Hebrews 3 1

Hebrews 3:1 kjv

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Hebrews 3:1 nkjv

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

Hebrews 3:1 niv

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.

Hebrews 3:1 esv

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,

Hebrews 3:1 nlt

And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God's messenger and High Priest.

Hebrews 3 verses

Hebrews 3 1 Meaning

Hebrews 3:1 exhorts believers, identified as holy brothers and partakers of a heavenly calling, to profoundly fix their attention upon Jesus. He is presented in His unique and authoritative dual roles: as the "Apostle," signifying His divine mission and commissioning by God to bring revelation and salvation, and as the "High Priest," who represents humanity before God and offers Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for sins, thus mediating access to the Father. The "confession" refers to the core of Christian belief and allegiance centered on Him.

Hebrews 3 1 Context

Hebrews Chapter 3 opens by directly linking back to the arguments in Chapter 2, specifically Jesus' High Priestly role and His shared humanity. The author transitions from comparing Jesus to angels (Chapters 1-2) to comparing Him with Moses. The verse initiates an exhortation to the original audience, predominantly Jewish Christians facing persecution or apostasy, who might have been tempted to revert to Old Covenant practices or drift from their faith. By calling them to "consider Jesus," the author emphasizes the finality and superiority of Jesus over the Mosaic system and any other religious figure or institution. It underscores Jesus' unmatched authority and role in the new covenant, laying the groundwork for a detailed comparison of His faithfulness to Moses' in God's household.

Hebrews 3 1 Word analysis

• Therefore (Gk: Dio) - A crucial logical connective, signaling that what follows is a conclusion drawn from the preceding arguments, especially Jesus' divine sonship and His work as a sympathetic and faithful High Priest. It underscores the practical implications for believers.

• Holy brothers (Gk: adelphoi hagioi)

  • Holy (hagioi): Refers to a state of being set apart for God's purposes. Believers are declared holy in Christ through His sanctifying work, not inherently so by their own efforts. It reflects their new identity in covenant with God.
  • Brothers (adelphoi): Highlights their shared spiritual kinship in Christ and their inclusion in God's family. It emphasizes community and mutual responsibility, and acknowledges Jesus as their elder brother (Heb 2:11).

• partakers (Gk: metochoi) - Means participants, companions, partners, or those who share in something. It stresses the active involvement and privileged status of believers in sharing the benefits and destiny of the divine calling. It indicates intimate association.

• of a heavenly calling (Gk: klēseōs epouraniou)

  • Heavenly (epouraniou): Describes the origin, nature, and ultimate destination of the call. It contrasts with earthly, temporal, or Old Covenant institutions (like the Mosaic Law delivered on earth, or an earthly temple). Our calling originates from God in heaven and leads to a heavenly inheritance.
  • Calling (klēseōs): Refers to the divine summons or invitation. It is God's effectual initiation that draws individuals to Himself in Christ. It's not a human initiative but a sovereign act of God.

• consider (Gk: katanonoasate) - This is a strong imperative meaning "to observe intently," "to fix one's mind upon," "to contemplate thoroughly," or "to understand accurately." It goes beyond a fleeting thought, requiring focused, deliberate attention and reflection. It implies both intellectual grasp and deep personal application.

• Jesus (Gk: Iēsoun) - The human name of the Son of God, emphasizing His historical reality, humanity, and personal identification with those He serves as High Priest. It roots the theological discourse in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.

• the Apostle (Gk: ton Apostolon) - "One who is sent" or "commissioned with a message." Applied to Jesus, it means He is God's supreme and authoritative Emissary, uniquely sent from God with a definitive message and mission to redeem humanity. This parallels Moses as God's sent messenger but highlights Jesus' absolute superiority as the divine Son. It underscores His divine commissioning and unique authority.

• and High Priest (Gk: kai Archieriea)

  • High Priest (Archieriea): The chief priestly office in Israel, responsible for mediating between God and man, particularly through offering sacrifices and entering the Holy of Holies. Jesus holds this office in a perfect and eternal sense, fulfilling and superseding the Levitical priesthood.
  • And (kai): The conjunction links Jesus' two complementary, yet distinct, essential roles—that of being God’s messenger and man’s mediator—both foundational to the believer’s faith.

• of our confession (Gk: tēs hommologias hēmōn) - Refers to the collective Christian faith, public acknowledgment, or shared belief that identifies them as followers of Christ. It encompasses not just what they believe intellectually, but what they affirm and profess with their lives. Jesus is both the object and the ultimate focus of this shared confession.

• "holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling": This phrase identifies the audience and their status. They are believers set apart for God, united in Christ, and actively share in a divine purpose and destiny that transcends earthly concerns. This collective identity implies both privilege and responsibility. It contrasts sharply with the earthly focus of the old covenant.

• "consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest": This is the core imperative, urging deep and deliberate contemplation of Jesus' dual office. The combination of "Apostle" (God-ward orientation, divinely sent) and "High Priest" (man-ward orientation, human mediator) reveals the comprehensiveness of Jesus' saving work. He is God's definitive revelation and humanity's perfect representative.

• "the Apostle and High Priest of our confession": Jesus is not just an apostle or a high priest, but the unique one associated with our specific, Christ-centered faith. He is the substance, the foundation, and the focus of what Christians believe, proclaim, and live by. This stresses His singular and paramount importance in Christian theology and practice.

Hebrews 3 1 Bonus section

The concept of Jesus as "Apostle" is unique in the New Testament; this is the only place it is directly applied to Him. This deliberate choice by the author highlights His authoritative commissioning from God and implicitly contrasts Him with other "apostles" (like those among the twelve) and more directly, with Moses, who was "sent" by God to deliver His law. By calling Jesus "Apostle," the author establishes His ultimate authority as God's decisive agent of salvation and revelation, superior to all who came before. The Greek term homologias (confession) often carried a sense of public allegiance, indicating not just an internal belief, but an outward, spoken commitment, often risking opposition in a hostile environment. This underlines the public and active nature of the faith they are called to hold fast.

Hebrews 3 1 Commentary

Hebrews 3:1 functions as a pivotal exhortation, drawing practical application from the rich theological truths established in the preceding chapters. The audience, identified as "holy brothers" and "partakers of a heavenly calling," are reminded of their profound spiritual identity and high privilege in Christ. This heavenly calling contrasts sharply with any earthly or temporal focus, especially for Jewish Christians who might be tempted to regress to the Mosaic Law. The imperative "consider Jesus" is not a mere suggestion but a command to engage in profound, persistent contemplation of His person and work.

The unique title "Apostle and High Priest of our confession" encapsulates Jesus' dual supremacy. As "Apostle," He is the ultimate Messenger and Embodiment of God's final revelation, superior to Moses (who was also God's "sent one" to Israel, as will be discussed). This highlights His unique commissioning and authority directly from God the Father. As "High Priest," He is the perfect Mediator, having fully entered into human experience yet remaining without sin, capable of interceding and providing access to God in a way that far surpasses the temporary and incomplete Levitical priesthood. The phrase "of our confession" signifies that Jesus is the exclusive focus and content of their Christian faith, hope, and allegiance. This verse lays the groundwork for the ensuing argument on Jesus' superiority to Moses, urging believers to fix their gaze on the unparalleled nature of Christ to strengthen their perseverance in faith.

• Practical example: When faced with distractions or temptations to compromise one's faith, pausing to deliberately "consider Jesus" means to bring His perfect faithfulness, His complete atoning work, and His ongoing high priestly intercession to the forefront of our minds. It helps re-center our focus and find strength in His sufficiency.