Holding Fast the Faithful Word

Introduction.  One of the qualifications for an elder is also a very important ability for all Christians. From time to time we find ourselves facing someone who has a need. They are weak and feeble needing exhortation, they are struggling with sin and rebellion and need to be spoken to in a strong enough manner to bring about repentance. We have to learn forbearance and forgiveness. But before we can do any of these things, we must learn and become proficient in “holding fast” “to the faithful word. “

• holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict(convict the gainsayer). Titus 1:9

While some reach for “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” utilize human wisdom and philosophy, or apply psychology, those who are “holding fast to the faithful word” reach for Scripture and the wisdom of God. This is the heart of “hold fast to the faithful word.”  The word translated “hold fast,” has a full and rich meaning in language the Holy Spirit selected, and to fully understand it, we would be wise to be aware of it.

"Hold Fast" Defined (part 1).  This is a compound word made up of a verb and a preposition. The Greek verb “echo” mirrors our word, “hold” as it means “possession, having and holding.”  As it moves through various contexts in Scripture “echo” can mean “to hold possession of the mind,” to hold one’s self to a thing,” “adhere and cling to,” or “be closely joined to.”
 
Hence even before we look at the preposition, we see that everything in life must revolve around God’s word. God’s words to Joshua fully illustrate how we “hold fast this possession.” God told him to be “strong and courageous” as he “observed to do according to all the Law.” He was to take firm possession of God’s word and allow it to take firm possession of him. He must never “turn from it to the right or to the left.” There is no excuse for anyone making God’s word more restrictive by adding their own opinions, moving to the right. Yet we must also avoid the other extreme of turning to the left, loosening with our opinions what God has bound (Mt. 15:8-9).
 
For Joshua, to “hold fast to the faithful word” meant that “this Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth” because every word is carefully sifted and sharpened to be in harmony with God’s will. All words are made to conform to the truths it contains before they are spoken. This requires a quick and nimble mind to apply the faithful word to each situation. For Joshua to do this he “shall meditate in it day and night.” When thus holding fast to the faithful word “you will make your way prosperous, and you will have good success” (Josh. 1:7-9). Great wisdom and insight come to all who “hold fast to the faithful word.”

• Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. Ps 119:97-100

"Hold Fast" Defined (part 2).  But we have still only looked at the fullness of the verb “echo.” What about the preposition “anti?” Since “echo” conveys all that our English word “hold fast” does, how did “anti” strengthen and expand it? The definition of “anti” is “over against, opposite to, before.”
 
Think of a wrestler or football player who is holding fast to his opponent by keeping himself directly opposite to him. This is what Jacob did with the angel (Gen. 32:24-29). It is not enough to possess and hold to God’s word. We must also keep ourselves directly opposite to it. So “antecho” combines possession of the faithful word with keeping ourselves directly in front of it as a mirror image, so we are always over against it, clinging and adhering to it with all our might. Jesus used “antecho” to warn against the power of money.

• No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Mt. 6:24

When one holds fast to God, he will despise money, and when one holds fast to money, he will despise God. Like light and darkness holding fast to the one mutually excludes the other. So when we hold fast to the faithful word we must despise human wisdom, philosophy and psychology when it contradicts Scripture. This is exactly what Paul told Timothy and us to do.

• O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge —  21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. 1Tim. 6:20-21.
• Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. Col. 2:8-9.

It is all founded on our respect and trust in God’s word to make us wiser and more successful than human wisdom.

• All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17

Taught Throughout the Bible.  Since Scripture is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” how can anyone exhort and refute without holding fast to it? Multitudes of passages and events reveal this. Cain and Abel (Gen. 4), Noah (Gen. 6), Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-2), Saul (1Sam. 15), David and Uzzah (1Chr. 13:1-12; 15:3-13), all reveal the importance of “holding fast to the faithful word.” Many commands in Scripture also warn of the necessity of holding to and handling aright the doctrine (2Jn. 9; Gal. 1:6-9; Mt. 7:21-24; Mt. 15:9; Rev. 22:18-19; 2Th. 2:9-10).
 
When God rejected Saul and chose David, He was looking for a man after His own heart - a man who would go to the Word, hold fast to it, and seek to do things God’s way. At the end of David’s life, God summed up his value:

• He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.' ... 36 For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, Acts 13:22, 36

Conclusion.  This is exactly what God seeks today. All who seek to be a man or woman “after God’s own heart” must be “holding fast to the faithful word” so they can "do all My will.” If we do this, we too can walk beside David. As David “in his own generation can serve the counsel of God,” so can we.