Page 54 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

not do! It is used in the Greek Papyri found in Egypt of (1) men not strong enough to work and (2)
witnesses unable to testify. It is used four times in Hebrews.

1. impossible to renew them again to repentance (6:4)
2. impossible for God to lie (6:18)
3. impossible for OT sacrifices to save (10:4)
4. Without faith it is impossible to please God (11:6)

In each case the term means impossible. Therefore, it is surprising that Lowe and Nida say "In Heb. 6.4
the use of adunaton seems to be an instance of hyperbole in view of the warnings against apostasy (see
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Heb. 5.11-6.12). Therefore, one may translate adunaton in Heb. 6.4 as ‘it is extremely difficult to.'" This
seems more theological than lexical when all other uses of the word in Hebrews demand "impossible."

The reluctance to take this term literally is because it leads to the theology of "once out always out" if
this refers to believers abandoning their faith. Those denominational groups that teach apostasy also
preach repentance and reinstatement. This text seems to depreciate this position.

In many ways the historical setting is the key to the interpretation.
1. Two groups addressed (believing and non-believing Jews)
2. One group (believing Jews who have not matured and are now contemplating returning to
Moses)

This is a similar heresy to the Judaizers in Galatians who were tempted to trust in OT rites (plus Christ).
Paul asserts that they had fallen from grace (cf. Gal. 5:4).

Conclusion

The phrase once enlightened (Hebrews 6:4) refers to some level of instruction in biblical truth. However,
understanding the words of Scripture is not the same as being regenerated by the Holy Spirit. For
example, John 1:9 describes Jesus, the “true Light,” giving light “to every man”; but this cannot mean
the light of salvation, because not every man is saved. Through God’s sovereign power, every man has
enough light to be held responsible. This light either leads to the complete acceptance of Jesus Christ or
produces condemnation in those who reject such light. The people described in Hebrews 6:4–6 are of
the latter group—unbelievers who have been exposed to God’s redemptive truth and perhaps have
made a profession of faith, but who have not exercised genuine saving faith.

The phrase tasted the heavenly gift (Hebrews 6:4) as referring to a momentary experience, akin to Jesus’
“tasting” death (Hebrews 2:9). This brief experience with the heavenly gift is not seen as equivalent to
salvation; rather, it is likened to the second and third soils in Jesus’ parable (Matthew 13:3–23), which
describes people who receive the truth of the gospel but are not truly saved.

Finally, the “falling away” (Hebrews 6:6) is a reference to those who have tasted the truth but, not
having come all the way to faith, fall away from even the revelation they have been given. The tasting of
truth is not enough to keep them from falling away from it. They must come all the way to Christ in
complete repentance and faith; otherwise, they in effect re-crucify Christ and treat Him
contemptuously. Those who sin against Christ in such a way have no hope of restoration or forgiveness

43 Lowe and Nida's Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament says, (p. 669).
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