Hebrews 6:4-6 NIV1984

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 6:1-8

We have here the apostle's advice to the Hebrews?that they would grow up from a state of childhood to the fullness of the stature of the new man in Christ. He declares his readiness to assist them all he could in their spiritual progress; and, for their greater encouragement, he puts himself with them: Let us go on. Here observe, In order to their growth, Christians must leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ. How must they leave them? They must not lose them, they must not despise... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 6:4-8

6:4-8 For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, those who tasted the free gift from heaven, those who were made sharers in the Holy Spirit, those who tasted the fair word of God and the powers of the age to come, and who then became apostates, for they are crucifying the Son of God again for themselves and are making a mocking show of him. For when the earth has drunk the rain that comes often times upon it and when it brings forth herbage useful to those... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 6:4

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened ,.... The Syriac and Ethiopic versions render it, "baptized"; and the word is thought to be so used in Hebrews 10:32 . And indeed baptism was called very early "illumination" by the ancients, as by Justin Martyr F9 Apolog. 2. p. 94. , and Clemens Alexandrinus F11 Paedagog. l. 1. c. 6. p. 93. , because only enlightened persons were the proper subjects of it; and the word once here used seems to confirm this sense, since... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 6:5

And have tasted the good word of God ,.... Not the Lord Jesus Christ, the essential Word of God, who seems to be intended before by the heavenly gift; but rather, either the Scriptures of truth in general, which are the word of God, endited by him, and contain his mind and will; which he makes use of for conviction, conversion, instruction, and comfort; and which are preserved by him: and these are a good word; they come from him who is good; they are a revelation of good things; they make... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 6:6

If they shall fall away ,.... This is not supposed of true believers, as appears from Hebrews 6:9 nor is it to be supposed of them that they may fall totally and finally; they may indeed fall, not only into afflictions and temptations, but into sin; and from a lively and comfortable exercise of grace, and from a degree of steadfastness in the Gospel; but not irrecoverably: for they are held and secured by a threefold cord, which can never be broken; by God the Father, who has loved them... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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: I do not consider them as having any reference to any person professing Christianity. They do not belong, nor are they applicable, to backsliders of any kind. They belong to apostates from Christianity; to such as reject the whole Christian system, and its author, the Lord Jesus. And to those of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 have an appetite for the word of God; they taste it, and then their relish for it is the more abundantly increased. The more they get, the more they wish to have. The powers of the world to come - Δυναμεις τε μελλοντος... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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, being aorists, are properly rendered by our translators in the past time; wherefore, παραπεσοντας , being an aorist, ought likewise to have been translated in the past time, Have fallen away. Nevertheless, our... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 6:4

Verse 4 4.For it is impossible, etc. This passage has given occasion to many to repudiate this Epistle, especially as the Novatians armed themselves with it to deny pardon to the fallen. Hence those of the Western Church, in particular, refused the authority of this Epistle, because the sect of Novatus annoyed them; and they were not sufficiently conversant in the truth so as to be equal to refute it by argument. But when the design of the Apostle is understood, it then appears evident that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 6:6

Verse 6 6.To renew them again into repentance, etc. Though this seems hard, yet there is no reason to charge God with cruelty when any one suffers only the punishment of his own defection; nor is this inconsistent with other parts of Scripture, where God’s mercy is offered to sinners as soon as they sigh for it, (Ezekiel 18:27;) for repentance is required, which he never truly feels who has once wholly fallen away from the Gospel; for such are deprived, as they deserve, of God’s Spirit and... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 6:1-8

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 6:4-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 6:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 6:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 6:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 6:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 6:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 6:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 6:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 6:6

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