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 6:20

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Then after this he led on to Faith also, that there might not only be hope, but a very true hope. For after the oath he lays down another thing too, even proof by facts, because "the forerunner is for us entered in, even Jesus." But a forerunner is a forerunner of some one, as John was of Christ. Now he did not simply say, "He is entered in," but "where He is entered in a forerunner for us," as though we also ought to attain. …

Homily on Hebrews 11 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Having said that our hope ascends to heaven, he confirms what was said by attesting it with deeds. For He too, Christ, entered; and not simply entered, but entered as a forerunner, that is, as if persuading us that we too must enter. For a forerunner goes ahead of someone following after him, and the distance between the forerunner and those following after him is not great at all, just as between John and Christ. Therefore do not be troubled: soon we too shall enter there, where our forerunner is. …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗

Oecumenius

"where Jesus has entered as a forerunner on our behalf." Having said that our hope enters into heaven, he confirms what has been said, trusting this by the facts. For Christ himself entered there; and not only did he enter, but he entered on our behalf. And where our forerunner has entered, there it is necessary for us also to enter. For the forerunner is the forerunner of those who follow; and the difference between the forerunner and those who follow is not very great, just as between John and Christ. …

The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

325 (cont.). – This, our forerunner, who has entered there, has fixed there; hence, it says in Jn (14:2): 'I go to prepare a place for you.' 'He shall go up that shall open the way before them' (Mic. 2:13). Therefore, he says that Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf within the veil and has fixed our hope there, as it says in the collect of vigil and of Ascension day. …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗