Hebrews 6
New Matthew Bible
He continues with the thing that he began in the latter end of chapter 5, and exhorts them not to faint, but to be steadfast and patient, seeing as God is trustworthy and faithful in his promise.
6 Therefore let us leave the questions that belong to the beginning of a Christian life, and let us go on to maturity, and not now again lay the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 of baptism, of doctrine, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection from death, and of eternal judgment. 3 And so will we do, if God permits.
4 For it is not possible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted of the good word of God and of the power of the world to come, 6 if they fall, to be renewed again to repentance, seeing they have (as concerning themselves) crucified the Son of God afresh, making a mock of him. 7 For that earth which drinks in the rain that comes oft upon it, and brings forth herbs meet for those who tend it, receives blessing from God. 8 But that ground which bears thorns and briars is reproved, and is near to cursing: whose end is to be burned.
9 Nevertheless, dear friends, we trust to see better of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we speak this way. 10 For God is not unrighteous, that he should forget your work and labour that proceeds of love – which love you have shown in his name, you who have ministered to the saints, and still minister. 11 Yea and we desire that every one of you show the same diligence to secure your hope right to the end: 12 that you faint not, but follow those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he had no greater thing to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying: Surely I will bless you and multiply you indeed. 15 And so after he had waited a long time, Abraham enjoyed the promise.
16 Men will swear by one who is greater than themselves, and an oath to confirm the thing is among them an end of all strife. 17 So God, wanting very much to show to the heirs of promise the certainty of his counsel, added an oath, 18 so that by two immutable things (in which it was impossible that God should lie) we may have perfect consolation – we who have fled to hold fast the hope that is set before us, 19 which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast. Which hope also enters in, into those things that are within the veil, 20 to where the forerunner has entered in for us – I mean Jesus, who is made a high priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6
1599 Geneva Bible
6 1 He briefly toucheth the childish slothfulness of the Hebrews, 4 and terrifieth them with severe threatenings: 7 He stirreth them up to endeavor in time to go forward: 9 He hopeth well of them: 13 He allegeth Abraham’s example: 17 and compareth faith that taketh hold on the word, 19 unto an anchor.
1 Therefore, leaving the doctrine of the [a]beginning of Christ, let us be led forward unto perfection, [b]not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and laying on of hands, and of the resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do if God permit.
4 (A)[c] For it is [d]impossible that they which were once lightened, and have [e]tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted of the good word of God, and of the powers of the world to come,
6 If they fall away, should be renewed again by repentance: seeing they [f]crucify again to themselves the Son of God, and make a mock of him.
7 [g]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 of God.
8 But that which beareth thorns and briars, is reproved, and is near unto cursing, whose end is to be burned.
9 [h]But beloved, we have persuaded ourselves better things of you, and such as accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
10 [i]For God is not unrighteous, that he should forget your work, and labor of love, which ye showed toward his Name, in that ye have ministered unto the Saints, and yet minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you show the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope unto the end,
12 [j]That ye be not slothful, but followers of them, which through faith and patience, inherit the promises.
13 [k]For when God made the promise to Abraham, because he had no greater to swear by, he swore by himself,
14 Saying, (B)Surely I will [l]abundantly bless thee, and multiply thee marvelously.
15 And so after that he had tarried patiently, he enjoyed the promise.
16 For men verily swear by him that is greater than themselves, and an oath for confirmation is among them an end of all strife.
17 So God, willing more [m]abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the stableness of his counsel, bound himself by an oath,
18 That by two immutable things, wherein it is impossible that God should lie, we might have strong consolation, which have our refuge to lay hold upon that hope that is set before us,
19 [n]Which hope we have, as an anchor of the soul, but sure and steadfast, and it entereth into that which is within the veil.
20 [o]Whither the forerunner is for us entered in, even Jesus that is made an high Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 6:1 The first principles of Christian religion, which we call the Catechism.
- Hebrews 6:1 Certain principles of a Catechism, which comprehend the sum of the doctrine of the Gospel, were given in few words and briefly to the rude and ignorant, to wit, the profession of repentance and faith in God: the articles of which doctrine, were demanded of them which were not as yet received members of the Church, at the days appointed for Baptism: and of the children of the faithful which were baptized in their infancy: when hands were laid upon them. And of those articles, two are by name recited: the resurrection of the flesh, and the eternal judgment.
- Hebrews 6:4 He addeth a vehemency to his exhortation, and a most sharp threatening of the certain destruction that shall come to them which fall from God and his religion.
- Hebrews 6:4 He speaketh of a general backsliding, and such as do altogether fall away from the faith, and not of sins which are committed through the frailty of man against the first and the second table.
- Hebrews 6:4 We must mark the force of this word, for it is one thing to believe as Lydia did, whose heart God opened, Acts 16:13, and another thing to have some taste.
- Hebrews 6:6 As men that hate Christ, and as though they crucified him again make him a mocking stock to all the world, and that to their own destruction, as Julian the Apostate or backslider did.
- Hebrews 6:7 He setteth forth the former threatening with a similitude.
- Hebrews 6:9 He mitigateth and assuageth all that sharpness, hoping better of them to whom he writeth.
- Hebrews 6:10 He praiseth them for their charity, thereby encouraging them to go forward, and to hold out to the end.
- Hebrews 6:12 He showeth what virtues chiefly they have need of to go forward constantly, and also to profit: to wit, of charity, and patience: and lest any man should object and say, that these things are impossible to be done, he willeth them to set before themselves the examples of their ancestors, and to follow them.
- Hebrews 6:13 Another prick to prick them forward: Because the hope of the inheritance is certain, if we continue to the end, for God hath not only promised it, but also promised it with an oath.
- Hebrews 6:14 I will heap up benefits most plentifully upon thee.
- Hebrews 6:17 More than was needful, were it not for the wickedness of men which believe not God, no though he swear.
- Hebrews 6:19 He likeneth hope to an anchor: because that even as an anchor being cast into the bottom of the sea, stayeth the whole ship, so doth hope also enter even into the very secret places of heaven. And he maketh mention of the Sanctuary, alluding to the old tabernacle, and by this means returneth to the comparisons of the Priesthood of Christ with the Levitical.
- Hebrews 6:20 He repeateth David’s words, wherein all those comparisons whereof he hath before made mention, are signified, as he declareth in all the next chapter.
Hebrews 6
Authorized (King James) Version
6 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.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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