Hebrews 3 14

Hebrews 3:14 kjv

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Hebrews 3:14 nkjv

For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

Hebrews 3:14 niv

We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.

Hebrews 3:14 esv

For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

Hebrews 3:14 nlt

For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

Hebrews 3 verses

Hebrews 3 14 Meaning

Hebrews 3:14 teaches that our genuine participation and deep partnership with Christ are evidenced and maintained by our persistent adherence to the initial conviction and foundational assurance of our faith until the very end of our lives or the coming of the Lord. It signifies that true partaking in Christ is not a one-time event isolated from a life of enduring fidelity.

Hebrews 3 14 Context

Hebrews chapter 3, along with chapter 4, presents a profound warning to the believing community by drawing a parallel between their situation and the Israelites in the wilderness. The chapter emphasizes Christ's superior faithfulness as a Son over Moses, a faithful servant. The warning centers on the danger of hardening one's heart against God's voice, leading to spiritual failure and missing the divine rest, akin to Israel's inability to enter the promised land due to unbelief. Hebrews 3:14 builds directly on the exhortation to "exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Heb 3:13). It provides the critical condition for enjoying Christ's partnership, implying that hardening of heart and abandoning the initial faith negates this shared inheritance. The original audience was likely facing persecution, temptation to revert to Judaism, or simply drifting from their initial fervor, making the call for perseverance profoundly relevant.

Hebrews 3 14 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): A conjunctive particle, linking this verse as a logical explanation or continuation of the preceding thought, particularly the warning about not hardening their hearts. It introduces the condition for benefiting from Christ's new covenant.
• we have become (γεγόναμεν - gegonamen): From the verb ginomai (to become, to be). Perfect active indicative. Implies a past event (initial conversion, entry into Christ's new covenant) with a present, continuing state or result. We are now participants, having become so.
• partakers (μέτοχοι - metochoi): Companions, partners, sharers, participants. Denotes a deep, intrinsic union and commonality. This is not merely receiving benefits from Christ but being in active partnership with Him, sharing in His life, destiny, and blessings.
• of Christ (τοῦ Χριστοῦ - tou Christou): The specific object of their shared relationship. It’s not just a general spirituality but a direct, personal, and covenantal partnership with Jesus the Messiah.
• if (ἐάν - ean): A crucial conditional particle. It introduces a real condition, emphasizing that the ongoing state of being "partakers of Christ" is contingent upon the subsequent action of the believer. It is not an "if perhaps" but an "if as is the case." It highlights human responsibility in maintaining faith.
• we hold (κατέχωμεν - katechōmen): Present active subjunctive of katechō (to hold fast, retain, keep possession of, firmly grasp). Emphasizes continuous, sustained effort and adherence. It signifies an active choice to keep believing and trusting.
• the beginning (τὴν ἀρχὴν - tēn archēn): Refers to the initial stage or point in time. Here, it signifies the foundational experience or first confession of faith in Christ, the origin of their spiritual life.
• of our confidence (τῆς ὑποστάσεως - tēs hypostaseōs): Hypostasis carries several nuances: a standing under, a foundation, substance, essence, or confident assurance/firm conviction. In Hebrews, it often means the assured confidence or settled conviction (as in Heb 11:1). It's the firm basis of hope and faith they initially embraced.
• steadfast (βέβαιον - bebaion): Firm, stable, unshakeable, secure. This word emphasizes the quality of the holding – it must be resolute and unwavering.
• to the end (μέχρι τέλους - mechri telous): Until the final point or conclusion. This indicates a lifelong perseverance in faith and commitment, reaching either the natural end of life or the Lord's return.

Words-group analysis

• "For we have become partakers of Christ if...": This phrase connects a completed action (becoming partakers) with a continuing condition. It suggests that while the initial identification with Christ is by grace through faith, the reality of that relationship is validated by enduring faithfulness. The "if" clause doesn't suggest a future hypothetical, but rather that the truth of our having become partakers is revealed by our perseverance.
• "we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast": This points to maintaining the initial fervent faith, conviction, and foundational truth that marked their conversion. It's not about re-converting daily but about preserving the integrity and assurance of that first, vital encounter with Christ and His salvation. This firm grip on their initial assurance protects them from drifting or succumbing to sin's deceitfulness.
• "to the end": This highlights the requirement of continuous, lifelong endurance. It's not enough to start well; one must finish well. This phrase counters any notion of automatic salvation regardless of subsequent choices or actions, underscoring the necessity of ongoing faithfulness for the validity of their shared status with Christ.

Hebrews 3 14 Bonus section

The theological implication of Hebrews 3:14 often leads to discussions on perseverance of the saints. The verse clearly ties the present reality of being a "partaker of Christ" to an ongoing condition of endurance. This isn't about earning salvation, but rather demonstrating the authenticity of a salvific relationship. If someone truly has become a partaker of Christ, the evidence will be found in their holding fast to their initial confidence. The warning here, like others in Hebrews (e.g., Heb 6:4-6, Heb 10:26-31), presents the solemn possibility of falling away for those who once professed faith, underscoring the vital role of individual responsibility in cooperation with divine grace. The continuous active choice to hold fast signifies that the Christian life is a journey requiring persistent faith, fueled by reliance on Christ Himself.

Hebrews 3 14 Commentary

Hebrews 3:14 stands as a vital warning and encouragement to the early Christian community, and to believers today, on the nature of authentic faith. It emphasizes that our "partaking of Christ" is not a static, irreversible state detached from ongoing conduct, but rather a dynamic partnership evidenced by unwavering endurance. The term "partakers" (metochoi) denotes a profound, participatory union with Christ, sharing in His blessings, identity, and future inheritance. However, this status is profoundly conditional, introduced by the significant "if" (ean). This "if" is not a doubt about God's faithfulness, but a necessary condition for demonstrating the authenticity and depth of one's initial profession of faith. True conversion naturally produces a persevering faith.

The "beginning of our confidence" refers to the initial, foundational conviction and assurance in Christ that marked their conversion. This "confidence" (hypostasis) is not mere wishful thinking but a firm, substantial assurance of spiritual realities. The admonition is to "hold" it "steadfast" – to grip it firmly and resolutely – which implies active maintenance against trials, temptations, and the tendency to drift (Heb 2:1). This tenacity is required "to the end," meaning throughout one's life. The warning resonates deeply with the example of the Israelites who, though liberated from Egypt, failed to enter God's rest due to their unbelief and disobedience, effectively disqualifying themselves from what was initially offered. Therefore, this verse underscores that salvation is a process rooted in initial faith, sustained by continuing faithfulness, and culminating in eternal communion with Christ. It is a call to steadfast commitment, confirming that the indwelling life of Christ truly transforms and endures in the believer.