Hebrews 6:1

Wherefore (dio). Because of the argument already made about the difficulty of the subject and the dulness of the readers. Let us cease to speak (apente ton logon). Second aorist active participle of apihmi, to leave off or behind. Of the first principles of Christ (th arch tou Cristou). Objective genitive Cristou (about Christ). "Leaving behind the discussion of the beginning about Christ," another way of saying again ta stoiceia th arch twn logiwn tou qeou of Romans 5:12 . And press on (kai perwmeqa). Volitive present subjunctive passive, "Let us be borne on" (both the writer and the readers). The Pythagorean Schools use perwmeqa in precisely this sense of being borne on to a higher stage of instruction. Bleek quotes several instances of Greek writers using together as here of apente perwmeqa (Eurip., Androm. 393, for instance). Unto perfection (epi thn teleiothta). Old word from teleio mature, adults as in Romans 5:14 . Only twice in N.T. (here and Colossians 3:14 ). Let us go on to the stage of adults, not babes, able to masticate solid spiritual food. The writer will assume that the readers are adults in his discussion of the topic. Not laying again the foundation (mh palin qemelion kataballomenoi). The regular idiom for laying down the foundation of a building (qemelion, Luke 6:48 ). The metaphor is common ( 1 Corinthians 3:11 ) and the foundation is important, but one cannot be laying the foundation always if he is to build the house. There are six items mentioned here as part of the "foundation," though the accusative didachn in apposition with qemelion may mean that there are only four included in the qemelion. Two are qualitative genitives after qemelion (metanoia and pistew). What is meant by "dead works" (apo nekrwn ergwn) is not clear ( 1 Corinthians 9:14 ), though the reference may be to touching a corpse ( Numbers 19:1 ; Numbers 31:19 ). There are frequent allusions to the deadening power of sin ( James 2:17 James 2:26 ; John 7:25 ; Rom 6:1 Rom 6:11 ; Romans 7:8 ; Colossians 2:13 ; Ephesians 2:1 Ephesians 2:5 ). The use of repentance and faith together occurs also elsewhere ( Mark 1:15 ; Acts 20:21 ; 1 Thessalonians 1:9 ).