Fathers

Hebrews 6

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Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which 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: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

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What the Fathers say

Hebrews 6:12

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

And this is for their consolation: for he refers this to the future time. And although above he said: "because you have become dull of hearing" (Heb. 5:11): for up to this point he was indicating the dullness of hearing; but now, he says, I am taking care beforehand that this dullness not touch your soul. For just as inactivity and immobility harm the body, so also the lack of exercise in good deeds makes the soul too negligent. …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗

Oecumenius

"that you may not be sluggish." And this is also for their healing; for it leads them to the future time.And although he said above, "You have become sluggish," (Heb. 5:11) he then said to their listening ears, "but now, all of you have become sluggish." "imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Then he lists those who inherited the promises through faith, such as Abraham. What is meant by "through patience"? That is, through endurance. …

The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

309. – Then when he says, so that you may not be sluggish, he indicates the danger, which is laziness. For laziness is the fear of a future good action, because one fears that he may fail or not repent: 'The slothful man says: There is a lion in the way' (Pr. 26:13). Hence, slothful persons always allege obstacles as an excuse. 310. – Then (12b) he gives the example. As if to say: Be not slothful, but rather imitate the example of the prophets: 'For an example of suffering evil, of labor and of patience, take the prophets' (Jas. …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗