47 Christology, Chiasm, and the Concept of Faith in Hebrews 10:19-39 faith in Hebrews is “steadfastness” is correct in a sense.42 However, the context of 10:36–39 also suggests that this ethical aspect of faith is closely related to Christology. It may be noted from 10:37–38 that an exhorta- tion for the righteous one to live by faith is in light of the imminence of the Second Coming of Christ. Admittedly, in this passage the author is not explicit about the identity of “the one who is coming.” However, the broad context (10:19–39) suggests that it has a reference to Christ at His Second Coming. More specifically, Hebrews 9:28 clearly indicates that Christ will appear a second time to save those who eagerly wait for Him. Furthermore, an examination of ὁ ἐρχόμενος in other New Testament literature indicates that the phrase refers to either the First or the Second Advent of Christ. In the present passage the phrase has the reference to the Second Coming of Christ. Thus it is obvious that an exhortation for the righteous one (i.e., believer) to live by faith is based on the Second Advent of Christ.43 In other words, it may be asserted that the call to live by faith without shrinking back has a Christological reference. At the same time, faith in Hebrews has an eschatological orientation of both the present and future. It may be noted that while verse 37 focuses on the future, verse 38 has its emphasis on the present aspect. Through this eschatological tension the author brings home the need for the readers not to shrink back (ὑποστέλλω), but to remain faithful through perseverance in the midst of persecutions and trials. Thus the thesis that the ethical aspect of faith in 10:36–39 is both Christologically and eschatologically oriented has a strong support. 5. Summary and Conclusion A detailed examination of 10:19–39 reveals that the Christological aspect of faith is not lacking. It has Jesus as the object of faith for believ- ers, even if it is not expressed in terms of “faith in Christ.” The author reminds the readers that the three exhortations (i.e., let us draw near, let us hold fast, let us consider) in 10:19–25 have Jesus as the object of faith because they are based on the teaching of the high priesthood of Christ in 7:1–10:18. In 10:26–31 the author shows the Christological relationship Grässer, Der Glaube im Hebräerbrief, 41-42. 42 The phrase ὁ ἐρχόμενος is used 17 times in the New Testament. Six times it is used 43 to refer to the First Advent (Mt. 11:3; 21:9; Lk. 7:19, 20; Jn. 6:14; 12:13); eight times, the Second Advent (Mt. 23:39; Mk. 11:19; Lk. 13:35; 19:38; Rev. 1:4, 8; 4:8); three times, other than Christ (Lk. 6:47; Jn. 6:35; 2 Cor. 11:4). This analysis reveals that the phrase is clearly a Christological title.