Hebrews 10:32

Words of appeal and encouragement

32. But call to remembrance the former days Rather, "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.

after ye were illuminated The word photizein"to enlighten" only became a synonym for -to baptise" 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.

ye endured a great fight of afflictions Rather, "much wrestling of sufferings." These 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).