The term "holdfast" in the Bible conveys the idea of clinging to, adhering firmly, or maintaining a steadfast grip on something of great importance. This concept is frequently associated with faith, doctrine, and the commandments of God. The notion of holding fast is integral to the Christian life, emphasizing perseverance, commitment, and unwavering dedication to the truths of Scripture and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Biblical References:

1. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 : "but test all things. Hold fast to what is good." This verse encourages believers to discern and evaluate all teachings and practices, retaining only those that align with the goodness and truth of God's Word. It underscores the importance of spiritual discernment and the active role of Christians in maintaining doctrinal purity.

2. Hebrews 10:23 : "Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." Here, the author of Hebrews exhorts believers to maintain a firm grip on their hope in Christ, rooted in the faithfulness of God. This hope is not a passive wish but a confident expectation based on the promises of God.

3. Revelation 2:25 : "Nevertheless, hold fast to what you have until I come." In this message to the church in Thyatira, Jesus instructs the believers to cling to their faith and the teachings they have received until His return. This call to perseverance is a recurring theme in the letters to the churches in Revelation, highlighting the need for endurance in the face of trials and false teachings.

4. 2 Timothy 1:13 : "Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." Paul urges Timothy to adhere to the apostolic doctrine he has been taught, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the gospel message. This charge reflects the necessity of preserving the truth of Scripture amidst a world of competing ideologies.

Theological Significance:

The concept of holding fast is deeply rooted in the covenantal relationship between God and His people. It reflects the believer's response to God's faithfulness and the call to live a life that honors Him. Holding fast involves both an intellectual assent to the truths of the faith and a practical outworking of those truths in daily life. It is an active, ongoing commitment that requires vigilance, prayer, and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

In the context of spiritual warfare, holding fast is a defensive posture against the schemes of the enemy. Ephesians 6:13-14 speaks of standing firm with the armor of God, which includes the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. This imagery reinforces the idea that holding fast is not merely a passive state but an active engagement in the spiritual battle.

Practical Application:

For the believer, holding fast involves a daily commitment to Scripture reading, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. It requires a conscious effort to reject false teachings and worldly influences that contradict the gospel. In a rapidly changing cultural landscape, holding fast to biblical truth provides stability and direction.

Moreover, holding fast is a communal endeavor. The church, as the body of Christ, is called to support and encourage one another in this pursuit. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds believers to "spur one another on toward love and good deeds" and to "not neglect meeting together." This mutual encouragement strengthens the resolve of the community to hold fast collectively.

In summary, the biblical exhortation to hold fast is a call to steadfastness in faith, doctrine, and practice. It is a vital aspect of the Christian walk, ensuring that believers remain anchored in the truth of God's Word and the hope of the gospel.1. (n.) Something used to secure and hold in place something else, as a long fiat-headed nail, a catch a hook, a clinch, a clamp, etc.; hence, a support.

2. (n.) A conical or branching body, by which a seaweed is attached to its support, and differing from a root in that it is not specially absorbent of moisture.

Unpossessed Possessions
... be living; and fears and hopes and loves and ambitions disturb our souls, just as
they do the spirits of the men that do not profess to have any holdfast in God ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/unpossessed possessions.htm

The Inhabitant of the Rock
... aim and the point of rest. No man can steady his life except by clinging
to a holdfast without himself. Some of us look for that ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the inhabitant of the rock.htm

The Perseverance of Faith
... Faith is the great holdfast that hooks a soul on to the Saviour. Faith is thus powerful
because of its effects. Faith enlightens, enlivens and strengthens. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/the perseverance of faith.htm

God with Us, and we with God
... And, brother! there is nothing else that will stay a man's soul. The holdfast cannot
be a part of the chain. It must be fastened to a fixed point. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/god with us and we.htm

The Savoy Declaration of the Congregational Churches. AD 1658.
... Scriptures, and also with a fresh taste thereof in their own hearts; which is no
other than what the Apostle exhorts to, Try all things, holdfast that which is ...
/.../the savoy declaration of the.htm

Holding Fast and Held Fast
... currents of the river of life sweep us away. We shall have a holdfast and
a mooring. And although, like some light-ship anchored in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/holding fast and held fast.htm

Believing on Jesus, and Its Counterfeits
... I would not roughly break that single holdfast which now links you to the truth;
and yet I would not have you trust to it as though it would stand the stress ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/believing on jesus and its.htm

Between the Two Appearings
... some "larger hope", I would say to you"Hope what you please; but remember, that
hope without truth at the bottom of it, is an anchor without a holdfast. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/between the two appearings.htm

The Universal Magnet
... If a man plants his feet firmly and wide apart, and holds on with both hands
to some staple or holdfast, then the drawing cannot draw. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the universal magnet.htm

The Toiling Christ
... manhood is the tabernacle of God"without these two facts the morality and the teaching
of Christianity swing loose in vacuo, and have no holdfast in history ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the toiling christ.htm

Holdfast (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Holdfast (1 Occurrence). Habakkuk 2:11 For a stone from
the wall doth cry out, And a holdfast from the wood answereth it. (YLT). ...
/h/holdfast.htm - 7k

Holdeth (21 Occurrences)

/h/holdeth.htm - 12k

Holding (62 Occurrences)

/h/holding.htm - 27k

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