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So Let Us Move Along Toward Maturity

Therefore, having left the message of the beginning[a] concerning Christ, let us be carried-along to maturity— not again laying-down a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith toward God, of instruction about cleansings[b] and laying-on of hands, and about the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

And We Will Do This As God Permits, For It Is Impossible For Us To Help Some

And this[c] we will do if-indeed God permits. For it is impossible to renew[d] again to repentance the ones having once been enlightened[e] and having tasted[f] the heavenly gift, and having been made[g] partakers[h] of the Holy Spirit, and having tasted the good word of God and the powers[i] of the coming age, and having fallen-away— crucifying-again[j] for themselves the Son of God, and publicly-disgracing Him. For land having drunk the rain coming often upon it, and producing a plant useful to those for whose sake it is also farmed, receives a blessing from God. But land bringing-forth thorns and thistles is disapproved[k] and near a curse[l], whose end[m] is for burning.

But As For You, Beloved, Diligently Imitate The Inheritors of The Promises

But concerning you, beloved, we are convinced-of better things, and things having salvation— even though we are speaking in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for His name, having served[n] the saints and [still] serving. 11 But we desire that each of you be demonstrating the same diligence toward the full-assurance of hope until the end, 12 in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of the ones inheriting the promises through faith and patience.

For Abraham Waited Patiently And Obtained The Promise

13 For God, having promised to Abraham, swore by Himself— since He had by no one greater to swear— 14 saying [in Gen 22:17]: “Surely while blessing I will bless you, and while multiplying I will multiply[o] you”. 15 And so, having waited-patiently, he obtained the promise.

God Even Guaranteed His Promise To Encourage Those Waiting For It

16 For people swear by the greater one. And for them the oath for confirmation is the end[p] of every dispute, 17 by which custom God, intending even more to show the unchangeableness of His intention[q] to the heirs of the promise, guaranteed with an oath, 18 in order that by two[r] unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we[s]— the ones having fled to take-hold-of the hope being set-before us— may have strong encouragement[t], 19 which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both secure and firm and entering into the inner side of the curtain, 20 where a forerunner for us went in— Jesus— having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 6:1 See 5:12.
  2. Hebrews 6:2 That is, the Christian view of Jewish washings (same word as in Mk 7:4), certainly a foundational issue for these Hebrews. Or, baptisms.
  3. Hebrews 6:3 That is, carry you on toward maturity.
  4. Hebrews 6:4 Or, restore. In the Greek word order, ‘to renew again to repentance’ is in v 6, just before ‘crucifying-again’, placing emphasis on it.
  5. Hebrews 6:4 Or, illuminated, given light.
  6. Hebrews 6:4 That is, experienced; or, partaken of.
  7. Hebrews 6:4 Or, come-to-be, become, been.
  8. Hebrews 6:4 Or, partners, sharers.
  9. Hebrews 6:5 Or, miracles, as in 2:4.
  10. Hebrews 6:6 Or, re-crucifying. That is, since they are crucifying-again, defining the sense in which they have fallen away.
  11. Hebrews 6:8 Or, rejected.
  12. Hebrews 6:8 That is, near to being cursed.
  13. Hebrews 6:8 That is, destiny.
  14. Hebrews 6:10 Compare 10:32-34.
  15. Hebrews 6:14 while blessing... multiply. This literal reflection of a Hebrew way of speaking means ‘I will surely bless and I will surely multiply’.
  16. Hebrews 6:16 Or, conclusion.
  17. Hebrews 6:17 intending... intention. Or, purposing... purpose, determining... determination.
  18. Hebrews 6:18 That is, the promise and the oath.
  19. Hebrews 6:18 we... encouragement. Or, we, the ones having fled-for-refuge, may have strong encouragement to take-hold-of the hope being set-before us.
  20. Hebrews 6:18 That is, to wait patiently like Abraham.

Therefore let us move beyond(A) the elementary teachings(B) about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a](C) and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites,[b](D) the laying on of hands,(E) the resurrection of the dead,(F) and eternal judgment. And God permitting,(G) we will do so.

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,(H) who have tasted the heavenly gift,(I) who have shared in the Holy Spirit,(J) who have tasted the goodness(K) of the word of God(L) and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen[c] away, to be brought back to repentance.(M) To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God(N) all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.(O) In the end it will be burned.

Even though we speak like this, dear friends,(P) we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.(Q) 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope(R) for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate(S) those who through faith and patience(T) inherit what has been promised.(U)

The Certainty of God’s Promise

13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,(V) 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[d](W) 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.(X)

16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.(Y) 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging(Z) nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised,(AA) he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,(AB) we who have fled to take hold of the hope(AC) set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,(AD) 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.(AE) He has become a high priest(AF) forever, in the order of Melchizedek.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 6:1 Or from useless rituals
  2. Hebrews 6:2 Or about baptisms
  3. Hebrews 6:6 Or age, if they fall
  4. Hebrews 6:14 Gen. 22:17