Geneva Study Bible 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, Therefore leaving the {a} principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; {1} not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
(a) The first principle of Christian religion, which we call the catechism. (1) Certain principles of a catechism, which comprehend the sum of the doctrine of the gospel, were given in few words and briefly to the poor and unlearned, that is, the profession of repentance and faith in God. The articles of this doctrine were required from those who were not yet members of the Church on the days appointed for their baptism. Of those articles, two are by name recited: the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (Ed.) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 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. 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, {2} For it is {b} impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have {c} tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
(2) He adds a vehemency to his exhortation, and a sharp threatening of the certain destruction that will come to them who fall away from God and his religion. (b) He speaks of a general backsliding and those who fall away from the faith completely, not of sins committed through the weakness of a man against the first and the second table of the law. (c) We must note the force of this word, for it is one thing to believe as Lydia did, whose heart God opened in Ac 16:13 and another thing to have some taste. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 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. If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they {d} crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
(d) As men that hate Christ, and as though they crucified him again, making a mockery of him to all the world, to their own destruction, as Julian the Apostate or backslider did. 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: {3} 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:
(3) He lays out the former threatening with a comparison. But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. {4} But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
(4) He moderates and calms all that sharpness, expecting better things of those to whom he writes. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. {5} For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
(5) He praises them for their charity, by this encouraging them to go forward, and to hold out to the end. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. {6} That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
(6) He shows in these verses that they need to go forward constantly, for their own good: that is, of charity, and patience; and lest any man should object and say that these things are impossible to do, he asks them to consider the examples of their ancestors and to follow them. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, {7} For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
(7) Another encouragement, to push them onward because the hope of the inheritance is certain, if we continue to the end, for God has not only promised it, but also promised it with an oath. Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. Saying, Surely {e} blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
(e) I will heap many benefits on you. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: Wherein God, willing more {f} abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
(f) More than was needed, were it not for the wickedness of men who do not believe God, even though he swears. That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; {8} Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
(8) He compares hope to an anchor because in the same way that an anchor when cast into the bottom of the sea secures the whole ship, so hope also enters even into the very secret places of heaven. He makes mention of the sanctuary, alluding to the old tabernacle and by this returns to the comparison of the priesthood of Christ with the Levitical priesthood. Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. {9} Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (9) He repeats David's words, in which all those comparisons that he mentioned before are signified, as he declares in all the next chapter. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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