Warning Against Falling Away(A)

11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths(B) of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!(C) 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,(D) is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature,(E) who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.(F)

Therefore let us move beyond(G) the elementary teachings(H) about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a](I) and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites,[b](J) the laying on of hands,(K) the resurrection of the dead,(L) and eternal judgment. And God permitting,(M) we will do so.

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,(N) who have tasted the heavenly gift,(O) who have shared in the Holy Spirit,(P) who have tasted the goodness(Q) of the word of God(R) and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen[c] away, to be brought back to repentance.(S) To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God(T) all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.(U) In the end it will be burned.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 6:1 Or from useless rituals
  2. Hebrews 6:2 Or about baptisms
  3. Hebrews 6:6 Or age, if they fall

11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

And this will we do, if God permit.

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.