Fathers

Hebrews 6

Tap a verse to read the Fathers. Press and hold, then drag, to make a card.

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.

About · Privacy · Credits · Support VRSZ

What the Fathers say

Hebrews 6:2

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

But what is "the doctrine of baptisms"? Not as if there were many baptisms, but one only. Why then did he express it in the plural? Because he had said, "not laying again a foundation of repentance." For if he again baptized them and catechised them afresh, and having been baptized at the beginning they were again taught what things ought to be done and what ought not, they would remain perpetually incorrigible. "And of laying on of hands." For thus did they receive the Spirit, "when Paul had laid his hands on them" (Acts xix. …

Homily on Hebrews 9 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Paul spoke of this in the plural not because there are many baptisms — for baptism is one (Eph. 4:5) — but because this would, as it were, follow as a consequence. If he were catechizing again, then he would also baptize again; and in the case of apostasy, he would baptize again: by necessity there would be many new baptisms, but this is absurd. Therefore you must not repeat baptism, but abide by the first baptism. Perhaps they, as those who firmly adhered to the law, even under grace recognized many baptisms in the Jewish manner. …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗

Oecumenius

"of faith toward God." For it is not necessary now, as it was from the beginning, to believe in God. For you have already believed through teaching. The structure is thus. Therefore, leaving the elementary of God, what is this? The doctrine of baptisms, the laying on of hands (by which, it says, you were enlightened), and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment, let us press on to perfection. …

The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

282. – The second thing in that process are the sacraments of faith. But these are two sacraments of those entering: for those are the only ones the Apostle is discussing here. The first is baptism, by which we are reborn; the second is confirmation, by which we are strengthened. 283. – In regard to the first he says, of baptism. But this seems contrary to what is stated in Ephesians (4:5): 'One faith, one baptism.' Therefore, there are not several baptisms. …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗