Hebrews 6:11

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) Full assurance.—Rather, fulness (full productiveness) of hope (Hebrews 10:22). His desire is that the zeal which they have manifested in works of love may be directed toward the attainment of the full harvest of Christian hope—may be shown until the very end (Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 3:14).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:11-20 The hope here meant, is a sure looking for good things promised, through those promises, with love, desire, and valuing of them. Hope has its degrees, as faith also. The promise of blessedness God has made to believers, is from God's eternal purpose, settled between the eternal Father, Son, and Spirit. These promises of God may safely be depended upon; for here we have two things which cannot change, the counsel and the oath of God, in which it is not possible for God to lie; it would be contrary to his nature as well as to his will. And as He cannot lie; the destruction of the unbeliever, and the salvation of the believer, are alike certain. Here observe, those to whom God has given full security of happiness, have a title to the promises by inheritance. The consolations of God are strong enough to support his people under their heaviest trials. Here is a refuge for all sinners who flee to the mercy of God, through the redemption of Christ, according to the covenant of grace, laying aside all other confidences. We are in this world as a ship at sea, tossed up and down, and in danger of being cast away. We need an anchor to keep us sure and steady. Gospel hope is our anchor in the storms of this world. It is sure and stedfast, or it could not keep us so. The free grace of God, the merits and mediation of Christ, and the powerful influences of his Spirit, are the grounds of this hope, and so it is a stedfast hope. Christ is the object and ground of the believer's hope. Let us therefore set our affections on things above, and wait patiently for his appearance, when we shall certainly appear with him in glory.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And we desire that every one of you - We wish that every member of the church should exhibit the same endeavor to do good until they attain to the full assurance of hope. It is implied here that the full assurance of hope is to be obtained by a persevering effort to lead a holy life.

The same diligence - The same strenuous endeavor, the same ardor and zeal.

To the full assurance of hope - In order to obtain the full assurance of hope. The word rendered "full assurance," means firm persuasion, and refers to a state of mind where there is the fullest conviction, or where there is no doubt; see Colossians 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; Hebrews 10:22; compare Luke 1:1; Romans 4:21; Romans 14:5; 2 Timothy 4:5, 2 Timothy 4:17, where the same word, in different forms, occurs. Hope is a compound emotion (see the note on Ephesians 2:12), made up of an earnest "desire" for an object, and a corresponding "expectation" of obtaining it. The hope of heaven is made up of an earnest "wish" to reach heaven, and a corresponding "expectation" of it, or "reason to believe" that it will be ours. The full assurance of that hope exists where there is the highest desire of heaven, and such corresponding evidence of personal piety as to leave no doubt that it will be ours.

To the end - To the end of life. The apostle wished that they would persevere in such acts of piety to the end of their course, as to have their hope of heaven fully established, and to leave no doubt on the mind that they were sincere Christians. Hence, learn:

(1) that full assurance of hope is to be obtained only by holy living.

(2) it is only when that is persevered in that it can be obtained.

(3) it is not by visions and raptures; by dreams and revelations that it can now be acquired, for God imparts no such direct revelation now.

(4) it is usually only as the result of a life of consistent piety that such an assurance is to be obtained. No man can have it who does not persevere in holy living, and they who do obtain it usually secure it only near the end of a life of eminent devotedness to God.

God could impart it at once when the soul is converted, but such is the tendency of man to indolence and sloth that even good people would then relax their efforts, and sit down contented, feeling that they had now the undoubted prospect of heaven. As it is, it is held out as a prize to be won - as that whose acquisition is to cheer us in our old age, when the warfare is over, and when amidst the infirmities of years, and the near prospect of death, we need special consolation; compare 2 Timothy 4:6-7.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

11. And—Greek, "But."

desire—Greek, "earnestly desire." The language of fatherly affection, rather than command.

every one of you—implying that all in the Palestinian churches had not shown the same diligence as some of those whom he praises in Heb 6:10. "He cares alike for great and small, and overlooks none." "Every one of them," even those diligent in acts of LOVE (Heb 6:10), needed to be stimulated to persevere in the same diligence with a view to the full assurance of HOPE unto the end. They needed, besides love, patient perseverance, resting on hope and faith (Heb 10:36; 13:7). Compare "the full assurance of faith," Heb 10:22; Ro 4:21; 1Th 1:5.

unto the end—the coming of Christ.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence: having thus commended them, to show he did not flatter them in it, he discovereth what was wanting in them, and introduceth it with the particle But, we desire you; epiyumoumen properly signifieth the inward affection and strong desire of heart that the apostle had of their further profit. The Spirit lusted in him for this, Galatians 5:17, which was not only convenient for them, but necessary for their perfection. And this desire of his was not for all promiscuously, but that each single person who was a lover of God and his saints, should use all means diligently, as they had in degree done before, to have this perfected to the end of their life, 2 Peter 1:5-10. It is an earnest agitation and hastening of spirit within, and a demonstrative discovery of the same without to the utmost, Romans 2:7.

To the full assurance of hope unto the end; their souls with full sails constantly making out after this most certain and full assurance of faith, to the excluding of every doubtful thought of the truth of God and his promises, and of hope, shutting out all wavering, unsettledness, or impatience in waiting for the accomplishment of the good, which is secured by the merit and intercession of Christ, the purpose, promise, and oath of God to them, Hebrews 10:22,23; compare Romans 4:21 Colossians 1:24.

Hope here is not synonymous with faith, yet its certain concomitant; and is a vehement desire and longing after, with a patient expectation of, what is possible and sure to be enjoyed, because God hath promised and sworn it; though it be at never so great a distance, yet to be communicated by him to his in his best time, Hebrews 11:1; compare Romans 4:13 Titus 1:2 1 Peter 1:3,13,21. This Christian diligence must continue to the end of their own days, and the perfection of their grace in glory, until they come unto the entire possession of what they believed, hoped for, and were fully assured of, Romans 6:22 1 Peter 1:9,13.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And we desire that everyone of you do show the same diligence,.... In the constant exercise of the graces of faith and love, and in ministering to the necessities of the saints: there is a spiritual labour, diligence, and industry to be used by the saints; and former diligence is a motive to future; and is a means of attaining to full assurance, as appears by what follows; and this is to be shown for the glory of God, for the evidence of the above graces, and for an example and encouragement to other saints: and the persons addressed being "everyone", this shows the apostle's impartiality in his exhortations, and served to remove all groundless suspicions in particular persons; and the manner of his addressing them shows his hearty concern for their welfare, his mildness and gentleness towards them, and his design to encourage them to go forward; and that his exhortation might have the greater weight, he uses the plural "we"; and this exhortation, put in this form, moreover shows that what he had said before had no tendency in some things to encourage despair, or in others carelessness and indolence: and what he had in view in the whole was, that they might arrive

to the full assurance of hope unto the end; not only that they might keep up an hope, but attain to the full assurance of it; as to interest in the love and grace of God; in the covenant of grace, its blessings and promises; in God, as a covenant God and Father; in Christ, as a Saviour and Redeemer; and as to the truth of the work of grace upon their souls, and their right and meetness for the possession of eternal glory and happiness: the phrase, "unto the end", may either respect the continuance of the grace of assurance; or refer to the showing forth of their diligence and industry in ministering to the saints, as they had done, to the end of their lives.

Geneva Study Bible

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Hebrews 6:11-12. To that which the author hopes with regard to the readers, he now attaches that which he wishes to see performed by them.

ἐπιθυμοῦμεν δέ] now we long, most ardently desire. Stronger expression than θέλομεν or βουλόμεθα [to set one’s heart on it, Matthew 13:17; Acts 20:33; 1 Timothy 3:1, etc.].

ἔκαστον ὑμῶν] More emphatic and accentuating than the mere ὑμᾶς would be. There is denoted by it, on the one hand, that the heart-felt interest which the author cherishes in the readers extends to every single one of them. On the other hand, there lies in it the thought that if haply single individuals among the readers already correspond to the demand here made, it is still of supreme importance that every one of them should so comport himself as is mentioned.

In the sequel, τὴν αὐτὴν ἐνδείκνυσθαι σπουδήν is not in such manner to be taken together with ἄχρι τέλους that the main stress should fall upon this, and πρὸς τὴν πληροφορίαν τῆς ἐλπίδος be regarded as a mere subsidiary factor. In connection with this mode of interpretation, adopted by Chrysostom, Theodoret, Oecumenius, Theophylact, Grotius, Seb. Schmidt, Limborch, and others, the demand of the author would amount to this, that the readers should manifest the same zeal which, according to Hebrews 6:10, they have already displayed, even to the end or in all future time. But in such manner it is assumed that the author has every reason for being satisfied with the Christian condition of the readers, and desires nothing more than a continuance of the same, whereas the whole epistle testifies that the state of things with the Hebrews was very different from this. Hence it is evident that the emphasis rests quite as much upon πρὸς τὴν πληροφορίαν τῆς ἐλπίδος as upon ἄχρι τέλους. The thought must thus be: the author longs for the readers to display the same zeal which they have already manifested in regard to an active love, in equal measure also in another relation, namely, in regard to the πληροφορία κ.τ.λ. (so Bengel, Cramer, Chr. Fr. Schmid, Böhme, Stuart, Bleek, Ebrard, Delitzsch, Alford, Conybeare, Maier, Moll, Kurtz, and others), in connection with which, however, ἄχρι τέλους is best taken, not, as is generally the case even with this correct determination of the thought, with ἐνδείκνυσθαι, but in close juxtaposition with πρὸς τὴν πληροφορίαν τῆς ἐλπίδος.

πρὸς τὴν πληροφορίαν τῆς ἐλπίδος ἄχρι τέλους] in regard to the full certainty of conviction concerning the Christian’s hope, unto the end, i.e. in such manner that ye cherish and preserve to the end the Christian’s hope of the Messianic kingdom to be looked for at the coming again of Christ, as a firm confidence of faith, untroubled by any doubts. Comp. Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 3:14. Opposite is the wavering conviction that the subject of the Christian hope is one founded in objective truth; the standing still upon the path of Christianity before the goal is reached, and the tendency to fall away again from Christianity and to relapse into Judaism.

πληροφορία] We have not, with Cornelius a Lapide, Grotius, Schulz, Bleek, de Wette, Stengel, and others (after the example of the Vulgate: “ad expletionem spei”), to apprehend in the active sense of “perfecting, making full or complete;” but to take it, as everywhere in the N. T. (1 Thessalonians 1:5; Colossians 2:2; Hebrews 10:22; comp. also Romans 4:21; Romans 14:5), with Erasmus, Vatablus, Zeger, Calvin, Beza, Estius, Jac. Cappellus, Schlichting, Calov, Wolf, Abresch, Heinrichs, Böhme, Tholuck, Ebrard, Delitzsch, Alford, Maier, Moll, and the majority, in the passive sense.

ἄχρι τέλους] unto the end, i.e. until (at the Parousia of the Lord) hope passes over into the possession [of the kingdom] itself.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. And] Rather, “But.”

we desire] A strong word: “we long to see in you.”

that every one of you] Here again in the emphasis of the expression we seem to trace, as in other parts of the Epistle, some individual reference.

the samé diligence] He desires to see as much earnestness (2 Corinthians 7:11) in the work of advancing to spiritual maturity of knowledge as they had shewn in ministering to the saints.

to the full assurance] i.e. with a view to your attaining this full assurance. Comp. Hebrews 10:22, Hebrews 3:14. The word also occurs in 1 Thessalonians 1:5; Colossians 2:2.

unto the end] till hope becomes fruition (Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 3:14).

Bengel's Gnomen

Hebrews 6:11. Ἐπιθυμοῦμεν δὲ, moreover we desire) therefore we thus speak.—ἕκαστον, every one) not merely as you have hitherto done, in common [jointly, but also individually],—τὴν αὐτὴν) the same in hope and faith, as in love. This epistle rather held the necessity of urging faith; that of James, works: ch. Hebrews 10:36, Hebrews 13:7.—ἐνδείκνυσθαι, to show) The verb is repeated from Hebrews 6:10.—πρὸς) i.e. as far as concerns.—τὴν πληροφορίαν τῆς ἐλπίδος, the full assurance of hope) Long-suffering is closely connected with it, Hebrews 6:12. So ἐν πληροφορίᾳ πίστεως, in full assurance of faith, ch. Hebrews 10:22 : and Paul often, for example, Romans 4:21. Πληροφορία, as it were, a full march, implies fulness either of employment, 2 Timothy 4:5; 2 Timothy 4:17, or [full persuasion] of the mind, 1 Thessalonians 1:5, and in this passage; Ecclesiastes 8:11, LXX.—ἄχρι, even unto) Construed with ἐνδείκνυσθαι, to show.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - But (however hopeful may be your charity, still more is needed) we desire (ἐπιθυμοῦμεν - expressing earnest desire - οὐκ ἔιπε θέλω ἀλλ ὅ πατρικῆς ἤν φιλοστοργίᾳς καὶ πλέον τοῦ θέλειν ἐπιθυμοῦμεν, Chrysostom) that every one of you (all of you without exception) do show the same diligence unto the full assurance (or simply fullness; for the meaning of πληροφορία, cf. Hebrews 10:22; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; Colossians 2:2) of hope even to the end (i.e. evince the same diligence in this regard as you have already shown in your works of charity: "eandem in spe et fide quam in amore," Bengel). Hebrews 6:11

Vincent's Word Studies

We desire (ἐπιθυμοῦμεν)

Strongly, earnestly. Comp. Matthew 13:17; Luke 22:15. The manifestations just mentioned make the writer desire that they may exhibit more of the spirit which animates their beneficent works.

Each (ἕκαστον)

He is concerned, not only for the body of believers, but for each member.

To the full assurance of hope unto the end (πρὸς τὴν πληροφορίαν τῆς ἐλπίδος ἄρχι τέλους)

That is, we desire that each of you exhibit the same diligence to develop your hope, which is in danger of failing, into full assurance, unto the end of the present season of trial with its happy consummation. Comp. Romans 8:24. For πληροφορία see on 1 Thessalonians 1:5, and comp. Romans 4:21; Romans 14:5. It is practically the same whether we translate full development or full assurance. The two meanings coalesce. Hope develops into full assurance.