Hebrews 6
1 Therefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,
So let's not get stuck on the basic teachings about Christ, but let's progress to a more mature understanding. We don't need to go over again the ideas of repenting from what we used to do, about trusting in God—
2 of the teaching of washings, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of everlasting judgment. (aiōnios g166)
or teachings about baptism, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (aiōnios g166)
3 And this we will do if God permits.
So let's get on with it, as God gives us the opportunity!
4 For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
It's impossible for those who once understood and experienced God's heavenly gift—who shared in receiving the Holy Spirit,
who had known God's good word and the power of the coming age— (aiōn g165)
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.
and then completely abandon God, for them to be brought back to repentance once more. They themselves have crucified the Son of God all over again and publicly humiliated him.
7 For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it, and brings forth a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God;
Land that has been watered by rain, and produces crops for those who farm it, has God's blessing.
8 but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
But land that only produces weeds and thorns is worthless, and is about to be condemned. In the end all that can be done is to burn it.
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we speak like this.
But dear friends, we believe better of you and your salvation, even if we talk like this!
10 For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.
God wouldn't be so unjust as to forget what you've done and the love you've shown for him by the care you've shown for fellow-believers—something you're still doing.
11 We desire that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end,
We want each of you to show the same kind of commitment, confident in God's hope until it's fulfilled.
12 that you won't be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherited the promises.
Don't be spiritually lazy, but follow the example of those who through trusting in God and patience inherit what God has promised.
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he swore by himself,
When God gave his promise to Abraham he could swear by no one greater so he took an oath on himself,
14 saying, "I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you."
saying, “I will definitely bless you, and multiply your descendants.”
15 Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
And so, after patiently waiting, Abraham received the promise.
16 For people swear oaths by something greater, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.
People swear on things that are greater than they are, and when they have some dispute the oath is taken as the final word on the matter.
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;
That's why God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to those who would inherit the promise that he would never ever change his mind.
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.
So by these two actions that can't be changed, and since it's impossible for God to lie, we can have total confidence, having run for safety to take hold of the hope God presented to 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 curtain;
This hope is our spiritual anchor—it's both certain and reliable, and it takes us past the curtain to the presence of God.
