which they endure because of their unfaithfulness in that regard is hor rible beyond expression. It is indeed “a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” Cv. 31) who will not take lightly their own denial of the covenant which they have made with Him. The Partial Fulfilment of Their Condition (w . 32-39): That the au thor has the entire passage in Deute ronomy 32 in mind is seen further as he proceeds to exhort the people to faithfulness. In the aforementioned passage Moses said, “Remember the days of old . . .” (32:7) how God had provided for them and protected them in trials in order to prepare them for their mission. From this point of de parture our author says, “But call to remembrance the former days, . . . (vv. 32ff.), that after they were illu minated or saved, God kept them through a great trial of afflictions. In enduring such trials they had begun to realize their destiny. Now, he says, do not cast away as worthless the bold ness which you thus gained (v. 35). As God kept them through past trials, He will preserve them in the future. So. long as they go on in their Chris tian development and service, God will be faithful to His promise. To do so they will need patience (v. 36). Unfortunately we read into that word our modem meaning of pas sive endurance. The Greek word used here is a red-blooded word. In the papyri it is used as the term for a military decoration given for heroism in battle. A patient soldier was one who could take all that the enemy could send against him and give back a little more in return. In their trials, therefore, these Hebrew Christians are to endure all that their persecutors can give, and then have.enough re serve to counter charge to victory. In so doing, they shall receive the promise (v. 36). Furthermore, though they despair of the Lord’s return, He will surely return to reward them for their faithfulness (v. 37). This is the blessed hope of every Christian. In concluding this exhortation to faithful endurance, the author quotes 35
from Habakkuk 2:4, “The just shall live by faith.” This is the only verse from the Old Testament which is quoted three times in the New Testa ment (Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:88). “But,” says he, ‘Tf any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him” (v. 38). The word draw back or shrink back carries the idea of fear which makes one with draw from his duty. In such God has no delight. However, he reminds them of his confidence- in them as being those who do not shrink back unto destruction (v. 39). The word translated perdi tion carries here not so much the modem idea of hell as that of de struction, which was the fate of the Israelites who shrank back in fear from their duty a t Kadesh-barnea. Instead, the author is convinced that his readers are those who shall prove faithful unto the full salvation of their lives (v. 39). The word here translated soul in classical Greek and in Philo is sometimes used for life. In both, the exact phrase here is used as the equivalent of saving one’s life. That is most probably the meaning here Thus in shrinking back in un belief their lives would be destroyed, but in pursuing their divine destiny through faith in Him that promised their lives will be saved. Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland (left), Biela president, meets with recent Campus Speaker, Herman Hoyt, president ef Grace Theolegical Seminary.
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