1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do, if God permits. 4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— 6 and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame. 7 For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned. 9 Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation. 10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12 Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. 13 When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.” 15 And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise. 16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument. 17 So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath. 18 Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews · Berean Standard Bible
Hebrews 6 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (20)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Hebrews 5:12–14; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 12:13; Acts 26:20
- 2 1 Corinthians 15:13–57; Romans 6:3–5; Acts 17:31–32; Acts 6:6; Acts 10:47
- 3 Acts 18:21; 1 Corinthians 16:7; 1 Corinthians 4:19; James 4:15; Romans 15:32
- 4 Hebrews 10:26–29; 2 Peter 2:20–22; Matthew 5:13; John 15:6; Matthew 7:21–22
- 5 1 Peter 2:3; Luke 8:13; Matthew 13:20–21; Mark 4:16–17; 2 Peter 2:20
- 6 2 Peter 2:21; Hebrews 10:29; Hebrews 6:4; 1 John 5:16; Isaiah 1:28
- 7 Hosea 10:12; Isaiah 44:3; Psalm 65:9–13; Isaiah 55:10–13; Joel 2:21–26
- 8 John 15:6; Genesis 3:17–18; Luke 13:7–9; Deuteronomy 29:28; Jeremiah 44:22
- 9 Hebrews 10:39; Hebrews 6:4–6; Matthew 5:3–12; Hebrews 2:3; 2 Corinthians 7:10
- 10 Hebrews 13:16; Matthew 10:42; Galatians 6:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; Colossians 3:17
- 11 2 Peter 1:5–8; Hebrews 3:6; Romans 5:2–5; Hebrews 3:14; 2 Peter 1:10
- 12 Hebrews 13:7; Hebrews 10:36; Romans 12:11; 1 John 2:25; Jeremiah 6:16
- 13 Genesis 22:15–18; Luke 1:73; Psalm 105:9–10; Micah 7:20; Isaiah 45:23
- 14 Genesis 22:17; Deuteronomy 1:10; Nehemiah 9:23; Exodus 32:13; Genesis 17:2
- 15 Genesis 12:2–3; Romans 4:17–25; Genesis 15:2–6; Hebrews 6:12; Genesis 21:2–7
- 16 Exodus 22:11; Hebrews 6:13; Genesis 21:30–31; Joshua 9:15–20; Genesis 31:53
- 17 Proverbs 19:21; Hebrews 6:18; Isaiah 55:11; Isaiah 14:24; Hebrews 11:9
- 18 Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2; 1 Samuel 15:29; 2 Timothy 2:13; Romans 3:4
- 19 Psalm 43:5; Romans 5:5–10; Romans 8:28–39; Hebrews 9:7; Leviticus 16:15
- 20 Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews 5:10; Romans 8:34
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
You have heard how much Paul found fault with the Hebrews for wishing to be always learning about the same things. And with good reason: "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the elements of the first principles of the oracles of God." ( c. v.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
… us have regard to the completion; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of the baptismal font, and of the laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." This is the copious supply of milk, without which even they cannot live, who have …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
For it is impossible, he saith, for those who were once enlightened, &c., to renew them again unto repentance: seeing they crucify to themselves the Christ afresh, and put Him to an open shame.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 9 (1899)
By Himself: for He hath no greater by whom to swear. By Himself He confirmeth His promises: by Himself He confirmeth His threats.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)