Atlanta Bible Students

The Book of Hebrews

Chapter 6

Verses 1-8

[1]Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, [2]Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. [3]And this will we do, if God permit. [4]For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, [5]And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, [6]If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. [7]For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: [8]But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Verse 1

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
QuestionAnswer
What does Paul mean by "leaving the first principles of the doctrine of Christ?" The basics. - There is more to the truth than the Ransom and the Kingdom on Earth. see R1568:1-2
Can we really go on to perfection? As men, no. The thought here is completeness. The maturity of the New Creature.
What is the foundation? "Repentance from dead works" and justification by faith. 1 Cor. 3:11
Why does Paul here refer to "dead works?" Primarily the works of the law covenant.
Remember the Big Print. This is Paul's letter to the HEBREWS. They trusted that by the works of the Law they would be justified. See Rom. 7:10
What else does Paul here indicate as part of the "foundation" of the "doctrine of Christ?" Faith toward God (through Christ).

Verse 2

Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
QuestionAnswer
What is the doctrine of baptisms? Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 10:1,2; 15:29
What is the doctrine of laying on of hands? The receiving of spiritual gifts by the laying on of hands of the Apostles. Laying on of hands also has the though of approval.
What is the doctrine of eternal judgment? Responsibility. For most now they do not have enough knowledge to be very responsible. God's judgment is eternal. For the saints, the result of God's judgment of our life now will be everlasting. God is also judging the systems of men.
Why is Paul here drawing our attention to these doctrines? He is reminding us to go forward. There is so much more to the truth than the foundation doctrines alone.

Verse 3

And this will we do, if God permit.
QuestionAnswer
What will we do? Practice those things just mentioned as the foundation of the Christian faith.
Why did Paul include the phrase "if God permit?" If God does not permit us to even lay the foundation doctrines of the truth, we have genuine reason to doubt our standing with Him.

Verses 4-6

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, [5]And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, [6] If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
QuestionAnswer
Who were once enlightened? The church.
What is the heavenly gift? Justification by faith and especially the application of the blood of Christ.
How were these made partakers of the Holy Spirit? Spirit-Begotten.
What is meant by "the good word of God?" It does not say "the bad, twisted and misrepresented word of God." The good word of God is the bible, in its purity uncorrupted by human philosophies.
How did these taste of God's word? By 'eating' the book - see Rev. 10:8-10; Eze. 3:1-3
What is meant by "the powers to come?" "These must also have tasted, experienced or come to appreciate "the powers of the coming age," realizing from the good Word of God the blessings and powers that will then be brought into exercise for the blessing and restoring of mankind, all as the fruit and result of the ransom." R1459:3
Can some "fall away?" That is what Paul is telling us in vs. 6.
What does it mean to "fall away?" We "stand" in grace. Rom. 5:2; 1 Pet. 5:12. If we "stand" it is clear that we are subject to falling. - Jude 24.
Is it possible to renew these unto repentance? No! "It is impossible ... to renew them again unto repentance.."
If so, How? If not, Why not? There no way to renew their standing.
The reason is stated: "Seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."

Verse 7-8

For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: [8]But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
QuestionAnswer
Why does Paul change from talking about people to speaking about nature? To remind us that God takes care of His creation, even the small things. Matt. 6:26-34; 10:29-31
What is Paul talking about in vs. 7? Same as above.
What is the contrast between vs. 7 and vs. 8? Vs. 7 is talking about the simple good things whereas vs. 8 is speaking of those things which cause pain and extra work to get rid of.
What is Paul's point in these verses? Which are we to be like? Do we cooperate with God or do we take the life given us and turn it into making trouble and difficulties. The end of this class is destruction (to be "burned").
Do we have an example of this "burning?" In old times we saw the destruction of Jerusalem and the old Jewish order. In more modern times we have seen the destruction of Christendom.

Verses 9-12

[9]But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. [10]For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. [11]And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: [12]That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Verse 9

But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
QuestionAnswer
Better things than what? Than letting the gifts of God be turned into making trouble, or simply wasted.
When Paul speaks of things that accompany salvation, what does that say about those things that he is contrasting them with? That those things are related to destruction. Those that fall into this class will not achieve eternal life.

Verse 10

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
QuestionAnswer
Is there unrighteousness with God? NO.
How does God indicate His righteousness? He remembers what we do in our feeble attempts to serve Him.
How does our labor of love compare with a labor of love from others? Ours is motivated by and directed towards God and the furtherance of His plan.
Towards whom is our labor of love directed? Both toward God and toward His saints.

Verse 11

And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
QuestionAnswer
Paul refers to "showing the same diligence." Diligence towards what? Diligence towards ministering to the saints.
To what does diligence in this matter lead, and for how long? To full assurance of hope. - To the end of our earthly course.

Verse 12

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
QuestionAnswer
If we are not being diligent, then what are we? Slothful.
Who do we follow? Christ. Here Paul is also indicating that we follow other followers of Christ, even as he elsewhere said "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." 1 Cor. 11:1; 4:16
How do we inherit the promises? Through faith and patience.

Verses 13-20

[13]For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, [14]Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. [15]And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. [16]For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. [17]Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: [18]That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: [19]Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; [20]Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Verse 13,14

For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, [14]Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
QuestionAnswer
What promise did God make to Abraham? That He would multiply Abraham's seed as the stars of heaven and the sand of the seashore, and that all would be blessed by his seed.
Where is this promise recorded? Gen. 22:15-18
Why did God sware by himself? 1) Because He could sware by none greater.
2) To make emphasis for Abraham as to just how important this promise was.
What does this tell us about this promise made to Abraham? It was so important that God made a special point not only to declare to Abraham that He would do this but, additionally, He swore it.

Definition -- sware: "to bind oneself by an oath."
Why should we be interested in a promise made to Abraham? Gal. 3:8,16,29

Verse 15

And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
QuestionAnswer
When did Abraham patiently endure? HGL682
What did Abraham patiently endure?
When did Abraham receive the promise?

Verse 16

For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
QuestionAnswer
What does it mean for men to "swear by the greater?" They swear by the greater in order add emphasis to the importance of their oath.
What is the purpose of an oath? To end all strife.

Verse 17

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
QuestionAnswer
Why did God swear this oath? For the same reason that men swear an oath, i.e., to emphasize the importance of what they are saying and to promise that their word is true.
"To show.. the immutability of his counsel."
For whom did God swear this oath? Primarily for the church, "the heirs of promise."

Verse 18

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
QuestionAnswer
What are the two immutable things? The Word of God and The Oath.
For whom did God do this and why? For the "we" class of this verse, i.e., for the church.
Is this verse in conflict with Matt. 19:26? No. From the standpoint of accomplishing any good thing there is nothing impossible with God. There are, however, some things that are morally impossible for God. He cannot deny Himself, He cannot lie, etc.

Verse 19

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
QuestionAnswer
How is the promise made to Abraham our hope? Gal. 3:8,16,29 -- This promise is to the seed, which is Christ and we are part of the Christ.
How is this promise both sure and steadfast? Sure is Strong's 804 and means "not to fail."
Steadfast is Strong's 949 and means "stable."
What does Paul mean by "entereth into that within the veil?" The antitypical Most Holy, into the presence of God.

Verse 20

Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
QuestionAnswer
Who is the forerunner? Jesus.
Where did the forerunner go? To the presence of God.
For whom did He go there? "Us" - the church.
In Paul's last remark he says that Jesus was "made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisadec."
When was Jesus made an high priest? According to Paul in this verse, Jesus was an high priest by the time he entered into the most holy. The question really is: Was he a high priest prior to that, i.e., during the 3½ years of his earthly ministry? We would answer yes in that He, for 3½ years offerred himself on the altar, carried his incense into the Holy, etc. This is all shown in the Tabernacle types. He fully became our High Priest when He entered the antitypical Most Holy.
Was Jesus a High Priest prior to Calvary? Q363:4
For how long is Jesus to be "High Priest?" Forever. - Br. Russell suggests that this actually means "for the age" indicating the Millennial Age. After that, there is no more reason for a Priest. Q550:7
What is the significance of being after the order of Melchisadec? Melchisadec was both a Priest (of more honor than Abraham) and a King (of Salem, i.e. King of Peace.) Therefore Jesus is both a King as well as a Priest.

Chapter 5   Chapter 7