AUTHORSHIP
EPISTLE
HEBREWS
11
OF THE
TO THE
Mimetes, follower, is found five times in Paul's writings (1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1; Eph. 5:1; 1 Thess. 1:6; 2:14), and
once in Hebrews (6:12), and nowhere else. (In 1 Pet. 3:13 the critical texts read zelotai instead of mimetes). Note
the link between 1 Thessalonians 2:14 and Hebrews 6:12:
`For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God ... for ye also have suffered like things of your own
countrymen, even as they have of the Jews' (1 Thess. 2:14).
`That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises' (Heb. 6:12).
In the background of each is testing and suffering. In Hebrews this is expanded in chapter 11, where those
linked with faith and patience and testing are given in detail.
Nekroo, to treat as dead, occurs only three times in the New Testament (Rom. 4:19; Col. 3:5; and Heb. 11:12).
The similar usage in Romans 4:19 and Hebrews 11:12, is surely apparent. Both refer to Abraham `... as good as
dead' as far as his physical capacity to have a son was concerned.
Olothreuo, to destroy, and its cognate olothreutes have only one occurrence each in the New Testament, the
latter in 1 Corinthians 10:10, `neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the
destroyer', ... and the former in Hebrews 11:28 `... lest He that destroyed the firstborn should touch them'. The
usage of the word is identical in both cases.
Homologia, profession or confession, has six New Testament references, three by Paul and three in Hebrews
(2 Cor. 9:13; 1 Tim. 6:12, 13; Heb. 3:1; 4:14; 10:23). The essence of the three passages in Hebrews is condensed in
1 Timothy 6:12,13:
`Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good
profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, Who quickeneth all things, and before
Christ Jesus, Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession ...'.
Oneidismos, reproach, occurs five times in the New Testament (Rom. 15:3; 1 Tim. 3:7; Heb. 10:33; 11:26;
13:13). In Romans 15:3, we have: `For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of
them that reproached Thee fell on Me', and in Hebrews 13:13, `Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the
camp, bearing His reproach'.
Timoreo and timoria, to punish and punishment, have only three New Testament references. Luke in reporting
Paul's speeches uses the former twice: `I ... went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto
Jerusalem, for to be punished' (Acts 22:5) and in 26:11, `... I punished them oft in every synagogue ...'. The third
occurs in Hebrews 10:29 `... of how much sorer punishment (timoria), suppose ye ...'.
Philoxenia, hospitality, has only two New Testament occurrences which are quite parallel. Romans 12:13,
`Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality', and Hebrews 13:2, `Be not forgetful to entertain
strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares'.
Phrasso, to stop (the mouth), is another word having only three New Testament references, namely, Romans
3:19; 2 Corinthians 11:10, and Hebrews 11:33. Romans 3:19 deals with the mouths of men being stopped, and
Hebrews 11:33, the mouths of lions.
Megas, great, is applied to Christ in Luke 1:32, 7:16; Heb. 4:14, 13:20. In Titus 2:13 R.V., `Our great God and
Saviour', and Hebrews, 13.20, `... that great Shepherd of the sheep'.
Katargeo occurs twenty-seven times in the New Testament. Luke uses it once in a non-doctrinal and primitive
sense (Luke 13:7). Paul's epistles have twenty-five references and Hebrews one. It is peculiarly a Pauline word and
the one reference in Hebrews 2:14 is used in the apostle's manner:
`Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same;
that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil'.
`The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death' (1 Cor. 15:26).
` ... Jesus Christ, Who hath abolished death ...' (2 Tim. 1:10).