The word for are refers to an indefinite period including past, present, and in this context, future. It is not the simple present tense of 3.6, so the writer can include a reference to the end without inconsistency. Otherwise, this verse has much in common with 3.6.

Partners is one of the writer’s favorite words (see 1.9; 3.1; 6.4; 12.8). It is used literally of fishermen in Luke 5.7. We are all partners with Christ may be rendered as “we work together with Christ” or “we join with Christ in working together.”

If we hold firmly is best treated as an emphatic expression of continuation; for example, “if we continue steadfastly” or “if we continue not moving at all.”

Modern translations adopt confidence. Some commentaries note that the Greek word also has a philosophical meaning, “real being,” as in 1.3, but this is irrelevant here and should be ignored.

The confidence we had at the beginning may be expressed as “the trust which we showed when we began to believe” or even “the strong trust which we showed when we first believed.”

In a number of languages one cannot say to the end, since it is necessary to specify what end is involved. Probably the most satisfactory rendering is “to the end of our lives” or “as long as we live.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .