I N D E X
COVENANTS AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES
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These two headings commend themselves at once, and we soon discover that they are supported `up to the hilt'
by their contexts. `Let us come boldly' is answered by `let us draw near' (Heb. 4:16; 10:22). The examples of
unbelief of chapter 3 are gloriously answered by the examples of faith in Hebrews 11. In chapter 5 we have `babes'
set over against `full grown', but in chapter 12 we have `sons' over against `firstborn'. That dreadful passage which
has caused so much anxiety to sensitive souls, `no renewal unto repentance' finds its explanation in the
corresponding section of the epistle in Esau who `found no place for repentance', and which shows us that the fear
in chapter 6 was not the loss of salvation but of birthright and the firstborn's position.
Let us now assemble our material.
Hebrews as a Whole
A 1:2.
THE WORD
Thou remainest. Thou art the same.
SPOKEN
How escape? Bring the First-begotten.
B 3-6.  ON TO
Let us come boldly.
PERFECTION
Examples of unbelief.
Perfect v. Babes.
No renewal unto repentance.
Senses exercised.
Crucify afresh the Son of God.
C 7-10:18. PERFECTION
But this Man.
WHERE FOUND
No perfection in priesthood,
law, ordinances, sacrifices.
But this Man.
B 10:19 to 12:24.
Let us draw near.
BACK TO
Examples of faith.
PERDITION
Sons v. Firstborn.
No place for repentance.
Discipline exercised.
Tread under foot the Son of God.
A 12:25 to 13. HIM THAT
Things that remain. The same.
SPEAKETH
Not escape. Brought from the dead.
In chapter 5, adults are manifested by the presence, not only of `senses' but `senses exercised', which is balanced
in chapter 12 with `discipline exercised'. In chapter 6 some are said to crucify afresh the Son of God and in chapter
10 we read of those who have trodden under foot the Son of God. There is therefore no possible doubt but that here
we have the material for the two flanking members of the central section. Chapters 7 to 10:18 therefore are left in
the centre of the structure. This central section develops the flanking slogans `on to perfection' and `back to
perdition' by devoting itself to the place where perfection can be found. It opens and closes with a reference to
`This Man', the Man Christ Jesus.
The earnest student will `search and see' and make this structure his own. We are now mercifully granted an
infallible guide in our researches in this epistle, though we ourselves may be very slow to avail ourselves of its help.
Throughout the series of studies now commencing we shall seek to honour this God-given structure by
continually aligning our comments and discoveries with its general bearing. Let no one accuse us of bombast; we
no more invented this structure than Christopher Columbus invented America. We simply discovered what is there
already, and give God thanks.
An examination of the alternatives of Hebrews 6:1 and 10:39
The two foci `Perfection' and `Perdition' must now be given attention, for if we are wrong in our apprehension
of their respective meanings, we shall necessarily miss the argument of the whole epistle. The English word
`perfect' is made up of per `through' and facio `to do', and from this same facio comes our word `fact'. So, the
English word suggests the salutary idea of `making a doctrinal truth an experimental fact'. The Greek word
`perfection' is teleiotes, one of a number of words derived from telos `the end'. The fundamental conception in all