Hebrews 6:1-20

Warning and Encouragement

1. Leaving.. let us go on] RV 'let us cease to speak of.. and press on.' The words are either an exhortation to the readers to advance beyond the elementary stage of Christian doctrine, or a resolution on the part of the writer to omit the discussion of rudimentary truths and to proceed to more advanced subjects. The latter is probably correct, in which case the 'us' is that of authorship. But though he determines to omit the treatment of elementary doctrines, he mentions what they are under six headings arranged in three pairs. The first are 'repentance from dead works and faith toward God,' the first steps to be taken in the Christian life: cp. Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21; Acts 17:30 see on Hebrews 9:14. Dead works] i.e. sinful works, the wages of which is death (Romans 6:23).