Hebrews 10:32
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Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
As previously he has warned them by the awful end of apostates, so here he stirs them up by the remembrance of their own former faith, patience, and self-sacrificing love. So Rev 2:3-4. call to remembrance--habitually: so the present tense means. illuminated--"enlightened": come to "the knowledge of the truth" (Heb 10:26) in connection with baptism (see on Heb 6:4). In spiritual baptism, Christ, who is "the Light," is put on. "On the one hand, we are not to sever the sign and the grace signified where the sacrifice truly answers its designs; on the other, the glass is not to be mistaken for the liquor, nor the sheath for the sword" [BENGEL]. fight of--that is, consisting of afflictions.
Open source ↗The apostle knew very well that the Hebrews, to whom he wrote, were strangely fond of the Levitical dispensation, and therefore he fills his mouth with arguments to wean them from it; and in order thereto proceeds in this chapter, I. To lay low the whole of that priesthood and sacrifice (Heb 10:1-6). II. He raises and exalts the priesthood of Christ very high, that he might effectually recommend him and his gospel to them (Heb 10:7-18). III. He shows to believers the honours and dignities of their state, and calls them to suitable duties (Heb 10:19 to the end).
Open source ↗10:32-39 The harsh warning (10:26-31) is followed by a word of encouragement. The hearers’ own faithfulness in the past is used as a positive example for them to follow now. 10:32 when you first learned about Christ: The author reminds his readers of those early days, shortly after the community embraced Christianity, when their faith was tested. At that time, they remained faithful in the face of terrible suffering. Suffering is normal for a person who identifies with Christ and his community (13:12-13; Acts 9:16; Rom 8:17; 1 Cor 4:12-13; Phil 1:29; Jas 1:2-4).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.
Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained.
Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.
For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face,
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’