CHAPTER VI. _We must proceed from the first principles of the doctrine of_ _Christ unto perfection, and not lay the foundation a second_ _time_, 1-3. _Those who were once enlightened, and have been made partakers_ _of the Holy Ghost and the various blessings of the Gospel, if_ _they apostatize... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 6:2. _OF THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS_] "There were two things," says Dr. Owen, "peculiar to the Gospel, the _doctrine_ of it and the _gifts of the Holy Ghost_. Doctrine is called _baptism_, Deuteronomy 32:2; hence the people are said to be _baptized to Moses_, when they were initiated in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 6:3. _AND THIS WILL WE DO_] God being my helper, I will teach you all the sublime truths of the Gospel; and show you how all its excellences were typified by the law, and particularly by its sacrificial system.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 6:4. _FOR IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO WERE ONCE_ _ENLIGHTENED_] Before I proceed to explain the different terms in these verses, it is necessary to give my opinion of their design and meaning: 1. I do not consider them as having any reference to any person _professing Christianity_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 6:5. _AND HAVE TASTED THE GOOD WORD OF GOD_] Have had this proof of the excellence of the promise of God in sending the Gospel, the Gospel being itself the _good word_ of a _good God_, the reading and preaching of which they find sweet to the taste of their souls. Genuine believers hav... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 6:6. _IF THEY SHALL FALL AWAY_] και παραπεσοντας _And having_ _fallen away_. I can express my own mind on this translation nearly in the words of Dr. Macknight: "The participles φωτισθεντας, _who_ _were enlightened_, γευσαμενους, _have tasted_, and γενηθεντας, _were made partakers_, b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 6:7. _FOR THE EARTH WHICH DRINKETH IN THE RAIN_] As much as if he had said: In giving up such apostates as utterly incurable, we act as men do in cultivating their fields; for as the ground, which drinketh in the rain by which the providence of God waters it, brings forth fruit to comp... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 6:8. _THAT WHICH BEARETH THORNS AND BRIERS IS REJECTED_] That is: The land which, notwithstanding the most careful cultivation, receiving also in due times the early and latter rain, produces nothing but thorns and briers, or noxious weeds of different kinds, is rejected, αδοκιμος, is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 6:9. _BUT, BELOVED_] Here he softens what he had before said; having given them the most solemn warning against apostasy, he now encourages them to persevere, commends the good that is in them, and excites them to watchfulness and activity. _BETTER THINGS OF YOU_] Than that you shall... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 6:10. _GOD IS NOT UNRIGHTEOUS_] God is only _bound_ to men by his own _promise_: this promise he is not obliged to make; but, when once made, his _righteousness_ or _justice_ requires him to keep it; therefore, whatever he has promised he will certainly perform. But he has promised to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 6:11. _WE DESIRE_] επιθυμουμεν, We _earnestly wish_, that each person among you may continue ενδεικνυσθαι, to _manifest_, _exhibit to full view_, the same diligence. There might be reason to suspect that some, through _fear of man_, might not wish the good they did to be _seen_, lest... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 6:12. _THAT YE BE NOT SLOTHFUL_] This shows how the full assurance of hope is to be regulated and maintained. They must be _diligent_; slothfulness will deprive them both of hope and faith. That faith which worketh by love will maintain hope in its full and due exercise. _FOLLOWERS OF... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 6:13. _WHEN GOD MADE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM_] The promise referred to is that made to Abraham when he had offered his son Isaac on the altar, Genesis 22:16-1: "By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord; for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy only son; that i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _SAYING, SURELY BLESSING I WILL BLESS THEE_] I will continue to bless thee. _MULTIPLYING I WILL MULTIPLY THEE._] I will continue to increase thy posterity. In the most literal manner God continues to fulfil this promise; genuine Christians are Abraham's seed, and God is increasing their n... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _HE OBTAINED THE PROMISE._] Isaac was supernaturally born; and in his birth God began to fulfil the promise: while he lived, he saw a provision made for the multiplication of his seed; and, having continued steadfast in the faith, he received the _end_ of all the promises in the enjoyment... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _MEN VERILY SWEAR BY THE GREATER_] One who has greater authority; who can take cognizance of the obligation, and punish the breach of it. _AN OATH FOR CONFIRMATION_] "This observation teaches us," says Dr. Macknight, "that both promissory oaths concerning things lawful and in our power, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _THE HEIRS OF PROMISE_] All the believing posterity of Abraham, and the nations of the earth or Gentiles in general. _THE IMMUTABILITY OF HIS COUNSEL_] His unchangeable purpose, to call the Gentiles to salvation by Jesus Christ; to justify every penitent by faith; to accept faith in Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _THAT BY TWO IMMUTABLE THINGS_] The _promise_ and _oath_ of God: the _promise_ pledged his faithfulness and justice; the _oath_, all the infinite perfections of his Godhead, for he sware by himself. There is a good saying in _Beracoth_ on Exodus 32:13, fol. 32: _Remember Abraham, Isaac, an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _WHICH_ HOPE _WE HAVE AS AN ANCHOR_] The apostle here changes the allusion; he represents the state of the followers of God in this lower world as resembling that of a vessel striving to perform her voyage through a troublesome, tempestuous, dangerous sea. At last she gets near the port;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 6:20. _WHITHER THE FORERUNNER_] The word προδρομος, _prodromos_, does not merely signify one that _goes_ or _runs before_ another, but also one who _shows the way, he who first does a_ _particular thing_; also the _first fruits_. So in the _Septuagint_, Isaiah 28:4, προδρομος συκου sig... [ Continue Reading ]