Hebrews 6:4-8
QUESTION
What do Primitive Baptists believe about the warnings in Hebrews 6:4-8?
CONTROVERSIAL PASSAGE
Admittedly this is a somewhat controversial passage and there have been many views expressed on it over the years. Since the doctrine of preservation is well established (Jude 1:1), we must reject any interpretation that suggests that a child of God can lose their eternal salvation. This alone eliminates many of the interpretations in the Christian marketplace. To build a proper interpretation of this passage, let’s start by reading the passage:
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.” (Hebrews 6:4-8)
WHO IS IN VIEW?
How to handle this passage revolves around determining what group of people are in view: the elect or the non-elect? If it is speaking of the non-elect, then it is describing people who SEEM to be something they are not - false converts who have joined the church and APPEAR to be Christians but are not. It is speaking of unregenerate and unbelieving people in the church. This interpretation, popular among Lordship Salvationists and other modern Calvinists, seems to contradict the clear testimony of the passage itself. In other words, to arrive at this conclusion, one must insist that, “those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,” actually means, “those who SEEM TO HAVE BEEN once enlightened and SEEM TO have tasted of the heavenly gift, and SEEM TO HAVE BEEN made partakers of the Holy Ghost.” I do not believe the context provides anything that affords this degree of interpretive latitude.
Given that the passage takes the form of a warning, it seems preferable to insist that it is speaking of the regenerate, elect convert; not the unregenerate, non-elect false-convert. Indeed, no warning to the unregenerate non-elect could prove profitable since those in that state cannot receive spiritual truth (I Corinthians 2:14) nor can they do anything to extricate themselves from this condition (Matthew 19:26).
TWO POSSIBLE VIEWS
I am aware of two possible interpretations of the passage that are non-contradictory and consistent with the core precepts of grace affirmed elsewhere in scripture:
The HYPOTHETICAL NEGATIVE view suggests that the writer is exploring the results of a regenerate man “falling away” in an eternal sense. In so doing, he is attempting to demonstrate how untenable this scenario is in light of the promises of God. Paul does speak this way on occasion (I Corinthians 15:13-15) so there is some precedent for the possibility that this is his intent. There is some merit to this line of reasoning and it should not be quickly dismissed without due consideration, IMO. Prominent PB Elders such as C. H. Cayce have taken this position.
The TEMPORAL JUDGMENT view interprets the passage as speaking to God’s people and warns them of the dreadful consequences of continuing in willful sin after one’s conversion. This interpretation suggests that Christians can reach a “point of no return” in the willful practice of sin, where by persistent rebellion they become so hardened against temporal repentance that it will prove impossible to recover them in this lifetime. This unpleasant truth, rejected by many in Christendom, is nevertheless attested to in the scriptures with the examples of Lot and Solomon, both of whom ended up in a woeful state at the end of their lives arising from the willful pursuit of carnal things. This interpretation limits the punishments for such behavior to the temporal life of the child of God. This too is promoted and believed by many PB Elders with whom I have had this discussion.
CONCLUSION
While I cannot find a glaring contradiction with either of these interpretations, I prefer the latter. It seems more consistent with temporal salvation and warnings against the ill-effects of sin, both of which have important practical implications for disciples and are taught throughout the bible for our benefit.
- Elder Daniel Samons