6:1 Hence, having left the word of the beginning principles of Christ, we should carry on to our maturity; not putting down again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith upon God,
6:2 of the teaching of immersions* {Or: O.T. ceremonial washings} and of the laying on of hands and of the resurrection of the dead and of everlasting judgment.
6:3 And we might do* this, if indeed* God permits.
6:4 For* it is impossible, those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift and became partakers of the Holy Spirit
6:5 and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the future world
6:6 and then having fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, because they are again crucifying for themselves the Son of God and disgracing him.
6:7 For* the soil, which drank the rainfall, while coming upon her often, and is bearing forth vegetation fit for those because of whom it is also cultivated, receives blessing from God.
6:8 But while it is bringing forth thorns and thistles, it is unapproved and near to a curse; whose end is *for burning.
6:9 But beloved, even if we speak so, we have confidence of the better things concerning you*, even those things being held to salvation,.
6:10 For* God is not unrighteous to forget your* work and the labor of the love* which you* showed toward his name, having served the holy-ones and still serving them.
6:11 But we are desiring each of you* to show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope till the end;
6:12 in order that you* should not become sluggish, but imitators of those who are inheriting the promises through faith and patience.
6:13 For* after God promised to Abraham, since he was holding no one greater to swear according to, he had sworn according to himself,
6:14 saying, Absolutely in blessing, I will bless you and in multiplying, I will multiply you. {Gen 22:17}
6:15 And thus Abraham, having had patience, obtained the promise.
6:16 For* indeed, men swear according to the greater and the oath made *for confirmation is an ending in every dispute with them.
6:17 In which God, planning to show even-more to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable will of his plan, intermediated this with an oath;
6:18 in order that through two unchangeable matters, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, having fled for refuge to take-hold of the hope that lays before us.
6:19 This hope which we have as an anchor of the soul, is both secure and steadfast and entering into the inner side of the curtain;
6:20 where a forerunner Jesus entered on our behalf, when he became a high-priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.