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spoiling of their goods, and were urged not to cast away their confidence which had great recompense of reward.
Parallel with the `so great salvation' of Hebrews is the `saving of the soul' of Peter, a term misapplied in some
evangelical circles. The link is found in Hebrews 10:39, where the true rendering is, `believe unto the acquiring of
the soul'. Acquiring is the rendering of peripoiesis which, occurring but five times in the New Testament, will not
take long to consult:
Eph. 1:14.
`Until the redemption of the PURCHASED POSSESSION'.
1 Thess. 5:9.
`To OBTAIN salvation'.
2 Thess. 2:14.
`To the obtaining of the glory'.
Heb. 10:39.
`to the OBTAINING OR THE PURCHASING of the soul'.
1 Pet. 2:9.
`A PURCHASED people' (margin).
The passage in Hebrews 10 is parallel with Matthew 16:24-27. Peter's expression, `the saving of the soul',
contains a very different idea from that which is intended in present day gospel teaching. Paul never taught the
saving of the soul when writing to the churches. He uses the expression only when addressing the Hebrews. Peter
uses it when writing to the dispersion. Those to whom Peter addresses his epistle were redeemed (1 Pet. 1:18), yet
the salvation of their souls was something they could receive as `the end of their faith' (9). This salvation is ready to
be revealed in the last time. Concerning this salvation the prophets spoke and searched what the Spirit testified
beforehand, `the sufferings FOR Christ (see R.V.) and the glories that should follow ... the grace to be brought unto
you at the revelation of Jesus Christ' (1 Pet. 1:11-13). `Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings;
that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy' (4:13). `The God of all grace, Who
hath called us unto His aionian glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish,
strengthen, settle you' (5:10).
This aionian glory, this share of the glory of the regeneration, this entry into the Marriage Feast, is all related to
suffering, vigilance, not neglecting, or as it is in the Revelation, overcoming. The aionian glory is similar to the
aionian salvation of Hebrews 5:8,9, which is closely connected with obedience and suffering. Those who attain this
salvation are the church of the firstborn (Heb. 12:23). To this salvation the apostle addresses himself here. He
brings the wilderness wandering in to illustrate the failure to attain the promise; he exhorts to endurance; he gives a
list of overcomers and cites the Lord Jesus Himself in chapters 5 and 12 as an example to the overcomer. It is in
view of this that the miraculous testimony of Hebrews 6 is written, and to this end the solemn conclusion of
Hebrews 12 is addressed.
The difficulty that many have with regard to Hebrews 6 will be solved as we realize the nature of the subject and
the character of the confirmation. The miracles which were wrought by the apostles are called the `powers of the
age to come', and to refuse their testimony was fraught with special danger. In this same context comes the nearest
hint of the so great salvation in Abraham's history. Let it be observed what portion of Abraham's history is brought
forward. Romans bases its teaching upon the testimony of Genesis 15 `Abram believed God, and it was counted
unto him for righteousness'. The whole argument excludes works. James bases his argument upon the twofold
testimony of Genesis 15 and 22 . Hebrews goes at once to Genesis 22. The epistle to the Hebrews does not speak of
imputing righteousness without works. Its special theme demands such statements as `they wrought righteousness',
and `the righteous shall LIVE by faith', `he obtained witness that he WAS righteous', `he became the heir of the
righteousness which is by faith'.
The passage in Genesis 22 referred to in Hebrews 6 goes beyond justification by faith; as James 2:22 declares,
`seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith perfected?' After Abraham had passed the
supreme trial of faith come the words:
`Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured,
he obtained the promise' (Heb. 6:14,15).
It was here when Abraham had reached this stage of `perfecting', the master key of `Hebrews', that it would
seem God revealed to him the `so great salvation', the City which hath foundations.
Gifts for Confirmation (Heb. 2:3,4)