Forerunner
(4274)
(prodromos
from protrécho = run ahead or before) describes one who goes on ahead
to prepare the way.
Prodromos was used in Greek to describe one who was sent before to
take observations or act as spy or a light-armed soldier soldier sent
out ahead of a main force so as to gather information about the enemy’s
position, strength, or movements. The prodromos was a scout who was
sent out to explore an area and obtain information (much like our modern
word "pioneer"). In Paul's
day prodromos was the word used to describe the smaller boats that were sent
into the harbor by larger ships that were unable to enter due to stormy
conditions. These smaller boats or prodomoi carried the anchor through the breakers inside
the harbor and dropped it there, securing the larger ship.
A
forerunner
is defined as one that precedes or is sent as an advance messenger,
thus presupposing that others will follow. In this section of Hebrews
6:16-20
the writer dramatically pictures Jesus as not only the believer’s
Anchor but as the Runner Boat that has taken our anchor into port and
secured it there, in the safety of the "harbor of heaven". Thus every
believer can now have complete assurance that his or her "vessel" is going
to arrive successfully
into the "home port'. Believers in fact now possess such a hope in the presence of God
and as stated in
Hebrews 4:16
(see
note) should come boldly before
God's glorious throne
of mercy and grace. This is why we may have strong encouragement.
the writer dramatically pictures Jesus as not only the believer’s
Anchor but as the Runner Boat that has taken our anchor into port and
secured it there, in the safety of the "harbor of heaven". Thus every
believer can now have complete assurance that his or her "vessel" is going
to arrive successfully
into the "home port'. Believers in fact now possess such a hope in the presence of God
and as stated in
Hebrews 4:16
(see
note) should come boldly before
God's glorious throne
of mercy and grace. This is why we may have strong encouragement.
Prodromos is found only here in N.T.
William Barclay writes that
Prodromos, used to describe Jesus, is usually translated “forerunner” and
would have had a picturesque meaning for the people of Jesus’ day. The
harbor of Alexandria was very difficult to approach. When the great corn
ships came into it, a little pilot boat was sent out to guide them in. It
went before them, and they followed it as it led them along the channel to
safe waters. That pilot boat was called the prodromos. In the Roman army the prodomoi were the reconnaissance troops. They went ahead of the main body of
the army to blaze the trail and ensure that it was safe for the rest of the
troops to follow. These two things illustrate what Jesus is saying about
himself in this passage. He goes first, to make it safe for those who
follow. He blazed the way to heaven and to God that we might follow in his
steps. (Barclay,
W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The Westminster
Press) (Comment: the prodromos
was the smaller boats sent into the harbor by larger ships unable to enter
due to the buffeting of the weather. The smaller boats carried the anchor
through the breakers inside the harbor and dropped it there, securing the
larger ship).
Marvin Vincent adds that prodromos...
expresses
an entirely new idea, lying completely outside of the Levitical system. The
Levitical high priest did not enter the sanctuary as a forerunner, but only
as the people’s representative. He entered a place into which none might
follow him; in the people’s stead, and not as their pioneer. The peculiarity
of the new (COVENANT) economy is that Christ as High Priest goes nowhere
where His people cannot follow Him. He introduces man into full fellowship
with God. The A.V. entirely misses this point by rendering “the forerunner,”
as if the idea of a high priest being a forerunner were perfectly familiar.
(Word Studies in the NT)
Jesus has shown us the way, has gone on ahead, and is the Surety or
Guarantor (Hebrews 7:22-note)
of our own entrance later. In point of fact, our anchor of hope with its two
chains of God's promise and oath has laid hold of Jesus within
the veil. It will hold fast. All we need to do is to be true to him as he is
to us. Let us hold fast the confession of our faith firm until the end (Hebrews
3:6; Hebrews 4:14 see
notes
Heb 3:6;
4:14).
-note)
of our own entrance later. In point of fact, our anchor of hope with its two
chains of God's promise and oath has laid hold of Jesus within
the veil. It will hold fast. All we need to do is to be true to him as he is
to us. Let us hold fast the confession of our faith firm until the end (Hebrews
3:6; Hebrews 4:14 see
notes
Heb 3:6;
4:14).
