the Epistle was written, had long taken place; for, on account of the time, they ought themselves to have been teachers (chap. 5:12); those who brought the gospel to them were already dead (chap. 13:7); and their history had been one of varied vicissitudes, for on the back of their first faith they had been subjected to sharp persecutions (chap. 10:32), though presumably their later history, until recently (chap. 12:4, 11–13), had been more peaceful. In the early days of their faith they had shown