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Hebrews 12:1

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¶ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Wherefore {G5105} seeing we also {G2532} are {G2192} compassed about {G4029}{G2254} with so great {G5118} a cloud {G3509} of witnesses {G3144}, let {G659} us {G2249} lay aside {G659} every {G3956} weight {G3591}, and {G2532} the sin {G266} which doth so easily beset {G2139} us, and let us run {G5143} with {G1223} patience {G5281} the race {G73} that is set before {G4295} us {G2254},

So then, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us, too, put aside every impediment — that is, the sin which easily hampers our forward movement — and keep running with endurance in the contest set before us,

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.

Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Commentary

Hebrews 12:1 serves as a powerful call to endurance and spiritual discipline, drawing inspiration from the lives of faithful believers who have gone before us. This verse marks a pivotal transition from the "Hall of Faith" in Chapter 11, setting the stage for the practical application of faith in the Christian journey.

Context

The immediate context for Hebrews 12:1 is the preceding chapter, Hebrews 11, which enumerates a long list of Old Testament heroes and heroines who lived by faith, often in the face of immense trials and opposition. These individuals, from Abel to the prophets, are the "cloud of witnesses" mentioned here. The letter is addressed to Jewish Christians who were likely facing persecution and pressure to abandon their faith, making the call to persevere particularly relevant. The imagery of a "race" was a common and easily understood metaphor in the Greco-Roman world, evoking the intense effort and discipline required in athletic competitions like the ancient Olympic Games.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Encouragement of the "Cloud of Witnesses": These witnesses are not merely spectators observing our race, but rather those who have borne testimony to God's faithfulness through their lives of faith. Their examples serve as a powerful encouragement, demonstrating that faith is possible and God is true to His promises, even amidst hardship.
  • Spiritual Discipline and Hindrances: The verse calls believers to "lay aside every weight" and the "sin which doth so easily beset us." "Weights" (Greek: ogkon) refer to anything, even if not inherently sinful, that slows us down or impedes our spiritual progress (e.g., excessive worldly attachments, distractions). The "besetting sin" (Greek: euperistaton) is a sin that is particularly persistent, easily entangling, or habitual for an individual, requiring deliberate effort to overcome.
  • Running the Christian Race with Endurance: The Christian life is presented as a spiritual marathon, not a sprint, requiring "patience" (Greek: hypomonē), which means steadfast endurance and perseverance under trial. It's a call to run with unwavering resolve, knowing that God has "set before us" a specific course.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "cloud of witnesses" comes from the Greek nephos martyron. The word martyron refers to "witnesses" in the sense of those who have given a testimony or proof, rather than just observers. They are testifiers to the effectiveness and reliability of faith. The term "beset" (euperistaton) literally means "standing well around" or "easily surrounding," conveying the idea of a sin that cleverly entangles or is readily available and convenient.

Practical Application

Hebrews 12:1 challenges believers to actively engage in their spiritual journey. To run this race effectively:

  • Identify and Address Hindrances: What "weights" or "besetting sins" are holding you back? This requires honest self-examination and a willingness to make difficult changes.
  • Draw Inspiration from Examples: Reflect on the lives of biblical figures and faithful Christians throughout history. Their stories of perseverance can fuel your own faith.
  • Cultivate Perseverance: The Christian life is not always easy. Embrace discipline, seek God's strength, and remember that endurance is a key virtue for finishing the race. The ultimate goal is to keep our eyes on Jesus, as encouraged in the very next verse, Hebrews 12:2.
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Cross-References

  • 2 Timothy 4:7 (139 votes)

    I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith:

  • 1 Corinthians 9:24 (120 votes)

    ¶ Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:27 (120 votes)

    But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

  • Philippians 2:16 (105 votes)

    Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

  • Luke 21:34 (79 votes)

    And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares.

  • Hebrews 10:35 (63 votes)

    Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

  • Hebrews 10:39 (63 votes)

    But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.