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 6:12

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 ↗