{A great high priest} (archierea megan). The author now
takes up the main argument of the Epistle, already alluded to in
 1:3  2:17f.  3:1 , the priestly work of Jesus as superior to
that of the Levitical line ( 4:14-12:3 ). Jesus is superior to
the prophets ( 1:1-3 ), to angels ( 1:4-2:18 ), to Moses
( 3:1-4:13 ), he has already shown. Here he only terms Jesus
"great" as high priest (a frequent adjective with high priest in
Philo) but the superiority comes out as he proceeds. {Who hath
passed through the heavens} (diel(886c)uthota tous ouranous).
Perfect active participle of dierchomai, state of completion.
Jesus has passed through the upper heavens up to the throne of
God ( 1:3 ) where he performs his function as our high priest.
This idea will be developed later ( 6:19f.  7:26-28  9:11f.,24f. ). {Jesus the Son of God} (I(8873)oun ton huion tou
theou). The human name linked with his deity, clinching the
argument already made ( 1:1-4:13 ). {Let us hold fast our
confession} (krat(936d)en t(8873) homologias). Present active volitive
subjunctive of krate(935c), old verb (from kratos, power), with
genitive to cling to tenaciously as here and  6:18  and also with
the accusative ( 2Th 2:15  Col 2:19 ). "Let us keep on holding
fast." This keynote runs all through the Epistle, the exhortation
to the Jewish Christians to hold on to the confession ( 3:1 ) of
Christ already made. Before making the five points of Christ's
superior priestly work (better priest than Aaron,  5:1-7:25 ;
under a better covenant,  8:1-13 ; in a better sanctuary,
 9:1-12 ; offering a better sacrifice,  9:13-10:18 ; based on
better promises,  10:19-12:3 ), the author gives a double
exhortation ( 4:14-16 ) like that in  2:1-4  to hold fast to the
high priest ( 14f. ) and to make use of him ( 16 ).