us continue patiently in this, let us not faint. "Let us run" (he says) "the race that is set before us." — Homily on Hebrews 28 Oecumenius : He did not say that danger is looming over us or that we are being raised above, but, what is greater, that we are inspired. "A cloud of witnesses." Indeed, the memory of the witnesses or martyrs stirs them to similar zeal for struggles. He called them a cloud, either from the metaphor of those who are consumed by heat and enter a refreshing cloud to receive comfort. For the memory of the martyrs comforts those who have been dissolved by the heat of temptations: or because they distribute spiritual dew to us, interceding with God on our behalf. "laying aside every burden." Deposited with the gravity of worldly matters, and with all negligence and idleness at once. "the sin which clings so closely." Either because it easily clings to us or because it can easily undergo fall and rejection; therefore it is said. "run with endurance." For no one casts off the weight of worldly matters except through endurance. Furthermore, he mentions endurance as a thing most suitable for them. Consider indeed that he did not say, "Let us fight with fists," or "Let us battle," but rather, "run with endurance the race." For this present life is a race: a race, I say, against sins and desires, or against those who oppose us spiritually. Therefore, let us run in this race and act with courage. "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith." Then it comes to the very head of encouragement and comfort, namely Christ, and says: If we want to have patience and run rightly, let us look to Christ, and let us learn to run rightly and endure, calling Him the leader and perfecter, showing that He was the cause for our belief and will set the limit of faith, so that we may have it firm and unshakeable. "Who for the joy set before Him."He said, It would have been acceptable to live in this world with joy and glory: for he says, "I have the power to lay down my life and to take it up again;" (Jn. 10:18) but he did not want to, rather he willingly endured the cross. "endured the cross." For it was a disgraceful and accursed death inflicted by the cross.If therefore we look upon this, we too will endure, just as he endured. — The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews Oecumenius : Or to accept instead of the joy set before him, as Gregory says; to whom, he says, being able to remain in his own glory and divinity, he not only emptied himself to the form of a servant, but also endured the cross, despising its shame. Therefore, he says, he is able to also repay you for the sufferings endured on his account; for he was not only crucified, but also sits at the right hand of God, presenting the equality of the right hand and the throne. "and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." — The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews Oecumenius : Or what is said, For the joy set before him, understand it as Gregory says. To whom, he says, when it was free for him to remain in his own glory and divinity, he not only emptied himself to the form of a servant, but also endured the cross, disregarding the shame. "and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Therefore, he is worthy to reward you for the afflictions you suffer for him. For he was not only crucified, but also sits at the right hand of God. The right hand and the throne signify equality of honor. — The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews Severian of Gabala : Let us lay aside every weight. "Weight" is a sin of the enjoyment of the flesh, a form in which the "sin which clings so closely" is born. It clings closely to us as it surrounds us with pleasure and subdues us to its own will. — FRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE Hebrews 12.1 Theodore of Mopsuestia : He did not simply say that there is one time of repayment for all—for this was not his intention—but he said this to show that also those who had done such things and suffered such things through faith might still await the payment of the things promised. Not bearing it with ill grace, they are brought with us of the later generation. Thus he showed their even greater endurance, if indeed they still await after death those who ought to contend likewise with them so that with them we may obtain the enjoyment of all the good. And therefore he speaks of "witnesses," not of the things suffered but of the things testified for our faith. — FRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE Hebrews 12.1 Theodoret of Cyrus : The models of godliness are set before us on all sides, he is saying, in such vast numbers as to resemble a cloud in density and testify to the power of faith. Accordingly, let us keep our eyes on them, be light on our feet and rid ourselves of the burden of unnecessary worries, in this way being able also to avoid sin that is easy to contract. Before everything else we need perseverance to succeed in the course ahead of us. He said sin "clings" because it is easily contracted and committed: the eye is fascinated, the ear charmed, touch titillated, tongue easily loosened and thought quickly directed to the worst. — INTERPRETATION OF Hebrews 12