Hebrews 6:18

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Cross-references

Hebrews 6:11 calls for full assurance of hope — directly building on the strong encouragement from God's unchangeable promises in verse 18.

Hebrews 6:17 explains the two unchangeable things — God's purpose and oath — that are the basis for the refuge and hope in verse 18.

Hebrews 12:2 points to Jesus as the pioneer and perfecter of faith — the very one who is the anchor of our hope as in Hebrews 6:19-20.

Hebrews 3:11 records God's oath of judgment for unbelief, contrasting with the oath of promise here that gives hope.

Hebrews 7:21 identifies the oath here as the one appointing Jesus a priest forever, fulfilling the promise.

Hebrews 10:23 exhorts holding fast the hope without wavering because He is faithful — directly echoing the encouragement from God's unchangeable promise in Hebrews 6:18.

Hebrews 7:19 introduces a better hope through which we draw near to God — the same hope we hold fast to in Hebrews 6:18.

Hebrews 11:1 Related theme

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as assurance of things hoped for — the same hope that Hebrews 6:18 anchors in God's unchangeable promise.

Psalm 110:4 Citation

Psalm 110:4 is the source of the oath: God swore and will not change, making Jesus a priest forever.

Luke 2:25 Allusion

Luke 2:25 describes Simeon waiting for the 'consolation of Israel' — the same Greek word for encouragement used in Hebrews 6:18.

Colossians 1:5 identifies the hope as 'laid up for you in heaven' — specifying the heavenly location of the hope set before us in Hebrews 6:18.

2 Timothy 2:13 Related theme

2 Timothy 2:13 says God remains faithful even when we are faithless, matching the unchangeable faithfulness of God's oath here.

Colossians 1:23 urges believers to continue 'stable and steadfast' in hope — paralleling the strong encouragement to hold fast to hope in Hebrews 6:18.

Colossians 1:27 reveals the content of that hope: 'Christ in you, the hope of glory' — showing the personal, indwelling Christ as the hope.

2 Thessalonians 2:16 prays for eternal comfort and good hope — directly parallel to the strong encouragement and hope in Hebrews 6:18.

1 Timothy 1:1 calls Christ Jesus 'our hope' — directly identifying the person of the hope set before us in Hebrews 6:18.

1 Timothy 6:12 exhorts to take hold of eternal life — the same imperative to grasp the hope set before us here.

Titus 1:2 Allusion

Titus 1:2 echoes that God never lies and promised eternal life — reinforcing the unchangeable hope in Hebrews 6:18.

1 Samuel 15:29 says the Strength of Israel does not lie or change, reinforcing the unchangeable nature of God's oath here.

Joshua 20:3 Typology

Joshua 20:3 repeats the city of refuge law — reinforcing the OT background that Hebrews 6:18 uses to illustrate our refuge in God's promise.

Numbers 35:11-15 institutes cities of refuge for unintentional killers — the very OT institution that Hebrews 6:18's 'fled for refuge' alludes to as a type of Christ.

Numbers 23:19 affirms God does not lie or change, directly supporting the claim that God is unchangeably truthful here.

Genesis 7:7 Typology

Genesis 7:7 shows Noah entering the ark to escape the flood — a typological picture of fleeing for refuge, as believers do in Hebrews 6:18.

2 Timothy 2:19 Related theme

2 Timothy 2:19 declares God's firm foundation stands — echoing the unchangeable things that secure our hope in Hebrews 6:18.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:24, God's faithfulness is affirmed — the same foundation that gives strong encouragement to hold fast to hope in Hebrews 6:18.

Titus 2:13 Parallel

Titus 2:13 identifies our blessed hope as Christ's appearing — the specific object of the hope set before us in Hebrews 6:18.

In Ephesians 2:12, the Gentiles had no hope — the very hope Hebrews 6:18 says we can hold fast to through God's promise.

1 Corinthians 1:9 Related theme

In 1 Corinthians 1:9, God's faithfulness guarantees the calling — the same faithfulness that makes the hope in Hebrews unchangeable.

Romans 8:24 Parallel

In Romans 8:24, hope is defined as unseen yet saving — exactly the hope Hebrews 6:18 calls us to hold fast.

Romans 5:5 Related theme

In Romans 5:5, hope does not shame because God's love is poured out — reinforcing the certain hope in Hebrews.

Romans 5:2 Related theme

In Romans 5:2, we rejoice in hope of God's glory — the same hope anchored in God's unchangeable promise in Hebrews.

Luke 1:20 Parallel

In Luke 1:20, Gabriel asserts God's words 'will be fulfilled' — demonstrating the certainty that grounds the hope in Hebrews.

Malachi 3:6 Allusion

In Malachi 3:6, 'I the LORD do not change' is the direct statement behind Hebrews' argument that God cannot lie.

Psalm 91:4 Parallel

Psalm 91:4 combines refuge under wings with faithfulness — a perfect echo of Hebrews' refuge and unchangeable God.

Joshua 20:4 Typology

Joshua 20:4 details the fugitive's flight to the refuge city gate — a vivid picture of the believer's rush to grasp hope.

Joshua 21:45 affirms that all God's good promises were fulfilled — reinforcing the certainty of God's word that anchors hope.

In Nehemiah 9:8, God is praised for keeping his covenant with Abraham — a clear example of his faithful, unchangeable promise.

Psalm 9:9 Parallel

In Psalm 9:9, the Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed — directly echoes the refuge imagery for those fleeing to God.

Psalm 14:6 Related theme

In Psalm 14:6, the Lord is the refuge of the poor — reinforces the refuge theme central to Hebrews 6:18.

Joshua 20:2 Typology

Joshua 20:2 records the command to designate refuge cities, continuing the typology of a place to flee for protection.

Psalm 33:18 Parallel

In Psalm 33:18, God watches over those who hope in his steadfast love — directly ties to the hope set before us.

Deuteronomy 32:40 has God swearing by His own eternal life — an oath that parallels the two unchangeable things in Hebrews.

Psalm 61:4 Parallel

Psalm 61:4 uses the same 'refuge under wings' imagery directly paralleling the 'fled for refuge' in Hebrews 6:18.

Deuteronomy 19:2 again commands setting apart refuge cities, deepening the typological connection of fleeing to safety.

Psalm 89:33 Parallel

Psalm 89:33 emphasizes God's steadfast love not removed and faithfulness not false — directly paralleling God's unchangeable promise in Hebrews.

Deuteronomy 7:9 declares God's faithfulness to His covenant — directly mirroring the unchangeable promise and truth of God in Hebrews.

Deuteronomy 4:42 repeats the refuge city law, reinforcing the image of a safe haven that prefigures the believer's flight to hope.

Psalm 132:11 recounts God's sure oath to David — a direct example of the unchangeable oath that Hebrews references.

Numbers 35:6 establishes cities of refuge for the unintentional killer to flee — a type of the hope and refuge believers flee to in Christ.

Genesis 6:6 Contrast

Genesis 6:6 records God regretting making man — a stark contrast to the unchangeable God who cannot lie in Hebrews 6:18.

Proverbs 19:21 affirms that God's purpose stands firm, directly paralleling the unchangeable promises in Hebrews 6:18.

Isaiah 25:1 Parallel

Isaiah 25:1 calls God's plans 'faithful and sure,' directly paralleling the unchangeable promises in Hebrews 6:18.

Isaiah 65:16 calls God the 'God of truth,' directly supporting the statement in Hebrews 6:18 that God cannot lie.

Daniel 6:26 Parallel

In Daniel 6:26, God is described as 'living and enduring forever' — paralleling the unchangeable nature that guarantees His promises.

In Lamentations 3:23, 'Great is your faithfulness' directly affirms God's unchanging reliability — the same foundation as the hope in Hebrews.

1 John 5:10 Contrast

1 John 5:10 says unbelief makes God a liar — directly relating to the impossibility of God lying in Hebrews 6:18.

1 John 1:10 Contrast

1 John 1:10 warns that claiming sinlessness makes God a liar — contrasting with God's inability to lie in Hebrews 6:18.

Psalm 57:10 Parallel

Psalm 57:10 proclaims God's steadfast love and faithfulness — echoing the unchangeable character that grounds the hope in Hebrews.

Psalm 89:2 Parallel

Psalm 89:2 declares God's steadfast love and faithfulness established forever — mirroring the unchangeable promises in Hebrews.

Philippians 2:1 appeals to 'encouragement in Christ' — the same paraklesis that Hebrews 6:18 offers through God's unchangeable purpose.

2 Corinthians 1:5-7 speaks of abundant comfort through Christ — parallel to the encouragement believers receive from God's unchangeable promise in Hebrews 6:18.

Psalm 146:6 Parallel

Psalm 146:6 declares God keeps faith forever, reinforcing the unchangeable nature of God's promises in Hebrews 6:18.

1 Peter 1:3 Related theme

In 1 Peter 1:3, the living hope through Christ's resurrection echoes the hope set before us here. Both anchor hope in God's promise.

1 Peter 3:15 Related theme

1 Peter 3:15 shows the practical response: be ready to give a reason for the hope we have, connecting hope to apologetics.

Romans 15:5 Allusion

Romans 15:5 calls God the God of encouragement — directly linking to the strong encouragement Hebrews 6:18 says we have from God.

1 John 5:9 Related theme

1 John 5:9 emphasizes God's testimony is greater than human testimony, reinforcing the reliability of God's promise in Hebrews 6:18.

In Jeremiah 44:26, God swears by His great name — an unchangeable oath, but here for judgment rather than hope.

Psalm 31:5 Related theme

In Psalm 31:5, David commits his spirit to the faithful God — underscores God’s faithfulness which grounds the promise.

Ephesians 4:4 Related theme

In Ephesians 4:4, believers share one hope — the same hope that Hebrews 6:18 anchors in God's unchangeable promise.