however, is used in other ways, and does not necessarily indicate fleeing for refuge,

unless the context so demands. For instance, the LXX version of Lev. 26: 25 renders

"gather together", katapheugo, and the Hebrew word so translated is asaph, its normal

meaning.  Jer. 50: 5 and Zech. 2: 11 use the word to translate the Hebrew lavah, "to

join". Isa. 54: 15 uses katapheugo to translate naphal, "to fall". In Isa. 55: 5 the word

translates the Hebrew rutz "to run". This Hebrew word is found in Psa. 19: 5 (6) where

it is used of "running a race" and in Esther 3: 13, 15; 8: 10, 14 for the "posts" that

ran with letters, and Job speaks of his days being "swifter than a post" (9: 25). This

meaning of the word katapheugo, viz., "to run", is in entire harmony with both the

context of Heb. 6: and the more remote context of Heb. 12:

The reason why we see a connection in Heb. 12: is found in the recurrence of another

word which we must consider. The hope is said to be "set before" us. This word is

prokeimai and occurs in Heb. 12: 1, 2:

Here the subject is unmistakable. It is a race with a reward at the end. It sums up the

whole series of overcomers detailed in Heb. 11: It speaks of those who do not draw back

but who go on unto perfection, who believe unto the acquiring of the soul. The Apostle,

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, were pressing on toward the

goal set before them in going on unto spiritual adulthood were comforted and supported

by the fact that they had a High Priest Who knew their temptations, Who had passed that

way before them, and Who was ever ready to succour them that are tested, even as

Abraham was sustained.

Other figures are used and fuller details are given which we must reserve for another

article. Let us, however, not forget that in our own case also we have strong consolation

and encouragement drawn from Christ, not perhaps as Priest after the order of

Melchisedec, but from the sublime statement of Phil. 2: 6-11 where many parallels may

be found with the teaching of Hebrews.