Hebrews 10:32
in Hebrews 10Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings;
KJV
But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
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This verse in Hebrews 10
Commentary
12 notes on this verseBut call to remembrance - It appears from this, and indeed from some parts of the Gospel history, that the first believers in Judea were greatly persecuted; our Lord’s crucifixion, Stephen’s martyrdom, the persecution that arose after the death of Stephen, Act 8:1, Herod’s persecution, Act 12:1, in which James was killed, and the various persecutions of St. Paul, sufficiently show that this disposition was predominant among that bad people. A great fight of afflictions - Πολλην αθλησιν παθηματων· A great combat or contention of sufferings.
This site's exposition
Remember the early days
on Hebrews 10:32-34
The warning turns at once to past grace, Remember the early days. The readers had been publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution and had lost property with joy. They knew they held a better and permanent possession.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
...and that the side is the Spirit of truth, the Paraclete, of whom the illuminated receiving are fitly born again to incorruption. For it is impossible for any one to be a partaker of the Holy Spirit, and to be chosen a member of Christ, unless the Word first came down upon him and fell into a trance, in order that he, being filled with the Spirit, and rising again from sleep with Him who was laid to sleep for his sake, should be able to receive renewal and restoration.
"Remember the earlier days." Behold, he speaks to them more plainly, urging them not to lose patience. He says, therefore: Do not imitate others, but imitate yourselves. For at the beginning of your faith you struggled; keep this struggle in mind; do not lose what …
A commentator
Ephrem the SyrianCOMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS · Written before 373.
proposed
Then, after he discouraged them from sinning, Paul returned to talk to them about the first topic, that is, that of the joy which was at the beginning of their discipleship. "Recall," he says, "the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a …
The best Physicians after they have made a deep incision, and have increased the pains by the wound, soothing the afflicted part, and giving rest and refreshment to the disturbed soul, proceed not to make a second incision, but rather soothe that which has been made with gentle remedies, and such as are suited to remove the violence of the pain. This Paul also did after he had shaken their souls, and pierced them with the recollection of Hell, and convinced them, that he must certainly perish, who does despite to the grace of God, and after he had shown from the laws of Moses, that they also shall perish, and the more fearfully, and confirm it by other testimonies, and had said, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God": then, lest the soul desponding through excessive fear, should be swallowed up with grief, he soothes them by commendations and exhortation, and gives them zeal derived from their own conduct. For, he says, "call to remembrance the former days, in which after ye had been enlightened, ye endured a great fight of afflictions." Powerful is the exhortation from deeds already done: for he who begins a work ought to go forward and add to it. As if he had said, when ye were brought in to the Church, when ye were in the rank of learners, ye displayed so great readiness, so great nobleness; but now it is no longer so. And he who encourages, does thus especially encourage them from their own example. And he did not simply say, "ye endured a fight" but a "great" fight. Moreover he did not say "temptations" but "fight," which is an expression of commendation and of very great praise.
The Medieval Church1 voice
So we were not speaking in vain when we said that the words "Vengeance is Mine" he introduces in a veiled manner for their consolation. For behold, now he speaks more clearly with them, persuading them not to lose patience. So, he says, do not …
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
536. – After exhorting them by frightening reasons to cling to Christ by faith, hope and charity, the Apostle now gives pleasing reasons, as a good physician after cutting applies soothing lotions. For of all commendations for doing good, there is one which best stimulates …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Here observe, A natural state is a dark state, and those who continue in that state meet with no disturbance from Satan and the world; but a state of grace is a state of light, and therefore the powers of darkness will violently oppose it. Those who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution.
But call to remembrance the former days,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
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.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But call to remembrance the former days - It would seem from this, that at the time when the apostle wrote this Epistle they were suffering some severe trials, in which they were in great danger of apostatizing from their religion. It is also manifest that they had on some former occasion endured a similar trial, and had been enabled to bear it with a Christian spirit, and with resignation. The object of the apostle now is to remind them that they were sustained under those trials, and he would encourage them now to similar patience by the recollection of the grace then conferred on them. What was the nature of their former trials, or of what they were then experiencing, is not certainly known. It would seem probable, however, that the reference in both instances is to some form of persecution by their own countrymen. The meaning is, “that when we have been enabled to pass through trials once, we are to make the remembrance of the grace then bestowed on us a means of supporting and encouraging us in future trials.” After ye were illuminated - After you became Christians, or were enlightened to see the truth. This phrase, referring here undoubtedly to the fact that they were Christians, may serve to explain the disputed phrase in Heb 6:4; see notes on that passage. A great fight of afflictions - The language here seems to be taken from the Grecian games. The word “fight” means properly contention, combat, such as occurred in the public games. Here the idea is, that in the trials referred to, they had a great struggle; that is, a struggle to maintain their faith without wavering, or against those who would have led them to apostatize from their religion. Some of the circumstances attending this conflict are alluded to in the following verses.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἀναμιμνῄσκεσθε | anamimneskesthe | do remember | G363 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πρότερον | proteron | former | G4386 → | 5 times |
| ἡμέρας, | hemeras | days | G2250 → | 389 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| αἷς | hais | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| φωτισθέντες | photisthentes | having been enlightened | G5461 → | |
| πολλὴν | pollen | a great | G4183 → | 367 times |
| ἄθλησιν | athlesin | conflict | G119 → | |
| ὑπεμείνατε | hupemeinate | you endured | G5278 → | 17 times |
| παθημάτων, | pathematon | of sufferings, | G3804 → | 16 times |
Ἀναμιμνῄσκεσθεdo remember
anamimneskestheG363 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
πρότερονformer
proteronG4386 →5 times
ἡμέρας,days
hemerasG2250 →389 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
αἷςwhich
haisG3739 →1405 times
φωτισθέντεςhaving been enlightened
photisthentesG5461 →
πολλὴνa great
pollenG4183 →367 times
ἄθλησινconflict
athlesinG119 →
ὑπεμείνατεyou endured
hupemeinateG5278 →17 times
παθημάτων,of sufferings,
pathematonG3804 →16 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 6:4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
it leads to
- Hebrews 10:26–29
If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,
- 2 Peter 2:20–22
If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse…
- Matthew 5:13
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and…
- John 15:6
If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.
- Matthew 7:21–22
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
- Hebrews 10:26–29
Through
Hebrews 12:4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will…
- Revelation 2:13
I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits. Yet you have held fast to My name and have not denied your faith in Me, even in the day when My faithful…
- Hebrews 10:32–34
Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering.
- 1 Corinthians 10:13
Where this verse is studied
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About Hebrews
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 21; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Methodius of Olympus, Methodius Discourse III. Thaleia; Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.