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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comVincent Word Studies - Hebrews 6:4 - 6:4
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Impossible (ἀδύνατον)
It is impossible to dilute this word into difficult.
Those who were once enlightened (τοὺς ἅπαξ φωτισθέντας)
Rend. “once for all enlightened.” Ἅπαξ is frequent in the Epistle. Comp. Heb 9:7, Heb 9:26, Heb 9:27, Heb 9:28; Heb 10:2; Heb 12:26, Heb 12:27. Indicating that the enlightenment ought to have sufficed to prevent them from falling away; not that it does not admit of repetition. Enlightened, through the revelation of God in Christ, the true light, and through the power of the Spirit. Φωτίζειν in lxx usually to teach or instruct; see Psa 119:130; 2Ki 12:2; 2Ki 17:27. Comp. in N.T. Joh 1:9; Eph 1:18; Eph 3:9; Heb 10:32. Erasmus gives the correct explanation: “Who once for all have left the darkness of their former life, having been enlightened by the gospel teaching.” There is no ground for explaining the word here of baptism, although the fathers from the time of Justin Martyr used φωτίζειν and φωτοσμός in that sense, and this usage continued down to the Reformation. See Just. Mart. Apol. i. 62. Chrysostom entitled his 59th Homily, addressed to candidates for baptism, πρὸς τοὺς μέλλοντας φωτίζεσθαι to those who are about to be enlightened; and justified this name for baptism by this passage and Heb 10:32. The Peshitto translates this passage, “who have once (for all) descended to baptism.” The N.T. gives no example of this usage.
Tasted of the heavenly gift (γευσαμένους τῆς δωρεᾶς τῆς ἐπουρανίου)
For γευσαμένους tasted, comp. Heb 2:9. The meaning is, have consciously partaken of. Comp. 1Pe 2:3, and τρώγων eateth, Joh 6:56. The heavenly gift is the Holy Spirit. It is true that this is distinctly specified in the next clause, but the two clauses belong together.
Partakers of the Holy Ghost (μετόχους πνεύματος ἁγίου)
“Heavenly gift” emphasizes the heavenly quality of the gift. The Holy Ghost is the gift itself which possesses the heavenly quality.