A Serious Warning Against Falling Away

Therefore, leaving behind the elementary message about Christ, let us move on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God, teaching about baptisms and laying on of hands, and resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. For it is impossible concerning those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become sharers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the coming age, and having fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, because they[a] have crucified again for themselves the Son of God and held him up to contempt. For ground that drinks the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth vegetation usable to those people for whose sake[b] it is also cultivated, shares a blessing from God. But if it[c] produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to a curse, whose end is for burning.

But even if we are speaking in this way, dear friends, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and belonging to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust, so as to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for his name by[d] having served the saints, and continuing to serve them. 11 And we desire each one of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, 12 in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and patience.

The Reliability of God’s Promise

13 For when[e] God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying,

“Surely I will greatly bless[f] you, and I will greatly multiply[g] you.”

15 And so, by[h] persevering, he obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by what is greater than themselves, and the oath for confirmation is the end of all dispute for them. 17 In the same way God, because he[i] wanted to show even more to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his resolve, guaranteed it with an oath, 18 in order that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge may have powerful encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us, 19 which we have like an anchor of the soul, both firm and steadfast, and entering into the inside of the curtain, 20 where Jesus, the forerunner for us, entered, because he[j] became a high priest forever[k] according to the order of Melchizedek.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 6:6 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have crucified again”) which is understood as causal
  2. Hebrews 6:7 Literally “for the sake of whom”
  3. Hebrews 6:8 Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“produces”) which is understood as conditional
  4. Hebrews 6:10 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“having served”) which is understood as means
  5. Hebrews 6:13 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal participle (“made a promise”)
  6. Hebrews 6:14 Literally “blessing I will bless”
  7. Hebrews 6:14 Literally “multiplying I will multiply”
  8. Hebrews 6:15 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“persevering”) which is understood as means
  9. Hebrews 6:17 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“wanted”) which is understood as causal
  10. Hebrews 6:20 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“became”) which is understood as causal
  11. Hebrews 6:20 Literally “to the age”

The Peril of Not Progressing

Therefore, (A)leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to [a]perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from (B)dead works and of faith toward God, (C)of the doctrine of baptisms, (D)of laying on of hands, (E)of resurrection of the dead, (F)and of eternal judgment. And this [b]we will do if God permits.

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted (G)the heavenly gift, and (H)have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, [c]if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, (I)since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, (J)receives blessing from God; (K)but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

A Better Estimate

But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For (L)God is not unjust to forget (M)your work and [d]labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have (N)ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence (O)to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become [e]sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience (P)inherit the promises.

God’s Infallible Purpose in Christ

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, (Q)He swore by Himself, 14 saying, (R)“Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the (S)promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and (T)an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to (U)the heirs of promise (V)the [f]immutability of His counsel, [g]confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two [h]immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to (W)lie, we [i]might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope (X)set before us.

19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, (Y)and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 (Z)where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, (AA)having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 6:1 maturity
  2. Hebrews 6:3 M let us do
  3. Hebrews 6:6 Or and have fallen away
  4. Hebrews 6:10 NU omits labor of
  5. Hebrews 6:12 lazy
  6. Hebrews 6:17 unchangeableness of His purpose
  7. Hebrews 6:17 guaranteed
  8. Hebrews 6:18 unchangeable
  9. Hebrews 6:18 M omits might

POR tanto, dejando la palabra del comienzo en la doctrina de Cristo, vamos adelante á la perfección; no echando otra vez el fundamento; no arrepentimiento de obras muertas, y de la fe en Dios,

De la doctrina de bautismos, y de la imposición de manos, y de la resurrección de los muertos, y del juicio eterno.

Y esto haremos á la verdad, si Dios lo permitiere.

Porque es imposible que los que una vez fueron iluminados y gustaron el don celestial, y fueron hechos partícipes del Espíritu Santo.

Y asimismo gustaron la buena palabra de Dios, y las virtudes del siglo venidero,

Y recayeron, sean otra vez renovados para arrepentimiento, crucificando de nuevo para sí mismos al Hijo de Dios, y exponiéndole á vituperio.

Porque la tierra que embebe el agua que muchas veces vino sobre ella, y produce hierba provechosa á aquellos de los cuales es labrada, recibe bendición de Dios:

Mas la que produce espinas y abrojos, es reprobada, y cercana de maldición; cuyo fin será el ser abrasada.

Pero de vosotros, oh amados, esperamos mejores cosas, y más cercanas á salud, aunque hablamos así.

10 Porque Dios no es injusto para olvidar vuestra obra y el trabajo de amor que habéis mostrado á su nombre, habiendo asistido y asistiendo aún á los santos.

11 Mas deseamos que cada uno de vosotros muestre la misma solicitud hasta el cabo, para cumplimiento de la esperanza:

12 Que no os hagáis perezosos, mas imitadores de aquellos que por la fe y la paciencia heredan las promesas.

13 Porque prometiendo Dios á Abraham, no pudiendo jurar por otro mayor, juró por sí mismo,

14 Diciendo: De cierto te bendeciré bendiciendo, y multiplicando te multiplicaré.

15 Y así, esperando con largura de ánimo, alcanzó la promesa.

16 Porque los hombres ciertamente por el mayor que ellos juran: y el fin de todas sus controversias es el juramento para confirmación.

17 Por lo cual, queriendo Dios mostrar más abundantemente á los herederos de la promesa la inmutabilidad de su consejo, interpuso juramento;

18 Para que por dos cosas inmutables, en las cuales es imposible que Dios mienta, tengamos un fortísimo consuelo, los que nos acogemos á trabarnos de la esperanza propuesta:

19 La cual tenemos como segura y firme ancla del alma, y que entra hasta dentro del velo;

20 Donde entró por nosotros como precursor Jesús, hecho Pontífice eternalmente según el orden de Melchîsedec.

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,

Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

And this will we do, if God permit.

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,

And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

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.

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:

But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

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.