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Athlesis "fight" (Heb. 10: 32) and athleo "strive" (II Tim. 2: 5) are ample illustrations of
the underlying links that bind Hebrews into the same bundle with the undisputed
epistles of Paul.
Apekdechomai "waiting with expectancy", douleia "bondage", endunamoo "to be
strengthened", entungchano "to make intercession", euarestos "acceptable", these
are but a few specimens of the peculiar use of words that characterize Paul's epistles
and the epistles to the Hebrews. The reader will see that the words chosen are in
alphabetical order, and will find many others by patient search.
To this testimony of the exclusive use of certain words, must be added the personal
way in which certain words are used by Paul. This can be well illustrated by the word
katargeo which occurs in Paul's epistles and Hebrews twenty-six times. The word is
found but four times in the Septuagint, namely in Ezra 4: 21, 23; 5: 5; and 6: 8,
where the word is used with its primitive significance of "stopping work". Paul however
uses the word katargeo in a sense peculiar to himself, "to make without effect" as of
faith, "to make void" as of law, "to destroy" as of the body of sin &100:, &100: On two
occasions Paul uses katargeo in connection with death.
"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" (I Cor. 15: 26).
"Who hath abolished death" (II Tim. 1: 10).
This last usage is found in Heb. 2: 14:
"That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil."
While the presence of katargeo in such a context as the above is a testimony by itself,
a comparison of the context of I Cor. 15: 26 is overwhelming.
I Corinthians 15: 26-28.
Hebrews 2: 5, 8, 14.
"The last enemy that shall be
For unto the angels hath He not put in
destroyed is death. For He hath put all
subjection the world to come, whereof we
things under His feet. But when He saith
speak . . . Thou hast put all things in
all things are put under Him, it is manifest
subjection under His feet. For in that He
that He is excepted, which did put all
put all in subjection under Him, He left
things under Him. And when all things
nothing that is not put under Him, but
shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the
now we see not yet all things put under
Son also Himself be subject unto Him
Him . . . that through death He might
that put all things under Him, that God
destroy him that had the power of death
may be all in all."
that is the devil."
Not only is there the special use of "destroy" as applied to death, there is in both "the
world to come", the specially peculiar argument derived from the passage "Thou didst
put all things under His feet" and the reference to Adam, (1) by name in I Cor. 15: and
(2) by implication in Heb. 2: 6. The fact that angels mediated at the giving of the law at
Sinai is stated in Gal. 3: 19 and implied in Heb. 2: 2. The apostolic confirmation by
"signs and wonders and diverse miracles" are brought forward in II Cor. 12: 12 and
Rom. 15: 19, and they are alluded to in Heb. 2: 4. Sinai and Sion are used allegorically
of the two covenants in Gal. 4:, and the two mountains are placed in similar
juxtaposition in Heb. 12:
While Heb. 2: is before us, we observe in verse 4 the
reference to the confirming "of them that heard Him" and find parallels in II Cor. 12: 12