Hebrews 3:1

Hebrews 3:1

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

a. NLT: And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest.

b. NIV: Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.

c. YLT: Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the apostle and chief priest of our profession, Christ Jesus,

d. Amplified Bible: So then, brethren, consecrated and set apart for God, who share in the heavenly calling, [thoughtfully and attentively] consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest Whom we confessed [as ours when we embraced the Christian faith].

e. Worrell Translation: Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers ofa Heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus.

f. Wuest Translation: Wherefore, brethren, set-apart ones for God and His service, participants in the [effectual] summons from heaven [into salvation], consider attentively and thoughtfully the Ambassador and High Priest of our confession, Jesus.

1. “Wherefore, holy brethren…”

a. wherefore [Strong: 3606  hothen hoth'-en; from 3739 with the directive enclitic of source; from which place or source or cause (adverb or conjunction):--from thence, (from) whence, where(-by, -fore, -upon).]

b. holy [Strong: 40 hagios hag'-ee-os from hagos (an awful thing) (compare 53, 2282); sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):--(most) holy (one, thing), saint.]

1). The Bible calls born again believers “holy”. It is at once a positional declaration because of being born again in Christ. It is what God has called us to be. It is translated “saints” many times in Scripture. As born again believers you are not only called to be holy and saints, you are holy and saints. We need to live like it.

a). Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

b). Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

c). Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

d). Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

e). Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

f). 1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

g). 1 Peter 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

h). 2 Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

c. brethren [Strong: 80 adephos ad-el-fos' from 1 (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like 1):--brother.]

2. “…partakers of the heavenly calling…”

a. partakers [Strong: 3353 metochos met'-okh-os from 3348; participant, i.e. (as noun) a sharer; by implication, an associate:--fellow, partaker, partner.]  

b. of the heavenly [Strong: 2032 epouranios, ep-oo-ran'-ee-os; from 1909 and 3772; above the sky:--celestial, (in) heaven(-ly), high.]

c. calling [Strong: 2821 klesis, klay'-sis; from a shorter form of 2564; an invitation (figuratively):--calling.]

1). Our calling is to be transformed into the mage of Jesus Christ.

a). Romans 8:28, 29 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

3. “…consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession…”

a. consider [Strong: 2657 katanoeo, kat-an-o-eh'-o; from 2596 and 3539; to observe fully:--behold, 

consider, discover, perceive.]

b. the Apostle [Strong: 652 apostolos, ap-os'-tol-os; from 649; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers):--apostle, messenger, he that is sent.]

c. and [Strong: 2532 kai, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

d. High Priest [Strong: 749 archiereus, ar-khee-er-yuce'; from 746 and 2409; the high-priest (literally, of the Jews, typically, Christ); by extension a chief priest:--chief (high) priest, chief of the priests.]

e. of our [Strong: 2257 hemon, hay-mone'; genitive case plural of 1473; of (or from) us:--our (company), us, we.]

f. profession [Strong: 3671 homologia, hom-ol-og-ee'-ah; from the same as 3670; acknowledgment:--con- (pro-)fession, professed.] [Thayer: profession, subjectively: whom we profess to be ours, objectively: profession [confession] i.e. what one professes [confesses].

1). Jesus is the object of our profession, but He is also the High Priest of our confession, Jesus is the High Priest of what we confess, of what comes out of our mouths.

a). Romans 10:9, 10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

2). The mouth of faith must speak the same thing as what the heart of faith believes.

a). 2 Corinthians 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

3). Our faith filled words are offered to the Father through Jesus our High Priest in the same way our bodies, our actions, our giving of tithes and offerings. Jesus is the High Priest of our profession/confession.

4. “…Christ Jesus.”

a. Christ [Strong: 5547 Christos, khris-tos'; from 5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:--Christ.]

b. Jesus [Strong: 2424 Iesous, ee-ay-sooce'; of Hebrew origin (3091); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus.]