---
title: Hebrews 10:10
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/hebrews-10-10/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/hebrews-10-10.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Hebrews 10:10
testament: NT
section: Letters
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Hebrews 10:10

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

## JW Usage

"By that 'will' we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time." The Watchtower affirms this verse in general terms — Christ's sacrifice was offered once — but applies its sanctifying effect selectively. Only the 144,000 anointed are directly sanctified as new-covenant parties; the great crowd receives a derivative benefit. The "we" in the verse is implicitly narrowed in JW teaching.

## Protestant Usage

Hebrews 10:10 presses the two-class reading at the identification of the "we." The author includes his readers in the sanctified group without reservation, and his readers are ordinary first- century Christians — the same audience Peter addresses at 1 Peter 2:9 as "a royal priesthood." The verse is the sanctification parallel to Hebrews 10:14 ("by one sacrificial offering he has made those who are being sanctified perfect for all time"). Note the tense: "have been sanctified" (perfect passive) — a completed action with ongoing effect, not an earned status. The one offering has already done the sanctifying; all that remains is to receive. The Watchtower's narrowing requires a verse that limits the "we"; the New Testament does not supply one. Pair with 1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 5:9-10, and Hebrews 12:24.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [A Royal Priesthood — Every Believer is a Priest](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/universal-priesthood-1peter29.md) — 1 Peter 2:9 / Revelation 1:6 / 5:10 — The end of mediating classes [Authority]
- [The Incarnation Is Addition, Not Compression](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/word-became-flesh-not-michael.md) — Why the Logos-to-Michael-to-Jesus-to-Michael cycle does not match the New Testament [Deity of Christ]