Hebrews 6:1: Does the call to move beyond “elementary doctrines” contradict Jesus’s repeated focus on foundational teachings like repentance and faith?

Overview of the Passage

Hebrews 6:1 states, “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith in God.” At first glance, this may appear to conflict with Jesus’s own repeated emphasis on repentance and faith (cf. Mark 1:15, Luke 13:3). However, when examined in context, it becomes clear that the passage does not deny the need for foundational teachings like repentance and faith but instead calls believers to move beyond the spiritual “starting line” and further into spiritual maturity.

Contextual Foundations

In order to understand Hebrews 6:1, it is helpful to consider the broader context of the Letter to the Hebrews. By the end of Hebrews 5, the writer addresses an audience that seems sluggish in their spiritual growth (Hebrews 5:11–14). The rebuke given is that they should be ready for “solid food” rather than continuing to require “milk.”

Archaeological discoveries of early Christian gatherings (such as findings at Roman-era house churches) show that believers would assemble to hear apostolic doctrine read aloud repetitively. This repetition helped new converts grasp key tenets like repentance and faith. Yet the apostolic writings—preserved and confirmed by early manuscripts like Papyrus 46 (dated around AD 200)—demonstrate that while these basics were always essential, the call was also to grow beyond an elementary understanding of Christ.

Elementary Doctrines: Repentance and Faith

1. Repentance from Dead Works

Jesus’s public ministry began with calls to repentance (Mark 1:15: “The time is fulfilled… Repent and believe in the gospel!”). The Greek term for repentance (metanoia) involves a change of mind and turning away from sin. As a foundational element of Christian life, it is indispensable because one cannot properly approach God without acknowledging sin and seeking His forgiveness.

2. Faith in God

Likewise, faith is a key theme of Jesus’s teachings and the apostles’ message (John 3:16). Scripture consistently affirms faith as the means by which believers receive salvation (Ephesians 2:8–9). The centrality of faith in redemption is a core doctrine, upheld in earliest Christian writings, verified by numerous manuscript witnesses.

These two principals—repentance from dead works and faith in God—are not mere spiritual “initiations,” but living, ongoing realities. Hebrews 6:1 does not suggest discarding them; rather, it acknowledges them as the “foundation” upon which believers must continue to build.

Moving Beyond the Foundation

The term “leave” (Greek, aphentes) in Hebrews 6:1 has the sense of “moving on from” rather than “abandoning.” For instance, a builder does not remove the foundation once the framing of a house begins; he simply continues building upward. Similarly, the faithful are encouraged to progress deeper in understanding—embracing teachings on Christ’s high priesthood, the covenantal role He fulfills, and the spiritual implications of His resurrection.

The original recipients of Hebrews appear to have stalled in spiritual infancy. They understood basic salvation truths but struggled to mature. The call to “go on to maturity” aligns with Jesus’s pattern of teaching: He never dismisses repentance or faith, but He expects His followers to grow in wisdom, service, and the knowledge of God’s will (Luke 8:10; John 17:17).

Harmony with Jesus’s Teaching

1. Consistency of Jesus’s Emphasis

In the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly calls people to “repent and believe” (Mark 1:15). However, He also takes His disciples into deeper truths once their foundational understanding is established (Matthew 13:11–12). Jesus uses parables, discourses, and personal interactions to increase the disciples’ grasp of God’s kingdom.

2. Early Church Practice

The Book of Acts depicts the apostles doing likewise. Repentance and faith are presented repeatedly as the entry point. Afterward, believers are guided further into mature expressions of love, community, and doctrinal depth (Acts 2:42, 2:46). This mirrors Hebrews 6:1, showing no contradiction but instead a logical progression.

3. Imperative for Growth

The pursuit of deeper doctrine does not negate the foundation of repentance and faith. Rather, it is a natural extension: without a secure base, one cannot build. Similarly, believers are expected to build upon that base through prayer, study, and obedience, reflecting the broader New Testament theme to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

Practical Implications for the Modern Reader

1. Continual Importance of the Basics

Even advanced theological discussions must remain grounded in the knowledge that we are justified by faith, freed from sin through repentance, and called to a living relationship with God. This foundation is never left behind in the sense of being forgotten.

2. Ongoing Intellectual and Spiritual Development

Growing in comprehensive understanding—studying biblical theology, delving into the nature of Christ’s saving work, and applying these truths to life—is a biblical mandate. Reliable modern translations and manuscript evidence confirm that the passage in Hebrews unambiguously urges believers to pursue this ongoing development (see P46 manuscript containing Hebrews 6:1 with the same sense we have today).

3. No Contradiction in Jesus’s Teaching

Jesus Himself urged continual growth. His discourse recorded in John, as well as parables like the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1–20), underscore the idea of the Word taking root and ultimately bearing fruit. Maturity involves both initial repentance and faith plus deeper transformation over time.

Historical and Archaeological Corroboration

While Hebrews was historically circulated among early Christian congregations, it was also carefully preserved. Manuscript evidence—like Papyrus 46 from around AD 200—confirms the wording of Hebrews 6:1 as we have it today. The internal consistency of Scripture further supports there is no contradiction between the foundational teachings of Jesus and the epistle’s exhortation to press on. The Dead Sea Scrolls, while primarily Old Testament, reveal the longstanding Hebrew practice of repeated instruction coupled with deeper theological dialogue. Early Believers, hampered or persecuted in some areas, guarded the texts carefully, ensuring these directives for growth and maturity were faithfully passed down.

Conclusion

Hebrews 6:1 calls believers to keep the foundation of repentance and faith intact while moving forward to a robust and mature relationship with God. This does not contradict Jesus’s stress on repentance and faith. Rather, it reinforces that these core doctrines must be established first and then built upon through continued study, obedience, and deeper spiritual understanding. The passage fits seamlessly with Jesus’s teachings, the apostolic writings, and the broader witness of Scripture—affirming that foundational truths are always critical but were never meant to be the stopping point.

As a result, there is no tension between the call to “leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity” and Jesus’s consistent focus on pivotal concepts like repentance and faith. Far from discarding these essential doctrines, Hebrews 6:1 underscores their permanence as the ground upon which all further growth is constructed.