What does Hebrews 10:35 mean by "confidence" in a spiritual context? Text “Therefore do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward.” — Hebrews 10:35 Immediate Literary Context (Heb 10:32-39) Verses 32-34 recall earlier persecutions: public reproach, loss of property, imprisonment. The readers “accepted the confiscation of your possessions with joy, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession” (v. 34). Verse 35 warns against abandoning the very boldness that sustained that joy, while verse 36 links confidence to endurance: “you need perseverance, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” Thus parrēsia functions as the practical hinge between past faithfulness and future reward. Theological Foundation: Christ’S Once-For-All Sacrifice Hebrews 10:19 proclaims “confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.” Because the Son’s self-offering perfects forever those being sanctified (10:14), believers possess legal standing and filial privilege before the Father. Confidence arises from external, objective grounds—the cross and the empty tomb (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:17-20). The historicity of the resurrection, attested by multiple independent lines of evidence (1 Corinthians 15:3-8; early creed dated within five years of the event, per 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; documented appearances to skeptics James and Paul), secures the believer’s parrēsia. If Christ is alive, His intercession is alive (Hebrews 7:25), and our boldness is rational, not presumptuous. Old Testament Background And Promise Of Reward Hebrews consistently reads the Old Testament through a Christological lens. “Great reward” (misthapodosia) echoes Proverbs 11:18 and Isaiah 40:10, where Yahweh comes “with recompense.” The author cites Habakkuk 2:3-4 in 10:37-38 to show that living by faith has always involved waiting for God’s vindication. Confidence, therefore, includes trust that the covenant-keeping God will honor His promise just as He honored Noah (Genesis 6-9), Abraham (Genesis 15:6; Hebrews 6:13-20), and the martyrs listed in Hebrews 11. Historical-Cultural Situation Most scholars place the epistle pre-AD 70, shortly before Jerusalem’s fall. Jewish believers faced mounting hostility from both synagogue authorities and Roman oversight. To “throw away” (apobalēte) confidence would be to retreat into apostasy or silent conformity, forfeiting reward. Archaeological evidence of 1st-century Jewish Christian meeting houses in Jerusalem’s south-western hill (e.g., the Shiloach neighborhood miqvah complex repurposed for Christian gathering) underscores the tangible social cost of discipleship in that era. Spiritual Dimensions Of Confidence 1. Access: bold approach to God in prayer and worship (Hebrews 4:16). 2. Assurance: settled conviction of salvation (Hebrews 3:14). 3. Endurance: resilient steadfastness amid suffering (Hebrews 10:36). 4. Witness: courageous public proclamation (Acts 4:13, 29, 31—same parrēsia). Illustrations • Polycarp (AD 155) demonstrated parrēsia before Roman proconsul, declaring, “Eighty-six years have I served Him…” The bold confession parallels Hebrews 10:35 and was recorded by eyewitnesses in The Martyrdom of Polycarp. • Modern example: a physician in India, miraculously healed of tuberculosis after prayer, refused to renounce Christ despite threats, maintaining fearless testimony that led to the planting of dozens of house churches—an instance of confidence yielding “great reward” in transformed lives. Common Objections Answered 1. “Confidence is psychological self-talk.” Response: the term is inseparable from objective historical acts—Calvary and resurrection—verified by documentary, archaeological (e.g., Nazareth Decree), and eyewitness data. 2. “Reward contradicts grace.” Response: salvation is unmerited (Ephesians 2:8-9); reward concerns stewardship faithfulness (1 Corinthians 3:14). Hebrews affirms both without tension. Practical Application Steps 1. Meditate daily on Hebrews 10:19-22; rehearse the gospel foundation of access. 2. Gather consistently with believers to reinforce communal courage (10:24-25). 3. Vocalize faith in secular settings; practice parrēsia through respectful evangelism (1 Peter 3:15). 4. Recall future inheritance during trials; journal tangible ways God has previously sustained you, echoing 10:32-34. Conclusion In Hebrews 10:35 “confidence” is Spirit-induced, Christ-earned, bold freedom of approach to God that empowers steadfast endurance and fearless witness. It is both present assurance and the conduit to future recompense. Far from presumption, this parrēsia is the logical, evidentially supported response to the historical resurrection and the unchangeable character of Yahweh. To cast it aside is to surrender the very means by which believers glorify God and receive His promised reward. |
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