Shun Apostasy and Embrace Faith
HEBREWS 6:9-12
AFTER FINISHING THE INTENSE 10-PART SERIES ON “THE PERIL OF NOT PROGRESSING,” THE TITLE I GAVE HEBREWS 6:4-8, WHICH IS ARGUABLY THE MOST CHALLENGING AND DEBATED PASSAGE IN THE ENTIRE BOOK BUT ALSO THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PASSAGE, AT LEAST AS FAR AS DETERMINING THE ORIGINAL RECIPIENTS AND PURPOSE OF HEBREWS, HERE’S WHERE WE ARE (I am taking the general structure and selected sentences for this opening section from William Lane’s Word Biblical Commentary)…
THE UNKNOWN WRITER OF THE BOOK OF HEBREWS IS ONCE AGAIN OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF HIS READERS, WHICH I BELIEVE ARE BEST DESCRIBED AS A MIXED GROUP OF CHRISTIANS AND ALMOST-CHRISTIANS WHO ARE MOSTLY OF JEWISH ORIGIN, MANY OF WHOM ARE OF HAVE BEEN OR STILL ARE IN DANGER OF APOSTASIZING (falling away from faith in Christ). There is ample evidence, owing to their Jewish background, that more than a few were considering a return to the temple and Judaism. It is likely that this is at least part of the reason for the writer’s castigation in 5:11 and the stern warning that followed it…
NAS Hebrews 5:11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
SUCH WAS THEIR SPIRITUAL UNRECEPTIVITY THAT THEY WERE WITHDRAWING FROM CONTACT WITH OTHERS…
NAS Hebrews 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
NEVERTHELESS, THEY DISPLAYED INDISPUTABLE EVIDENCE OF GOD’S BLESSING…
NAS Hebrews 2:4 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
NAS Hebrews 6:4-5 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
SUMMARY OF VERSES 4-6: “The meaning of vv. 4-6 may thus be summarized as follows: (1) apostasy is a real danger which threatens the community addressed {either the early church, as most scholars believe, or a community of mostly unsaved Old Testament Jews who were in various stages of belief in Jesus Christ as Savior, as I humbly believe, along with others who do, such as John MacArthur and Ray Steadman, to name but two – TAR}. (2) There is no way back from apostasy to a renewal of the initial act of repentance associated with baptism and forgiveness. (3) The author does not state that the community or any of its members have in fact already abandoned their faith. (4) THE AUTHOR’S ULTIMATE PURPOSE, NEXT EXPRESSED IN VV. 9-12, IS TO ENCOURAGE HIS READERS TO PERSEVERE.” – Ellingworth
NAS Hebrews 6:9-12 But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way. 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
I SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED TITLING THIS PARTICULAR BLOG OF THIS PARTICULAR PASSAGE “BUT” to underscore the word’s importance. After the dire warnings of the previous verses, especially vv. 4-8, I doubt if the writer under the influence of the Holy Spirit could have chosen a single more reassuring and informative word than “but.”
THE NEXT WORD IN THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF VERSE 9, “BELOVED,” IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT IN INTERPRETING THIS PASSAGE. MacArthur, who believes the Hebrews congregation is made up of a mixture of Christians, Jewish Christians, and Jewish worshippers who were torn between following Christ and falling back to Judaism, comments, “The writer gives a brief word to the believers who are to be imitated. ‘BELOVED’ IS NEVER USED IN SCRIPTURE TO REFER TO UNBELIEVERS. Now he is speaking of the ‘things n the previous accompany salvation,’ whereas in the previous part of the chapter he had been talking only about things concerning revelation. Both of these things – the use of ‘beloved’ and the discussion of salvation conditions – indicate the writer’s change of audience. The previous topics – the intellectual enlightenment about God’s word, tasting God’s gifts and His Holy Spirit, and so forth – accompany revelation, not salvation. They are meant, of course, to lead to salvation, but they do not do so apart from faith in Jesus Christ.”
“HAVING WARNED HIS READERS IN SUCH SEVERE TERMS IN 6:1-8, THE WRITER NOW CALMS THEM WITH ASSURANCES, WHILE CONTINUING TO EXHORT TO DILIGENCE. THIS ‘CARROT AND STICK’ APPROACH IS FOUND THROUGHOUT HEBREWS, WHERE STERN WARNINGS AND FULSOME REASSURANCE FOLLOW IN QUICK SUCCESSION. Paul employs the same approach in Galatians and to some extent, in 2 Corinthians and Colossians. It’s legitimate, therefore, to use it today. We are prone to the same wonderings and errors as first-century believers. Like them, we need to be alerted to spiritual shipwreck – of deviating from the path of righteousness and truth. But we also need encouragement, comfort and assurance. Both have their place under the NEW COVENANT in keeping us diligent in our spiritual work and warfare. Owen writes, ‘The special design of the writer [in this passage] is to declare his good will toward the Hebrews [and] his judgment of their state and condition.’ Their spiritual ‘state and condition’, of course, is judged according to the NEW COVENANT criteria of faith, fruitfulness and gospel obedience.” – Andrews
“NONE OF THE WRITER’S SOFTENED APPROACH HERE MEANS THAT THE WARNINGS ARE UNNECESSARY. The writer maintains his right to ‘speak in this manner’, and actually returns to the subject in Hebrews 10. Why? For one thing, in the final analysis, APOSTASY HAPPENS TO INDIVIDUALS, NOT GROUPS. We often speak of ‘apostate churches’, but they are only so because their leaders and members apostatize individually. Among any group of professing Christians, therefore, some individuals will be tempted to stray, and the only sure way to warn such people is to warn everyone. Secondly, even true believers sometimes need to be spurred into action. We can easily become ‘sluggish’ in our Christian walk (6:12), and shock tactics, these warnings of apostasy are not without their value. Nevertheless, the writer’s words here are tender.” – Andrews
NOTE THE VARIOUS PARAGRAPH TITLES THE FOLLOWING SCHOLARS GIVE THE SAME PASSAGE, VERSES 9-12…
“THE NEED FOR DILIGENCE.” – (The title of the passage according to) Andrews
“DILIGENCE” COMES FROM THE GREEK NOUN σπουδή (spoo-day). It means earnest commitment in discharge of an obligation or experience of a relationship, eagerness, earnestness, diligence, willingness, zeal.
Literally the word haste to do with speed, that is, being concerned with haste, eagerness, fervency in carrying out commands to be diligent. When the word is understood this way one cannot help but sense the word’s intensity.
THE WORD IS USED SIMILARLY BY PAUL IN ROMANS 12:11…
NAS Romans 12:11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
AND IN 2 TIMOTHY 2:15 WHERE THE VERB IS FOUND…
NAS 2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.
“GOOD WORKS PROVE FAITH IS REAL.” – (The title of the passage according to) Steadman
“FROM WARNING TO ENCOURAGEMENT.” – (The title of the passage according to) Ellingworth
“CONFIDENT THAT READERS WILL BE DILIGENT AND INHERIT THE PROMISES.” – (The title of the passage according to) Schreiner
“THE TRAGEDY OF REJECTING FULL REVELATION.” – (The title of the passage according to) MacArthur
“REMINDER OF THE CERTAINTY OF GOD’S PROMISES.” – (The title of the passage according to) Kent
“MAKE YOUR HOPE SURE.” – (The title of the passage according to) Hughes
“SHUN APOSTASY AND EMBRACE THE COMMUNITY OF THE FAITHFUL.” – (The title of the passage according to) Cockerill
“APOSTASY” MEANS THE ACT OR STATE OF REJECTING PREVIOUSLY HELD BELIEFS, often in favor of adopting opposing beliefs. The Greek word (ἀποστασία [ah-pah-stah-see-ah], defiance of established authority, rebellion, abandonment) means literally to stand apart. The noun is only used twice in the New Testament: Acts 21:21 and 2 Thessalonians 2:3. It is most often helpful in gaining a fuller understanding of a word to check how different English translations interpreted the Greek or Hebrew word in question. See if you don’t agree from these two examples…
NAS Acts 21:21 and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.
ESV Acts 21:21 and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs.
NET Acts 21:21 They have been informed about you– that you teach all the Jews now living among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs.
NIV Acts 21:21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs.
NAS 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
ESV 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
NKJ 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
SOMETHING I LEARNED LONG AGO: THE WORD “APOSTASY” CAN APPLY TO UNBELIEVERS AS WELL AS BELIEVERS. Maybe this is obvious to some, but I remember as a student in a seminary class, holding the opposite view, that the word only correctly applied to people of religious faith. A particularly bright and persuasive classmate who, when the word came up in discussion, argued that it was incorrect to use the word in the context of unbelievers. His comment prompted me to study the word. Here’s an English dictionary’s definition: “the state of having rejected your religious beliefs or your political party or a cause (often in favor of opposing beliefs or causes).” And here’s arguably the best Greek lexicon’s (Bauer, Danker, Arndt, and Gingrich) definition: “defiance of established system or authority, rebellion, abandonment, breach of faith.”
IN SUPPORT OF MY BELIEF ABOUT “APOSTASY” BEING A WORD THAT COULD APPLY TO BE RELEVANT TO BOTH BELIEVERS AND UNBELIEVERS ALIKE, I BELIEVE IT IS HELPFUL TO LOOK AGAIN AT MACARTHUR’S COMMENTS FROM HEBREWS 6:9, IN REFERENCE TO VV. 1-8, QUOTED PARTIALLY ABOVE…
“THE WRITER WAS HOPING EARNESTLY THAT THE UNBELIEVERS HE SO FORCEFULLY HAD BEEN WARNING WOULD NOT FALL AWAY, THAT THEY WOULD NOT APOSTASIZE.”
VERSES 11-12…
STEADMAN COMMENTS, “VERSE 11 STATES AGAIN THE TRUTH FOUND EVERYWHERE IN SCRIPTURE. The only reliable sign of regeneration is a faith that does not fall and continues to the end of life. It may at times falter and grow dim as it faces various trials and pressures, but it cannot be wholly abandoned, for Jesus has promised”…
NAS John 10:27-28 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.
“IN HEBREWS 6:11-12 WE SEE THAT THE GREAT ENEMY OF PERSEVERENCE IS SLOTH OR LAZINESS – ONE OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS (CF. PROVERBS 26-29). The Greek word behind ‘sluggish’ was used earlier in 5:11 to describe those wo were ‘dull of hearting’ – literally, ‘sluggish in the ears.’ More often than not, sluggish ears go with a sluggish, lazy life.” – Hughes
“INDIFFERENCE TO GOD’S WORD IS THE FIRST STEP TO SPIRITUAL DECAY, AND THIS INDIFFERENCE HAD ALREADY BEGUN.” – Kent
“THE SEVERITY OF THE WARNING IN 5:11-6:12 IS THOROUGHLY UNDERSTANDABLE.” – Lane
“IN THIS PASSAGE (5:11-6:12) THE WRITER MAKES USE OF BITING IRONY, CONFIDENT ASSURANCE, SHARP WARNING, AND WARM ENCOURAGEMENT TO CAJOLE THE COMMUNITY into recognizing that they cannot turn back the clock and deny the reality of the eschatological salvation that they have experienced.” – Lane
I THINK YOU’D AGREE, THESE WARNINGS CAN BE SEEN TO BE APPLICABLE TO BELIEVERS AND THOSE SERIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT BECOMING BELIEVERS, OR THOSE CONSIDERING GOING BACK TO JUDAISM ALIKE.
WHETHER OR NOT MOST OF THE READERS WERE GENUINELY SAVED, THE WRITER IS OBVIOUSLY CONFIDENT (CF. HEBREWS 6:1), IN SPITE OF THEIR CURRENT TENDENCIES OTHERWISE (HEBREWS 5:11-14), THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. HE WANTS THEM TO STAY ON THE RIGHT TRACK, TO PERSEVERE, TO ENDURE.
“ENDURANCE” (SEE ANDREWS ABOVE) IS THE GREEK WORD ὑπομονή (hoop-ah-mah-nay). The actual word is not found in Hebrews 6:9-12 but is undoubtedly what the writer has in mind in issuing his severe warning, as its use in latter passages in the book of Hebrews attests…
NAS Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
NAS Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
ENDURANCE IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS THE WAY TO SHUN APOSTASY.
“THE WRITER WAS CONVINCED THAT HIS FELLOW BELIEVERS TO WHOM HE WAS WRITING EXHIBITED ALL THE TRAITS, ALL THE TRUE MARKS, OF SALVATION – OF TRUE SAINTHOOD IN THE BIBLICAL SENSE. The implication is that, after considerable investigation, he was persuaded that these beloved brethren possessed all the things that accompany salvation and that they, therefore, would be superb examples for these yet unbelieving friends to OBSERVE AND IMITATE” – MacArthur
– Professor Thomas A. Rohm
