Hebrews 10:23

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.

a. NLT: Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

b. NIV: Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

c. YLT: may we hold fast the unwavering profession of the hope, (for faithful is He who did promise),

d. Amplified Bible: So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word.

e. Worrell Translation: let us hold fast the confession of the hope without wavering (for faithful is He Who promised);

1. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering…”

a. let us hold fast [2722 * katecho] [Strong: from 2596 and 2192; to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively):--have, hold (fast), keep (in memory), let, X make toward, possess, retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold.]

1). Rick Renner 3/20/16 The phrase “hold fast” is taken from the Greek word katecho, which is a compound of the two words kata and echo. The first word, kata, carries the idea of something that comes downward. You could say the word kata carries the force of something that comes down so hard and so heavily, it is overpowering and dominating to the point of being subjugating. When this force arrives on the scene, it conquers, subdues, and immediately begins expressing its overwhelming, influencing power. The second part of the word katecho is the word echo, which simply means I have and carries the notion of possession. This is the picture of someone who has sought and searched for one particular thing his entire life. After years of seeking and searching, he finally finds the object of his dreams. Joyfully he rushes forward to seize it and hold it tight. He wraps his arms around that object, making it his very own. Finally, he can say, “I have it! At long last it is mine!” When kata and echo are compounded into the word katecho, it literally means to embrace something tightly. However, because of the word kata, we know that this is the image of someone who finds the object of his dreams and then holds it down — taking control of it, dominating it — even sitting on it so it doesn’t slip away! The phrase “hold fast” is so strong that it can actually be translated to suppress. It is used this exact way in Romans 1:18, where Paul tells us about ungodly men “…who hold [or suppress] the truth in unrighteousness.” In other words, because these ungodly men don’t like the truth, they “sit on it” or “put a lid on it” in an effort to keep others from hearing the truth and getting set free. But in Hebrews 10:23, this same idea is used positively to describe you sitting on your word from God and refusing to let it slip out and get away from you!

b. the profession [3671 * homologia] [Strong: from the same as 3670; acknowledgment:--con- (pro-)fession, professed.]

1). World Outreach Church Daily Devotional  10/11 The fourth type of confession is the confession of faith, or the confession of what we believe. This is an important type of Bible confession that many in the body of Christ have missed. Let’s examine the phrase, “hold fast the profession of our faith.” In the King James Version, the word profession is used. But the same Greek word homologeo is translated as “confession” elsewhere in the New Testament and means “to speak the same thing as; to agree with.” So the writer of Hebrews is actually saying, “Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” God is faithful and will keep His promises, but He also requires something of us. God is faithful to perform His Word—if we believe and act on it. We have a part to play. If we want His faithfulness to operate in our lives, we must hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering. What does confession of faith mean? Faith is what you believe or put your trust in. For instance, you put your trust in the Word that says by Jesus’ stripes you were healed. Then even if your body feels and looks sick, you’ll hold fast to the unchangeable truth of God’s Word. You’ll hold fast to what you believe, and you won’t waver or doubt. Line up your mouth with what you believe, and say, “Thank God, I believe I’m healed!”

c. of our faith [1680 * elpis] [Strong: from a primary elpo (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence:--faith, hope.]

d. without wavering [186 * aklines] [Strong: from 1 (as a negative particle) and 2827; not leaning, i.e. (figuratively) firm:--without wavering.]

1). World Outreach Church Daily Devotional  10/17/11 What does Paul mean when he tells us not to waver? Let’s look at another Scripture that addresses this issue. James talks about not wavering as well: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. James 1:5-7 James was talking about asking for wisdom, but he also gave us a Bible truth that applies to every area of our lives. He said, “Ask, and it shall be given—but….” Then he gave a condition to the promise. We have to “ask in faith, nothing wavering.” How do people waver? Most wavering comes in what you say. Nothing wavering means you’re not wavering in what you believe or in what you say. You get to that place of unwavering faith by getting your heart full of the Word. You see, you talk about what is closest to your heart. So when your heart is full of the Word, you can’t talk about anything else. Every time you open your mouth, God’s Word comes out. That’s how you hold fast to your confession of what God says.

2. …for he is faithful that promised.”

a. for [1063 * gar] [Strong: a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):--and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]

b. he is faithful [4103 * pistos] [Strong: from 3982; objectively, trustworthy; subjectively, trustful:--believe(-ing, -r), faithful(-ly), sure, true.]

c. that promised [1861 * epaggello] [Strong: from 1909 and the base of 32; to announce upon (reflexively), i.e. (by implication) to engage to do something, to assert something respecting oneself:--profess, (make) promise.]