Hebrews 6


Hebrews 6 is the sixth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The author is anonymous, although the internal reference to "our brother Timothy" causes a traditional attribution to Paul, but this attribution has been disputed since the second century and there is no decisive evidence for the authorship. This chapter contains the writer's admonition that believers must progress and persist in their faithfulness.

Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 20 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
  • Papyrus 46
  • Codex Vaticanus
  • Codex Sinaiticus
  • Papyrus 89
  • Codex Alexandrinus
  • Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus
  • Codex Freerianus
  • Codex Claromontanus

    Old Testament references

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    Admonition (verses 1–8)

Verses 4–6

According to this epistle, there are four things to be 'impossible' ; the first one is about the impossibility to restore apostates, resembling other early Christian expressions regarding what is termed the 'unforgivable sin' or the 'sin unto death', which is also discussed in 1 John 5:16. In rejecting the one whose death brings salvation, the apostates join those who disgracefully executed Jesus, whose solemn designation as 'Son of God' reinforces 'the heinousness of apostasy'. On the idea of crucifying Christ "again", Pope Pius XI observes that every sin, "in its own way, is held to renew the passion of Our Lord".

Encouragement to persevere (verses 9–12)

Verse 10

"God is not unjust to forget" is not to focus on the reward for services, but God knows the real situation of people's spiritual lives and he can motivate the expressions of 'genuine Christianity' anytime, just like in the past, also again in the future. The "work" and the "love" are those done literally 'for his name', involving the ministering of God's people, for example in.

The steadfastness of God's promise (verses 13–20)

Verse 13

Christian hope is based not on wishful thinking but on the 'solemn promise of God', that the foundation of God's saving activity in the world was the particular promise made to Abraham in and repeated at different times and forms to the forefathers of Israel.

Verse 14

Verse 18

This verse contains one of the four things said to be 'impossible' in this epistle.
  • "Immutable": or "unchangeable". The 'two unchangeable things' are apparently "the word of God" and "the confirming oath".

    Verse 19

This verse and the next should be read in the light of, that because Jesus is the promised high priest in the order of Melchizedek, he has become 'the guarantee' of the blessings of the new covenant, so those who rely on Jesus 'can actually enter the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where 'he has gone before them and has entered on their behalf'.
  • "Anchor of the soul": John Gill cites Pythagoras, who spoke about the anchor of soul as follows: "riches are a weak anchor, glory: is yet weaker; the body likewise; principalities, honours, all these are weak and without strength; what then are strong anchors? prudence, magnanimity, fortitude; these no tempest shakes".
  • "Behind the veil": One Jewish text speaks of "a veil in the world to come, which some are worthy to enter into".

    Attribution