Heb 6:4-12 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Heb 6:4-8: 6:4-8 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 ): The lack of faith shown in such apostasy results in devastating judgment (cp. 10:26-31 ). 6:4 In Greek, the word impossible begins the sentence for emphasis—it absolutely cannot happen (see also 6:18 ; 10:4 ; 11:6 ). • They were once enlightened when they “first learned about Christ” (see 10:32 and corresponding study note). • The good things of heaven might allude to the manna given from heaven (Exod 16:4 , 15 ; Ps 78:24 ) as an image of spiritual blessings.

Summary for Heb 6:4-8: 6:4-8 ^a 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 ^b): The lack of faith shown in such apostasy results in devastating judgment (cp. 10:26-31 ^c). 6:4 ^d In Greek, the word impossible begins the sentence for emphasis—it absolutely cannot happen (see also 6:18 ^e; 10:4 ^f; 11:6 ^g).

• They were once enlightened when they “first learned about Christ” (see 10:32 ^h and corresponding study note).

• The good things of heaven might allude to the manna given from heaven (Exod 16:4 ⁱ, 15 ^j; Ps 78:24 ^k) as an image of spiritual blessings.
6:5 ^l tasted the goodness of the word of God: These people had heard the word of God preached (2:3-4 ^m; 4:1-2 ⁿ) 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 ^o; cp. Exod 7:3-4 ^p; Deut 7:19 ^q; Pss 66:3 ^r; 77:15-20 ^s; 78:9-16 ^t; 1 Cor 10:1-13 ^u).
6:6 ^v 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 ^w; 4:11 ^x; Num 14:1-4 ^y, 29-30 ^z).

• to bring such people back to repentance: They had repented before, but had no fruit from their repentance (Heb 6:7-8 ^aa). 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 ^ab).
Summary for Heb 6:7-8: 6:7-8 ^ac 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 ^ad; Isa 10:17 ^ae; 33:12 ^af; Ezek 19:12-13 ^ag; Matt 3:10 ^ah).
Summary for Heb 6:9-12: 6:9-12 ^ai Having confronted his readers with a stern warning (6:4-8 ^aj), the author now softens that warning by greeting them as dear friends, expressing confidence in them, and giving them further encouragement. 6:9 ^ak We are confident: Skilled speakers and writers express confidence in those they address to motivate them (cp. Rom 15:14 ^al).

• The author is confident that his hearers’ lives give evidence of a true relationship with God, including salvation. In the New Testament, salvation primarily refers to Christ’s work on the cross (Heb 5:9-10 ^am; see also study note on 2:3); Hebrews places emphasis on the consummation of salvation at the end of the age (9:28 ^an).
6:10 ^ao He will not forget how hard you have worked: In showing that they love God and his people, their works bear witness to their true relationship with God (Rom 2:6-7 ^ap; 1 Cor 3:13-15 ^aq; Jas 2:14-20 ^ar). God remembers (Exod 2:24 ^as; 1 Chr 16:15 ^at; Ps 106:45 ^au) and acknowledges those who are truly his.
6:11 ^av keep on loving others (literally show the same eager commitment): Love of other believers is a hallmark of genuine Christian faith (Jas 2:15-16 ^aw; 1 Jn 3:16-20 ^ax). Through diligence and focused commitment, they can make their hope in Christ absolutely certain. Assurance of salvation comes through perseverance.
6:12 ^ay A focused commitment (6:10-11 ^az) is the antidote to being spiritually dull (5:11-12 ^ba). By loving God and others, we follow the example of great people of the faith. The author puts a great deal of emphasis on both faith and endurance as normal requirements for God’s people (see 11:4-38 ^bb).