PERFECTION

PERDITION

OR

CHAPTER 6

`LEAVING ... LET US GO ON ... NOT LAYING

AGAIN' (Heb. 6:1)

Whatever view we may entertain as to what constitutes `the principles of the doctrine of Christ', one thing is

beyond controversy, Hebrews 6:1 bids the reader to LEAVE them:

`Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection'.

`Leaving' is answered by `go on', `principles' answered by `perfection'. First we observe that this exhortation

arises out of and is logically connected with what had already been said about those who were dull of hearing. The

apostle commences his exhortation with the word `therefore'. Seeing that there are many Greek words translated

`therefore' in the A.V. of the New Testament, it might be wise to note which of this number is selected here. Dio

the conjunction used in Hebrews 6:1 is a relative of dia `through' and suggests that what follows is a consequence or

an inference from what has been already advanced (see its use in Heb. 3:7,10; 10:5; 11:12,16; 12:12,28 and 13:12).

These believers `for the time' ought to have been teachers, but owing to their sluggishness they needed that one

should teach them AGAIN which are the FIRST PRINCIPLES of the oracles of God. The apostle's inference in

Hebrews 6 is that the believer should leave these first principles not in the sense of giving them up, but should go

on, should not lay them again and again. It is natural and right that new born `babes' should feed on `milk' (1 Pet.

2:2) but only in order that they may `grow thereby'. These believers to whom Paul writes were stunted ... `for the

time' they should have reached adulthood (full age or perfect Heb. 5:14) and been teaching others. But faculties,

whether physical or spiritual, will suffer atrophy if they are not exercised. The `first principles of the oracles of

God', likened to milk, must be left and built upon if growth is to be maintained. The `principles of the doctrine of

Christ' must be left if maturity is to be attained. If Hebrews 6:1 is read in the light of chapter 5:12 no harm will be

done by retaining the A.V. translation, but without its context the idea of `leaving the principles of the doctrine of

Christ' is monstrous. What is apostasy but leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ? Moffatt translates this

passage `Let us pass on then to what is mature, leaving elementary Christian doctrine behind'. The margin of the

A.V. gives the literal translation:

`The word of the beginning of Christ'.

Looking at these words by themselves, we may entertain a number of possible meanings, but they form part of

an argument that has been developing ever since the opening chapter. In Hebrews 2:3 we read:

`How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord',

and in this passage lies the key to Hebrews 6:1. First we remember that the Hebrew believers were accused of being

`dull'; here in chapter 2 they are warned of the dangers that accompany `negligence'. The reciprocal character of

this neglect is actually stated later in Hebrews. The Greek word ameleo `neglect' being translated `regard not' in

Hebrews 8:9. Israel neglected the Lord. He regarded them not.

`Because they continued not in My covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord'.

When writing to the Corinthians, Paul said that he had delivered unto them `among the first things what I also

received' (1 Cor. 15:3) where the word `received' is paralambano. In Hebrews 2:3 we have the simpler word

lambano `receive', but which is not translated by the A.V., it being considered an idiomatic usage. Where Paul says

in 1 Corinthians 15:3 en protois `among first things', he says in Hebrews 2:3 `which a beginning (arche) having

received (lambano) to be spoken by the Lord'. This, while being an awkward rendering, does set before the reader a

parallel with 1 Corinthians 15:3, and is moreover intensified by the warning in verse 2 `If ye keep in memory (or

hold fast)'. The messages referred to were `first principles' of the Gospel, `Christ died for our sins according to the

Scriptures'. J.N.D. reads `having had its commencement in being spoken of by the Lord', again somewhat

awkward, but nearer the truth than the A.V. While fundamental truth is and must be of fundamental importance, it

is of no more value than is a solid concrete foundation upon which no building is ever erected. A granite rock may

become a first-class foundation, but it remains a granite rock only, unless a building rests upon it. (A foundation

after all is a relative term. It presupposes the erection of a building). In all the three hundred and more occurrences

of logos, it is only translated `doctrine' in this passage, and as didache is correctly rendered `doctrine' in verse 2, we