Hebrews 6

(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 Ghost,
(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.
(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 shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
(11)  And we desire that every one of you do shew 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.
(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 shew 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.

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Study Questions

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1. What does the writer say to leave? Do we actually leave them or build upon them? Verse 1.

2. If someone spent a lifetime building a foundation for his house, would we consider him a wise person? Verse 1.

3. What six things are named that begin in relationship to Christ? Verses 1-2.

4. Why is baptism mentioned in the plural? To what does laying on of hands refer? Verse 2.

5. Is there some doubt about the ability to go on unto perfection? Verse 3.

6. Who are those who were once enlightened? What is the heavenly gift? Verse 4.

7. What is meant by the powers of the world to come? Verse 5.

8. Why is it that these apostates cannot be renewed to repentance? Will someone who cannot repent be saved? Verse 6.

9. Are these apostates mere backsliders? If they are not mere backsliders, why are they not? Verse 6.

10. What does the earth or soil in this comparison represent? Verse 7.

11. What does the earth or soil that beareth thorns and briers represent? Verse 8.

12. What was the spiritual state of those addressed? Verse 9.

13. Although the Hebrews had neglected to study God’s word as they should, in what were they not neglectful? Verse 10.

14. What is the writer’s desire for individuals? Verse 11.

15. What were the Hebrews to not be, and what were they to be? Verse 12.

16. Although the promise is singular, it has several features. What were some of the features of the promise? Verse 13.

17. Where is the Hebrew of idiom of intensity found? Verse 14.

18. Although Abraham did not see the fulfillment of the promise in its fullest extension, what did he obtain of the promise and when did he obtain it? Verse 15.

19. By whom do men usually swear or appeal? What ordinarily brings the end of strife in biblical history as well as civil history? Verse 17.

20. What did God do to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel? Verse 18.

21. What does immutable mean? What were the two immutable things shown that we might have a strong consolation? Verse 18.

22. What feature of God’s character is mentioned in this verse? Verse 18.

23. What is it that serves as an anchor of the soul which entereth into that within the veil? Verse 19.

24. What does a forerunner do? How is the priesthood of Christ shown to be superior to the priesthood of Aaron in this verse? Verse 20.