Hebrews 6

The Peril of Falling Away

1 # Phil 3.12–14; Heb 5.12; 9.14 Therefore let us go on#6.1 Or let us be carried along toward perfection,#6.1 Or toward maturity leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith toward God, 2#Acts 6.6; 17.31, 32; 19.3, 4instruction about baptisms and laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3And we will do#6.3 Other ancient authorities read let us do this, if God permits. 4#Gal 3.2, 5; Eph 2.8; Heb 10.26, 32For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit 5#Heb 2.5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come 6#Heb 10.26–29and then have fallen away, since they are crucifying again the Son of God to their own harm and are holding him up to contempt. 7#Ps 65.10Ground that drinks up the rain falling on it repeatedly and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. 8#Gn 3.17, 18But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and on the verge of being cursed; its end is to be burned over.

9Even though we speak in this way, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that belong to salvation. 10#Mt 10.42; 25.40; Rom 15.25; 1 Thess 1.3; 2 Thess 1.6, 7For God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the#6.10 Other ancient authorities add labor of love that you showed for his sake#6.10 Gk for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11#Col 2.2; Heb 3.6, 14And we want each one of you to show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, 12#Heb 10.36so that you may not become sluggish but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The Certainty of God’s Promise

13 # Gn 22.16, 17; Lk 1.73 When God made a promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply you.” 15And thus Abraham,#6.15 Gk he having patiently endured, obtained the promise. 16#Ex 22.11; Gal 3.15Humans, of course, swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute among them. 17#Ps 110.4; Heb 11.9In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by an oath, 18#Titus 1.2; Heb 7.19so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. 19#Lev 16.2; Heb 9.7We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, 20#Heb 4.14; 5.6where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

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