The Promise
For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:37-38 NASB
Will come – In the previous verse, the author of this letter exhorts the reader to endure. Why? Because there is a promise attached to endurance, a promise that God will fulfill for those who remain steadfast in the face of trials and tribulations. Of course, we want to endure. We don’t want to be like the waves of the sea (James), tossed about by whatever circumstances come next. We want stability. Perhaps we are seduced into thinking that stability will bring control, but we soon realize that this isn’t the case. Stability is about understanding the words of the prophet Habakkuk, not the philosopher Parmenides.
The author of Hebrews answers our question, “What is this promise that is offered to those who endure?” by citing two verses from Habakkuk. One of those verses we are very familiar with. It is the seminal verse of Paul’s letter to the Romans. Habakkuk 2:4b—“the righteous will live by his faith.” But the author of this letter chooses to alter Habakkuk’s message just a bit. He changes the subject of Habakkuk’s prophecy from a “vision” that is coming to a person who is coming (Habakkuk 2:3) and then he skips the first part of verse 4 (“Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him;”) and cites the last part about the connection between faith and righteousness. But even this isn’t quite what Habakkuk said. The author of Hebrews adds the possessive pronoun “my” (“my righteous one”), altering the passage so that it applies to the Messiah who is God’s righteous one. Several other alterations occur in this citation.[1] These alterations contribute to the author’s message that the return of the Messiah will result in punishment for the wicked and reward for the righteous. This is the promise. If we endure, a great reward will be given when the Messiah comes back.
When the letter to the Hebrews was written many followers believed that the return of the Messiah was imminent. The reward seemed to be only a few months (or perhaps a few years) away. Holding on seemed entirely possible. But twenty centuries have passed and despite the persistent proclamations of the Messiah’s imminent return, it hasn’t happened. Does this promise still have value? Perhaps after two thousand years of waiting we have exhausted its appeal. Or maybe we need to look at this verse in a different way. Maybe it isn’t applicable to an immediate, first century return, but it is applicable to the unpredictable end of our endurance. The Messiah may come back tomorrow, but what is certain is that we have only a limited number of tomorrows before our race is done. Perhaps endurance isn’t really about his return as much as it is about our choices in light of his return.
Topical Index: promise, return, Hebrews 10:37=38, Habakkuk 2:3-4
[1] For a full analysis, see George Guthrie, “Hebrews” in Carson and Beale (eds.), Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, pp. 982-983.
I’ve really just come to the realization that Hebrews don’t view time even remotely close to a Western view. Or the aspect is that even though they do see time differently not THAT differently and the author of Hebrews was just wrong on this.
Derek, I am becoming suspicious that time is an interactive substrate that we do not understand very well at all. I think that you have to be right that Hebrews must have a different view of time because we have the Greek linear view that REQUIRES events to be preset; no true free will, for example. Go into the future upstream a little in Greek time and you can see the future already set. BUT forgiveness, I am almost sure, has to change both the past and the future in fundamental ways. For one, it alters the way the past affects us for sure, and it likewise alters our potential for the future. Forgiveness has to be at least a partial time warper, but still working on that one (need help, please!).
The interactive date of that Return I am completely sure we have a hand in setting also (because we have been given a part in it). Therefore, the trajectory changes the estimated date. The trajectory of the first century (it is estimated that a full quarter of the known world – “all people” – had been converted as per the last instructions by the time of the Apostles’ deaths) gave them the expectation that it had to be “soon”. They were set to wrap things up, and THIS is why their expectations were high. They could see their part being done. THEN, somebody dropped the ball. Time trajectory accordingly changed to reflect that.
Just musing along, here, trying to make sense of it, with most of it off the page. I think there are good reasons why we are not told any more than is necessary for salvation. We don’t do very well with info.
I guess. But at the same token it’s hard for me to think that they all had this understanding that “soon” didn’t mean “soon” (in Greek terms) to them yet they acted as if he was coming “soon” in our terms as in they were anticipating Messiah in a short period of time.
This is just my current take, y’all. so grab your saltshakers.
If we really believed that we have free will, and understood what it meant, we would see that the future is determined by the present – by our choices in that present. The writer of Hebrews, along with Yeshua when He made the statement “surely I come quickly” both based their statements on what each speaker knew about where THEY were at with the present. The Hebrews writer could see that the “gospel (was being) preached” so therefore “then shall the end come” must be near. Yeshua, likewise, knew that He had done His part, too. Both speakers were basing their projection of that future based on their (as well as the collective) choices at that point in time. The trajectory looked good.
But then Paul saw a monkey wrench – the antichrist was now on the scene, and had to be dealt with. This was an additional condition that apparently was not present at the time of the original instructions. 2Thess. 2 outlines the revised trajectory. Apparently, the choices of the adversary can alter time, too.
John, who also wrote late, saw the new time frame conditions, too.
I’m sorry, upon reflection, the correct wording would be “alter timING”, as the word “soon” also refers to the timing.
It appears to me, with free choice, that time itself is dependent upon choice, whereas, with the Greek mind focused upon the FORM of time (where choices have to fit within the frame that form provides), we also can miss the fact that we are active participants in time – that time is altered by all choices.
Choice; or the function of change, creates the form we call time. Prophetic time – as well as kairos time – being no exception.
Still trying to hammer this out, as Skip has thoroughly messed up my head.
A quarter of the world had been converted? That must have been the Good Seed, that fell on Good Ground! Luke 8:4-15
I am also convinced, Laurita, that forgiveness changes the past. I often wonder if that is the main thing that helps us to take the “fork in the road” that gets us off the “roundabout.” 🙂
I have been reading Skips word of the day for a few years but have never commented.His last two have been extraordinary . If you notice there can be many years between a promise given and its coming to pass but when it does it is very quick . I think the quickness is around the event itself and not the time leading up to it. We all experience that in life and think the Hebrews at the time did not confuse the word imminent with quick. I agree the longevity of the process In enduring can be painful at times but if you reflect on your life think of all the quick events he has brought to pass that are unspeakable joy, so enduring should be more enjoyable than we tend to make it. Won’t it be exciting to stand before YHWH Elohim and he says you loved me.I need all the time he gives me to perfect That!! Thank everyone on this sight who helps me probe deeper.Deep calls to deep. Shalom Pam