Charles Ellicott Commentary Hebrews 10:32

"But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings;" — Hebrews 10:32 (ASV)

In the last six verses, the writer has reinforced his exhortation by an appeal to the danger of falling away and the dreadful consequences of unfaithfulness. From warning, he now turns to encouragement, as in Hebrews 6:9; and here, as there, he thankfully recalls the earlier proofs which his readers had given of their Christian steadfastness and love. Let them call to mind and always remember what the grace of God had already enabled them to endure (compare to 2 John 1:8). As Theophylact has said, he urges them to imitate not others, but themselves.

Illuminated.—Better, enlightened. It is important to retain the word used in the parallel verse, Hebrews 6:4 (see Note).

Fight of afflictions.—Rather, conflict of sufferings; for "sufferings" has associations in this Epistle (Hebrews 2:9–10) that are too sacred to be lost. The former word, "conflict" (similar to the one St. Paul uses in 2 Timothy 2:5 for the contests in the public games), recalls the intense struggles of competing athletes; it occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. Compare to Philippians 1:27 and Philippians 4:3; (Colossians 1:29; Colossians 2:1; 1 Timothy 6:12; Hebrews 12:1). They had manfully endured this struggle.