Bible Commentaries

The principles; the first principles, the elements.--Unto perfection; to an advanced state of religious attainment, and to the higher truths appropriate to it.

Laying on of hands; the ceremony by which the Holy Spirit was conferred upon new converts. (Acts 8:14-17,19:6.)

For it is impossible, &c. This passage (Hebrews 6:4-6) seems intended to induce those addressed to press forward in their Christian course, according to the injunctions of the Hebrews 6:1-3, by urging the danger and the fatal effects of apostasy, to which those who were remiss in their efforts were specially exposed.--Who were once enlightened; who have once been enlightened.

If they shall fall away; apostatize, renounce Christ, and return again to unbelief and sin.--Put him to an open shame; expose his name and his cause to public reproach. The defection of one from any cause, who has been ranked as a friend to it, always tends to this result. There can be no doubt that this terrible warning against the guilt and the hopeless ruin attendant on apostasy, (Hebrews 6:4-6,) is well as many others of similar import, contained in the word of God, (Hebrews 10:26-29,) is addressed to real Christians. But they ought not to lead us to question the certainty of the final salvation of all who truly believe. Indeed, the moral influence which such warnings are designed to exert, is a part of the system of means by which God fulfils his design, very distinctly made known in other passages, Rom. 8:29, 30. 1 Pet. 1:4, 5,) effectually to keep those who once truly give themselves up to his care.

The earth, in this similitude, represents the Christian, and the rain the spiritual privileges which he enjoys.

Is nigh unto cursing; will certainly be condemned.

That accompany salvation; that lead to and attend salvation.

Have ministered to the saints, have been active in relieving them, and in supplying their wants.

Diligence to the full assurance of hope; diligence leading to the full assurance of hope.

He obtained the promise; that is, it was fulfilled in his posterity, according to the design of God.

For confirmation; for confirming or establishing an agreement in respect to a subject of dispute.

Wherein; in the same manner.

Two immutable things; the two things referred to are usually understood to be the promise and the oath. That is, he confirmed the promise by an oath, to double, as it were, the strength of his assurance that the promise should be fulfilled.--To lie; to be false or unfaithful.

The veil in the temple covered the inner sanctuary, which contained the special tokens of the divine presence, and which was accordingly a proper type or symbol of heaven. The hope which entereth into, &c., is a hope which lays hold on heaven.

The forerunner; the one who has gone before us to prepare the way.--After the order of Melchisedec; as is more fully explained in the next chapter.