Print Page Options Listen to Hebrews 6

Warning against Falling Away

Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God,(A) teaching about ritual washings,[a] laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.(B) And we will do this if God permits.

For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit,(C) who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away. This is because,[b] to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.(D) For the ground that drinks the rain that often falls on it and that produces vegetation useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and at the end will be burned.(E)

Even though we are speaking this way, dearly loved friends, in your case we are confident of things that are better and that pertain to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love[c] you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them.(F) 11 Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, 12 so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.(G)

Inheriting the Promise

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself: 14 I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you.[d](H) 15 And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute. 17 Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath,(I) 18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.(J) 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.(K) 20 Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner,(L) because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.(M)

Footnotes

  1. 6:2 Or about baptisms
  2. 6:6 Or while
  3. 6:10 Other mss read labor of love
  4. 6:14 Gn 22:17

Therefore (A)let us leave (B)the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance (C)from dead works and of faith toward God, and of (D)instruction about washings,[a] (E)the laying on of hands, (F)the resurrection of the dead, and (G)eternal judgment. And this we will do (H)if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those (I)who have once been enlightened, who have tasted (J)the heavenly gift, and (K)have shared in the Holy Spirit, and (L)have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and (M)then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since (N)they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For (O)land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But (P)if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, (Q)and its end is to be burned.

Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For (R)God is not unjust so as to overlook (S)your work and the love that you have shown for his name in (T)serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance (U)of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but (V)imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The Certainty of God's Promise

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, (W)he swore by himself, 14 saying, (X)“Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham,[b] (Y)having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes (Z)an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to (AA)the heirs of the promise (AB)the unchangeable character of his purpose, (AC)he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which (AD)it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope (AE)set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into (AF)the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone (AG)as a forerunner on our behalf, (AH)having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 6:2 Or baptisms (that is, cleansing rites)
  2. Hebrews 6:15 Greek he

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 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

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.