6:1 Therefore, leaving the elementary instruction[1] of Christ, we should move on to maturity, not laying down again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith toward God, 2 of the teaching about washings, and of laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this let us do,[2] if indeed God should permit.
4 For it is impossible for those: once being enlightened; having tasted also of the heavenly gift; and being made partakers of the Holy Spirit; 5 and having tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age about to come, 6 and then having fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, who are crucifying again to themselves the Son of God, and are exposing Him to public shame.
7 For the land, that is drinking in the rain often coming upon it and is bearing useful vegetation to those for the sake of whom it is also cultivated, receives blessing from God. 8 But yielding thorns and thistles it is worthless and near to a curse. Its end is for burning.
9 But concerning you, beloved, we are convinced of better things, namely those belonging to salvation, though we are speaking in this way. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and the labor[3] of love you have shown for His name, serving the saints, and you continue to serve. 11 But we earnestly desire that each of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you should not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and longsuffering are inheriting the promises.
13 For God, having made a promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, 14 saying,
“Surely[4] blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”[5]
15 And in this way, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed[6] swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is the end of all dispute. 17 So when God, purposing to more abundantly demonstrate to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable nature of His purpose, He guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we, those taking refuge, might have a strong encouragement to take hold of the hope being set before us. 19 That hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and entering into that place within the veil, 20 where Jesus entered on our behalf as a forerunner, becoming High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
[1] Verse 1 – Literally, word. Grk λόγον.
[2] Verse 3 – Byz & M read ποιήσωμεν, let us do. NU & TR, following dozens of Grk MSS, read ποιήσομεν, we will do.
[3] Verse 10 – Byz, M & TR read τοῦ κόπου, the labor. NU, following a dozen or so Grk MSS, omits τοῦ κόπου.
[4] Verse 14 – Byz, M & TR read Ἦ at the beginning of the quote. Ἦ μὴν is a Hebraism, an oath formula conveying a strong affirmation, Surely. An orthographical variant Εἰ, found in about a dozen Grk MSS, is the reading adopted by the NU. There is no difference in meaning.
[5] Verse 14 – Genesis 22:17.
[6] Verse 16 – Byz, M & TR read μὲν, indeed. NU, following about a dozen Grk MSS, omits μὲν.