Hebrews
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Hebrews 6
Hebrews 6
1Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Commentary · verse 1
2of the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Commentary · verse 2
Paul listed the foundational Doctrines: repentance, faith, baptism, laying on of hands, resurrection, and eternal judgment.
3And this will we do, if God permit.
4For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 6and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
3And this will we do, if God permit.
4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Commentary · verses 3-6
Concerning verses 4-6, see also Hebrews 10:26. These verses meant that the only way to gain Salvation is by grace through faith (which begins with repentance/humility). These verses did not mean that if we had already lived of the Holy Spirit and fall away, we cannot again attain Salvation. These verses meant that if we have received this gift and then fall away, we ought to know that there is no other way to attain Salvation, other than through repentance.
We cannot skip over repentance and just act as if Christ was "recrucified." Paul began this chapter stating that the foundational Doctrines should not be repeatedly done because once they were done (and understood) we ought to grow past these to maturity. In verse 6, Paul was building on verse 1: do not try to pretend that you have not sinned and act like this was the first time you received Christ's death on the cross as paying for your sins.
Doctrines on this passage
7For the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God: 8but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned.
7For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
8But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Commentary · verses 7-8
In verse 8, the word "rejected" was adokimos which was translated in the rest of the New Testament as castaway (1 Corinthians 9:27) and reprobate (Romans 1:28, 2 Corinthians 13:5-7, 2 Timothy 3:8, and Titus 1:16). We have seen Paul was the only writer in the New Testament to use this word and in all the other times Paul used this word he was speaking of a coin that represented a true value (right WHAT) but was actually worth less (wrong HOW/WHY).
Verse 7 stated that the land that received rain and was tilled (appearance) ought to bring forth herbs (actual value). When it did, it received blessings from God because its actual value matched its appearance.
Verse 8 stated that if the actual value of the land was thorns and thistles, even though it received rain and tilling, then it was "rejected"...reprobate...castaway. Paul stated the result could be seen as a curse because it ultimately got burned. Remember, fire burns up dross, while fire refines precious metals. In every usage of adokimos in the New Testament, the application showed that we need to have the actual value that we present. This was a theme in many of Paul's epistles that was unique to Paul.
9But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak: 10for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister.
9But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
10For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Commentary · verses 9-10
God is Just and will remember our work and labor of love if it is profitable, if it is not reprobate.
11And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end:
11And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
Commentary · verse 11
Have this faith and diligence until the end so that you have the actual value that you represent.
12that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
12That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Commentary · verse 12
Sloth (rest without work) was contrasted with faith (which had works). Paul contrasted reprobates with believers.
13For when God made promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he sware by himself, 14saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
13For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Commentary · verses 13-15
Paul referenced Genesis 22:17 to show the scriptures proved there was no one greater than God...otherwise, God would have sworn by something other than Himself. Paul showed that Abraham was a believer because of his faith.
16For men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.
17Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; 18that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us:
16For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
17Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Commentary · verses 16-18
Doctrine: It is impossible for God to lie. Paul made a similar statement in Titus 1:2.
Doctrines on this passage
19which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil; 20whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
19Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
20Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Commentary · verses 19-20
Paul used two analogies to show the Hebrew Christians they could have faith that Jesus was able to provide Salvation.
Commentary · verse 20
Theme of Chapter 6: Paul began to build on foundational Doctrines by stating that we need to have the actual value of what we present to others. Everyone who SAYS they believe foundational Doctrines appears to be a believer immediately after this confession. However, over time, believers are apparent to all once they demonstrate their actual value.
Doctrines on this passage
Therefore, we ought to progress further than the foundational principles, unto perfection.