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Hebrews 6 May 18
HUGHES, PHILIP, EDGCUMBE (1990) A Commentary On The Epistle To The Hebrews, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Hughes explains in regard to Hebrews 6:
It is a irremediable (no remedy) state for those persons, who have publicly confessed a Christian faith, in baptism and then in the future reject the gospel. (221). This expressed in verses 4-6, in particular. (221). These people have renounced their baptism and the gospel. These are not genuine branches of Jesus Christ. (221). In other words, these people never were regenerated Christian believers. Those truly redeemed through the atoning and resurrection work of Christ, will not fall away into apostasy. (221).
Hughes opines that being enlightened (v4) may be a connection to Christian baptism. The idea of having 'tasted the heavenly gift' is a description of the eucharist. (208). 'Enlightenment' may be interpreted as the equivalent of catechetical instruction. (208). But these are not universal interpretations, admits Hughes. (208). Despite, these spiritual interactions with the biblical, triune, God, Hughes reasons that the apostasy is real and not hypothetical. (212).
The impossibility of repentance here according to Hughes, is absolutely real in this context. (213). Hughes, is correct in stating that God's work, through the Holy Spirit, cannot and will not fail in achieving salvific purpose. (221). The mystery of divine election is that Jesus Christ will never have died in vain for anyone. (221). This view is in agreement with Reformed theology. Those who reject Jesus Christ after partaking in the gospel, reject the crucifixion of Christ in atonement and his resurrection. These people are within the ranks of those that crucified Jesus Christ. (221).
Interestingly:
1 Corinthians 3: 14-15 New American Standard Bible
14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
These verses are often interpreted in context as being in regard to believers and in particular Church leaders.
Hebrew 6: 7-8 7
For ground that drinks the rain which often [e]falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close [f]to being cursed, and [g]it ends up being burned.
This is often interpreted as being non-believing, apostates, as noted from Hughes' view.
Burned
katakahsetai (1 Corinthians 3: 14: Marshall 489)
This is defined as ‘will be consumed’. This is burned up work that is considered loss.
Burning
kausin (Hebrews 6: 8: Marshall 649)
This is defined as ‘burning’. The end of those being judged as apostates.
Apostates are figuratively burned waste according to Hughes. (223). If indeed, the 1 Corinthians section is in regard to Christians/Church leaders and the Hebrews section is in regard to apostates, in can be concluded that useless work is useless work, whether from believers or non-believers. For balance, I should state that from the similarities of the verses, it is also plausible that the same group of persons in being discussed, that being non-repentant, believers.
But, in agreement with Hughes, this is a problematic interpretation. To be clear, I do not reason that anyone that publicly denies the gospel is a true Christian believer. For a believer, to not always be completely repentant of sin is biblically possible and theologically tenable. Apostasy is in non-belief. Non-belief places a person outside of the Kingdom of God.
I was discussing this subject with Mr. John Wee during the two-church barbecue, yesterday.
I reason this is likely an accurate interpretation from Hughes as those in Jesus Christ may, at certain points not be in a proper state of repentance, but this never leads to a public or private apostasy.
Whether Hebrews 6 is discussing false Christians, true believing Christians that are not in a state of repentance or both; theologically, I find it highly unlikely, barring mental illness as a possible exception, that true regenerated Christians would ever deny the atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ in saving faith. Even in a state of non-repentance.
Courson does not accept:
That Hebrews 6 is about non-believers that never believed. (1470).
That Hebrews 6 is about a hypothetical situation. (1470).
He reasons one cannot lose their salvation, but that one can leave it. (1470-1471).
Within philosophical theology and philosophy of religion, I do not reason that a secondary human cause can undo divine election and the chose of God (Ephesians 1, Romans 8), the primary cause of human salvation.
Humanity is a secondary cause only in the sense that it embraces salvation, in order that it not be forced and/or coerced.
Humanity to be clear, does not contribute to salvation. It is not a secondary cause in the sense of self-saving in any way. Humanity does not cause, earn or apply the atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ or the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
But it is a theological possibility that a regenerated person lacks significant repentance. But would it be a non-repentance to the level of crucifying Jesus Christ once again?
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ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.
ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
ERICKSON, MILLARD (2003) What Does God Know and When Does He Know It?, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
FEE, GORDON (1987) The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
GRENZ, STANLEY J., DAVID GURETZKI AND CHERITH FEE NORDLING (1999) Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, Downers Grove, Ill., InterVarsity Press.
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GUNDRY, ROBERT (1981) A Survey of the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
HUGHES, PHILIP, EDGCUMBE (1990) A Commentary On The Epistle To The Hebrews, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
MARSHALL, ALFRED (1975)(1996) The Interlinear KJV-NIV, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
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