Bible Gateway passage: Hebrews 6 - New International Version (2024)

6Therefore let us move beyond^(A) the elementary teachings^(B) about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,^[a](C) and of faith in God, ²instruction about cleansing rites,^[b](D) the laying on of hands,^(E) the resurrection of the dead,^(F) and eternal judgment. ³And God permitting,^(G) we will do so.

⁴It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,^(H) who have tasted the heavenly gift,^(I) who have shared in the Holy Spirit,^{(J) 5}who have tasted the goodness^(K) of the word of God^(L) and the powers of the coming age ⁶and who have fallen^[c] away, to be brought back to repentance.^(M) To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God^(N) all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. ⁷Land 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. ⁸But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.^(O) In the end it will be burned.

⁹Even though we speak like this, dear friends,^(P) we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. ¹⁰God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.^{(Q) 11}We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope^(R) for may be fully realized. ¹²We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate^(S) those who through faith and patience^(T) inherit what has been promised.^(U)

The Certainty of God’s Promise

¹³When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,^{(V) 14}saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”^{[d](W) 15}And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.^(X)

¹⁶People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.^{(Y) 17}Because God wanted to make the unchanging^(Z) nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised,^(AA) he confirmed it with an oath. ¹⁸God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,^(AB) we who have fled to take hold of the hope^(AC) set before us may be greatly encouraged. ¹⁹We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,^{(AD) 20}where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.^(AE) He has become a high priest^(AF) forever, in the order of Melchizedek.^(AG)

Footnotes

1. Hebrews 6:1 Or from useless rituals
2. Hebrews 6:2 Or about baptisms
3. Hebrews 6:6 Or age, ⁶if they fall
4. Hebrews 6:14 Gen. 22:17

Cross references

1. Hebrews 6:1 : Php 3:12-14
2. Hebrews 6:1 : Heb 5:12
3. Hebrews 6:1 : Heb 9:14
4. Hebrews 6:2 : Jn 3:25
5. Hebrews 6:2 : S Ac 6:6
6. Hebrews 6:2 : S Ac 2:24; Ac 17:18, 32
7. Hebrews 6:3 : Ac 18:21
8. Hebrews 6:4 : Heb 10:32
9. Hebrews 6:4 : Eph 2:8
10. Hebrews 6:4 : Gal 3:2
11. Hebrews 6:5 : Ps 34:8
12. Hebrews 6:5 : S Heb 4:12
13. Hebrews 6:6 : 2Pe 2:21; 1Jn 5:16
14. Hebrews 6:6 : S Mt 4:3
15. Hebrews 6:8 : Ge 3:17, 18; Isa 5:6; 27:4
16. Hebrews 6:9 : S 1Co 10:14
17. Hebrews 6:10 : S Mt 10:40, 42; 1Th 1:3
18. Hebrews 6:11 : S Heb 3:6
19. Hebrews 6:12 : Heb 13:7
20. Hebrews 6:12 : 2Th 1:4; Jas 1:3; Rev 13:10; 14:12
21. Hebrews 6:12 : Heb 10:36
22. Hebrews 6:13 : Ge 22:16; Lk 1:73
23. Hebrews 6:14 : Ge 22:17
24. Hebrews 6:15 : Ge 21:5
25. Hebrews 6:16 : Ex 22:11
26. Hebrews 6:17 : ver 18; Ps 110:4
27. Hebrews 6:17 : Ro 4:16; Heb 11:9
28. Hebrews 6:18 : Nu 23:19; Tit 1:2
29. Hebrews 6:18 : S Heb 3:6
30. Hebrews 6:19 : Lev 16:2; Heb 9:2, 3, 7
31. Hebrews 6:20 : S Heb 4:14
32. Hebrews 6:20 : S Heb 2:17
33. Hebrews 6:20 : S Heb 5:6