What about Hebrews 6?

What are others views on Hebrews 6?
It seems this has been a difficult chapter in the NT amongst theologians and commentators.
Thanks to anyone that can shed some light on it.
Hebrews 6:
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,a
and of faith in God,
2 instruction about baptisms,b
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/a-dunaton<102> 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 again to repentance.
Because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.


a. For it is impossible: The word impossible is put in a position of emphasis. The writer to the Hebrews does not say this is merely difficult, but that it is without possibility.
i. Note the other uses of impossible in Hebrews:

· It is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18).
· It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats can take away sin (Hebrews 10:4).
· It is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6).
ii. “This word impossible stands immovable.” (Alford)

If they fall away, to renew them again to repentance:
One of the most heated debates over any New Testament passage is focused on this text. The question is simple: Are these people with these impressive spiritual experiences in fact Christians? Are they God’s elect, chosen before the foundation of the world?

i. Commentators divide on this issue, usually deciding the issue with great certainty but with no agreement.

ii. One the one side we see clearly that someone can have great spiritual experiences and still not be saved (Matthew 7:21-23). One can even do many religious things and still not be saved. The Pharisees of New Testament times are a good example of this principle. These men did many religious things but were not saved or submitted to God. These ancient Pharisees:

Yet, from a human perspective, it is doubtful that anyone who seemed to have the credentials mentioned in Hebrews 6:4-5 a true Christian. God knows their ultimate destiny and hopefully the individual does also – yet from all outward appearance, such Christian experience might qualify a man to be an elder in many churches. Yet beyond the knowledge hidden in the mind of God and the individual in question, from all human observation, we must say these are Christians spoken of in Hebrews 6:4-5. A good example of this is Demas.

Rubiks said:

Its only difficult for those who don't want to accept its plain teaching. While I think scripture is clear salvation cannot be lost, a more debatable question is "can salvation be thrown away?" I think this passage affirms this.

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com7fy8 said:

It means stay with God. But in case you get into a situation where you are concerned that you have lost your salvation, trust God our good Judge to decide what to do with you.

And forgive. And do what keeps us with God > including > >

submitting to how He personally rules each of us in our hearts with His own peace > Colossians 3:15

doing every single thing and every married thing "without complaining and disputing" > Philippians 2:13-16

actively seeking our Heavenly Father's correction > Hebrews 12:4-11.

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Thanks for posting.

Here is a look at the Greek in 6:6 to see if we can get a good reading on that verse.
#3895 is formed by 2 Greek words, the prefix 3844 and root word #4098 literally fall away after being close-beside.

Another difficulty is the fact that this word is only used 1 time, so we can't compare it's use in other verses. Maybe if the Greek word would have been parsed para-pesontaV<3895> or par-apesontaV<3895>?

I can now see why biblical scholars have trouble with this verse.........

Hebrews 6:
6 and then have fallen-away/parapesontaV<3895>—to be restored/renewed/anakainizein<340> again to repentance/metanoian<3341>.....................

3895 parapíptō (from 3844 /pará, "from close-beside" and 4098 /píptō, "to fall") – properly, fall away, after being close-beside; to defect (abandon).
("fallen from a close position") refers to a close-follower of Christ who becomes a defector. It suggests this person (at least at one time) was a believer (note the para). 3895 (parapíptō) is only used in Heb 6:6.

Hebrews 6:6 Commentaries

6:6. If they fall away — Literally, and have fallen away. The preceding participles, φωτισθεντας, γευσαμενους, and γενηθεντας, being aorists, says Macknight, “are rightly rendered by our translators in the past time; who were enlightened, have tasted, were made partakers; wherefore παραπεσοντας, being also an aorist, ought to have been translated in the past time, have fallen away. Nevertheless our translators, (following Beza, who, without any authority from ancient MSS., has inserted in his version the word si, if,) have rendered this clause, if they fall away; that this text might not appear to contradict the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints.
But as no translator should take upon him to add to, or alter the Scriptures, for the sake of any favourite doctrine, I have translated the word in the past time, have fallen away, according to its true import, as standing in connection with the other aorists in the preceding verses.” “Two things,” says Pierce, “are here to be observed: 1st, That he speaks of such only as fell away from the very profession of Christianity. This appears from what he presently adds, to set forth the aggravations of their guilt,

(6) If they shall fall away.--Rather, and (then) fell away. There is no doubt that the ordinary translation is altogether incorrect, the Greek admitting of one rendering only. At the same time, the suspicion sometimes expressed that this is one of the (very few) instances in which our translators have been misled by dogmatic bias seems altogether unfounded.
On tracing back the translation we find it due, not to the Genevan versions, in which the influence of Calvin and Beza is predominant, but to Erasmus, Luther, and Tyndale. The contrast with the preceding description is presented in the fewest possible words. The successive clauses have shown that all the marks of the divine working in and with His word (Hebrews 2:4) have been found in these men, who, notwithstanding, "fell away."

6. If—Greek, "And (yet) have fallen away"; compare a less extreme falling or declension, Ga 5:4, "Ye are fallen from grace." Here an entire and wilful apostasy is meant; the Hebrews had not yet so fallen away; but he warns them that such would be the final result of retrogression, if, instead of "going on to perfection," they should need to learn again the first principles of Christianity (Heb 6:1).

(6) If they shall fall away,.... This is not supposed of true believers, as appears from Hebrews 6:9 nor is it to be supposed of them that they may fall totally and finally; they may indeed fall, not only into afflictions and temptations, but into sin; and from a lively and comfortable exercise of grace, and from a degree of steadfastness in the Gospel; but not irrecoverably: for they are held and secured by a threefold cord, which can never be broken; by God the Father, who has loved them with an everlasting love, has chosen them in Christ, secured them in the covenant of grace, keeps them by his power, has given them grace, and will give them glory; and by the Son, who has undertook for them, redeemed and purchased them, prays and makes preparations in heaven for them, they are built on him, united to him, and are his jewels, whom he will preserve; and by the Holy Ghost, whose grace is incorruptible, whose personal indwelling is for ever, who himself is the earnest and seal of the heavenly inheritance, and who having begun, will finish the good work of grace: but falling away, so as to perish, may be supposed, and is true of many professors of religion; who may fall from the profession of the Gospel they have made, and from the truth of it, and into an open denial of it; yea, into an hatred and persecution of what they once received the external knowledge of; and so shall fall short of heaven, and into condemnation: for,

sunlover1 said:

awesome thread LL!

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Thanks sunny! Tis an awesome verse.
I am going to work more on the Greek to find out where the primary words are used in the rest of the NT.
It is even more difficult when a greek word is used only 1 time, such as in Heb 6:6. I have ran across a few in my translation of Revelation and I see how main words are used in the NT, such as Reve 1:1

Revelation Chapter 1 Verses
Reve 1:1
An unveiling/revealing/apokaluyiV<602>vof Jesus Christ, which gives to him, the God, to show to the bond-servants of Him which-things is binding to be becoming in swiftness.
And He signifies-it, commissioning thru the Messenger of Him, to the bond-servant of Him, John
Luk 2:32
a light to the revelation/uncovering/revealing/apokaluyiV<602> of nations,
and the glory of Thy people Israel.'

Revelation chapter 2 verse by verse study

Hebrews 6:
6 and then have fallen-away/parapesontaV<3895>—............
Would this falling away be what Paul mentions as the great apostasy?

What is the Apostasy in 2 Thess 2?

2 Thess 2:3 No any ye should be deluding according to no yet one manner/way, that if-ever no may be coming the apostasy/apostasia <646> first.
And may be being un-covered/revealed the Man of the Sin, the Son of the destruction.

STRONGS NT 646: ἀποστασία
apostasia: defection, revolt
Original Word: ἀποστασία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: apostasia
Short Definition: defection, apostasy
Definition: defection, apostasy, revolt.
ἀποστασία, ἀποστασιας, ἡ (ἀφισταμαι), a falling away, defection, apostasy; in the Bible namely, from the true religion: Acts 21:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; ((Joshua 22:22; 2 Chronicles 29:19; 2 Chronicles 33:19); Jeremiah 2:19; Jeremiah 3629) 32 Complutensian; 1 Macc. 2:15). The earlier Greeks say ἀπόστασις; see Lob. ad Phryn., p. 528; (Winer's Grammar, 24).

Let's go on to the next word in that verse, #340.
Hmmm, another grGek word that is only used 1 time. It also has a combination of 2 Greek #.
The root word #2537 is used 6 times in Revelation.
Good night.............

Hebrews 6:
6 and then have fallen-away/parapesontaV<3895>—to be restored/renewed/ana-kainizein<340> again to repentance/metanoian<3341>.....................

Cognate: 340 ana-kainízō (from 303 /aná, "up, completing a process" and kainizō, "make new," which is derived from 2537 /kainós, "new in quality") – properly, to restore (bring back) by renewing; literally, "make qualitatively new." See 342 (anakainōsis).
Strong's Greek 340 1 Occurrence

Reve 21:5
And He Who is sitting upon the throne said, 'Behold! new/kaina<2537> I make all things;
and He saith to me, 'Write, because these words are true and stedfast;'

bcbsr said:

Well, for example, view that section in Hebrews 4:14-6:12 which comments from 4:14-6:12

To big to quote here.

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Great link and thanks.
Another interesting word used in vs 6 is #3341.

Hebrew 6:
6 and then have fallen-away—to be restored/renewed again to repentance/metanoian<3341>.....................

3341. metanoia met-an'-oy-ah from 3340; (subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication, reversal (of (another's) decision):--repentance.
3326. meta met-ah' a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment;..........
3539. noieo noy-eh'-o from 3563; to exercise the mind (observe), i.e. (figuratively) to comprehend, heed:--consider, perceive, think, understand.
Strong's Number G3341 matches the Greek μετάνοια (metanoia), which occurs 24 times in 24 verses

2 Corin 7:10 appears to better define the different forms of repentance? Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow.

Hebrews 6:1
Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance/metanoiaV<3341> from dead works, faith in God,

2Co 7:10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance/metanoiaV<3341 to salvation not to be repented/ametamelhton<278> of:
but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Strong's Number G3341 matches the Greek μετάνοια (metanoia), which occurs 24 times in 24 verses

I am not really a fan of numerology, but I have always found the numbers 12 and 24 a little intriguing, because Hebrews 6 talks of the Priesthood in connection with Jesus, I found this study enlightening

Hebrews 6:19
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast. 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.

http://www.[bless and do not curse].../bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/24.html
The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 24

The number 24 is associated with the priesthood. Since it is composed of a multiple of 12, it takes on some of 12's meaning (which is God's power and authority, as well as perfect foundation) except in a higher form. Twenty-four, therefore, is also connected with the worship of God, especially at the temple.

It was King David who divided those responsible for the music in temple services, those who served as priests, and the Levites who aided the priests, into 24 courses (1Chronicles 23 - 24). When a particular course of priests served they usually divided their work amongst themselves by lot.

Psalm 72 lists 24 things that Jesus Christ, as High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, will do when He sits upon His throne and rules as King and Priest

Around God's heavenly throne are 24 elders, each wearing crowns and sitting on thrones

The order which the 24 courses of priests served in the temple are: 1) Jehoiarib; 2) Jedaiah; 3) Harim; 4) Seorim; 5) Malchijah; 6) Mijamin; 7) Hakkoz; 8) Abijah; 9) Jeshua; 10) Shecaniah; 11) Eliashib; 12) Jakim; 13) Huppah; 14) Jeshebeab; 15) Bilgah; 16) Immer; 17) Hezir; 18) Happizzez; 19) Pethahiah; 20) Jehezkel; 21) Jachin; 22) Gamul; 23) Delaiah; 24) Maaziah (1Chronicles 24).