Hebrews 6:4

The awfulness of apostasy

4. For An inference from the previous clauses. We must advance, for in the Christian course stationariness means retrogression non progredi est regredi.

For it is impossible for those We shall see further on the meaning of the word "impossible." The sentence begins with what is called the accusative of the subject, "For as to those who were, &c., it is impossible, &c." We will first explain the particular expressions in these verses, and then point out the meaning of the paragraph as a whole.

once The word, a favourite one with the writer, means "once for all." It occurs more often in this Epistle than in all the rest of the N.T. It is the direct opposite of πάλιν in Hebrews 6:6.

enlightened illuminated by the Holy Spirit, John 1:9. Comp. Hebrews 10:26; Hebrews 10:32; 2 Corinthians 4:4. In the LXX. "to illuminate" means "to teach" (2 Kings 12:2). The word in later times came to mean "to baptise," and "enlightenment," even as early as the time of Justin Martyr (a.d. 150), becomes a technical term for "baptism," regarded from the point of view of its results. The Syriac Version here renders it by "baptised." Hence arose the notion of some of the sterner schismatics such as the Montanists and Novatians that absolution was to be refused to all such as fell after baptism into apostasy or flagrant sin (Tertull. De Pudic. 20). This doctrine was certainly not held by St Paul(1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:20), and is rejected by the Church of England in her xvith Article (and see Pearson, On the Creed, Art. x.). The Fathers deduced from this passage the unlawfulness of administering Baptism a second time; a perfectly right rule, but one which rests upon other grounds, and not upon this passage. But neither in Scripture nor in the teaching of the Church is the slightest sanction given to the views of the fanatics who assert that "after they have received the Holy Ghost they can no more sin as long as they live here." It will be remembered that Cromwell on his deathbed asked his chaplain as to the doctrine of Final Perseverance, and on being assured that it was a certain truth, said, "Then I am happy, for I am sure that I was once in a state of grace."

and nave tasted of the heavenly gift These clauses may be rendered "having both tasted of … and being made … and having tasted." It is not possible to determine which heavenly gift is precisely intended; perhaps it means remission, or regeneration, or salvation, which St Paul calls "God's unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15); or, generally, "the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 10:44-46). Calvin vainly attempts to make the clause refer only to "those who had but as it were tasted with their outward lipsthe grace of God, and been irradiated with some sparks ofHis Light." It is clear from 1 Peter 2:3 that such a view is not tenable.

partakers of the Holy Ghost The Holy Spirit worked in many diversities of operations (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).