Hebrews6
New King James Version
1Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
2of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3And this we will do if God permits.
4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
7For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
8but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
9But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
10For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
12that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,
14saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”
15And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute.
17Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath,
18that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
20where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Hebrews 6.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Hebrews are urged to go forward in the doctrine of Christ, and the consequences of apostacy, or turning back, are described. (1–8). The apostle expresses satisfaction, as to the most of them. (9, 10). And encourages them to persevere in faith and holiness. (11–20).
vv1-8
Every part of the truth and will of God should be set before all who profess the gospel, and be urged on their hearts and consciences. We should not be always speaking about outward things; these have their places and use, but often take up too much attention and time, which might be better employed. The humbled sinner who pleads guilty, and cries for mercy, can have no ground from this passage to be discouraged, whatever his conscience may accuse him of. Nor does it prove that any one who is made a new creature in Christ, ever becomes a final apostate from him. The apostle is not speaking of the falling away of mere professors, never convinced or influenced by the gospel. Such have nothing to fall away from, but an empty name, or hypocritical profession. Neither is he speaking of partial declinings or backslidings. Nor are such sins meant, as Christians fall into through the strength of temptations, or the power of some worldly or fleshly lust. But the falling away here mentioned, is an open and avowed renouncing of Christ, from enmity of heart against him, his cause, and people, by men approving in their minds the deeds of his murderers, and all this after they have received the knowledge of the truth, and tasted some of its comforts. Of these it is said, that it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance. Not because the blood of Christ is not sufficient to obtain pardon for this sin; but this sin, in its very nature, is opposite to repentance and every thing that leads to it. If those who through mistaken views of this passage, as well as of their own case, fear that there is no mercy for them, would attend to the account given of the nature of this sin, that it is a total and a willing renouncing of Christ, and his cause, and joining with his enemies, it would relieve them from wrong fears. We should ourselves beware, and caution others, of every approach near to a gulf so awful as apostacy; yet in doing this we should keep close to the word of God, and be careful not to wound and terrify the weak, or discourage the fallen and penitent. Believers not only taste of the word of God, but they drink it in. And this fruitful field or garden receives the blessing. But the merely nominal Christian, continuing unfruitful under the means of grace, or producing nothing but deceit and selfishness, was near the awful state above described; and everlasting misery was the end reserved for him. Let us watch with humble caution and prayer as to ourselves.
vv9-10
There are things that are never separated from salvation; things that show the person to be in a state of salvation, and which will end in eternal salvation. And the things that accompany salvation, are better things than ever any dissembler or apostate enjoyed. The works of love, done for the glory of Christ, or done to his saints for Christ's sake, from time to time, as God gives occasion, are evident marks of a man's salvation; and more sure tokens of saving grace given, than the enlightenings and tastings spoken of before. No love is to be reckoned as love, but working love; and no works are right works, which flow not from love to Christ.
vv11-20
The hope here meant, is a sure looking for good things promised, through those promises, with love, desire, and valuing of them. Hope has its degrees, as faith also. The promise of blessedness God has made to believers, is from God's eternal purpose, settled between the eternal Father, Son, and Spirit. These promises of God may safely be depended upon; for here we have two things which cannot change, the counsel and the oath of God, in which it is not possible for God to lie; it would be contrary to his nature as well as to his will. And as He cannot lie; the destruction of the unbeliever, and the salvation of the believer, are alike certain. Here observe, those to whom God has given full security of happiness, have a title to the promises by inheritance. The consolations of God are strong enough to support his people under their heaviest trials. Here is a refuge for all sinners who flee to the mercy of God, through the redemption of Christ, according to the covenant of grace, laying aside all other confidences. We are in this world as a ship at sea, tossed up and down, and in danger of being cast away. We need an anchor to keep us sure and steady. Gospel hope is our anchor in the storms of this world. It is sure and stedfast, or it could not keep us so. The free grace of God, the merits and mediation of Christ, and the powerful influences of his Spirit, are the grounds of this hope, and so it is a stedfast hope. Christ is the object and ground of the believer's hope. Let us therefore set our affections on things above, and wait patiently for his appearance, when we shall certainly appear with him in glory.
Key Words
διό (dió): through which thing, i.e. consequently
ἀφίημι (aphíēmi): an intensive form of , to go); to send forth, in various applications (as follow)
ἀρχή (archḗ): (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank)
λόγος (lógos): something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ)
Χριστός (Christós): anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
φέρω (phérō): to "bear" or carry (in a very wide application, literally and figuratively, as follows)
ἐπί (epí): properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
τελειότης (teleiótēs): (the state) completeness (mentally or morally)
μή (mḗ): (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 (οὐ) expects an affirmative one)) whether
καταβάλλω (katabállō): to throw down
Cross References
Hebrews 6The historical account where God swore by Himself to bless Abraham, quoted in verses 13-14.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly precedes this chapter, defining the 'first principles' and 'babes' contrasted with going on to maturity.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The major parallel warning in Hebrews concerning the impossibility of recovery for deliberate apostasy.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The foundational messianic oath of Melchizedek's priesthood, fulfilling God's unchangeable counsel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Asserts the absolute truthfulness of God, matching the declaration that it is impossible for God to lie.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The high priest entering behind the physical veil, typifying Jesus entering the heavenly holy of holies.
Supported by JFB
Uses the same Greek word for 'illuminated' or 'enlightened' to describe their initial reception of truth.
Supported by JFB
Echoes the language of the primeval curse of thorns and briers on unproductive ground.
Supported by JFB
Christ identifying Himself with the saints whom the readers have ministered to and served.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB