Page 80 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

10:31 "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of a living God" This phrase (cf. 3:12) reflects the
covenant name of God, "YHWH" (cf. Exod.3:14), from Hebrew VERB "to be" (cf. Matt. 16:16). Unbelief
reaps an eternal consequence!

10:32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with
sufferings,

"after being enlightened" This was used of the unbelieving group in 6:4. I do believe there are two
groups being addressed.
1. Those Jews who have seen the power of God in the lives and testimonies of their believing
friends
2. The believing Jews still worshiping in a synagogue setting.

The "you" of vv. 32-36 is contrasted with vv. 26-31 (as is 6:9-12 with 6:4-8).

"endured" This is a metaphor from an athletic contest (cf. 12:1,2,3,7).

"great conflict of suffering" This probably refers to the persecution which befell the Church, but not the
synagogue, because Judaism was a legal religion under Rome, but Christianity was not. This paragraph
seems to imply they helped others who went through the persecution and thereby shared some of the
reproach (cf. vv. 33-34; 6:10).

10:34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your

property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

"to the prisoners" Some Christians had been imprisoned, but not the recipients of the letter. They were
believers, but not fully identified with the church. This may corroborate the view that they were Jewish
believers still attending a synagogue (see Introduction, Recipients).

Uttly notes that, “The KJV has "in my bonds," which many commentators have used as evidence to
establish Paul's authorship. However, there are several possible manuscript variations: (1) "in bonds"
*
(P , A, D , and the Vulgate and Peshitta translations); (2) "on the bond" (P , Ψ, and the Greek text used
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46
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2
by Origen); and (3) "on my bonds" א, D , K, L, P and the Greek text used by Clement of Alexandria).”
10:35-36 These verses document the need of the believing group (1) not to throw away their confidence
(cf. 3:6; 4:16; 10:19) and (2) to endure (cf. 12:1-3). In many ways this sounds like the message to the
seven churches of Rev. 2-3 (cf. 2:3,5,7,10,11,13,16,17,19,25,26; 3:2,3,5,10,11,12,20). True faith is a
persevering faith (cf. 1 John 2:19). God's covenant promises must be received and held.

The real issue in security is not struggling believers, but the multitude of modern western and Africa
church members who have no evidence of faith in their lives. Easy believism, coupled with an
overemphasis on security, has filled our churches with baby Christians at best and lost people in
Christian clothing at worst! Discipleship and the call for radical holiness are missing in a materialistic,
capitalistic, decadent, modern western/African culture. Salvation has been turned into a product (a
ticket to heaven at the end of a self-centered life or a fire insurance policy against ongoing sin) instead
of a daily, growing, personal relationship with God. The goal of Christianity is not only heaven when we

56 Uttly (10:34)
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