1 THEREFORE 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,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If 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.
7 For 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:
8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
10 For 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.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18 That 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:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

 

1Therefore leauing the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let vs goe on vnto perfection, not laying againe the foundation of repentance from dead workes, and of faith towards God,

2Of the doctrine of Baptismes, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternall iudgement.

3And this will we doe, if God permit.

4For it is impossible for those who were once inlightned, and haue tasted of the heauenly gift, and were made partakers of the holy Ghost,

5And haue tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come;

6If they shall fall away, to renue them againe vnto repentance: seeing they crucifie to themselues the Sonne of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

7For the earth which drinketh in the raine that commeth oft vpon it, and bringeth forth herbes meet for them by whome it is dressed, receiueth blessing from God.

8But that which beareth thornes and briers, is reiected, and is nigh vnto cursing, whose end is to be burned.

9But beloued, wee are perswaded better things of you, and things that accompany saluation, though we thus speake.

10For God is not vnrighteous, to forget your worke and labour of loue, which yee haue shewed toward his Name, in that yee haue ministred to the Saints, and doe minister.

11And wee desire, that euery one of you doe shewe the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope vnto the ende:

12That yee be not slothfull, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherite the promises.

13For when God made promise to Abraham, because hee could sweare by no greater, he sware by himselfe,

14Saying, Surely, blessing I will blesse thee, and multiplying I wil multiply thee.

15And so after he had patiently indured, he obtained the promise.

16For men verily sweare by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

17Wherein God willing more abundantly to shewe vnto the heyres of promise the immutabilitie of his counsell, confirmed it by an oath:

18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lye, wee might haue a strong consolation, who haue fled for refuge to lay hold vpon the hope set before vs.

19Which hope we haue as an anker of the soule both sure and stedfast, and which entreth into that within the vaile,

20Whither the forerunner is for vs entrrd; euen Iesus, made an high Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedec.

 

1 Therefore, let us leave behind the basic teaching about Christ and advance to maturity, without laying the foundation all over again: repentance from dead works and faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms and laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And we shall do this, if only God permits. 4 For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the holy Spirit 5 and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to bring them to repentance again, since they are recrucifying the Son of God for themselves and holding him up to contempt. 7 Ground that has absorbed the rain falling upon it repeatedly and brings forth crops useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is rejected; it will soon be cursed and finally burned. 9 But we are sure in your regard, beloved, of better things related to salvation, even though we speak in this way. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones. 11 We earnestly desire each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who, through faith and patience, are inheriting the promises. 13 When God made the promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, "he swore by himself," 14 and said, "I will indeed bless you and multiply" you. 15 And so, after patient waiting, he obtained the promise. 16 Human beings swear by someone greater than themselves; for them an oath serves as a guarantee and puts an end to all argument. 17 So when God wanted to give the heirs of his promise an even clearer demonstration of the immutability of his purpose, he intervened with an oath, 18 so that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to hold fast to the hope that lies before us. 19 This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil,20 where Jesus has entered on our behalf as forerunner, becoming high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

v 1. In chapter 1, Christ is God, in 2-4 Christ is better than ...., in 5 Christ is the Great High Priest, but in 6:1, the writer is leaving behind (1) doctrine (2) Baptisms, that is washings, cleansing (3) Laying on hands (4) Resurrection (5) Eternal judgments          For us the challenge: “Let us go on”. You don’t keep building foundations for a house. The believers dull of hearing in 5:11 are the same believers in 6:1.
v 3. These were proper and were done, so he is going on to advanced teaching and developing our Christian lives. He has been concerned for the danger of them going back into Judaism.  (See view D)
(Views: A. Warning to believers who are in danger of falling away through sin or unbelief that they may lose their salvation. This is wrong & contrary to other scripture.
B. That this is a hypothetical case that if one could fall away, it would be impossible to renew him, which would mean that Christ would have to be crucified again,  and in v9 he is showing something better. This too, is not a good explanation.
C. These are Jews who profess to be believers, but have stopped short of true faith in Christ, though they were at the verge of salvation. Much merit in this view by Matthew Henry and Schofield, but still not satisfactory, you don’t give milk to unsaved.
Yet in Acts 6:7 priests believed; in 15:5 Pharisees believed; in 21:20 thousands of Jews believed and were zealous of the Law, having not forsaken Moses, circumcision, customs or sacrifices. Also Acts 8:12, 13 Samaritans including Simon believed, yet in verses 20-23 Peter calls this baptized believer unsaved.  The Holy Spirit even fell on unsaved Balaam, Num. 24:2. Some of the “believers” in Heb. 6 and 10 are perhaps of this group referred to as “once enlightened, partakers of the Holy Spirit , tasted of heavenly gift and word of God and needed to know the things which were “Better”.
v 4-6. VIEW C. The argument is made that the culture was Judaism. Whereas 5:12 to 6:3 was in the second person, 4-6 is in the third person. In verse 9 he will again speak to them as second person. All five statements in 4 and 5 refer back to “those” of v 4. The claim is made that the statements in no place of Scripture necessarily refers to Christians. Enlightened means to some extent but not full knowledge.  Taste in 2:5 refers to just a glimpse of the powers of the  ages to come. “Partakers” usually implies complete participation, but here may compare with Judas Iscariot, Herod who murdered John the Baptist, Felix who was almost persuaded or Simon Magnus, Acts 8:13, a professor. Also 1 John 2:18,19, “from us but not of us”, the same kind of people, but v20, true believers. Under view C, we can compare the people of Heb. 6:4-6 with the Judaizers of Galatians with their works based salvation.
D. Warning is given to Christians of the danger of moving from the position of faith and life, to being disqualified for service, 1Cor. 9:27, and from losing rewards. This has the most merit. Under this view, falling away would not be falling from salvation, but falling back into some form of their ancestral religion. If they rejoined those who thought Christ deserved to die on the cross, they would never be able to return to the committment of Christians, even though they didn’t lose their salvation.
V 4-6. VIEW D. This is not discussing salvation, rather of living a fruitful and productive life for God, that is well rewarded in Heaven at the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is the correct view and fits the illustration given in verses 7-8. Compare my notes on James 1:21. These are believers, having fully partaken and once for all  enlightened, but , 5:13, are still on milk. Oliver Green says in the original there was no if in verse 6, but  “Having fallen away”. He gives example of a preacher involved with a woman and living like the devil, he crucifies the Son afresh. He can not be renewed to repentance in the sense he is disapproved, though still a believer. He denies the power of God to himself. The same may be said of people in our local churches, if they are truly born again and say they know they ought to be in church etc. but don’t ever come or live as believers. The writer is persuaded of better things of these people, v 9.
v 7. Even the soil replenished with rain partakes of a blessing from God.
v 8. If that same soil persistently bears thorns and thistles, it is considered useless
v 9. According to view C, in going back to the second person form, the writer is expecting better things of them than of those in v 4-6, whether they were mere professors or uncommitted. If the latter, He is looking for fruit of salvation, not the root of salvation. Whether the popular view, C, or the correct view, D, verse 9 is the key to verses 4-6. There are recognizable better things that go along with salvation.
v10. It is important that what we do, we do in love. Work and labor of love won’t save, but are important for the believer. God will reward according to their faithfulness.
v11, 12. The writer returns to his purpose of stressing perseverance in the faith till death or the return of Christ. They were not to become spiritual sluggards, but imitate those who through faith and patient confidence in the Lord are now inheriting the promises. Verses 10-12 are the better things of verse 9.
v13-15. God made a sure and irrevocable promise to Abraham, Gen. 15:17, and though he received much in his life time, the greater blessing, which Jews would recognize, was the delayed birth of the Messiah.
v 16,-18. Men seek an oath for confirmation, so God had promised Abraham by the greatest oath possible, Himself.   (Immutible is unchanging) The two unchangeable things were God’s counsel or promise, and His oath, which confirmed the promise, Christ in us is the hope of glory, Col. 1:27. We have two immutable things, the death and resurrection of Christ. The Israelites had cities of refuge where an accused could flee for judgment, not revenge. We have fled to Christ for refuge, and also have the blessed hope of His return.
v 19,20. A ship may drag anchor in a storm, but in Christ we have an anchor that will not move. The anchor of our hope reaches within the veil to the very presence of God. So even in the face of difficulties, with the knowledge of Rom. 5:2b-4, tribulation-faith-experience-hope we can live victoriously. Our Forerunner, Christ has already entered there and become a High Priest forever. He is after the order, or with the rank of Melchisedek. In other words, with the likeness in official dignity, a king and priest. (See chapter 7.) The Jews were making quite a distinction between a priest and a high priest, so this writer to the Jews presents Jesus as not just a priest, but as a high priest.