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"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ . . . . . resurrection of the
dead" (Heb. 6: 1, 2).
"Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not
accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection" (Heb. 11: 35).
These two passages are related together as "Hope" is to "Prize". If we are really
exhorted to leave "the first principles", we can find, alas, many who would readily
welcome us into their apostate ranks, but we are happy to say that Heb. 6: 1 teaches no
such thing.
The fact that this chapter commences with the word "therefore" makes any
interpretation that does not arise logically out of the preceding chapter of no value. In
writing to the Corinthians, Paul had to say much the same of them as he here says of
these Hebrews, and it will be sufficient to set this out before the eye, thus:
I Corinthians 2: & 3:
Hebrews 5: & 6:
Babes
5: 13
Babes
3: 1
Milk
5: 13
Milk
3: 2
Meat
5: 14
Meat
3: 2
Perfect
5: 14
Perfect
2: 6
Foundation
6: 1, 2
One Foundation
3: 11
Fire
6: 8
Fire
3: 13
Six elements
6: 1, 2
Six elements
3: 12
The Apostle complained to the Hebrews, that though for the time they should have
been teachers, they needed that one should teach them again "the first principles" of the
oracles of God. This he likened to "milk", but urged that those "of full age" (Greek
`perfect') should go on to the solid food of an adult. "And this we will do", said the
Apostle, "if God permit". The margin of the A.V. corrects the wrong impression that the
translation "Leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ" gives, for it reads:
"Leaving the Word of the beginning of Christ (to which we add) let us go on unto
perfection, teleios, from telos `the end'."
Here is no abandonment of first principles, but a recognition that there was much
more in the will of God than those Hebrews realized. "The resurrection" still remained a
basic and fundamental truth, but what did these believers know of a "better resurrection"
(Heb. 11: 35)? This and all that goes with it is the theme of the Hebrews epistle. Not
salvation, but "the things that accompany salvation". Believing God as "Rewarder" as
well as Saviour (Heb. 11: 6), with Abraham and Moses as examples of those who gladly
relinquish present joys for the better things, Abraham looking for "a better country", and
Moses esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he
had respect unto the recompense of the reward (11: 10, 16, 24-26). Just as Philippians is
the epistle of the "Prize" for the Body of Christ, so Hebrews is the epistle of the
"Reward" for the church of the Acts period, and both are connected by the key words: