ἀναμιμνήσκεσθε δέ. “But keep in remembrance.” Here, as in Hebrews 6:9-12, he mingles appeal and encouragement with the sternest warnings. The “former days” are those in which they were in the first glow of their conversion.

φωτισθέντες. The word φωτίζειν “to enlighten” only became a synonym for “to baptize” at a later period. Naturally however in the early converts baptism was synchronous with the reception of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (see Hebrews 6:4). For the metaphor—that “God hath shined in our hearts”—see 2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Peter 2:9.

πολλὴν ἄθλησιν … παθημάτων. “Much wrestling of sufferings.” Ἄθλησις occurs here only in the N. T. The sufferings were doubtless due to the uncompromising hostility of the Jewish community (see 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16), which generally led to persecutions from the Gentiles also. To the early Christians it was given “not only to believe on Christ, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29).

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Old Testament