Grow Up!

Hebrews 6:1-12 (CJB)

6 Therefore, leaving behind the initial lessons about the Messiah, let us go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of turning from works that lead to death, trusting God, 2 and instruction about washings, s’mikhah (blessing, laying on of hands), the resurrection of the dead and eternal punishment. 3 And, God willing, this is what we will do.

4 For when people have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become sharers in the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), 5 and tasted the goodness of God’s Word and the powers of the ‘olam haba (world to come) — 6 and then have fallen away — it is impossible to renew them so that they turn from their sin, as long as for themselves they keep executing the Son of God on the stake all over again and keep holding him up to public contempt. 7 For the land that soaks up frequent rains and then brings forth a crop useful to its owners receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it keeps producing thorns and thistles, it fails the test and is close to being cursed;[a] in the end, it will be burned. 9 Now even though we speak this way, dear friends, we are confident that you have the better things that come with being delivered. 10 For God is not so unfair as to forget your work and the love you showed for him in your past service to his people — and in your present service too.

This text is plagued with translation problems. I just couldn’t figure out Paul’s line of reasoning. He was an educated man, trained in rhetoric and logic, and very articulate. It didn’t seem to follow clearly as an argument, for Paul to first make a recommendation to dismiss the basic teachings and ‘move on to maturity,’ and then follow it with a warning that it’s not possible to rescue people who return to sinning once they’ve been enlightened. I looked at a number of translations, and the biggest problem I had was that most of them ignored the first part and translated the second as if it had no relationship to the first. I just couldn’t believe that Paul’s logic would be so sloppy, so I decided to assume that Paul was presenting a case, and following it with a logical argument supporting that case.

I stated the case as follows: “Let’s move on from the basic teachings you learned in the beginning. Let’s grow up, and God willing, so we will!”

So, I went to the Greek text (Mounce Interlinear) for help. I paraphrased the text, all the while repeatedly referring back to the Greek translation. Here is my paraphrase:

“So then, let’s dismiss the doctrines we heard early on about the Messiah. Let’s move on to completeness, and not keep on laying down foundations for changing our minds about our futile actions; for being faithful to God; for instructions about cleansing rites; for laying on of hands (in blessing or to confer authority); for the resurrection of the dead, and for eternal judgment.

Also, we will do that very thing (dismiss the doctrines we heard early on) as God entrusts it to us to do it.

You see, it’s impossible for those who’ve once-for-all known enlightenment; who have tasted the heavenly gift, and shared in the Holy Spirit and the richness of God’s promise, and the power of the coming era; and (who) have repented as a result of falling away, to voluntarily crucify again the Son of God, or to make a shameful example of him. For the earth drinks the frequent rain that comes on its own, and yields a crop apt for its proper use, and shares in the blessing from God; but producing thorns and thistles makes it useless and almost cursed, and it ends up being burned. But I am persuaded of better regarding you, my beloved companions: you are possessed of salvation no matter whether we talk about such things. For God isn’t so unjust as to disregard your work and the love you manifest for the author of your commission, serving and continuing to serve your fellow saints.

What I hear Paul saying is that people who have understood the meaning of Christ’s message; who have felt the power of the Holy Spirit, and who are dedicated to following his Way cannot possibly crucify Christ again. It’s just impossible! It’s very significant that Paul opens this chapter by telling the Hebrews to dismiss the simplistic teaching they got in the early days. It’s important to realize that the second paragraph continues Paul’s reasoning and supports his recommendation. It’s intended to answer such questions as: “Why should we dismiss the early teaching about having a change of heart?” and “Why should we stop saying the same things over and over about baptisms and blessings and the resurrection of the dead?” The second part is intended to answer those questions by reassuring them that they aren’t in danger; that they don’t have to keep on bailing a boat that isn’t leaking.

He’s telling them that a field that gets plenty of rain is going to produce the right crop— that they are like that field and they are already producing good things, apt for use in the service of God.

He’s telling them to think for themselves, and that God will entrust it to them to know the difference between thistles and cabbages.

He’s saying that once you’ve been enlightened you don’t need to worry anymore about producing thistles, or being thrown out as useless and burned.

He’s saying that they can relax.

Here is the text including the actual Greek words:

…adynatos(impossible) ho(one, the one) hapax(once, once for all) phōtizō(illuminated, enlightened) {…….} kai(even, also) parapiptō(fall away from) anakainizō(renovate, renew) eis(in order to, resulting in) metanoia(change of heart, thought) heautou(voluntarily) anastauroō(crucify again) ho hyios ho theos(the Son of God).

Literally: “impossible one-once-for-all-enlightened also fall away from renewal-resulting-in-a-change-of-heart voluntarily crucify again the Son of God.”

Here’s the crux phrase in the original translation from the Complete Jewish Bible:

“….once been enlightened, {………} — and then have fallen away —“

One little word makes all the difference: “eis” — “in order to; resulting in.”

It makes the translation read this way:

“It is impossible for one who is once-for-all-enlightened to also fall away from the renewal that resulted from their change of heart and voluntarily crucify the Son of God again.”

What a difference!

Those old translators might be

unintentional designers of misery,

but the fact remains—

they missed the point.

In order to miss the point,

it’s necessary to be awfully sure of yourself.

To be so sure of yourself,

it’s necessary to miss the point.

Which resulted in the other—

self-assurance

or

wrong impressions?

Impossible to tell.

Old Saint Paul just says,

“Grow up!”