1 Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let’s press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith towards God, 2 of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement. 3 This will we do, if God permits. 4 For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame. 7 For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it and produces a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burnt. 9 But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we speak like this. 10 For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labour of love which you showed towards his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them. 11 We desire that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end, 12 that you won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherited the promises. 13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. 17 In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil, 20 where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews · World English Bible British Edition (with Deuterocanon)
Hebrews 6 World English Bible British Edition (with Deuterocanon)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- "World English Bible" is a trademark of eBible.org; the text is shown unaltered.
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)