NOTES for Heb 10:35
Over the long history of humanity, much has been said and written about courage. But what is courage from a spiritual point of view? And why is it so important? To answer this question, it is important to remember something else, the foundation of spiritual life: faithfulness. It is no accident that the Bible connects faithfulness with the relationship between God and the human person, and between God and the people of God. In Russian translation, faithfulness is sometimes called faith, but in most cases the corresponding Greek or Hebrew word means faithfulness, as well as trust.
But if faithfulness plays a key role in the relationship between God and the human person, then the same can be said of steadfastness, without which there can be no talk of faithfulness. And steadfastness, in turn, is unthinkable without courage. Of course, if we were to live in a world that knew no evil, everything might be different. It is quite possible that such a world would not know a concept like courage at all. But we, unfortunately, live in a world wounded by sin and lying in evil. And such a world, or rather the forces of evil at work in it, has no need for steadfastness. None at all, in anything.
The expression "steadfastness in evil" is, in essence, only a pretty but meaningless phrase. It means no more than, for example, the expression "he rolled down the slope with all his might." To do evil, one needs neither spiritual collectedness nor perseverance. Of course, anyone could point to great people who possessed strong will and other qualities, and who displayed them even when they did evil deeds. But they did not receive these qualities from the devil or from dark forces. They were placed in them by God, who gave them freedom, as He gives it to everyone else. And they abused that freedom, so that God's gift became a dark, evil force in them. Strength comes from God; evil comes from the refusal to direct it toward God's work.
In essence, to do evil it is enough to do nothing and to let others use one's talents and abilities, received from God. But to avoid doing evil, one has to resist and stand against those who would like to make use of gifts that do not belong to them. God's gift in a fallen world has to be defended, just as one's faithfulness to God has to be defended in it. And courage is faithfulness standing against the forces of evil. It is faithfulness that ceases to be itself without such opposition.