This past week, a politician was asked to define hope. The word salad that followed was almost unintelligible. For those who have put their trust in Christ, hope is that which is certain to come to pass. (DJB)
The addressees of the Book of Hebrews suffered years earlier in life. Once again, persecution was increasing. Some Jewish Christians were considering going back to the old-time religion, thinking they might be spared this suffering for their faith.
Chapter 10:32 begins with an appeal to remember past suffering and personal victories. He reminds them of their willingness to endure suffering based upon the Old Testament promise of a Deliverer. His readers were not like those who shrink back, but they are those who have faith to the preserving of the soul (10:39).
Note that the negative in the first phrase of verse 10:39 is ouk, an absolute negative, not mē, a conditional negative. They were [absolutely] not of those…, but of those. Chapter 10 ends with a declaration of the kind of faith to which he is referring.
In James 1:21, James refers to soul-salvation. Here in Hebrews 10:39, reference is to soul-preservation. Soul-salvation refers to progressive sanctification. It is iterative, forming a pattern of behavior under the sun as believers receive the implanted Word and become more like Christ. Soul-preservation views our present life under the sun as a whole. It is a restatement of 10:38, But My righteous one shall live by faith, referring to a quality of life.
Chapter 11 is filled with examples of individuals who were saved by this same faith. At 11:6, he picks up the theme of God’s pleasure in past generations of His righteous ones.
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (cf. Heb10:38 w. 11:6-7)
Chapter 11 reminds his readers of many who believed in God and His promise without seeing its fruition. God revealed His plan under the sun progressively; there were momentary victories, but not the ultimate fulfillment. However, the message was always the same. His promise was fulfilled in Christ Jesus.
Believing something doesn’t make it true. Believing in the divine nature and character of the One who promised does. The phrase “by faith” occurs 24 times in chapter 11. In 23 of those occurrences, faith is anarthrous, meaning there is no article. It emphasizes the quality of the faith in question. The last occurrence uses the definite article to refer to the previous 23.
Chapter 11 ends with:
And all these, having gained approval through the faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect. (Heb 11:39-40)
We can trust that this quality of faith will preserve us until God’s purpose for us is accomplished. We live by the faith that preserves the soul.