Hebrews 6

Ver. 1.—let us go on unto perfection.] That is, to the doctrines which will render you perfect men in the knowledge of Christ. To be perfect, signifies to be fully instructed in the principles of Christian faith. See the note on 1 Cor. ii. 6. Dr. Whitby.

Not resting ourselves contented with the knowledge of the first principles of the Christian religion, let us go on towards the perfect understanding of the highest mysteries thereof; not needing now to be instructed anew

repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

—dead works.] Namely, sinful works, the wages whereof is death. Dr. Wells.

Hebrews 6:2

2. Of the doctrine of baptisms, &c.] Those ordinary points of religion, which are called for of all that are baptized, and to be made capable of the imposition of hands for their confirmation in the faith received; and, particularly, that there is a happy resurrection of the just to glory, and a judgment unto eternal death and damnation pertaining to the wicked and ungodly. Bp. Hall.

—baptisms.] The original word is a plural, and thereby may be denoted the ancient rite of dipping the person baptized thrice under water; namely, at the mention of each of the three Divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, expressed in our Saviour’s prescribed form of words, Matt. xxviii. 19. Others understand the solemn stated times of the primitive church for baptism, when, a great number of persons being baptized together, the Apostle denoted this by the plural “baptisms.” Others understand the outward baptism of water, and the inward baptism of the Spirit, John iii. 5. After all it may be only a change of number, and by most commentators it is agreed to denote no more than what we call in the singular, baptism. Dr. Wells.

Hebrews 6:3

3. And this will we do.] Namely, “go on unto perfection,” or proceed to treat of such things, as relate to a more perfect knowledge of Christianity. Drs. Wells and Whitby.

Hebrews 6:4

4. For it is impossible &c.] That is, it is a thing arduous, and laborious, and beset with many difficulties. Schleusner. Not strictly impossible, but only highly improbable or difficult. This and the two following verses may be thus paraphrased: I will do this, I say, for the sake of those who still persevere in their Christian profession. For indeed it would be a vain and endless undertaking for me to begin again, and reconvert those amongst you, who, against the most solemn engagements of their baptism, and the happy experience of the gifts of the Holy Ghost conferred from heaven upon them; against all the sense they had of the great mercies of the laws and privileges of the Gospel; and in defiance of all those powerful demonstrations, whereby the whole religion of Christ has been so amply confirmed to them; have wilfully revolted, and thrown off Christianity, to embrace the Jewish or heathenish religion again. Because such people have already resisted the utmost evidences that can ever be offered for their conviction, and done as perfect and publick a dishonour to Christ and His religion, as if they had crucified Him anew as a malefactor. Pyle.

The word “impossible” doth many times signify no more than it is extremely difficult: but in this place the Apostle speaks of such as do not only fall away, but add persecution of the Gospel of grace to their apostasy from it: for “they tread under foot the Son of God, and count the blood of the covenant, where-

Hebrews 6:5

5. • the powers of the world to come.] That is, of the Gospel age; for “the world to come,” in the language of the Prophets and of the Jewish doctors, signifies the times of the Messiah. Burkitt, Dr. Whitby. The word, rendered “powers,” often denotes those miraculous powers, which were bestowed on the first Christians for the confirmation of the Gospel, and to enable them to edify each other in their religious assemblies. Or it

may here denote the efficacy of the ordinances of religion, dispensed in the Christian church for converting sinners, called ’the age to come,’ in conformity to the phraseology of the Jews, who termed the age of the Messiah, ’the age to come.’ Dr. Macknight. See the note on chap. ii. 5.

Hebrews 6:7

7. • receiveth blessing from God.] So it is with them, who become fruitful under the dew and showers of Divine grace. This comparison is implied in the words of the Apostle. Dr. Whitby, Burkitt.

Hebrews 6:8

8. • is rejected.] It is rejected by the husbandman, who will spend no more labour upon it, but leave it to be scorched by the heat, and so to be like the heath, which is the emblem of the cursed man, Jer. xvii. 5, 6; or like the barren fig-tree, which the Lord cursed, Matt. xxi. 19. Accordingly they, on whom the showers of Divine grace fall down from heaven, if they bring forth no good fruit, shall be rejected by God, continue under the curse of the law, and their end shall be destruction. Dr. Whitby. As in the blessing, mentioned ver. 7, there is an allusion to the primitive blessing, whereby the earth was rendered fruitful, Gen. i. 11; so in the curse, here mentioned, there is an allusion to the curse pronounced on the earth after the fall, Gen. iii. 17. Dr. Macknight.

Hebrews 6:9

9. • we are persuaded better things of you.] This, as Pierce observes, is exactly in St. Paul’s manner of softening the harsh things he found himself obliged to write. See 2 Thess. ii. 13; Eph. iv. 20. Dr. Macknight.

Hebrews 6:11

11. • to the full assurance of hope unto the end.] To the consummation of your hope. Bp. Fell, Dr. Hammond. That you may persevere in performing that condition, upon which all the promises are proposed, and your hopes grounded. Dr. Hammond.

Hebrews 6:12

12. That ye be not slothful, &c.] That ye be diligent and courageous in every branch of your Christian duty, and patient under all sufferings for the sake of it; the imitation of all those great and holy men, who have shaped the promised blessing of God by the same means. P. 16.

Hebrews 6:15

15. • he obtained the promise.] He obtained the time actually so much of the promise, as belonged to his own person. Dr. Wells. Accordingly Abraham actually lived to see a numerous, at least a very

for his promise is most sure. The priesthood of Melchisedec. Anno DOMINI 64. Interposed himself by an oath.

Hebrews 6:16

16. For men verily swear by the greater: &c.] Thus God was pleased to condescend to the manner of men, for our greater and more perfect satisfaction. Pyle.

This observation teaches us, that both promissory oaths concerning things lawful and in our power, and oaths for the confirmation of things doubtful, when required by proper authority and taken religiously, are allowable under the Gospel. Dr. Macknight.

Hebrews 6:18

18. That by two immutable things.] Namely, God’s promise and His oath. Bp. Hall.

To shew more abundantly unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, God confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, wherein 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.” It was not for His own sake therefore, nor to make His word or promise stronger in itself, that He confirmed it by an oath, His word being always as much as His oath; but it was for our sakes only, that we, who usually among ourselves lay greater weight upon a man’s oath than upon his word, might more firmly believe His promises, and so have stronger consolation in them. Bp. Beveridge.

—in which it was impossible for God to lie.] Though with the holy Patriarch we confess, that “God can do every thing,” Job xlii. 2; we must remember that Omnipotence itself does not extend to contradictions or impossibilities: God cannot lie, inasmuch as that would be contrary to His perfect nature. Bp. Tomline.

—who have fled for refuge] From the rest of the unbelieving world, as Abraham from his country. Bp. Fell.

Or, have fled away from the curse of the law, like the manslayer from the avenger. Dr. Macknight. There appears to be an allusion here to the cities of refuge under the law. Burkitt.

Hebrews 6:19

19. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, &c.] Which hope is to the soul, as an anchor to the ship, a sure and steadfast stay thereunto in all the storms and tempests of temptation; which is firmly pitched, not below on earth, but above in heaven, the true Holy of Holies, within the veil. Bp. Hall.

Hebrews 6:20

20. —even Jesus, &c.] This mention of the name of Jesus reminds the Apostle to put an end to the digression made from chap. v. 10, to this last verse of the sixth chapter; and makes way for proceeding with the subject proposed before to be treated of; namely, the Melchisedecal priesthood of Christ. Dr. Wells.

Chap. VII. The Apostle shews in what respects the priesthood of Christ resembles that of Melchisedec: thence infers the dignity and excellence of it above the Levitical: and by the change of the priesthood demonstrates the suspension of the Jewish religion, and of the obligation to the ceremonial law. Pyle.

Ver. 1. For this Melchisedec, &c.] Melchisedec was both a king and a priest, as those two offices were often united in ancient times. Bp. Patrick. See Gen. xiv. 18, &c.