“in a very little while,
the one who is coming will come and will not delay;
38but my righteous one will live by faith.
My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.”
39But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.
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a Other ancient authorities read they
b Gk he
c Meaning of Gk uncertain
d Gk by that will
e Gk this one
f Gk on their minds and I will remember
g Gk Therefore, brothers
10.1–18 A final reflection on Christ’s sacrifice indicates how it inaugurated Jeremiah’s promised covenant: as an act of conformity to God’s will.
10.1 For the old as a shadow of the heavenly, see 8.5. That the law was unable to make perfect was argued in 7.11, 19.
10.3 Year after year. See 9.7, 25.
10.4 Bulls and goats. See 9.12–13.
10.5a The world, not some heavenly realm, is where Christ made his decisive sacrifice.
10.5b–7 Ps 40.6–8. Similar sentiments appear in 1 Sam 15.22; Pss 50.8–15; 51.16–19; Isa 1.10–17; Jer 7.21–26; Hos 6.6. For other OT passages attributed to Christ, see 2.12–13.
10.5b The reading body you have prepared follows the Septuagint.
10.9 Real sacrifice is conformity to the will of God.
10.10 On God’s will that believers be sanctified, see 1 Thess 4.3. The composite name Jesus Christ here appears for the first time in Hebrews (see also 13.8). For the name Jesus alone, see 2.9; 3.1; cf. 4.14. The double name probably emphasizes that Christ’s obedience to God’s will involved his whole being, including his body (see v. 5b), the reality that can cast a shadow (see v. 1). The play on “body”/” shadow” imagery offers a surprising twist on the dichotomy previously deployed between the “heavenly” reality and the “earthly” shadow.
10.11 The weakness of the old sacrificial system is emphasized for the last time; see 7.11, 19; 9.9–10; 10.1–4.
10.12 Ps 110.1, last encountered in 8.1.
10.13 For this portion of Ps 110.1, see 1.13. The full effects of Christ’s sacrifice are yet to be felt.
10.14 That Christ’s death, which made him perfect (2.10; 5.9; 7.28), has perfected worshipers is the key point of contrast with old sacrifices; see 7.19; 9.9; 10.1.
10.15 For the testimony of the Holy Spirit, see 3.7.
10.16 A modified citation of Jer 31.33, cited in 8.10. Here with them replaces “the house of Israel.”
10.17 Jer 31.34b, cited in 8.12, here with the addition of and their lawless deeds.
10.19–39 The author applies the reflections on Christ to the audience, emphasizing faith (v. 22), hope (v. 23), and love (v. 24). For the triad, see 1 Cor 13.13.
10.19 For the recommended confidence, see 3.6; 4.16.
10.20 On the opening of the new…way, see 9.8. In Acts, Christianity is called the “Way” see Acts 9.2; 18.25; 24.14. The curtain (6.19; 9.3) through which the high priest passes (9.7) to approach God’s presence is identified with Christ’s flesh, a synonym for his “body” (10.10).
10.21 For the high priest and house of God, see 3.1–6.
10.22 For cultic approach, see 4.16. The reference to hearts being sprinkled recalls 9.13–14 and perhaps Ezek 36.25–26.
10.23 For holding to the confession, see 3.1–6; 4.14. On hope, see 3.6. For God being faithful, see Deut 7.9; Ps 145.13.
10.24 For more loving deeds, see 13.1–16.
10.25 Israelite prophets (Isa 2.12; Joel 1.15; 3.14; Am 5.18; 8.9; Zeph 1.14; Zech 14.1) expected the Day of the Lord, as did early Christians; see Mt 10.15; 1 Cor 1.8; 3.13; 5.5; 2 Cor 1.14; 1 Thess 5.2, 4; 2 Thess 2.2; 2 Pet 3.10; 1 Jn 4.17.
10.26 Stern language repeats the warning of 6.4–8.
10.27 For consuming fire, see Isa 26.11; 66.15–16, 24; Zeph 1.18; 2 Thess 1.7–8; Rev 11.5; 20.14.
10.28 Anyone generalizes from the punishment for cases such as blasphemy (Lev 24.14–16) and idolatry (Deut 17.2–5). The general requirement of two or three witnesses (Deut 19.15) applies explicitly to idolatry in Deut 17.6.
10.30a The citation is from Deut 32.35, in a form attested in Rom 12.19.
10.30b The citation is from Deut 32.36 or Ps 135.14.
10.32 On being enlightened, see 6.4.
10.36 The concern with endurance dominates the remaining chapters; see 11.27; 12.2, 7; 13.13. To do the will of God is the essence of covenant fidelity; see v. 9; 13.21.
10.37–38 A composite citation of Isa 26.20 (“a little while”) and Hab 2.3–4, the latter in its Greek form. Hab 2.4 is also cited in Rom 1.17; Gal 3.11. The one who is coming, i.e., Christ.
Hebrews 11
The Meaning of Faith
1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2Indeed, by faitha our ancestors received approval. 3By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.b
The Examples of Abel, Enoch, and Noah
4By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptablec sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faithd he still speaks. 5By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.
The Faith of Abraham
8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised.e 12Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”
13All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, 14for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.
17By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, 18of whom he had been told, “It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.” 19He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead—and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20By faith Isaac invoked blessings for the future on Jacob and Esau. 21By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, “bowing in worship over the top of his staff.” 22By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his burial.f
The Faith of Moses
23By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.g 24By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to share ill-treatmen
t with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26He considered abuse suffered for the Christh to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king’s anger; for he persevered as thoughi he saw him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.j
The Faith of Other Israelite Heroes
29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. 31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient,k because she had received the spies in peace.
32And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. 36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two,l they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented—38of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.
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a Gk by this
b Or was not made out of visible things
c Gk greater
d Gk through it
e Or By faith Sarah herself, though barren, received power to conceive, even when she was too old, because she considered him faithful who had promised.
f Gk his bones
g Other ancient authorities add By faith Moses, when he was grown up, killed the Egyptian, because he observed the humiliation of his people (Gk brothers)
h Or the Messiah
i Or because
j Gk would not touch them
k Or unbelieving
l Other ancient authorities add they were tempted
11.1–3 The definition of faith, which involves both belief and fidelity, is compact and evocative.
11.1 The word translated by assurance (Greek hypostasis) appears in 1.3, where it is translated very being, and in 3.14, where it is translated confidence. Conviction is not simply a subjective attitude; unseen realities are tested and “proved” by experience. The following catalogue provides biblical examples of such experiences. Hopes and things not seen are paralleled in Rom 8.24.
11.3 The plural worlds appears in 1.2. For creation by God’s word, see Gen 1.3; Ps 33.6; Wis 9.1; Jn 1.1–3. For creation from things that are not visible, see 2 Macc 7.28; Rom 4.17; 2 Enoch 24.2.
11.4–7 Various patriarchs exemplify hopeful belief and fidelity.
11.4 For Abel’s sacrifice, see Gen 4.4. That Abel still speaks derives from Gen 4.10; see Heb 12.24.
11.5 For Enoch’s removal to heaven, see Gen 5.24; Sir 44.16. That Enoch had pleased God relies on the Septuagint of Gen 5.22.
11.6 On the importance of belief that God exists, see Wis 13.1; 2 Esd 7.23; 8.58. God rewards those who seek him in Pss 14.2; 34.10; 53.2; 119.2; Am 9.12 as cited in Acts 15.17.
11.7 Noah. See Gen 6.8–9.17; Sir 44.17.
11.8–22 For other appeals to Abraham and his family, see Wis 10.5; Sir 44.19–21; 1 Macc 2.52; 4 Macc 16.20. In the NT, see Acts 7.2–8; Rom 4; Gal 3.6–9.
11.8 Abraham set out from Ur to Canaan; see Gen 11.31–12.4.
11.10 The city with divine foundations was traditionally Jerusalem; see Ps 87.1; Isa 54.11. Hebrews reinterprets such language in terms of a “heavenly” reality; see 12.22.
11.11 For the birth of Isaac, see Gen 18.1–15; 21.1–7.
11.12 As good as dead also describes Abraham in Rom 4.19. For stars and sand, see Gen 22.17.
11.13 For the status of being strangers and foreigners, see Gen 23.4; 47.4, 9; Lev 25.23; 1 Chr 29.15; Ps 39.12; Eph 2.19; 1 Pet 1.1; 2.11.
11.16 God is the God of the patriarchs in Gen 28.13; Ex 3.6; Mt 22.32; Mk 12.26–27.
11.17 For the episode when Abraham offered up his son, see Gen 22.1–14; Wis 10.5; Sir 44.20; 1 Macc 2.52; 4 Macc 16.18–20; Jubilees 17.15–18.
11.18 Gen 21.12.
11.19 Figuratively speaking, or “as a figure,” i.e., of Christ’s resurrection.
11.20 For Isaac’s blessings, see Gen 27.27–40.
11.21 The sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, receive Jacob’s blessing in Gen 48.8–22. Jacob bowed in worship in Gen 47.31, following the Septuagint.
11.22 For the prophecy of the exodus, see Gen 50.24.
11.23–28 For other appeals to Moses, see Sir 45.1–5; Acts 7.20–34. Hebrews contrasts Moses with Christ in 3.1–6.
11.23 For the infancy of Moses, see Ex 2.1–10; Acts 7.20–22.
11.25 For Moses’ decision to share the fate of the Israelites, see Ex 2.11–12; Acts 7.23–24.
11.26 How Moses understood his sufferings to have been for the Christ is obscure; perhaps he did so as a visionary (v. 27) forerunner of Christ. A connection between Moses and Christ could be based on Deut 18.15–20, cited in Acts 3.22–23, which speaks of a “prophet like Moses” who is to come.
11.27 Moses left Egypt for Midian in Ex 2.15; see also Acts 7.29. Moses saw God face to face according to Ex 33.11; Num 12.8; Deut 34.10; Sir 45.5.
11.28 For the first Passover, see Ex 12.1–28.
11.29–40 The catalogue of the faithful moves more rapidly.
11.29 For crossing the Red Sea, see Ex 14.
11.30 For the fall of Jericho, see Josh 6.
11.31 Rahab. See Josh 2.1; 6.17.
11.32 Gideon. See Judg 6–8. Barak. See Judg 4–5. Samson. See Judg 13–16. Jephthah. See Judg 11–12. David and Samuel. See 1 and 2 Sam.
11.33 For shutting mouths of lions, see Judg 14.6; 1 Sam 17.34–35; Dan 6.19–23.
11.34 For quenching fire, see Dan 3, and the Septuagint addition, Pr Azar 26–27, 66. Strength out of weakness may allude to Gideon (Judg 6.15), Samson (Judg 16.17), or heroines such as Esther.
11.35 For cases of resurrection, see 1 Kings 17.17–24; 2 Kings 4.18–37. Those tortured were martyrs such as Eleazar in 2 Macc 6.18–31 or the youths of 2 Macc 7.
11.36 Chains and imprisonment may refer to Jeremiah; see Jer 20.2; 29.26; 37.15.
11.37 Zechariah was stoned, according to 2 Chr 24.21. Legend attributes the same fate to Jeremiah. Legend also relates that Isaiah was sawn in two.
Hebrews 12
The Example of Jesus
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,a and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake ofb the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
3Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners,c so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. 4In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children—
“My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
or lose heart when you are punished by him;
6for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves,
and chastises every child whom he accepts.”
7Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent
does not discipline? 8If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children. 9Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. 11Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
Warnings against Rejecting God’s Grace
14Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled. 16See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent,d even though he sought the blessinge with tears.
18You have not come to somethingf that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, 19and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. 20(For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.” 21Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”) 22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23and to the assemblyg of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
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