Hebrews 3:14
in Hebrews 3We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end:
KJV
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
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This verse in Hebrews 3
Commentary
17 notes on this verseWe shared in death with Christ the Lord through all-holy baptism, and after being buried with him we prefigured the resurrection, provided of course we kept faith firm. He referred to this by the phrase "first confidence." Through it we were renewed, we were joined …
This site's exposition
partakers of Christ
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end restates verse 6's condition in stronger language, partakers, metochoi, a real share in Christ tied to perseverance in the same breath as its promise. The verse sits at the center of the eternal security question the letter's warnings raise throughout, and the church's readings divide along familiar lines, holding fast read as the fruit and evidence of a genuine faith already secured, or read as the condition without which the partaking itself proves never to have been real. Both readings agree that the confidence in view is meant to be held, not merely once claimed, the beginning of our confidence naming a start that was always meant to continue.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
He says that those who have believed and shared in the Spirit have become partakers in Christ's "hypostasis" in that they have received a certain natural communion with him. Now there remains the task of preserving this foundation with a pure resolve.
"For we have been made partakers of Christ." What is this, "We have been made partakers of Christ"? We partake of Him (he means); we were made One, we and He - since He is the Head and we the body, "fellow-heirs and of the same body; we are one body, of His flesh and of His bones." "If we hold fast the beginning of our confidence [or, the principle of our subsistence] steadfast unto the end." What is "the principle of our subsistence"? The faith by which we stand, and have been brought into being and were made to exist, as one may say.
Then he suggests hopes to them, saying, "We are made partakers of Christ"; All but saying, He that so loved us, He that counted us worthy of so great things, as to make us His Body, will not suffer us to perish. Let us consider (he says) of what we have been thought worthy: we and Christ are One: let us not then distrust Him. And again, he hints at that which had been said in another place, that "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him." For this is implied in "We are made partakers," we partake of the same things whereof Christ also partakes. He urges them on from the good things; "for we are," he says, "partakers of Christ."
A commentator
Theodore of MopsuestiaFRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 3.12-14 · Written before 428.
proposed
This word comes to ones who have already come to faith, as I understand it. So that it is fitting for you to praise the same things so that you might remain in the same opinions once and for all. This then Paul says, because …
"For we have become partakers of Christ." One, he says, we have become partakers with Christ, since He has deemed it worthy to be our head and to make us His members. "if we hold the beginning of our confidence." The beginning of confidence is …
10 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
188. – Then (v. 14) he explains their condition. As if to say: That condition is more powerful than the other, because they only hear, but we share in Christ. And he speaks properly, because in the Old Testament, there was only hearing, and grace …
That is, we and He became one, and we became partakers of Him to the same degree that the body is of the head. Here he inspires them with hope, as if saying: He Who loved us so much that He even made us His …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
For we are made partakers of Christ,.... Being loved by him, given to him, and chosen in him before the foundation of the world; and so participate of all spiritual blessings in him; for this respects something past, and may be rendered, "we have been made".
): We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast to the end. Here observe, (1.) The saints' privilege: they are made partakers of Christ, that is, of the Spirit, nature, graces, righteousness, and life of Christ; they are interested in all that is Christ's, in all that he is, in all that he has done, or can do.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
For we are made partakers of Christ - And we shall still partake of him and all his benefits, if we hold fast our faith unto the end. If - But not else; and a supposition made by the Holy Ghost is equal to the, strongest assertion. Both the sentiment and the manner of expression are the same as ver. 6.
quarantine:anchor (2026-07-29) — cites-ver-6-anchored-14-14
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
For we are made partakers of Christ - Having believed in Christ as the promised Messiah, and embraced the whole Christian system, they were consequently made partakers of all its benefits in this life, and entitled to the fulfillment of all its exceeding great and precious promises relative to the glories of the eternal world. The former they actually possessed, the latter they could have only in case of their perseverance; therefore the apostle says, If we hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end, i.e. of our life.
'For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.''Hebrews 3:14. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE for the preacher to say too much about faith, or to extol this grace too highly! It is of vital importance, not at one stage of the Christian's history only, but throughout the whole of his career, from his setting out even till he reaches the goal where faith is turned to sight.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
So "partakers of the Holy Ghost" (Heb 6:4). hold--Greek, "hold fast." the beginning of our confidence--that is, the confidence (literally, substantial, solid confidence) of faith which we have begun (Heb 6:11; A Christian so long as he is not made perfect, considers himself as a beginner [BENGEL]. unto the end--unto the coming of Christ (Heb 12:2).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
'For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.''Hebrews 3:14. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE for the preacher to say too much about faith, or to extol this grace too highly! It is of vital importance, not at one stage of the Christian's history only, but throughout the whole of his career, from his setting out even till he reaches the goal where faith is turned to sight. By faith we begin the life of obedience to Christ, and by faith we continue to lead the life of holiness, for 'the just shall live by faith.' This is the point of honor and of safety with all the just'the justified ones. The whole compass of their well-being, though it take in the sternest sense of duty and the highest grant of privilege, is to believe simply, to rely implicitly, and to confide cheerfully, in their covenant God. The beginning of their confidence is a hopeful sign. Time will test its value. The result of that profession has yet to be shown. Hence it is necessary that the beginning of their confidence should be held fast, steadfast even unto the end. When we begin in the spirit we do not proceed with a hope to be made perfect in the flesh. We do not start with justification by faith, and then look for perfection by works. We do not lean upon Christ when we are little children, and then expect to run alone when we are men; but we live by drawing all our stores from him, while as yet we are naked, and poor, and miserable. When most enriched by his grace, we still have to say and delight to say it, 'all my springs are in thee.' Faith at the beginning and faith at the close; faith all the way through is the one important matter. A failure in this, as we observed in our reading, shut Israel out of the promised land.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For we are made partakers of Christ - We are spiritually united to the Saviour. We become one with him. We partake of his spirit and his allotments. The sacred writers are accustomed to describe the Christian as being closely united to the Saviour, and as being one with him see the Joh 15:1-7; Joh 17:21, Joh 17:23 notes; Eph 5:30 note; 1Co 12:27 note. The idea is, that we participate in all that pertains to him. It is a union of feeling and affection; a union of principle and of congeniality; a union of dependence as well as love; a union where nothing is to be imparted by us, but everything gained; and a union, therefore, on the part of the Redeemer of great condescension. It is the union of the branch to the vine, where the branch is supported and nourished by the vine, and not the union of the ivy and the oak, where the ivy has its own roots, and merely clings around the oak and climbs up upon it. What else can be said so honorable of man as that he is a “partaker of Christ;” that he shares his feelings here, and that he is to share his honors in a brighter world? Compared with this, what is it to participate with the rich and the frivolous in their pleasures; what would it be to share in the honors of conquerors and kings? μετοχοι του Χριστου metochoi tou Christou cannot signify, as some explain, participation merely in the blessings of Christ’s death, but must be referred, as our author here affirms, to the spiritual union which subsists between Christ and his people. That union doubtless involves, as necessary consequents, “a union of feeling and affection, a union of principle and congeniality, a union of dependence and love.” Yet, we think, it is something more. It is a “real” and vital union, formed by the one Spirit of Christ, pervading the head and the members of the mystical body. And this is the “foundation” of all union of affection, etc. […]
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μέτοχοι | metochoi | Partakers | G3353 → | 6 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Χριστοῦ | christou | of Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| γεγόναμεν | gegonamen | we have become | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ἐάνπερ | eanper | if indeed | G1437 →G4007 → | 9 times |
| τὴν | ten | from the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀρχὴν | archen | beginning | G746 → | 55 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑποστάσεως | hupostaseos | assurance | G5287 → | 5 times |
| μέχρι | mechri | unto | G3360 → | 17 times |
| τέλους | telous | [the] end | G5056 → | 40 times |
| βεβαίαν | bebaian | firm | G949 → | 7 times |
| κατάσχωμεν· | kataschomen | we shall hold; | G2722 → | 17 times |
μέτοχοιPartakers
metochoiG3353 →6 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
Χριστοῦof Christ
christouG5547 →523 times
γεγόναμενwe have become
gegonamenG1096 →667 times
ἐάνπερif indeed
τὴνfrom the
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἀρχὴνbeginning
archenG746 →55 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
ὑποστάσεωςassurance
hupostaseosG5287 →5 times
μέχριunto
mechriG3360 →17 times
τέλους[the] end
telousG5056 →40 times
βεβαίανfirm
bebaianG949 →7 times
κατάσχωμεν·we shall hold;
kataschomenG2722 →17 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
1 Peter 4:13But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.
it leads to
- Romans 8:17
And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
- James 1:2–3
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
- Romans 8:17
Through
Hebrews 12:10Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
it leads to
- 2 Peter 1:4
Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused…
- 2 Peter 1:4
Where this verse is studied
About Hebrews

This page draws on 15 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1042: “A Persuasive to Steadfastness” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 6; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Owen, An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Theodore of Mopsuestia, COMMENTARY ON HEBREWS 3.12-13; Theodore of Mopsuestia, FRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 3.12-14; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 3; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.
