FUNCTIONAL FAITH
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Hebrews 12

Jesus the Pioneer of Faith

1Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us strip off every burden and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,

The Greek *εὐπερίστατον* (euperistaton) is rendered "so easily entangles" — this compound word carries the sense of something that stands around or encircles one readily, making it a hindrance; it describes sin as that which wraps itself around and trips the runner. The word *ὄγκον* (ogkon) means a bulk or weight, translated here as "burden" to preserve the athletic metaphor of stripping down to run. *Ὑπομονῆς* (hypomones) is rendered "endurance" rather than "patience," as the word denotes active steadfast persistence under pressure, not passive waiting.

2Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the stake, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

*Archēgos* is rendered **Pioneer** — the Pioneer Translation's name for this title — the one who goes first and blazes the path. *Stauros* is rendered **stake** rather than the conventional "cross," reflecting its primary meaning of an upright post. *Teleiōtēn* is rendered **Perfecter**, meaning the one who brings faith to its complete and mature end — Jesus not only initiates faith but brings it to its fullest expression.

3Consider carefully the one who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you do not grow weary and lose heart within your beings.

The verb *analogizomai* means to reckon carefully or think through thoroughly — stronger than a simple "think about." *Antilogian* is translated "hostility" in its primary sense of violent contradiction and opposition. *Tais psychais hymōn* (literally "in your beings") uses *psychē*, rendered here as "beings" following the Pioneer Translation's treatment of this word as life or being rather than an immaterial soul — the phrase captures the inner exhaustion being warned against.

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1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.

Therefore, let us too, with such a crowd of witnesses about us, throw off every impediment and the entanglement of sin, and run with determination the race for which we are entered,

2

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the , scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

fixing our eyes upon Jesus, our leader and example in faith, who in place of the happiness that belonged to him, submitted to a cross, caring nothing for its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

3

Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Think of the opposition that he encountered from those sinners against themselves, if you would not grow weary and faint-hearted.

4

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

You have not yet resisted unto death in your struggle with sin,

5

And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.

and you have forgotten the challenge addressed to you as God’s sons, “My son, do not think lightly of the Lord’s discipline, Or give up when he corrects you.

6

For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”

For it is those whom the Lord loves that he disciplines, And he chastises every son that he acknowledges.”

7

Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

You must submit to it as discipline. God is dealing with you as his sons. For where is there a son whom his father does not discipline?

8

If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

But if you have none of that discipline which all sons undergo, you are illegitimate children, and not true sons.

9

Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?

When our earthly fathers disciplined us we treated them with respect; should we not far more submit to the Father of our spirits, and so have life?

10

Our 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.

For they disciplined us for a short time and as they thought proper, but he does it for our good, to make us share his holiness.

11

No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.

Discipline is never pleasant at the time; it is painful; but to those who are trained by it, it afterward yields the peace of character.

12

Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.

So tighten your loosening hold! Stiffen your wavering stand!

13

Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

And keep your feet in straight paths, so that limbs that are lame may not be dislocated but instead be cured.

14

Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

Try to be at peace with everyone, and strive for that consecration without which no one can see the Lord.

15

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.

Be careful that no one fails to gain God’s favor, or some poisonous root may come up to trouble and contaminate you all—

16

See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.

some immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his very birthright for one single meal.

17

For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.

For you know how, when he afterward wished to claim the blessing, he was refused it, although he begged for it with tears, for he had no opportunity to repent of what he had done.

18

For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm;

For it is no tangible blazing fire that you have come up to, no blackness and darkness and storm,

19

to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken.

no trumpet blast and voice whose words made those who heard them beg to be told no more,

20

For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”

for they could not bear the order, “Even a wild animal, if it touches the mountain, must be stoned to death,”

21

The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

and so awful was the sight that Moses said, “I am aghast and appalled!”

22

Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels

But you have come up to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to countless angels,

23

in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

to the solemn gathering of all God’s elder sons, enrolled as citizens in heaven, to a judge who is the God of all, to the spirits of upright men now at last enjoying the fulfilment of their hopes,

24

to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

to Jesus the negotiator of a new agreement, and to sprinkled blood that speaks more powerfully than even Abel’s.

25

See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?

Take care not to refuse to listen to him who is speaking. For if they could not escape because they would not listen to him who warned them here on earth, how much less can we, who reject him who is from heaven!

26

At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.”

Then his voice shook the earth, but now his promise is, “But once more I will make not only the earth but the very heaven to tremble!”

27

The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain.

Now the words “But once more” indicate the final removal of all that is shaken, as only created, leaving only what is unshaken to be permanent.

28

Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.

Let us, therefore, be thankful that the kingdom given to us cannot be shaken, and so please God by worshiping him with reverence and awe;

29

“For our God is a consuming fire.”

for our God is a consuming fire.

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Sources

SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)License

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition

Copyright 2010 Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software.

Licensed CC BY 4.0.

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