6:18
In this verse the author showed that God gave us two things (a promise and an oath), so that we would be very encouraged. In some languages it is more natural to change the order of clauses in this verse. See the General Comment on 6:18a–d at the end of 6:18d for examples.
6:18a
Thus: The Greek conjunction translated Thus introduces the purpose for God confirming his promise with an oath (in 6:17). Indicate this purpose in a natural way in your language.
by two unchangeable things: The phrase by two unchangeable things indicates the means by which God assured people that he will do what he said. He reassured them in two ways: (1) by making a promise to them and (2) by confirming his promise with an oath.
Some ways to translate by two unchangeable things are:
by saying two things which cannot be changed
-or-
He did that so there would be two unchanging means by which people will know…
6:18b
in which it is impossible for God to lie: This part of the verse refers to the two unchangeable things mentioned in 6:18b. It indicates that God cannot fail to keep either his promise or his oath. He is certain to keep both of them. Another way to translate this is:
and God cannot break either of them
to lie: The verb to lie refers here to not doing what was said or promised. Here it indicates that God will never fail to do what he says. He will always do what he says he will do, and no one can ever truly say that God has not kept his promise. Another way to say this is:
to not fulfill his promise
6:18c
we who have fled: Here the author described his readers and himself as people who have fled to find refuge. He did not say what they had found refuge from. He said what they found refuge in. They took refuge in their certainty that God will do what he promised them. In many languages it is helpful to make God explicit here. For example:
we have run to God for safety (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
we have fled to him for refuge (New Living Translation (2004))
we: The pronoun we is inclusive and refers to both the author and the readers.
have fled: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as have fled also means “flee to a place.” It implies fleeing somewhere where they will be safe. In this context the refuge is God, and people trust him to save them.
6:18d
to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged: The phrase may be strongly encouraged is more literally “will have strong encouragement.” It indicates God’s purpose for giving us his promise and oath. He wanted to give us great courage to persevere in trusting him to fulfill his promise. Some other ways to translate 6:18d are:
can have great confidence as we hold to the hope (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
we will persevere in hoping/expecting ⌊what he has promised⌋
the hope: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hope refers here to what we expect with confidence (from God). It includes all the good things that God has promised and prepared for us, including eternal life. It occurs also in 3:6, 6:11, 7:19, 10:23.
set before us: The phrase set before us is one word in Greek. It means “lying before us,” and it refers to what God will do for us in the future. The verb is passive. In some languages it is more natural to translate this with an active verb. For example:
which God has given to us
-or-
that God promised us
us: The pronoun us is inclusive and refers to both the author and the readers.
General Comment on 6:18a–d
In 6:18 the author indicated that God gave us both his promise and his oath to give us great confidence that he will save us as he promised. Neither the promise nor the oath can be broken, because it is impossible for God to lie.
In some languages it may be helpful to change the order of phrases in this verse. For example:
So we have both his promise and his oath which cannot be broken because it is impossible for God to lie. God confirmed his promise with an oath so that we might be very encouraged. We are people who have found refuge and firmly expect with hope what God has for us.
-or-
God did this so that we would be encouraged. God cannot lie when he takes an oath or makes a promise. These two things can never be changed. Those of us who have taken refuge in him hold on to the confidence we have been given. (God’s Word)
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