HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 6:1 ELEMENTARY DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. Compare “basic principles” (Hebrews 5:12). WASHINGS may refer to teaching about the differences between Jewish purification rituals and Christian baptism. LAYING ON OF HANDS could refer to a practice at the time of baptism (see Acts 8:14; Ac... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 6:4 This passage has been much debated. The central issue is whether vv. Hebrews 6:4 describes people who were once true Christians. (1) Some argue that the passage does describe true Christians, meaning that Christians can “fall away” and lose their salvation. Most who hold... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 6:5 TASTED THE GOODNESS OF THE WORD OF GOD. These people (see note on v. 4) have heard the truth explained. They have learned of God’s word (Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 11:3). This word will be fully shown in POWERS that renew the world in the age to come (Hebrews 2:5; Hebrews 13:14... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 6:6 FALLEN AWAY involves a sustained, committed rejection of Christ and a departure from the Christian community. TO RESTORE THEM AGAIN TO REPENTANCE. This wording does not clarify whether the earlier repentance was merely outward, or whether it was the genuine repentance tha... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 6:7 LAND THAT HAS DRUNK THE RAIN. The author uses a common OT and NT agricultural metaphor (see esv cross-references on v. Hebrews 6:7; also Matthew 13:24, Matthew 13:36; Luke 3:17). He warns that those who fall away are like land that does not bear a CROP that is USEFUL, but... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 6:9 Having warned about falling away from the faith, the author shows confidence in his readers’ salvation (v. Hebrews 6:9; Hebrews 10:32). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 6:11 IMITATORS OF THOSE WHO... INHERIT THE PROMISES. Abraham is the immediate example (vv. Hebrews 6:13). Other examples appear in ch. Hebrews 11:1 (OT saints) and in Hebrews 13:7 (church leaders). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 6:13 PROMISE TO ABRAHAM. God’s promises to Abraham include those in Genesis 12:1; Genesis 17:1; Genesis 22:16. Here the author focuses on Genesis 22:16. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 6:15 HAVING PATIENTLY WAITED. Abraham waited 25 years for Isaac’s birth (see Genesis 12:4 with Genesis 21:5), and he did not witness the fulfilled promise of countless descendants (see note on Heb. 11:13). In his lifetime, Abraham OBTAINED THE PROMISE through seeing Isaac bor... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 6:16 Oaths were common legal devices in ancient times (DISPUTES implies a legal context). Oaths usually appealed to some higher authority (SOMETHING GREATER THAN THEMSELVES). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 6:17 The TWO UNCHANGEABLE THINGS are God’s PROMISE/PURPOSE and his OATH. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 6:19 The Christian’s HOPE is in the person and saving work of Christ. This hope is an ANCHOR, providing security and stability for the soul. Clearly, even though the author has warned the readers about apostasy (vv. Hebrews 6:4), he believes they can have assurance of their s... [ Continue Reading ]