What is the "house" in Hebrews 3:6?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#21
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Heb 3:6 (KJV)
The Church.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,693
13,514
113
#22
These Jews can be part of the house if they hold fast, endure to the end. That's tribulation doctrine for the Jews...Jacob's Trouble.

Hebrews 3
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: Jews
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Jews
10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. Jews
11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Millennial reign, restoration of the kingdom of Israel
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Endure
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; Enduring to the end, see Matthew 24
Hebrews 3:6
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

CONFIDENCE
FIRM HOPE
SALVATION


bro these promises are not for Jews alone, and the endurance is steadfast belief in God's faithfulness, in His finished work

Hebrews 3:19
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

It does not depend on works but on belief, and faith is not given only to the Jew but all who are made sons of Abraham are made so in this way, by the ver same, singular gospel which went out to the whole world bringing salvation.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,085
3,677
113
#23
Hebrews 3:6
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

CONFIDENCE
FIRM HOPE
SALVATION


bro these promises are not for Jews alone, and the endurance is steadfast belief in God's faithfulness, in His finished work

Hebrews 3:19
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

It does not depend on works but on belief, and faith is not given only to the Jew but all who are made sons of Abraham are made so in this way, by the ver same, singular gospel which went out to the whole world bringing salvation.
Let me ask you, if a believer does not hold fast with confidence to the end, then what? Are you saying they lose their salvation?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,693
13,514
113
#24
Let me ask you, if a believer does not hold fast with confidence to the end, then what? Are you saying they lose their salvation?
A Jewish or a Gentile believer?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,693
13,514
113
#26
In this passage, what happens to the believer who does not hold fast to the end? See Chapter 6.
what are you talking about?
about what happens to a Jewish believer?
or to a Gentile believer?

how many Christs are there? how many salvations?
 

Beckie

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2022
2,516
939
113
#27
House =family=church family
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,085
3,677
113
#28
what are you talking about?
about what happens to a Jewish believer?
or to a Gentile believer?

how many Christs are there? how many salvations?
I’m not talking about multiple salvations. You stated that the Hebrews passage was to saved people, Jews and Gentiles. I’m asking if that’s true, then what happens to the saved person who does not hold fast to the end, endure to the end? There’s an “if” in the passage.

6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
 

Webers.Home

Well-known member
May 28, 2018
5,757
1,063
113
Oregon
cfbac.org
#29
.
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast
the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Catholics are not permitted to be confident.

"If anyone says that he will for certain, with an absolute and infallible
certainty, have that great gift of perseverance even to the end, unless he
shall have learned this by a special revelation, let him be anathema."
(Council of Trent Session 6, Chapter 16, Canon 16)


* That rule affects roughly 1,239,909,000 people representing something
like 49% of the world's Christians. Data: 2020 World Almanac and Book Of Facts
_
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,679
29,018
113
#30
Catholics are not permitted to be confident.

"If anyone says that he will for certain, with an absolute and infallible
certainty, have that great gift of perseverance even to the end, unless he
shall have learned this by a special revelation, let him be anathema."
(Council of Trent Session 6, Chapter 16, Canon 16)


* That rule affects roughly 1,239,909,000 people representing something
like 49% of the world's Christians. Data: 2020 World Almanac and Book Of Facts
_
The loophole: "unless he shall have learned this by a special revelation... " ;):geek:
 

listenyoumustAll

Well-known member
Jul 22, 2021
404
288
63
#31
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Heb 3:6 (KJV)
The house of the only begotten son Jesus. The builder of the house.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,085
3,677
113
#32
.



Catholics are not permitted to be confident.

"If anyone says that he will for certain, with an absolute and infallible
certainty, have that great gift of perseverance even to the end, unless he
shall have learned this by a special revelation, let him be anathema."
(Council of Trent Session 6, Chapter 16, Canon 16)


* That rule affects roughly 1,239,909,000 people representing something
like 49% of the world's Christians. Data: 2020 World Almanac and Book Of Facts
_
Yep, and neither can Calvinists for they must persevere to the end.
 

Webers.Home

Well-known member
May 28, 2018
5,757
1,063
113
Oregon
cfbac.org
#33
.
the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

The Greek word translated "hope" in that verse is the same word translated
hope in Rom 12:12, Eph 2:12, Eph 4:4, and 1Pet 3:15, etc.

This particular variety of hope isn't crossing one's fingers while in the back of
their mind dreading the worst. Instead: it speaks of knowing in advance
what to expect in the future, viz: anticipation; roughly defined as confidently
looking forward to something and fully expecting to obtain it.

Well; quite a few of the Christians with whom I've dialogued over the years
haven't known for proof-positive what's in store for them when they pass on.
In other words; they are afflicted with a sort of hope-privation; and
consequently it has been impossible for them to rejoice in hope even for now,
let alone firm unto the end.
_
 

JohnRH

Junior Member
Mar 5, 2018
670
321
63
#34
The Church is metaphorically regarded at Christ's building, thus "whose house are we". This ties in with this passage in Ephesians 2: 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.


The Church (every believer) is also called "the temple of the Holy Ghost".
I have a problem seeing it as the church because of the "if" clause. The clause is contrasted with:
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. I'm thinking the house might be service-related as opposed to salvation-related somehow.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,085
3,677
113
#36
.



The Greek word translated "hope" in that verse is the same word translated
hope in Rom 12:12, Eph 2:12, Eph 4:4, and 1Pet 3:15, etc.


This particular variety of hope isn't crossing one's fingers while in the back of
their mind dreading the worst. Instead: it speaks of knowing in advance
what to expect in the future, viz: anticipation; roughly defined as confidently
looking forward to something and fully expecting to obtain it.


Well; quite a few of the Christians with whom I've dialogued over the years
haven't known for proof-positive what's in store for them when they pass on.
In other words; they are afflicted with a sort of hope-privation; and
consequently it has been impossible for them to rejoice in hope even for now,
let alone firm unto the end.
_
Yes, however, the passage has an “if”. If we hold fast the hope firm to the end we are part of the house. The question at hand is who is the audience?
 

Webers.Home

Well-known member
May 28, 2018
5,757
1,063
113
Oregon
cfbac.org
#37
.
I have a problem seeing it as the church

Jesus' house is very extensive. Seeing as he is God's principal heir then I
think we can safely assume that God has transferred all that pertains to
Himself to His son in a sort of living will somewhat similar in scope to Gen
24:34-36 where it says:

"I am Abraham's servant. The Lord has blessed my master abundantly, and
he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold,
menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys. My master's wife
Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything
he owns."

Christians are in Christ's house sort of like the menservants and
maidservants in Abraham's house, viz: they are not the sum total of his
house: just a portion of it.
_
 

JohnRH

Junior Member
Mar 5, 2018
670
321
63
#39
.



Jesus' house is very extensive. Seeing as he is God's principal heir then I
think we can safely assume that God has transferred all that pertains to
Himself to His son in a sort of living will somewhat similar in scope to Gen
24:34-36 where it says:


"I am Abraham's servant. The Lord has blessed my master abundantly, and
he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold,
menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys. My master's wife
Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything
he owns."


Christians are in Christ's house sort of like the menservants and
maidservants in Abraham's house, viz: they are not the sum total of his
house: just a portion of it.
_
That's an interesting insight,
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,769
113
#40
I have a problem seeing it as the church because of the "if" clause. The clause is contrasted with:Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. I'm thinking the house might be service-related as opposed to salvation-related somehow.
Actually these Scriptures (below) confirm that the Church (consisting of the redeemed of the Lord) is the spiritual "building" or "house" or "temple" of God where each member is a "living stone": What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's... Ye also, as lively [living] stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 6:19,20; 1 Pet 2:5)

These verses put a tremendous responsibility on every Christian, since God is expecting spiritual sacrifices (including self-sacrifice) from those who are a spiritual house.

Also the Bible uses three metaphors for the Church. It is (a) the Body, (b) the Bride, and (c) the Building of Christ. We do not see the spiritual dimension in this life, but it will all come together eventually.