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further, urges the believer "to lay hold upon" this hope that is set before him. This word
krateo appears in Heb. 4: 14, "let us hold fast our confession".
So far then we have seen that those who, like Abraham, are pressing on toward the
goal set before them, in going on unto perfection are comforted and supported by the fact
that they have a High Priest Who knows their temptations, Who has passed that way
before them, and Who is ever ready to succour them that are tested, even as Abraham
was. Other figures are used and fuller details are given which we must reserve for
another paper. Let us however not forget that in our own case also we have strong
consolation and encouragement drawn, not from Christ as Priest after the order of
Melchisedec perhaps, but from the sublime statement of Phil. 2: 6-16 where many
parallels may be found with the teaching of Hebrews.
"Being confident of this very thing, that He Who hath begun in you a good work, will
perfect it in the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1: 6).
#39.
The Anchor and the Forerunner (6: 19, 20).
pp. 90 - 94
In our previous article we saw that the hope was not to be looked upon as a "refuge",
but rather as something to run for and obtain. This hope is now likened to an anchor:--
"Which we have as an anchor of the soul" (Heb. 6: 19).
The use of the figure is most suggestive. It is part of the equipment of a ship that is
not ordinarily used until the voyage is ended. If the anchor is called unto use, the
suggestion is that ordinary seamanship is of no avail. If we read the context of the only
other occurrence of the word anchor in the N.T. we shall appreciate its place in Heb. 6:
the better:--
"But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven to and fro in the
Sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some
country; and they sounded, and found twenty fathoms: and after a little space, they
sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms. And fearing lest haply we should be cast
ashore on the rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the
day" (Acts 27: 27-29).
The Hebrews were in the throes of a great "fight of afflictions". The storm of
opposition was rising, and they were in danger of "making shipwreck concerning the
faith". This latter expression is found in I Tim. 1: 19. There we find the alternative is
"holding fast a good conscience", which is parallel with the thought of Heb. 6: This was
the anchor that held the worthies of Heb. 11: These are set forth as examples of those
who "believe unto the gaining of the soul".