Hebrews 10:39

Hebrews 10:39

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

a. ASV: But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul.

b. YLT: And we are not of those drawing back to destruction, but of those believing to a preserving of soul.

c. Amplified Bible Classic: But our way is not that of those who draw back to eternal misery (perdition) and are utterly destroyed, but we are of those who believe [who cleave to and trust in and rely on God through Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by faith preserve the soul.

1. “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition…”

a. But [Strong: 1161 dé, deh; a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:—also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. we [Strong: 2249 hēmeîs, hay-mice'; nominative plural of G1473; we (only used when emphatic):—us, we (ourselves).]

c. are [Strong: 2070 esmén, es-men'; first person plural indicative of G1510; we are:—are, be, have our being, × have hope, + (the gospel) was (preached unto) us.]

d. not [Strong: 3756 ou, oo; a primary word; the absolute negative (compare G3361) adverb; no or not:—+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

e. [of them who] draw back [Strong: 5289 hupostole hoop-os-tol-ay' from 5288; shrinkage (timidity), i.e. (by implication) apostasy:--draw back.] [Zodhiates: a shrinking or drawing back, apostasy.]

f. unto [Strong: 1519 eis, ice; a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:—(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, +continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, +perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with.]

g. perdition [Strong: 684 apoleia ap-o'-li-a from a presumed derivative of 622; ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal):--damnable(-nation), destruction, die, perdition, X perish, pernicious ways, waste.] [Zodhiates: In the NT, apoleia refers to the state after death wherein exclusion from salvation is a realized fact, wherein man, instead of becoming what he might have been, is lost and ruined][Vine: In Hebrews 10:39 the corresponding noun, hupostole, is translated "of them that shrink back," RV; AV "draw back" (lit. "of shrinking back"). In  Acts 20:20, 27, "shrank," R.V.]

1). The warning is clear to these Hebrew Christians and to us. We can slacken the course, draw back to the point we fall into sin and eventually eternal destruction. Peter warns of such in his second epistle.

a). 2 Peter 2:20, 21 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

2. “…but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

a. but [Strong: 235 allá, al-lah'; neuter plural of G243; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):—and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.]

b. [of them that] believe [Strong: 4102 pístis, pis'-tis; from G3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:—assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.]

c. to [Strong: 1519 eis, ice; a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:—(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, +continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, +perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with.]

d. [the] saving [Strong: 4047 peripoíēsis, per-ee-poy'-ay-sis; from G4046; acquisition (the act or the thing); by extension, preservation:—obtain(-ing), peculiar, purchased, possession, saving.]

e. [of the] soul [Strong: 5590 psychḗ, psoo-khay'; from G5594; breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew H5315, H7307 and H2416):—heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.]

1). In studying passages like this one I am fully persuaded that no doubt our salvation was completely accomplished by Christ only, after we get saved, we play a major part in it, because of our free will. If we choose to, we can forsake Christ and end up in hell, or we can continue to walk with Him, drawing closer, and in obedience enjoy the blessings of the Covenant.