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Commentaries,
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Hebrews 3:14 For
we have
become
partakers of
Christ,
if we
hold
fast the
beginning of
our
assurance
firm
until the
end (NASB:
Lockman) |
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Greek: metochoi gar
tou Christou gegonamen (1PRAI) eanper ten archen tes hupostaseos
mechri telous bebaian kataschomen (1PAAS)
Amplified: For we have become fellows with Christ (the Messiah)
and share in all He has for us, if only we hold our first newborn
confidence and original assured expectation [in virtue of which we are
believers] firm and unshaken to the end. (Amplified
Bible - Lockman)
KJV: For we
are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our
confidence stedfast unto the end;
NET: For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we
hold our initial confidence firm until the end.
(NET
Bible)
NLT: For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as
firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to
Christ. (NLT
- Tyndale House)
Phillips: For we continue to share in all that Christ has
for us so long as we steadily maintain until the end the trust with
which we began. (Phillips:
Touchstone)
Wuest: for we have become participators of Messiah and as a
present result are participators of Him, if we hold the beginning of
our assured expectation steadfast to the end. (Eerdmans)
Young's Literal: For we have become partakers of Christ,
if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end; |
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FOR WE HAVE BECOME PARTAKERS OF CHRIST: metochoi gar tou Christou
gegonamen (1PRAI):
(Heb 3:1; 6:4; 12:10; Romans 11:17; 1Corinthians 1:30; 9:23; 10:17;
Ephesians 3:6; 1Timothy 6:2; 1Peter 4:13; 5:1; 1John 1:3)
Partakers
(partners)
(3353)
(metochos
from metecho = have with,
describing participation with another in common blessings) describes one who
shares with someone else as an associate in an enterprise or undertaking. It
speaks of those who are participators in something. Business partner,
companion. Participating in. Accomplice in. Comrade.
Because of
this condition, some propose that one cannot become, or at least be sure of
becoming, a partaker until the end. If the verb were future, that would
surely fit—we will be partakers if we hold fast. The verb = perfect tense =
completed action w existing results = we have become and remain partakers,
if we should hold steadfast.
If verb were future, then partaking would indeed be based upon one’s ability
or determination to hold on.
As it is, the condition is a test by which one can know if he has faith =
test of continuance. The author proposes that Israel’s fickle faith did not
manifest itself as true faith (cp Heb4:2), nor will such faith today. As
Jesus taught, true faith is the implanting of the Word into a receptive,
believing heart (Lk8:15 > heard the Word...hold fast = katecho)
Partakers is emphatic. In this verse, the writer is referring to the fact
that Messiah is the possession of believers. This is the uniform use of
metochos in this epistle where the genitive of the thing possessed is given.
In 1:9 the word is used of participation with someone. But see other uses in
Hebrews (Heb 2:14, 3:1, 5:13, 6:4, 7:13, 12:8).
Metochos is used of those who are participators in something, or of those
who are participators with someone.
Because we are God’s children, we also partake in God’s loving chastening
(Heb. 12:8). The picture is that of the oneness of
covenant,
where two become one, “You in me, and I in you,” that is, Christ dwelling in
us as a Son in His own house; and believers dwelling in Christ, as sharers
of His divine-human life.
The Greek can be taken to mean that we are partakers with Christ, His
companions (He 1:9), sharing new life with Him. It is also possible to
translate “partakers of Christ,” indicating that He is the benefit we share
in, through our intimate union with Him.
All Christians, regardless of their status or position before being saved,
are now fellow partakers of everything that pertains to Christ through the
gospel—which is everything that pertains to Christ. The essence of the
gospel is that, through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are made everything
He is and given everything He has. The phrase “the mystery of Christ” (Heb
1: 4)
is also used in Col. 4:3 as the very essence of Paul’s message. It carries
the truth of Colossians 1:27, that Christ is in believing Gentiles as well
as believing Jews as “the hope of glory” for both. It also carries the truth
of Colossians 2:2, that the mystery is “Christ Himself,” in whom believers
have everything (v. 3). So the mystery is fully understood to be Jew and
Gentile in Christ—Christ in Jew and Gentile, so that there is the intimate
shared union of eternal life as they both become immersed in the Lord Jesus
Christ (Gal. 2:20). God predestines every believer “to become conformed to
the image of His Son” (Ro 8:29).
IF WE HOLD FAST THE BEGINNING OF
OUR ASSURANCE FIRM UNTIL THE END: eanper ten archen tes hupostaseos mechri
telous bebaian kataschomen (1PAAS)
:
(Heb 3:6, Mt 24:13, 2John 1:9; same idea
in 2Th 1:5)
If is a third class
conditional: possibility: Those who persevere in their Christian life know
that they have come to share in the life Christ gives (See later in Hebrews
this "sharing" refers to sharing His reproach!). Believers who are once in
Christ continue to be in Christ. Faith does not come and go. It stays firmly
fixed on Christ. These faltering believers (some even apostates) began with
loud confidence and profession of loyalty. And now?
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1
Corinthians 15:1-2
Writing to the Corinthians Paul
concerning the gospel says...
"Now I make known to you,
brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received,
in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast
the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain." (1Cor
15:1-2).
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Regarding the interpretation of
(1Cor
15:1-2) note the following thoughts...
Matthew Henry says that
"The doctrine of Christ's death
and resurrection, is the foundation of Christianity. Remove this, and
all our hopes for eternity sink at once. And it is by holding this
truth firm, that Christians stand in the day of trial, and are kept
faithful to God. We believe in vain, unless we keep in the faith of
the gospel."
John MacArthur writes
that...
"By this qualifying statement,
Paul recognized and called to their attention that some may have had a
shallow, non-saving faith (Matthew
7:13, 14, 22-27). Some believed only as the demons
believed (James 2:19), convinced the gospel was true, but with
no love for God, Christ, or righteousness. True believers “hold fast”
to the gospel (cf.
John 8:31;
2Cor 13:5;
1John 2:24;
2Jn 9). (MacArthur,
John: Hebrews. Moody Press
)
Warren Wiersbe adds
that...
"The fact that they were
standing firm was proof that their faith was genuine and not empty."
(Wiersbe,
W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor)
Kistemaker comments
that...
"The flow of the verse is that the Corinthians are saved because
they have received the gospel; but they must hold on to that gospel
and so demonstrate this in their conduct. Otherwise their faith will
be hollow and worthless. Faith must exhibit perseverance in the
teachings and application of the gospel to be genuinely active. If
this is not the case, says Paul, “you have believed in vain."
(Hendriksen,
W., & Kistemaker, S. J. New Testament Commentary Set, 12 Volumes.
Grand Rapids: Baker Book House) (Bolding added)
John Calvin writes that
Paul's
"two expressions are very
cutting. In the first, he reproves their carelessness or fickleness,
because such a sudden fall was an evidence that they had never
understood what had been delivered to them, or that their knowledge of
it had been loose and floating, inasmuch as it had so quickly
vanished. By the second, he warns them that they had needlessly and
uselessly professed allegiance to Christ, if they did not hold fast
this main doctrine."
The Life Application Bible
Commentary says that...
"Paul took these Corinthian
believers back to the basics of the message that they had welcomed and
received. Because acceptance of that gospel had saved them, they
should hold firmly to it. To do otherwise would mean that they had
believed in vain. If they could be so easily swayed to other messages,
tangents, and untruths, then perhaps what they claimed as belief was
not belief at all. If the faith they thought they had could not assure
them of salvation, then that faith was worthless."(Barton,
B, et al: The NIV Life Application Commentary Series: Tyndale)
KJV Study Bible notes
that...
"Not retaining the gospel will
show the Corinthians to have “believed in vain”, that is, “without
effect."
Spirit Filled LIfe Study
Bible comments succinctly that...
"Only persevering faith is
saving faith."
Women's Study Bible
comments that...
"To hold fast means to keep in
memory and to hold firmly. It implies continued holding and lasting
possession. Paul wanted the Corinthians to hold fast to the essence of
the gospel—Jesus’ death and Resurrection—lest their faith be “in
vain,” that is, without cause or purpose." |
Wuest writes that
"The evidence of the
fact that the recipient is saved, is that he retains his profession of
faith in Messiah under the stress of persecution, not going back to the 1st
Covenant sacrificial system and works orientation of the Pharisees.
(v12,14). The question is not one of the retention of salvation
based upon a persistence of faith, but of the possession of salvation
as evidenced by a continuation of faith." (cf He 10:36; He 11:6).
(Wuest,
K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans)
(bolding added)
Beginning - A good beginning does not guarantee a good
finish. As the king of Israel said,
“One who puts on his armor should not
boast like one who takes it off” (1Kings
20:11).
These faltering believers (some
even apostates) began with loud confidence and profession of loyalty. And
now?
Assurance (5287)
(hupostasis from hupo = under + histemi = stand >
refers to a foundation, ground on which something is built) primarily means
that on which anything is based.
Hupostasis is common in the
papyri in business documents as the basis or guarantee of transactions. More generally anything that settles is hypostasis (cf. curds, or the slimy
bottom of stagnant water, or the deposit of moist air, or any kind of
residue).
Hebrews 11:1
says
Now faith is the assurance
(hupostasis) of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Faith is the solid, unshakable confidence in Christ, the Solid Rock, our
support, our confidence and our Source of steadiness. Here, it refers to
their faith in Messiah which is their ground of assurance that they are
saved. If the faith of these Jews is a heart faith, they will persist in
that faith to the end of their lives, despite the persecution which they are
enduring. If that faith is a mere intellectual assent, it will not be able
to stand up under this persecution, but will be repudiated by that person.
(See also
Assurance;
Perseverance;
Steadfastness)
The faith described in Heb 11:1 involves the most solid possible conviction,
the God-given present assurance of a future reality.
Firm (949)
(bebaios
from a root word meaning
basis, base or foundation) (Click
word study of
bebaios)
is that which is fixed, stable, sure,
attested to and certified. It describes something which is unwavering and
persistent. Bebaios pertains to that which is able to be relied on or
depended on. It pertains to that which is known with certainty. It refers to
something that has validity over a period of time (e.g., the promise made to
Abraham remained valid to NT believers, see note
Romans 4:16).
Figuratively bebaios refers to that upon which one may build, rely or
trust. Bebaios is something that can be relied on not to cause
disappointment for it is reliable and unshifting. In practice, though not
originally, bebaios is close to pistos (4103)
(trustworthy, dependable, reliable, faithful)
TDNT says that
bebaios
"means “standing firm on the feet,”
“steadfast,” “maintaining firmness or solidity,” “steadfast
for
…” Hence “firm” in the sense of having inner solidity. In respect of
abstract things and persons bebaios thus comes to mean “steady,” “sure,”
“reliable” “steadfast,” or “certain. " (Kittel,
G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. Theological Dictionary of the New
Testament. Eerdmans)
Bebaios has a legal
sense, signifying a legal guarantee, obtained by the buyer from the seller,
to be gone back upon should a third party claim the thing. Thus in classic
Greek bebaios described a warranty deed somewhat like a guarantee one
might have today on an automobile or similar product. A holy life is like a
"guarantee" demonstrating one's calling and election to others as
well as to one's self.
Even a slight
lessening of confidence is a warning. We must “hold firmly till the end the
confidence we had at first.”
Says the author,
“We
have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence
we had at first” (v. 14).
The translation—“the confidence we had
at first”—is excellent, as are several others:
“the beginning of our confidence” (KJV),
“our original confidence” (NEB),
“the trust with which we began” (Phillips)
The Israelites had no lack of confidence just after the
Exodus, but it faded quickly a few days into the wilderness. (cf Marah =
bitterness: Nu 15:23)
UNTIL THE END: mechri telous:
The saints'
privilege is, they are made partakers of Christ, that is, of the Spirit, the
nature, graces, righteousness, and life of Christ; they are interested in
all Christ is, in all he has done, or will do.
The same spirit with which Christians set out in the ways of God, they
should maintain unto the end. Perseverance in faith is the best evidence of
the sincerity of our faith. Hearing the word often is a means of salvation,
yet, if not hearkened to, it will expose more to the Divine wrath. The
happiness of being partakers of Christ and his complete salvation, and the
fear of God's wrath and eternal misery, should stir us up to persevere in
the life of obedient faith. Let us beware of trusting to outward privileges
or professions, and pray to be numbered with the true believers who enter
heaven, when all others fail because of unbelief. As our obedience follows
according to the power of our faith, so our sins and want of care are
according to the prevailing of unbelief in us
John Piper asks a very important
question...
"What then would be the conclusion
if we do not hold fast to our assurance? The answer is not that you stop
being a partaker of Christ, but that you had never become a partaker of
Christ. Read it carefully: "We have become partakers of Christ if we
hold fast to our assurance." And so "If we do not hold fast to our
confession then we have not become partakers of Christ." (Hebrews
3:16-19) (Bolding added)
><> ><> ><> Look Back
What was wrong with the ancient Israelites? Why did they have such
trouble trusting God? In Hebrews 3, we’re reminded that they heard God’s
promise yet refused to believe. I think I know why—we have the same problem
today.
God provided for the people on their desert march. They would be satisfied
and happy for a while, but then a new crisis would arise. They would stare
ahead at their wall of trouble, become frightened, and lose faith.
Before Moses went up the mountain to get instructions from God, the
Israelites had recently defeated the Amalekites. Things were going fine. But
when Moses stayed on the mountain too long, the people panicked.
Instead of looking back and recalling that God could be trusted, they looked
ahead and saw nothing but the possibility of a leaderless future. So they
sought to create “gods that shall go before us” (Exodus 32:1). Their trust
was blocked by a fear of the future when it could’ve been solidified with a
simple look back at God’s deliverance.
Likewise, our obstacles appear huge. We need to look back and reassure
ourselves by recalling what God has already done on our behalf. That
backward look can give us forward confidence. —Dave Branon
I have learned to love my Savior,
And I trust Him more each day;
For no matter what the trial,
He will always be my stay. —Hess
Fear hinders faith, but trust kindles confidence.
><> ><> ><>
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Hebrews 3:15
while
it is
said,
"TODAY
IF YOU
HEAR HIS
VOICE, DO NOT
HARDEN YOUR
HEARTS, AS
WHEN THEY
PROVOKED
ME."
(NASB:
Lockman) |
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Greek: en to
legesthai (PPN) Semeron ean tes phones autou akousete (2PAAS) Me
sklerunete (2PAAS) tas kardias humon hos en to parapikrasmo (NMSD)
Amplified: Then while it is [still] called Today, if you would
hear His voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts as in
the rebellion [in the desert, when the people provoked and irritated
and embittered God against them]. (Amplified
Bible - Lockman)
KJV: While
it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts,
as in the provocation.
NET: As it says, "Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks!
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion (NET
Bible)
NLT: Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice,
don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.” (NLT
- Tyndale House)
Phillips: These words are still being said for our ears to
hear: 'Today, if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as
in the rebellion'. (Phillips:
Touchstone)
Wuest: While it is being said, Today, if His voice you will
hear, stop hardening your hearts as in the rebellion. For who, having
heard, rebelled? (Eerdmans)
Young's Literal: while it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS
VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME." |
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WHILE IT IS SAID TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE: Semeron ean tes phones
autou akousete (2PAAS):
The idea of hearing is a key idea in Hebrews...
Hebrews 2:1 (note)
For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have
heard,
lest we drift away from it.
Hebrews 3:7
(note)
Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS
VOICE, 8 DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY
OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS
Hebrews 3:15
(note)
while it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR
HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME."
Hebrews 4:7 (note)
He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a
time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT
HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."
Hebrews 5:9 (note)
And having been made perfect, He became
to all those who obey (literally "hear under",
listen
attentively
hupakouo
= hupo + akouo) Him the source of eternal salvation,
Hebrews 5:11 (note)
Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you
have become dull of hearing.
Hebrews 11:8 (note)
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed (literally "hear under",
listen attentively
hupakouo
= hupo + akouo) by going out to a place
which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing
where he was going.
DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS: Me sklerunete (2PAAS) tas kardias humon:
Compare
Paul's explanation of how a "remnant"
(see
notes) came to be in (Ro 11:7ff). Israel had
seen great miracles few human eyes would ever be privileged to see & they
had heard great Spirit filled prophets crying out with words of warning and
hope and they had repeatedly turned their back to God's outstretched hand!
(Ro 10:21).
AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME: hos en to parapikrasmo:
A bitter provocation, exasperation (Heb 3:8 3:15 4:7
Ps 95:7,8). *PROVOKING GOD* Nu 14:11,23 16:30 Dt 9:7 31:20 Ezra 5:12 Ps 78:40,56
106:7 Isa 3:8 Ezek 8:3 Heb 3:16
><> ><> ><> Let Go!
A 14-year-old North Carolina boy refused to stop playing his Nintendo
Game Boy during school hours. The principal was called in and he still
refused to stop. When the school liaison officer tried to search him, the
teen kicked and punched him. The police were summoned, yet the boy adamantly
resisted. Only after the officers gave him two shocks from a Taser gun were
they able to remove the toy from him. He was uninjured, but one officer was
bitten by the boy.
How can someone be so obstinate! Consider Pharaoh's stubborn refusal to let
God's people go despite numerous plagues (Exodus 5-9). Only after the
seventh plague did Pharaoh begin to relent (9:27-28).
Pharaoh was foolish to harden his heart against God. Yet look at who
hardened their hearts in the wilderness. Hebrews 3:15-16 says, "If you will
hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. For who,
having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by
Moses?" Even those who had seen God's deliverance from slavery in Egypt
rebelled against Him!
Today, let us ponder whether God is speaking to us. Could it be that we are
clinging to some "toy" and refusing to let Him be Lord of our lives? —Albert
Lee (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
Dear Lord, help us when we don't know what to do.
Help us most of all when we know what to do but don't want to do it.
May it never be said that we cling tightly to what displeases You. Amen.
God must rule our hearts if our feet are to walk His way.
><> ><> ><> |
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