HeBrews: A Better Blend
Welcome back to HeBrews: A Better Blend Bible study. Today I want us to do something new and different: a word study. I say it is new and different because I have never used it as a teaching tool in writing a Bible study, but I sense the Holy Spirit calling us to focus on one particular word in the first eleven verses of Hebrews 4. The word we will examine today is ‘rest’. In the Greek there are several words that mean ‘rest’ and today we will explore each of them. First, take a moment to read Hebrews 4: 1-11. I’ve provided it below.
1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” 6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. 7 Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
In eleven verses we find the word ‘rest’ used eleven times. In these eleven verses we have three different Greek words used for rest.
The first word used for ‘rest’ in these verses is katapausis and it is the most frequently used. Seven times in eleven verses this Greek word is used. Let’s consider the meaning of it. ‘To make to cease. The act or state of resting, ceasing from labor.’ (Zodhiates Key Word Study Bible p. 1629) ‘Also, a putting to rest, calming of the winds, a resting place. Metaphorically, the heavenly blessedness in which God dwells, and of which he has promised to make persevering believers in Christ partakers after the toils and trials of life on earth are ended.’ (Lifeway Online Study Bible, KJV with Strongs)
The next most frequently used word is katapauo and it is used three times in this passage. It has the same meaning as the previous word, but it also hints at giving rest. Words that are related to this word mean to rest inwardly, to relax from toil, to be quiet, still. The Lifeway Online Study Bible offers these additional meanings: ‘to lead to a quiet abode, to still, restrain, to cause (one striving to do something) to desist.’
The final word used for rest in Hebrews 4 is sabbatismos and it means ‘a keeping Sabbath, the blessed rest from toils and troubles looked for in the age to come by the true worshippers of God and true Christians.’ (Zodhiates Key Word Study Bible)
I would like to focus on one particular portion of the definition of katapausis and that is ‘ceasing from labor’. Please understand I am not advocating quitting your job. If you are like me, you have grown rather accustomed to eating and living indoors and to continue those, we must work. I want us to think about the issue of rest from the standpoint of our salvation. I believe we are safe in exploring this path theologically, because ancient, as well as modern Judaism is based on the works of a person. Recall that the author of Hebrews was seeking to remind his Jewish Christian house church of the dangers of returning to the works of Judaism when they already had received Christ and the work He did on the cross. The work of salvation had already been done for them. All they had to do was accept it and rest in it. So, it is with you and me. We will return to this theme next week.
MEDITATION MOMENT: Have you ever found yourself trying to WORK to be accepted by God? Share today about that time.
