Hi Gerhard Ebersoehn,
Gerhard Ebersoehn:
As I've said before, the 'principles' are 'principles', not of lesser significance, exactly for being the 'basics' of Christian Faith, and THEREFORE cannot be repeated. So, if an enlightened should fall, it remains he cannot be enlightened again.
Jim:
I think the author’s point is that the person he is describing has already known the experience of salvation and has then just walked away from it, regarding it as worthless and false; he “fell away.” Renewing such a person again to repentance would be impossible for the simple reason that he’s already been there (the experience) and then decided (1) that he didn’t want it anymore and (2) that it wasn’t actually real. What could one possibly say to such a person or show him to cause him to change his mind and to return to that from he walked away. The answer is: nothing, hence the adjective “impossible.”
However, I think that you’re incorrectly equating what the author says the people to whom he is writing ARE DOING, which is that they are failing to progress beyond the most basic principles of Christian doctrine, and what the author says they HAVE NOT YET DONE, which is that they have not yet fallen away. Although they are not progressing and are still babies in Christ even after a long time in the Faith, they are nevertheless still in Christ; they have not forsaken the Faith. The author’s concern seems to be that if the believers are not moving forward, which he is encouraging them to do, then there is a risk of them moving backward, the most extreme consequence of which is the possibility of actually “falling away” from the Faith itself.
Gerhard Ebersoehn:
But the writer is sure of better things about such a person who has fallen ...
Jim:
I disagree. The author is not saying that the people to whom he is writing the epistle have fallen away. He is saying that whereas they have failed to progress, they have not yet fallen away. He describes the “falling-away” experience as a danger, not as something that has occurred to the people to whom he is writing, hence the statement, “But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak (Hebrews 6:9, ASV).”
Neither is the author saying that there are yet good things in store for the person that he describes in Hebrews 6:4-8 as having “fallen away.” According to the author, there is nothing good in store for such a person, “whose end is to be burned (6:8).”
Gerhard Ebersoehn:
Quoting 1jim, "The fact that RENEWING TO REPENTANCE someone who has abandoned the faith is IMPOSSIBLE is likewise possible and true according to the author." This ... is as crooked a lie as the devil couldn't fabricate!
Jim:
It’s what the author of Hebrews says. If it’s a lie, then the author of Hebrews is the liar. I’m not misunderstanding what he wrote. You’re doing your best to twist what he wrote beyond any resemblance to the actual text in your effort to force it into conformity with what you prefer to believe.
Gerhard Ebersoehn:
There is ONLY ONE 'if'-clause, and that is 6a, "If they fall". So, if they who had been 'renewed' (when 'born again' by the Holy Spirit) should fall (in sin somehow), they cannot be renewed. It is impossible because they ARE born again - ARE 'renewed' persons already and once for all.
Jim:
There is no conditional sentence in Hebrews 6:4-6; there is no “if” (either “ei” or “ean” or “eanper”). There is only the statement that “it is impossible to renew again to repentance the ones” who do the seven actions described by the seven participles, one of these seven actions being to “have fallen away:”
Hebrews 6:4 For impossible (it is) the ones once having been enlightened, both having tasted the heavenly gift and having been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and having tasted the beautiful word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 and having fallen away, again to renew to repentance, (the ones) crucifying to themselves the Son of God and disgracing
Neither is the author talking about falling into a particular sin in Hebrews 6:4-6. He is describing a person who literally abandons the Faith, who no longer believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. It is unbelief against which the author is warning the people to whom he is writing in Hebrews 3-6.
Gerhard Ebersoehn:
This is really word-for-word what the passage states: They CANNOT, "It is impossible". Why impossible? "For that would mean / "SEEING" / because / explained: They would to themselves crucify the Son of God again" It of course is an absolute absurdity -an absolute "impossibility"- He could be crucified again! Consequently then and inevitably, the implication is impossible! It is impossible the foundation could be laid again, or the man be renewed again. As if - as Nicodemus said - a man could enter the womb of his mother again!
Jim:
The author is not saying that the seven actions described by the seven participles in Hebrews 6:4-6 are what is impossible. He is saying that what is impossible is to renew again to repentance those who are described by those seven actions.
Neither is the author saying in Hebrews 6:1-3 that the laying again of the foundation is impossible. This is not an experiential foundation but a doctrinal foundation, which is comprised of the following doctrinal teachings: of repentance from dead works and of faith in God, of the teaching of baptisms, of both the laying of hands and the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. The author says that these same elementary doctrines of Christianity should not be rehashed again but that there should be forward progress to more advanced doctrinal issues. He says that he and his fellow workers in the Gospel will help the people to whom he is writing do this if the Lord allows (them to go there and do this).
Hebrews 5:12 For even owing to be teachers because of the time, again you have the need of someone to teach you the first principles of the word of God, and you have become having need of milk and not of solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes of milk (is) without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a child. 14 But solid food is of adults, who, because of use have the faculties exercised to a discerning both of good and of bad. 6:1 Therefore, having left the word of the first of Christ, we should be led to perfection, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith in God, 2 of the teaching of baptisms, of both the laying of hands and the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we shall do if God allows. 4 For impossible (it is) the ones once having been enlightened, both having tasted the heavenly gift and having been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and having tasted the beautiful word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 and having fallen away, again to renew to repentance, (the ones) crucifying to themselves the Son of God and disgracing
As I said earlier, the author encourages the people to whom he is writing to move forward from childhood to adulthood in the Faith (Hebrews 5:12 – 6:3), because he seems to be concerned that if they are not moving forward, then there is a risk of them moving backward, the most extreme consequence of which being to actually fall way from the Faith itself (Hebrews 6:4-6).
Jim