Forerunner
Forerunner
This word occurs only in Heb 6:20, where it is used of our Lord, who has entered within the veil as the Forerunner of redeemed mankind. It is a military term () used of the troops which were sent in advance of an army as scouts (Herod. i. 60, iv. 121, 122; Thuc. ii. 22, etc.). Again, a forerunner was sent in advance of a king to prepare the way for him (Isa 40:3). In the NT the Baptist becomes the forerunner of the Christ (Mat 11:10). The author of the Epistle shows that the promise made to Abraham still awaits its complete fulfilment-a promise which is made doubly sure, being confirmed by an oath. This promise has been fulfilled by Christ, so that hope may new enter where Jesus, the Son of Man, has already entered to make atonement for us.
The use of this term emphasizes the fact that Jesus has entered heaven, not as the Jewish high priest entered the Holy of Holies, to return again, but to open a way by which His people may follow, and to prepare a place for them (Joh 14:2).
Morley Stevenson.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
Forerunner
is the literal meaning of (Heb 6:20), a precursor, one who not only goes before to a particular place, to lead or prepare the way, but who makes arrangements for those that follow. In this sense it in usually applied to John the Baptist, as the harbinger of Christ. But in the above text (the only one where it occurs in Scripture) it is spoken of Jesus, the high-priest of the new dispensation, as entering before his followers into the heavenly sanctuary, and making expiation of perpetual. efficacy for sinners (comp. Joh 14:2).
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Forerunner
John the Baptist went before our Lord in this character (Mark 1:2, 3). Christ so called (Heb. 6:20) as entering before his people into the holy place as their head and guide.
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Forerunner
FORERUNNER.See John the Baptist.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Forerunner
FORERUNNER.The English word gives the exact sense of the Greek prodromos, which, in its classical usage, signifies one who goes before; it may be as a scout to reconnoitre, or as a herald to announce the coming of the king and to make ready the way for the royal journey.
1. John the Baptist was our Lords forerunner. The word is never applied to him in the NT, but he was the messenger sent before the face of the Lord to prepare his way (Mat 11:10, Mar 1:2, Luk 7:27; cf. Mal 3:1), and to exhort others to make his paths straight (Mar 1:2; cf. Isa 40:3 ff.).
2. Only in Heb 6:20 is the word forerunner found in the EV [Note: English Version.] (Wyclif the bifor goer, Rheims the precursor). Instead of the AV [Note: Authorized Version.] whither the forerunner has for us entered, even Jesus, the RV [Note: Revised Version.] rightly renders: whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us. The change is important. To the readers of this Epistle it would be a startling announcement that Jesus had entered the Holy of Holies as a forerunner. Thither the Jewish high priest, one day in the year, went alone (Heb 9:7). He was the peoples representative, but he was not their forerunner, for none might dare to follow him. The key-note of the Epistle is that all believers have access with boldness to the presence of the Most Holy God in the blood of Jesus; they have this boldness because their High Priest has inaugurated for them a fresh and living way (Heb 10:19 ff.). Already within the veil hope enters with assurance, for Jesus has gone that we may follow too. As the Forerunner of His redeemed He has inaugurated their entrance, He makes intercession for them, and He is preparing for them a place (Joh 14:2). Commenting on the significance of this one word, Dr. A. B. Bruce says that it expresses the whole essential difference between the Christian and the Levitical religionbetween the religion that brings men nigh to God, and the religion that kept or left men standing afar off (Expositor, iii. vii. [1888], p. 167 f.).
J. G. Tasker.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Forerunner
for-runer (, prodromos): This word occurs but once in the Bible: Whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us (Heb 6:20). The word signifies one who comes in advance to a place where the rest are to follow, or one who is sent on before as a scout to take observations. In this sense Christ is our forerunner for He has gone into heaven to prepare a place for His people into which He will eventually lead them. The idea of a forerunner is peculiar to the Christian dispensation. The Old Testament Levitical economy knew nothing of such. The high priest was a representative, not a forerunner: where he led, namely, into the Holy of Holies, the people could not follow. He was not the pioneer of the people; Christ is. Christ goes nowhere but where His people may follow. He is the file-leader (compare Heb 12:2, the author … of faith). He goeth before His people to prepare the way for them, to open the gates of heaven by His atoning blood and priestly intercession. The believer is led into full fellowship with God through Jesus Christ. See also JOHN THE BAPTIST; RUNNER.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Forerunner
Used symbolically of Christ, who has entered within the veil as the forerunner of the saints. Heb 6:20. It is an allusion to those in high position in the East, who have men to run before them to clear the way, and to announce who is coming. In the case of Christ the reverse is the fact: the Lord has run before His servants; but the term necessarily implies that there are others who are following after.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Forerunner
Figurative of Christ
Heb 6:20
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Forerunner
Forerunner. A person sent before an army or a noted person. Thus John the Baptist was a messenger who went beforehand to prepare the way of the Lord. Mar 1:2-3. And Christ is said to be “the forerunner for us,” Heb 6:20, representing and introducing us. For, when as a priest he entered into the holy place, he went thither not for himself merely, but as the head and guide of his people, to open the way and conduct the whole church into his glory.
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
Forerunner
an adjective signifying “running forward, going in advance,” is used as a noun, of “those who were sent before to take observations,” acting as scouts, especially in military matters; or of “one sent before a king” to see that the way was prepared, Isa 40:3; (cp. Luk 9:52; and, of John the Baptist, Mat 11:10, etc). In the NT it is said of Christ in Heb 6:20, as going in advance of His followers who are to be where He is, when He comes to receive them to Himself. In the Sept., Num 13:21, “forerunners (of the grape);” Isa 28:4, “an early (fig).”