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looking unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter (teleiotes) of our faith" (Heb. 12: 1, 2).
"Not as though I had already attained, either were already mature (teleioo perfect), but I
follow after (pursue) . . . . . I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore as many as be mature (teleios), be thus minded"
(Phil. 3: 12-15). "None of these things move me . . . . . so that I might finish (teleiosai)
my course (race) with joy" (Acts 20: 24). "I have finished (teleo) the course (race) . . . . .
henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness" (II Tim. 4: 7, 8).
No.5. Verbal links between Paul's Epistles
and the Epistle to the Hebrews (3).
pp. 114 - 120
In I Cor. 8: 6, we have the expression: "One God, the Father, of (ex) Whom are all
things . . . . . and one Lord Jesus Christ, by (dia) Whom are all things". This is paralleled
by Heb. 2: 10, "For it became Him, for (dia) Whom are all things, and by (dia) Whom
are all things", and this is found nowhere else in the N.T.
"The Living God." In the epistles this title only occurs in Paul's writings, where it is
used seven times: (Rom. 9: 26; II Cor. 3: 3; 6: 16; I Thess. 1: 9; I Tim. 3: 15; 4: 10;
6: 17). The writer of Hebrews employs it four times (3: 12; 9: 14; 10: 31; 12: 22).
The Lord Jesus Christ, as the Image of God, is a Pauline conception (II Cor. 4: 4;
Col. 1: 15). It is found elsewhere only in Heb. 1: 3, "Who being the brightness of His
glory, and the express Image of His Person".
The Ascension of Christ is vital to Paul's ministry, especially the doctrine concerning
the Body of Christ, so closely identified with the Head, that it is looked upon as being
seated in the heavenly places where He is now enthroned (Eph. 1: 19-23; 2: 6);
consequently we have the Ascension stressed first in Ephesians before the position of the
Body is dealt with. In the same way Col. 3: 1-3 emphasizes this, and urges the believer
to set his mind upon and seek those things which are above "where Christ sitteth on the
right hand of God". The doctrine of the Ascension, likewise, is stressed in Hebrews,
where it is referred to seven times: (1: 3; 4: 14; 6: 19, 20; 8: 1; 10: 12; 12: 2). Used
in this manner, it is peculiar to Paul's writings and the Hebrew epistle. Peter makes but
one reference to the Ascension, I Pet. 3: 22, and it is not essential to the doctrine set
forth in his epistle.
Related to the Ascension is the present intercession of the Lord Jesus:
". . . . . Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen
again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us"
(Rom. 8: 34).
The only other mention of this in the N.T. is Heb. 7: 25: