Hebrews 6:1-8
Summary for Heb 6:1-3: 6:1-3 a In light of the hearers’ immaturity (5:11-14 b), the author urges them to move beyond basic teachings. The six basic teachings here were all foundational elements of Jewish instruction. The author might be challenging them to move beyond these basic teachings to further understanding about the person of Christ, which he elaborates in 7:1–10:25 c. 6:1 d Let us go on: Or Let us be carried on, suggesting that God initiates growth to maturity (Phil 2:12-13 e) and that it is an ongoing process.• Repenting and faith are the basic commitments that initiate a person to the new covenant and constitute the basic posture of a Christian’s life (see Acts 20:21 f).
6:2 g The term baptisms (or washings) is plural, so it must mean more than just Christian baptism. Instruction about various washings was prevalent in first-century Judaism (see Matt 15:2 h; Mark 7:3 i). The author might also have in mind the cleansing rituals of the Old Testament (cp. Heb 9:13 j; 10:22 k).
• The laying on of hands was associated with healing (Mark 5:22-23 l; Luke 13:13 m), ritual blessing (Matt 19:13 n, 15 o), reception of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17 p; 9:17 q; 19:6 r), and acknowledgement of a person’s ministry (Acts 6:6 s; 13:3 t).
• resurrection of the dead: See thematic note for The Resurrection of the Dead at end of chapter.
• eternal judgment: See Rev 20:11-15 u.
6:3 v The author is implicitly exhorting his readers to maturity, not only in their understanding but in everything (cp. 4:11 w; 5:14 x; 10:23-39 y; 12:1-13 z).
Summary for Heb 6:4-8: 6:4-8 aa This passage, one of the most difficult in the New Testament, gives a harsh warning about those who have left the Christian faith. Those who have fallen away from Christ and the church are like those who fell in the wilderness (3:15-19 ab): The lack of faith shown in such apostasy results in devastating judgment (cp. 10:26-31 ac). 6:4 ad In Greek, the word impossible begins the sentence for emphasis—it absolutely cannot happen (see also 6:18 ae; 10:4 af; 11:6 ag).
• They were once enlightened when they “first learned about Christ” (see 10:32 ah and corresponding study note).
• The good things of heaven might allude to the manna given from heaven (Exod 16:4 ai, 15 aj; Ps 78:24 ak) as an image of spiritual blessings.
6:5 al tasted the goodness of the word of God: These people had heard the word of God preached (2:3-4 am; 4:1-2 an) and had seen its effects.
• the power of the age to come: They had witnessed signs and wonders when they heard the Good News (2:4 ao; cp. Exod 7:3-4 ap; Deut 7:19 aq; Pss 66:3 ar; 77:15-20 as; 78:9-16 at; 1 Cor 10:1-13 au).
6:6 av then turn (or fall) away: The image is reminiscent of the wilderness wanderers who turned away from obeying God and fell in the desert (3:17 aw; 4:11 ax; Num 14:1-4 ay, 29-30 az).
• to bring such people back to repentance: They had repented before, but had no fruit from their repentance (Heb 6:7-8 ba). When people turn their back on Christ and his superior sacrifice, it is impossible for them to find any other means of repentance.
• Rejecting the Son of God constitutes nailing him to the cross once again. Crucifixion was the ultimate instrument of rejection and humiliation in the Greco-Roman world and brought public shame. Those who turned away from Christ had in effect joined those who stood before the cross shouting insults, insisting that Jesus was not really the Messiah and Son of God but was instead worthy of shame (see Matt 27:39-44 bb).
Summary for Heb 6:7-8: 6:7-8 bc ground: Good, productive land is an image of blessing, contrasted with the curse of unproductive land that bears thorns and thistles. To burn such a field is an image of judgment (2 Sam 23:4-7 bd; Isa 10:17 be; 33:12 bf; Ezek 19:12-13 bg; Matt 3:10 bh).
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