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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Hebrews 6:1 - 6:1
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Wherefore (dio). Because of the argument already made about the difficulty of the subject and the dulness of the readers.
Let us cease to speak (aphentes ton logon). Second aorist active participle of aphiēmi, to leave off or behind.
Of the first principles of Christ (tēs archēs tou Christou). Objective genitive Christou (about Christ). “Leaving behind the discussion of the beginning about Christ,” another way of saying again ta stoicheia tēs archēs tōn logiōn tou theou of Heb 5:12.
And press on (kai pherōmetha). Volitive present subjunctive passive, “Let us be borne on” (both the writer and the readers). The Pythagorean Schools use pherōmetha in precisely this sense of being borne on to a higher stage of instruction. Bleek quotes several instances of Greek writers using together as here of aphentes pherōmetha (Eurip., Androm. 393, for instance).
Unto perfection (epi tēn teleiotēta). Old word from teleios mature, adults as in Heb 5:14. Only twice in N.T. (here and Col 3:14). Let us go on to the stage of adults, not babes, able to masticate solid spiritual food. The writer will assume that the readers are adults in his discussion of the topic.
Not laying again the foundation (mē palin themelion kataballomenoi). The regular idiom for laying down the foundation of a building (themelion, Luk 6:48.). The metaphor is common (1Co 3:11) and the foundation is important, but one cannot be laying the foundation always if he is to build the house. There are six items mentioned here as part of the “foundation,” though the accusative didachēn in apposition with themelion may mean that there are only four included in the themelion. Two are qualitative genitives after themelion (metanoias and pisteōs). What is meant by “dead works” (apo nekrōn ergōn) is not clear (Heb 9:14), though the reference may be to touching a corpse (Num 19:1.; Num 31:19). There are frequent allusions to the deadening power of sin (Jam 2:17, Jam 2:26; Joh 7:25; Rom 6:1, Rom 6:11; Rom 7:8; Col 2:13; Eph 2:1, Eph 2:5). The use of repentance and faith together occurs also elsewhere (Mar 1:15; Act 20:21; 1Th 1:9).