Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering.
Parallel translations
- WEB But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings;
- KJV But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
- NKJV But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:
- NASB But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings,
- NLT Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The author urges readers to remember their earlier days of endurance through great suffering after coming to faith. Past faithfulness should fuel present perseverance.
Overview
Shifting from warning to encouragement, the writer recalls the readers' earlier steadfastness. After being 'enlightened' (coming to know Christ), they had endured a 'great struggle with sufferings'. Recalling this proven faith is meant to strengthen them to persevere now and not abandon what they once bravely held.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Heb 6:4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
- Heb 12:4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
- 2 Tim 2:3–13Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
- Gal 3:3–4Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?
- 2 Tim 4:7–8I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
- Phil 3:16Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained.
- Phil 1:29–30For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,
- 2 Jn 1:8Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.
- Acts 8:1–3And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
- Rev 3:3Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.
- Acts 9:1–2Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest
- Col 2:1For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face,
- 2 Cor 4:6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
- Rev 2:5Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
- Acts 26:18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 10:32 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.