{"id":4580,"date":"2021-09-17T16:42:34","date_gmt":"2021-09-17T22:42:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/?p=4580"},"modified":"2022-11-13T02:05:40","modified_gmt":"2022-11-13T09:05:40","slug":"hebrews_1026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/hebrews_1026\/","title":{"rendered":"Hebrews_10:26, Can those who backslide be saved?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Two passages in Hebrews (Heb 10:26 and Heb 6:4-6) are sometimes misunderstood as saying that if you sin intentionally after receiving the knowledge of the truth and becoming a believer, that you cannot be forgiven for intentional sin. However, this is a misunderstanding of what is being said. Let’s look at both the context of the passage and what the Greek is actually conveying. Let’s start by looking at the ESV translation of the passage of Hebrews 10:22-39, and also Hebrews 10:26 in the KJV.\u00a0<\/p>
22<\/sup> let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith<\/strong>, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23<\/sup> Let us<\/strong> hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering<\/strong>, for he who promised is faithful. 24<\/sup> And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25<\/sup> not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near<\/strong>.<\/p> 26<\/sup> For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27<\/sup> but a fearful expectation of judgment<\/strong>, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28<\/sup> Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29<\/sup> How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30<\/sup> For we know him who said, \u201cVengeance is mine; I will repay.\u201d And again, \u201cThe Lord will judge his people<\/strong>.\u201d 31<\/sup> It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God<\/strong>. 26<\/sup> For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t The theme of this passage is maintaining our faith as the Day (of the Lord) draws near. We don’t want to be found in sin when the Lord returns, and we have to face Judgement. Verse 26 comes right after verse 25 which directly references the \u201cDay drawing near\u201d. This is the context in which verse 26 should be understood. ESV is clearly a better translation in this case as compared to KJV because the Greek word for sinning is actually in the genitive. That is, it is not a willful sin that condemns us, but rather willingly falling back into a sinful lifestyle (perpetually sinning without constraint). What is being described here is if we disregard the faith (commit apostasy) and are found living a life of sin, when the day comes, the sacrifice for sin has been discarded. Apostasy is the desertion of the faith. If we desert the faith, we desert our sacrifice. Taking a closer look at the Greek clearly confirms this assessment.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Below is the Greek critical text for Hebrews 10:26 followed by a detailed interlinear table with each Greek word in sequential order, the English rendering, the Parsing, and lexicon definition of each Greek word. Literal and Interpretive Translations are provided below in the interlinear table<\/p> Below is the literal rendering of Hebrews 10:26 based on the interlinear table. It closely matches the word order of the Greek. Also shown is less literal interpretative translation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Greek<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Translation<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Parsing<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Definition<\/b><\/p><\/td><\/tr> willingly<\/p><\/td> Adverb<\/p><\/td> without compulsion, i.e. deliberately, intentionally<\/p><\/td><\/tr> for<\/p><\/td> Conjunction<\/p><\/td> shows inference or continuation: for, because, indeed, but<\/p><\/td><\/tr> if-of-sinning<\/p><\/td> Verb, Present, Active, Participle, Genitive, Masculine, Plural<\/p><\/td> sin, commit a sin, do wrong<\/p><\/td><\/tr> we<\/p><\/td> Pronoun, Genitive, (No Gender), Plural, 1st Person<\/p><\/td> I, me, my; we, us, our; often added for emphasis: myself, ourselves<\/p><\/td><\/tr> after (with)<\/p><\/td> Preposition Governing the Accusative<\/p><\/td> (gen.) with, among, a marker of association of various kinds and meanings; (acc.) after, later, a marker of time<\/p><\/td><\/tr> the<\/p><\/td> Determiner, Accusative, Neuter, Singular<\/p><\/td> the; this, that; he, she, it; \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 with inf. in order that, so that, with the result that, that<\/p><\/td><\/tr> having received<\/p><\/td> Verb, Aorist, Active, Infinitive<\/p><\/td> to take, receive; (pass.) to be received, selected<\/p><\/td><\/tr> the<\/p><\/td> Determiner, Accusative, Feminine, Singular<\/p><\/td> the, this, that, who<\/p><\/td><\/tr> knowledge<\/p><\/td> Noun, Genitive, Feminine, Singular<\/p><\/td> knowledge, recognition, consciousness<\/p><\/td><\/tr> of the<\/p><\/td> Determiner, Genitive, Feminine, Singular<\/p><\/td> the; this, that; he, she, it; \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 with inf. in order that, so that, with the result that, that<\/p><\/td><\/tr> of truth<\/p><\/td> Noun, Genitive, Feminine, Singular<\/p><\/td> truth<\/p><\/td><\/tr> no-longer<\/p><\/td> Adverb<\/p><\/td> no longer, not again, not any more, no further<\/p><\/td><\/tr> concerning<\/p><\/td> Preposition Governing the Genitive<\/p><\/td> (1) gen. about, concerning, of, with reference to; for; on account of (\u03c0. \u1f01\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2 often sin offering); (2) acc. around, about; near; of, with reference to, regarding<\/p><\/td><\/tr> of sin<\/p><\/td> Noun, Genitive, Feminine, Plural<\/p><\/td> sin, wrongdoing; usually any act contrary to the will and law of God<\/p><\/td><\/tr> it is abandoned<\/p><\/td> Verb, Present, Passive, Indicative, 3rd Person, Singular<\/p><\/td> leave behind; abandon, desert (passively, remain); by implication, to forsake<\/p><\/td><\/tr> an offering<\/p><\/td> Noun, Nominative, Feminine, Singular<\/p><\/td> sacrifice, offering; act of offering<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t For if willfully of sinning\u2014ourselves\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> – after having received the knowledge of the truth –<\/p> – no longer – concerning sin –<\/p> it is abandoned\u2014an offering<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t \u00a0For if we are willfully sinning<\/p> after having received the knowledge of the truth,<\/p> no longer is there an offering concerning sin –\u00a0<\/p> it is abandoned<\/p> \u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t Let’s break the verse down in reference to key Greek words used, which are often misunderstood.<\/p> The Greek word\u00a0 \u1f19\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u1f77\u03c9\u03c2 (hekousio\u0304s) means willfully, deliberately, or intentionally. It is used only twice in the New Testament The meaning of this word is further informed by the other occurrence in 1 Peter 2:5, \u201cshepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion<\/strong>, but willingly<\/strong>, as God would have you.\u201d In this verse, willing is contrasted with a Greek word meaning under compulsion. That is\u00a0 \u1f19\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u1f77\u03c9\u03c2 (hekousio\u0304s) is the inverse of compulsion. The implication is \u201cif-of-sinning\u201d without constraint, then the sacrifice is forsaken. That is, the one who is committing the sinning is doing so with complete disregard for the truth. When one sells themselves out to sin, they have abandoned their faith.<\/p> The Greek word \u1f01\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03b1\u03bd\u1f79\u03bd\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd (hamartanonto\u0304n) is in the Greek genitive case. The most common use of the genitive is when the word in the genitive gives some description of the head known (it is descriptive). That is, the word functions somewhat like an adjective. The word \u201cof\u201d is typically added before the verb for occurrences of the genitive. What is being conveyed by the participle in the genitive plural, \u201cif-of-sinning.\u201d That is if we are \u201cof-sinning\u201d (not that we have willfully sinned) our sacrifice\/offering has been abandoned.<\/p> The important clarification here is that it is referring to a present state of being described as someone who is actively engaging in sin. The genitive case modifies the basic meaning of the verb in such a way that the verb is descriptive of a current pattern of behavior rather than a previous one.\u00a0 What is implied is the verb \u201csinning\u201d describes the current state of being, a pattern of behavior, or characterization. Indeed, we don’t want to be caught up in sin when the Lord returns. If we have discarded our faith, we have also discarded our sacrifice. The passage says nothing to the effect that if we have discarded our faith, it is impossible to reclaim it. But we need to repent and turn away again from sin, lest the day of the Lord come upon us by surprise.\u00a0<\/p> The Greek word \u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03b5\u1f77\u03c0\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 (apoleipetai) means to leave behind or abandon. The implication is to forsake. If we abandon our faith, we abandon our sacrifice.\u00a0 If we forsake our faith, we forsake our sacrifice. However, nothing in the passage indicates that if we backslide into the darkness, we cannot come back into the light and restore our faith.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t An appropriate rendering of Hebrews 10:26 is given by the Literal Standard Version. Where the word \u201care\u201d is added to modify the word \u201csinning.\u201d This gives a more accurate implication that we are outside the promises of God if we are sinning (not that we had willfully sinned after being a believer). We cannot be found in a state of willful disobedience when the Lord returns. If we reject him\u2014he will reject us.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p> For [if] we are<\/strong> sinning willingly after receiving the full knowledge of the truth\u2014there remains no more sacrifice for sins,<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Below are several references to put things into perspective. God is merciful and forgiving.\u00a0<\/p> 5<\/sup> I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, \u201cI will confess my transgressions to the LORD,\u201d and you forgave the iniquity of my sin<\/strong>. Selah<\/p> \u00a0 21<\/sup> \u201cBut if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22<\/sup> None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. 23<\/sup> Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live<\/strong>?<\/p> 3<\/sup> Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4<\/sup> and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, \u2018I repent,\u2019 you must forgive him<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p> 30<\/sup> The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent<\/strong>, 31<\/sup> because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed<\/strong>; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.\u201d<\/p> 5<\/sup> This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6<\/sup> If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7<\/sup> But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin<\/strong>. 8<\/sup> If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9<\/sup> If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness<\/strong>.<\/p> 2<\/sup> For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night<\/strong>. 3<\/sup> While people are saying, \u201cThere is peace and security,\u201d then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4<\/sup> But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief<\/strong>. 5<\/sup> For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6<\/sup> So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober<\/strong>.<\/p> 4<\/sup> I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5<\/sup> that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge\u2014 6<\/sup> even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you\u2014 7<\/sup> so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ<\/strong>, 8<\/sup> who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ<\/strong>. 9<\/sup> God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.<\/p> 14<\/sup> Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15<\/sup> And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick<\/strong>, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven<\/strong>.<\/p> 12<\/sup> Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God<\/strong>. 13<\/sup> But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called \u201ctoday,\u201d that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin<\/strong>. 14<\/sup> For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end<\/strong>. 15<\/sup> As it is said, \u201cToday, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.\u201d<\/p> 4<\/sup> But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first<\/strong>. 5<\/sup> Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first<\/strong>. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent<\/strong>.<\/p> 14<\/sup> But I have a few things against you<\/strong>: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15<\/sup> So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16<\/sup> Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.<\/strong><\/p>
32<\/sup> But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle<\/strong> with sufferings, 33<\/sup> sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34<\/sup> For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35<\/sup> Therefore do not throw away your confidence<\/strong>, which has a great reward. 36<\/sup> For you have need of endurance<\/strong>, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37<\/sup> For, \u201cYet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay<\/strong>; 38<\/sup> but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.\u201d 39<\/sup> But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tHebrews 10:26 (KJV)<\/h3>
Contextual Overview<\/h2>
What does the Greek Say in verse 26?<\/strong><\/h2>
Hebrews 10:26 (NA28)<\/h3>
26<\/sup> \u1f19\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u1f77\u03c9\u03c2 \u03b3\u1f70\u03c1 \u1f01\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03b1\u03bd\u1f79\u03bd\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u1f21\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03bb\u03b1\u03b2\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u1f10\u03c0\u1f77\u03b3\u03bd\u03c9\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u1f00\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2, \u03bf\u1f50\u03ba\u1f73\u03c4\u03b9 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u1f76 \u1f01\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03b9\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03b5\u1f77\u03c0\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b8\u03c5\u03c3\u1f77\u03b1,<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Literal and Interpretative Translations<\/h2>
26<\/sup> \u1f19\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u1f77\u03c9\u03c2<\/h4><\/td>
\u03b3\u1f70\u03c1<\/h4><\/td>
\u1f01\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03b1\u03bd\u1f79\u03bd\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd<\/h4><\/td>
\u1f21\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd<\/h4><\/td>
\u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u1f70<\/h4><\/td>
\u03c4\u1f78<\/h4><\/td>
\u03bb\u03b1\u03b2\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd<\/h4><\/td>
\u03c4\u1f74\u03bd<\/h4><\/td>
\u1f10\u03c0\u1f77\u03b3\u03bd\u03c9\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd<\/h4><\/td>
\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2<\/h4><\/td>
\u1f00\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2<\/h4><\/td>
\u03bf\u1f50\u03ba\u1f73\u03c4\u03b9<\/h4><\/td>
\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u1f76<\/h4><\/td>
\u1f01\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03b9\u1ff6\u03bd<\/h4><\/td>
\u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03b5\u1f77\u03c0\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9<\/h4><\/td>
\u03b8\u03c5\u03c3\u1f77\u03b1<\/h4><\/td>
Hebrews 10:26 Literal Translation<\/h3>
Hebrews 10:26 Interpretative Translation<\/h3>
Analysis<\/h2>
\u201cwillfully\u201d<\/h4>
\u201cof-sinning\u201d<\/h4>
\u201cit is abandoned\u201d<\/h4>
Literal Standard Version<\/h2>
Hebrews 10:26 (LSV)<\/h3>
Balancing Scripture<\/h2>
Psalms 32:5 (ESV), I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,\u201d and you forgave the iniquity of my sin<\/strong><\/h3>
Ezekiel 18:21-23 (ESV), Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD<\/strong>?\u00a0<\/h3>
Luke 17:3-4 (ESV), If he sins against you seven – and turns to you seven times, saying, \u2018I repent,\u2019 you must forgive him<\/strong>.<\/h3>
Acts 17:30-31 (ESV), Now he commands all people everywhere to repent<\/strong><\/h3>
1 John 1:5-9 (ESV), If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins<\/strong><\/h3>
1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 (ESV), Let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober<\/strong><\/h3>
1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (ESV), As you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ<\/strong><\/h3>
James 5:14-15 (ESV), The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven<\/strong>.<\/h3>
Hebrews 3:12-15 (ESV), Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called \u201ctoday\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>
Revelation 2:4-5 (ESV), Repent, and do the works you did at first<\/strong>. If not, I will remove your lampstand from its place<\/strong><\/h3>
Revelation 2:14-16 (ESV), Repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.<\/strong><\/h3>