Warning Passages of Hebrews: Warnings or Exhortation

Part Deux

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Hebrews 4:1

Hebrews 4:1-Falls within the Second “Warning Passage,” Hebrews 3:7–4:13

“φοβηθῶμεν οὖν μήποτε καταλειπομένης ἐπαγγελίας εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν κατάπαυσιν αὐτοῦ

δοκῇ τις ἐξ ὑμῶν ὑστερηκέναι”

“Now, let us fear if, while the promise remains in entering His rest, some of you may supposed to have come short of it.” Notice a similar usage of the word “promise” in some other classical writings ((Demosthenes 519, 8; Aristotle, eth. Nic. 10, 1, p. 1164a, 29); Polybius 1, 43, 6, and often; Diodorus 1, 5; Josephus, Antiquities 3, 5, 1; 5, 8, 11; 1 Macc. 10:15.) This metonymy was over-emphasized by the author in his epistle and because of Christ, we are now partakers of the heavenly blessings or promise. Conversely, the word “if” has been traduced as a prohibitory conjunction rather than for its rhetorical value. For additional examples of μήποτε used in the same way, see (cf. Julian Letters, LCL 157, p. 294–95; Hermippus Iambic Fragments, LCL 259, p.516–17; Sannyrion Testimonia and Fragments, LCL 515, p. 222–23; Dio Chrysostom Discourses 42. An Address in His Native City, LCL 376, p. 166–67).

The second verse also transitions from the previous chapter, but the author uses a different word altogether, οὖν (oon). It has a…