Fathers

Hebrews 6

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Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let’s press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. This will we do, if God permits. For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame. For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it and produces a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we speak like this. For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them. We desire that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end, that you won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherited the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil; where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

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What the Fathers say

Hebrews 6:11

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"But followers" (he says) "of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises." And who they are, he tells afterwards. He said before, "Imitate your own former well-doings." Then, lest they should say, What? He leads them back to the Patriarch: bringing before them examples of well-doing indeed from their own history, but of the thought of being forsaken, from the Patriarch; that they might not suppose that they were disregarded and forsaken as worthy of no account, but might know that it is [the portion] of the very …

Homily on Hebrews 10 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

As if in response to someone's question: "Why did you say this, Paul, if you did not wish to punish us?" — he says that he said this desiring that you would conduct yourselves well in the future also; not condemning you for the past, but being concerned about the future. And he did not say "I want," which would indicate a teacher's authority, but "I desire," which is characteristic of fatherly love. For I do not desire this merely in words, but my soul burns for you. Understand the expression "I desire" in this way. …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗

Oecumenius

This love that you continue to show, he says, "we desire [Επιθυμοῦμεν]." He did not say, "We want [βουλόμεθα]," but rather, it was more affectionate, "We desire," he says. "to show the same diligence." Then someone might say, "If you are convinced about the better things concerning us, and you know our works and our ministry to the saints, why then were you afraid to call us sluggish, and remembering the thorns? Why? …

The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

307. – Then (v. 11) he assigns the reason why he spoke so sharply to them, namely, from a desire for their salvation. Hence, in regard to this he does three things: first, he shows his desire; secondly, he mentions the imminent danger (v. 12); thirdly, he explains by an example (v. 12b). 308. – He says, therefore, We have said these things not as though we despaired of you, but rather because we desire that everyone, i.e., each one of you: 'God is my witness, how I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ' (Phil. 1:8). …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗