HEB 6:1 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:11–6:12: Grow up in your faith, and do not give up

In Section 5:11–6:12 the author interrupted his teaching about God appointing Christ as the high priest in order to tell his listeners to mature in their faith and to warn them not to stop believing in Christ. After this warning (6:4–12), he will continue to teach them in 6:13–7:28 about the priesthood of Jesus and Melchizedek.

Remember to translate the section before choosing a heading for it. Some other possible headings are:

Warning about abandoning Christ

Do not be lazy but become mature followers of Christ

6:1a–b

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity: Here the BSB follows the order of phrases in the Greek text. Some translations use a different order of phrases. For example:

Therefore let us go on toward perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ (NRSV)

Choose the order that is most natural in your language.

let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity: Here the author told his listeners to stop repeating only the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to become mature. The phrase let us leave indicates that we must advance from basic teachings to learn what mature believers need to know. The phrase is not a request for permission.

Some other ways to translate this exhortation in 6:1a are:

in our study of Christ it is necessary that we become mature by learning more complex matters. Let’s not continue studying only the basic teaching.

we should stop repeating only the easiest teachings concerning Christ. Now we should learn the deeper teachings so that our faith will become mature.

6:1a

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ

¶ So, let us leave behind the first/simple lessons which people taught us^(incl) about Christ
¶ Because of this, we^(incl) must progress beyond the most basic things that we^(incl) learned about Christ

Therefore: The conjunction Therefore introduces an exhortation based on what the author told his hearers in 5:11–14. He said that they need to stop listening only to simple teaching and listen to teaching that is for mature believers. He assumes that they will now listen to the more advanced teaching about Jesus being our high priest.

Some other ways to translate Therefore here are:

So (NLT)

Because of this/that

Now therefore

With this in mind (GW)

The word Therefore occurs often in Hebrews. It occurred already in 3:7 and 3:10. However, many versions translate it differently in these verses. You will need to think carefully about the connections in each context to make them clear and natural in your language.

let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ: The author implies here that his listeners need to add to the basic truths that they learned about Christ. He did not imply that they should leave the basic truths and stop thinking about them. He meant that they should not be content with only those basic truths. He wanted them to also learn more complex truths about Christ to help them to mature in their faith.

Other ways to translate this meaning are.

we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ (NET)

We must…start thinking about more than just the basic things we were taught about Christ. (CEV)

the elementary teachings about Christ: The phrase elementary teachings about Christ refers to the first truths about Christ that the church teaches to a new believer in him. The phrase is similar to the phrase “basic principles” in 5:12. For more information and translation examples, see the note on 5:12a–b.

6:1b

and go on to maturity,

and become mature in our^(incl) knowledge about him.
so that we^(incl) study/learn what will make us mature followers of his.

and go on to maturity: The phrase go on to maturity is more literally “we-must-be-moved-on to maturity.” It indicates that we must develop (grow, progress) toward becoming mature as believers in Christ. It also implies that we must learn and understand the truths that mature believers need to know.Some scholars distinguish the two aspects of meaning (becoming mature believers and studying advanced teachings) as different interpretations of “go on to maturity.” This distinction results in the following breakdown of English versions: (1)-It means “become mature” as Christians, e.g., “go on to maturity” (BSB), followed by the BSB, NIV, NRSV, CEV, ESV, REB, and the NASB, or (2) It means “go on to more advanced teaching,” e.g., “Let us go forward, then, to mature teaching” (GNT), followed by the GNT, NCV, GW, and the NJB. The NLT rendering is a little different from either (1) or (2), since it focuses specifically on becoming mature in understanding, which involves a narrower meaning than the general “go on to maturity,” and implies absorbing teaching that is for mature people in order to gain maturity of understanding. Looking at the English versions, interpretation (1) seems to have somewhat more support. However, the back translations on TW tend to favor interpretation (2). BDAG (page 996) defines it in this verse as “maturity in contrast to the stage of elementary knowledge.” Since there is little practical difference in the interpretations, it seems best for translators to follow the interpretation that communicates most clearly in this context.

Some ways to translate the phrase go on to maturity are:

let us also learn the deeper teachings so that our faith will become mature.Kankanaey back translation on TW.

let’s develop/grow and become complete in our understanding

maturity: The Greek word that the BSB translates as maturity means “completeness, perfection.”τελειότης, BDAG, page 996. The word occurs only here and in Colossians 3:14. However, the corresponding verb “to make perfect” or “complete” occurs over twelve times in Hebrews. See the preceding note for translation examples.

6:1c–2

In 6:1d–2 the author listed six basic teachings that are part of the foundation of Christian faith. He mentions them in three pairs:Some commentators take the first pair in 6:1 (repentance and faith), as being the foundation, which is then expanded in the two pairs of items in 6:2. But the BSB, RSV, GNT and the NIV list all six items as being the foundation.

repentance from dead works and faith in God,
instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands,
resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

In (a) the author summarizes the crucial first things that a person does in coming to God: he repents of his sins and puts his faith in God. In (b) the author summarizes ceremonies of the church like baptism, in which a person is publicly initiated. In (c) he summarizes beliefs about future resurrection and judgment. The author implied that the readers already knew these truths and no one should have to teach them again.

6:1c

not laying again the foundation

We^(incl) should not need to lay the foundation of our faith all over again.
We^(incl) should not keep studying again and again the first lessons

not laying again the foundation: Here the author used a metaphor. He compared the elementary teachings about Christ to the foundation of a building. A foundation is its base and support. After the foundation is finished, the building needs walls and a roof. After a Christian has the foundation of basic beliefs, he needs to “build on” his faith by learning what mature believers need to know.

Some other ways to translate the metaphor are:

Use a simile. For example:
Let’s not continue to repeat the same basic teachings like someone who builds only the foundation of a house
Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:
without going over the fundamental doctrines again (NJB)

Translate the meaning in a clear way in your language.

6:1d

of repentance from dead works,

We^(incl) should already know that it is necessary to repent of sinful/useless actions
about repenting from acts that cause eternal/spiritual death,

repentance from dead works: The Greek word that the BSB translates as repentance refers to a person changing his mind, heart, or will. When a person repents from dead works, he realizes that they are wrong. He is sorry and stops doing them.

Some other ways to translate repentance from dead works are:

rejecting sins, which bring death

to quit/stop doing evil, which leads to death

For more information, see repent in KBT.

dead works: In this context, the phrase dead works refer to deeds that are both sinful and useless. They have no value, because they do not please God. They cannot help anyone to know God and go to heaven. They actually cause a person to be separated from God, which is spiritual death.

Some ways to translate the phrase dead works are:

Refer to them as useless actions. For example:
useless works (GNT)
deeds/activities that have no value
Refer to them as deeds that bring eternal death or punishment. For example:
not to do the evil that brings punishmentOtomi back translation on TW.

The text does not imply that the sins cause immediate physical death. Also, it does not imply that only some sins lead to death. Some other ways to translate dead works are:

sinful acts, which lead to death

evil deeds (NLT)

6:1e

and of faith in God,

and trust in God.
and about believing in God.

and of faith in God: The phrase faith in God refers to trusting God. It is listed here as the second teaching that is part of the foundation of Christian faith. In this context it refers especially to people trusting God to save them from sin and eternal death. In some languages it is more natural to express the noun faith as a verb. For example:

believing in God (GNT)

trust in God

depending/relying on God

For more information, see believe, sense C, in KBT.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

διὸ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διό ἀφέντες τόν τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ Χριστοῦ λόγον ἐπί τήν τελειότητα φερώμεθα μή πάλιν θεμέλιον καταβαλλόμενοι μετανοίας ἀπό νεκρῶν ἔργων καί πίστεως ἐπί Θεόν)

The phrase So then introduces what the author wants his audience to do in response to the warning he gave in [5:11–14](../05/11.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an application or inference. Alternate translation: [Because of that]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀφέντες τὸν τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ Χριστοῦ λόγον, ἐπὶ τὴν τελειότητα φερώμεθα

˓having˒_left (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διό ἀφέντες τόν τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ Χριστοῦ λόγον ἐπί τήν τελειότητα φερώμεθα μή πάλιν θεμέλιον καταβαλλόμενοι μετανοίας ἀπό νεκρῶν ἔργων καί πίστεως ἐπί Θεόν)

The author speaks as if the beginning of the message of Christ were the starting point for a journey and as if maturity were the destination. He speaks in this way to encourage his audience to focus more time and energy on the destination (maturity) than on where they started out (the beginning of the message). He does not want them to replace the beginning of the message with what is related to maturity. Rather, he is exhorting them about what to focus their time and energy on. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [putting to the side the beginning of the message of Christ, let us take up maturity] or [focusing less on the beginning of the message of Christ, let us focus more on maturity]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὸν τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ Χριστοῦ λόγον

The author uses the possessive form to identify the parts of the message about Christ with which a person would “begin.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in a form that is more natural. Alternate translation: [what you first learned about Christ]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐπὶ τὴν τελειότητα

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of maturity, you could express the idea by using an adjective such as “mature.” The idea of maturity could relate primarily to: (1) the audience and how they are becoming “mature.” Alternate translation: [to becoming mature people] (2) the message or teachings that the “mature” learn. Alternate translation: [to teachings for mature people]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

μὴ πάλιν θεμέλιον καταβαλλόμενοι

The author speaks about teaching basic things as if it were laying a foundation. He speaks in this way because the foundation is the first thing that a builder “lays,” and the builder soon begins to build on top of that foundation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [not rehearsing again the simple teachings] or [not learning again the basics]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

μετανοίας ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων, καὶ πίστεως

˱of˲_repentance (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διό ἀφέντες τόν τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ Χριστοῦ λόγον ἐπί τήν τελειότητα φερώμεθα μή πάλιν θεμέλιον καταβαλλόμενοι μετανοίας ἀπό νεκρῶν ἔργων καί πίστεως ἐπί Θεόν)

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of repentance and faith, you could express the ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [about repenting from dead works and about believing]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

νεκρῶν ἔργων

dead works

The author describes the works as if they were a dead person or animal. The author could describe the works as dead because: (1) they cannot accomplish anything, just like a dead person cannot do anything. Alternate translation: [works that accomplish nothing] (2) they lead to physical and spiritual death for the person who does them. Alternate translation: [works that lead to death]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear HEB 6:1

SR Greek word order