1 Therefore, aleaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to1 perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from bdead works and of faith toward God,
2aof the doctrine of baptisms, bof laying on of hands, cof resurrection of the dead, dand of eternal judgment.
4 For itis impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted athe heavenly gift, and bhave become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
61if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, asince they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, areceives blessing from God;
8abut if it bears thorns and briers, itis rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
A Better Estimate
9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
10 For aGod is not unjust to forget byour work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, inthat you have cministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence ato the full assurance of hope until the end,
12 that you do not become1 sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience ainherit the promises.
God’s Infallible Purpose in Christ
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, aHe swore by Himself,
14 saying, a“Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the apromise.
16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and aan oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute.
17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to athe heirs of promise bthe immutability of His counsel,2 confirmed it by an oath,
18 that by two1 immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to alie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope bset before us.
19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, aand which enters the Presence behind the veil,
20awhere the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, bhaving become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
The other four items are qualitative genitives with didaxhn (baptismwn, epiqesewv xeirwn, anastasewv nekrwn, krimatov aiwniou). The plural baptismwn "by itself does not mean specifically Christian baptism either in this epistle (Hebrews 9:10) or elsewhere (Mark 7:4), but ablutions or immersions such as the mystery religions and the Jewish cultus required for initiates, proselytes, and worshippers in general" (Moffatt). The disciples of the Baptist had disputes with the Jews over purification (John 3:25). See also Acts 19:2. "The laying on of hands" seems to us out of place in a list of elementary principles, but it was common as a sign of blessing (Matthew 19:13), of healing (Mark 7:32), in the choice of the Seven (Acts 6:6), in the bestowal of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17 f.; Acts 19:6), in separation for a special task (Acts 13:3), in ordination (I Timothy 4:14; I Timothy 5:22; II Timothy 1:6). Prayer accompanied this laying on of the hands as a symbol. The resurrection of the dead (both just and unjust, John 5:29; Acts 24:15) is easily seen to be basal (cf. 1Co. 15) as well as eternal judgment (timeless and endless).
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Hebrews 6:2:
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