Following and Preceding Passages
The preceding passages can be considered as part of the introduction. In these passages the author used an illustration to clarify his point and it is revealing that he used the concept of running a race. Interestingly, the race is a marathon and not about sprinting towards a finish line and therefore the fastest person gets the reward. Readers are made aware that the activity described herein is more likely about distance running rather than a 100-meter dash is based on the statement that endurance is the key factor that can win this race.
The preceding passages that have a bearing on Hebrews 12:6-14 is not only about the illustration of a marathon but it can even be argued that the introduction has three parts. The first one is the idea concerning the charge that the followers of Christ must develop endurance to win the race. It also suggests discipline and single-mindedness.
The second part of the introduction talks about an example of endurance and it is not the endurance commonly seen among athletes but the endurance exhibited by a man nailed to a cross. The author brought down the core of the argument by saying that Jesus did not only demand endurance and perseverance but more importantly made an example of his life. He did not only talk about the importance of “running the race” Jesus demonstrated that endurance means to die for the cause if necessary.
Finally, the last part of the introduction provides segue way to the main text and yet it is not less important. In this portion the author said that God disciplines his followers not because they are athletes competing in his honor. God disciplines his followers not because they are soldiers that are supposed to be trained, to hone their skills and to make them an invaluable part of God’s army.
There is only one reason why the LORD subjects His followers to a painful process and it is based on the fact that God does not treat them as royal subjects but treats them as children.
The passages that follow Hebrews 12:6-14 also provides the reader information that can help understand the said pericope. Immediately following the verses are statements regarding: 1) sin; 2) bitterness that defile many; 3) sexual immorality; 4) godlessness; and 5) disinheritance. This serves as some form of a warning as to what awaits those who refuse be purified and even those who chose to go away.
Form Criticism and Structure
The literary form can be generally described as a sermon that contains a warning (Schenck, p.5). This is based on the fact that the author carefully laid down an illustration to illuminate what he was trying to say. There are other passages in the Book of Hebrews that uses the same literary form. For instance the same style can be seen in Hebrews 6:4-6.
The purpose of this style is to warn the believers but at the same time one should see a hint of encouragement. In this case this was achieved by showing the people that there is a precedent. Jesus Christ was the best example and he can be a role model in suffering and going through the process. Secondly, the suffering of the saints produces eternal glory as well as present gains such as a higher level of maturity seen in righteous actions (Andreasen, p.28).
Thus, one can see the rationale for the structure used in this pericope. There is a parallelism used to the suffering endured by Jesus on the cross and the glory that he experienced later on. A parallelism was used in pointing out that the same thing can happen to the believers who will endure and go through the process of purification; they too will receive their reward.
Redaction Criticism
It is difficult to detect any revision or redaction made to the pericope. But there are those who contend that there is something strange with the omission of the concept of repentance. Theodore of Mopsuestia argued as to how can the believers strengthen their feeble knees and lift their drooping hands if they not repent (Heen, Krey, & Oden, p.217). It is possible that this portion has been edited in order to prevent confusion. This because the purpose of the epistle must have been for those who used to practice Judaism and the addition of repentance in the text may send the wrong message.
In Relation to God
The passage speaks volumes about the believers’ relationship with God. The LORD does not see the believer as an ordinary member of the congregation but precious in his sight. The importance of the believer is highlighted in the fact that God is not just fond of him like a person is fond of a collector’s item. There is nothing that God could gain from loving this person. In other words the relationship is not symbiotic such as a farmer taking care of his animals knowing someday he can butcher them and sell them to others.
The importance given to the believer is borne out of love. This is clarified even further by this pericope to mean not just a simple relationship like a love of a friend but in truth it is like the love of a father towards a son or daughter. This is an important insight because it provides the basis for the other aspects of the pericope. It provides a justification for obedience.
An athlete does not train for the sake of training. An athlete trains regularly and increases his workload to the point of mental and physical exhaustion not because he simply loves what he is doing but for a higher purpose (Croy, p.37). He is working hard because he knows of the prize that awaits them at the end of the finish line.
He is not doing anything that goes to waste. There is a rationale to his every step. There is a purpose for everything that he is doing and this is what the author of the passage tries to communicate to the readers of Hebrews.
Endurance has been given a framework to work on. It is difficult to inspire people and to make them to do something if they cannot wrap around their mind on the concept (Rothschild, p.109). The rewards that the author said in the beginning may be easily understandable to a mature person or a veteran.
But for those who are new to the ideas of Christianity the problems can easily overwhelm mind and emotion (Bromiley, p.885). The illustration of the runner battling it out with the elements is a perfect way to provide an anchor for their thoughts.
Although the idea of the runner in the preceding passages serves as added information for the readers to understand the context of the passage it works well to segue way into the main part of the text which is a sermon on discipline (Clayton, p.5). The author said that there should be no problem when it comes to discipline. He went on to say that the reason for this discipline is the love of God.
Thus, it has been said that without the love of God this discipline does not make sense. The love of God is likened to the love of a father. This simply means that the discipline is for an intended purpose. It was not meant to harm and to ridicule.
The Community
The Book of Hebrews is actually an epistle written by an unknown author and addressed to former Jews who converted to Christianity. By the time of writing there are probably two events that has transpired. The first one is the persecution of the Christians in the first century. Secondly, the Roman Empire finally fed up with the unruly subjects in Palestine decided to sack Jerusalem and destroy the Temple that Jews considered as vital part of their lives.
At this point in history a Christian can be weakened by the circumstances, confused by the present and unsure of what the future will bring to him and his family. Their religion, Judaism calls them like a piece of floating debris calls a person floating hopelessly in the ocean after his boat has capsized. But on the other end there is a much better offer for help one that does not promise temporary relief from pain but a hope for eternal life.
The purpose of the letter was to inspire the readers not to lose hope. The main goal of the epistle is for them to understand why these things are happening to them. It was written that all these things did not happen in random but there is someone who allowed these things to happen.
It is possible that the Jews who converted to Christianity were wondering what they got themselves into. They were living simple lives and to some extent content with their life. But when they decided to follow Jesus they were met with a barrage of testing and trials. Many of them may have been frustrated and many of them question why they were punished.
Thus, the epistle to the Hebrews is an explanation to them that this is not punishment. There is a big difference between punishment and discipline. By pointing to the illustration of the father and child the author hopes that the readers distinguish this relationship from one that they are familiar with, the master and slave relationship.
In this particular relationship the master brings out the whip to punish the slave for many reasons and sometimes his actions need not justified. Most of the time the act of whipping a slave is done to simply appease the raging anger within.
The slave in front of him need not be the culprit of any crime. The slave master can whip anyone he wants. This is done to create fear or simply to demonstrate power. It is possible that the author of this epistle had this relationship in mind and so he used that to show that in the hardships experienced by believers the pain and suffering did not come as a form of mindless punishment but for discipline.
Pain and suffering was not meant to destroy but to build up. Testing and trials is for the building up of endurance. There is an end-goal to the suffering. But there is another important facet to this passage. The author is actually providing a way for the believers to understand their new identity in Christ.
In their former religion there is a Supreme Being and they are nothing but dust in his feet. In this new paradigm presented they are no longer ordinary people and members of a group they have now given the right to become children of God. This is not a new concept among Christian believers but if the Hebrew converts were new to this belief system then this passage provided them a way to know more about who they are and how they must approach God.
The pericope also gave the readers some sort of a road map. There is now a clear direction from God. They must continue to move forward like a marathoner seeking for the finish line and like a soldier going forth to conquer new lands. More importantly the road map given is not just a means to reach the final destination but also a way to achieve the purpose of the discipline which is to develop holiness within the Christian.
Holiness is the end goal. The author said that this is important because holiness is key to a blessed life on earth as well as giving access to an eternal life in heaven. Holiness leads to healing of the physical and spiritual body. If taken literally the verses found at the latter part of the pericope shows that healing of the body is feasible when a person focuses on holiness. At the same time holiness strengthens the inner man and that is why the person is whole and not lame when it comes time to worship God.
Conclusion
The passage found in Hebrews served an important purpose for Hebrews who converted to Christianity. In a time of confusion and inner-turmoil, this epistle gave them hope. It provided an explanation why they are in the midst of terrible testing and trials to the point that many of them consider it as a punishment from God. Thus, they were told that this is not God punishing them but their heavenly Father in heaven disciplining the one he loves.
Works Cited
Andreasen, Milian. The Book of Hebrews. New York: Teach Services, Inc.,2005.
Bromiley, Geoffrey. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing,1988.
Clayton, Croy. Endurance in Suffering. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1998.
Heen, Erik, Philip Krey and Thomas Oden. Hebrews. WI: Intervarsity Press, 2005.
Rothschild, Clare. Hebrews as Pseudepigraphon. IL: Chicago University Press, 2009.
Schenck, Kenneth. Cosmology and Eschatology in Hebrews: The Settings of the Sacrifice. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007.