“But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:39).
Hebrews chapter ten ends on a positive note, as the author of this letter expressed his belief that his original readers were not among those who might shrink back from trusting God. In doing so, our author uses a word that rarely appears in modern-day usage: perdition.
“Perdition” conveys the general idea of waste, ruin, or the loss of well-being. (1) One source defines this word as “the destruction which consists of eternal misery in hell.” (2) Thus we have a fitting incentive to take this counsel seriously. We also see this idea personified in the life of someone who is described in the Biblical book of 2 Thessalonians…
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
This future individual will serve as the ultimate personification of the mindset described for us in the New Testament epistle of 1 John: “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22). Those who are familiar with the gospel accounts of Jesus’ life may also recognize the word “perdition” from Jesus’ characterization of Judas Iscariot…
“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12).
Earlier in Hebrews chapter ten, our author encouraged us to place our trust in God by saying, “Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise” (Hebrews 10:23 GNT). But if that encouragement proves to be insufficient, perhaps we might find greater motivation in seeking to avoid being numbered among “those who draw back to perdition.”
Thus, we end our look at Hebrews chapter ten and enter Hebrews chapter eleven with the words of the following commentator…
“With this mention of faith (‘believe’ and ‘faith’ are the same root word in Greek), the groundwork is laid for a fuller discussion of the life that pleases God. The illustrious eleventh chapter follows quite naturally at this point.” (3)
(1) See G684 apoleia Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries and Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers, https://biblehub.com/greek/684.htm
(2) G684 apoleia Thayer’s Greek Definitions https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?t=kjv&strongs=g684
(3) William Macdonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary Edited by Arthur Farstad Thomas Nelson Publishers (2 Corinthians 5:10) p.2274