I suggest that you read accurately what I write.
I did read accurately what you wrote in the post. I even quoted it.
If you would have said:
it is IMPOSSIBLE to restore
them to repentance, so says
Heb 6:4-6 (ESV):
then that's exegesis of Hebrews 6:4-6. Then it's simply a matter of exegesis of the rest of the passage to determine who "
them" are that the author mentions that it is impossible to restore to repentance.
How you 'exegete' the "
them" into being "Christian apostates" is NOT exegesis, however, but rather an example of the very definition of eisegesis. The passage never says the "
them" are Christian apostates. But you do.
You seem to be reading that idea into the Text, versus reading the Text itself. Because the Text never calls "them" either Christians or apostates.
What it does say concerning the “them” in the passage is extensive and quite literally non-Christian, not Christian (a follower of Christ, re-born from above, indwelt with the Holy Spirit, etc.):
It says the “them” are Hebrew people who have:
- once been enlightened by the Holy Spirit
[The word “enlightened” simply means illuminated or to reveal or to make evident. It does NOT mean to become Christian. It does NOT say they have been re-born by the Holy Spirit or indwelt by the Holy Spirit in order to follow Christ. It simply means that the Holy Spirit once made Christ (the Messiah) evident to these particular Hebrews (“them”). Period, nothing more, nothing less.]
- tasted the heavenly gift (the Holy Spirit)
[Again, the word “tasted” does NOT say or mean they have been given the gift of Eternal Life or indwelled with the Holy Spirit or become a Christian, etc. Rather, the “them” have once received a taste of the heavenly gift of Holy Spirit and rejected Him (fell away, v6) from that one-time illumination (light of Christ/Messiah given to them by the Holy Spirit). Once again, this statement by the author in no way justifies assuming the “them” are Hebrews turned Christians. Do you think everybody that hears the Holy Spirit once does in fact yield to the Holy Spirit? Especially a Hebrew used to offering sacrifices over and over for their sins.]
- sharers of the Holy Spirit
[The Holy Spirit shared the message of Christ evidently with these particular Hebrews and they rejected Him, v6. How in the world that makes them a “Christian” (a follower of Christ) as you are claiming, I have no idea. It’s certainly not from exegesis of this verse.]
- tasted the good word of God
[Someone (a Hebrew in this case) must claim Jesus Christ (the good Word of God) as Lord to become a Christian (follower of Christ Jesus), not simply taste/experience Him. Lot’s of people come to a gathering of Christians (church) to “taste/experience” Jesus but lots of them walk away from that experience without accepting Jesus Christ as Lord.]
- tasted the powers of the coming age
- fallen away
[This word “parapipto’ is NOT the same word as “apostate”. It simply and uniquely means what it says. To fall away/fall back, Para (close)-Pipto (fall). It’s literally the only time in the whole Bible the word is used. Therefore, its Biblical meaning must come from within this usage as there are no other examples of it being used to compare meanings. It’s a compounding of two words meaning in essence that they were close but fell. Indeed, they were close to becoming a Hebrew turned Christian, but fell short of it. They “fell back” into being a Hebrew believer and sacrificing bulls/goats over and over again versus accepting Jesus Christ’s one-time sacrifice. Though they were offered a taste of Christ by the Holy Spirit, they fell away from that offer. It does NOT mean they became a Christian (a follower of Christ) then un-became a Christian. Evidently you think it does mean that.]
- crucified again for themselves the Son of God
[Falling back into the Hebrew offerings of bulls/goats over and over is to hold Jesus in contempt i.e. to crucify Him again and again, etc. It most definitely is NOT to be a follower of Christ]
- held him up to contempt
[and notice that this is what they did (past tense) when they rejected the one-time enlightenment given “them” by the Holy Spirit]
Metaphorically stated of “
them” (ground) that:
- produces thorns and thistles
- is worthless and near to a curse,
- whose end is for burning
[None of this metaphorical language suggests the “them” being a Christian. Quite the opposite really]
In contrast to the other Hebrew people (ground) that:
- drinks the rain that comes often upon it [versus once]
- brings forth vegetation usable to those people for whose sake it is also cultivated [versus thorns/thistles]
- shares a blessing from God [Versus worthless and near to a curse]
- are dear friends and belonging to salvation. [versus whose end is for burning]
[Now these people sounds like people that belong to salvation to me [versus those that don’t].
