The Paradigm Of Kadesh Barnea As A Solution To The Problem Of Hebrews 6:4-6 - Andy Woodspdf
The Paradigm Of Kadesh Barnea As A Solution To The Problem Of Hebrews 6:4-6 - Andy Woodspdf
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  1. 1THEPARADIGMOFKADESHBARNEAASASOLUTIONTOTHEPROBLEMOFHEBREWS6:4-6INTRODUCTIONThewarningfoundinHebrews6:4-6hasprovokeddifficultyanddisagreementamongBibleinterpretersandexegetes.Gromackiobservesthatthispassageis“ProbablythemostcontroversialpassagewithinHebrews...”1Asaresultofthisdifficulty,variousinterpretationshavearisen.MostCalvinistandReformedinterpretersinsistthatthewarningpassageistoostrongtoapplytobelieversandthusunbelieversareinviewintheseverses.Arminianscontendthatthepassageisspeakingofgenuinebelieverswhoareatriskoflosingtheirsalvation.Othersarguethattheseversesarespeakingofgenuinebelieversandtheseverewarningconstitutesamerehypotheticalscenario.Stillotherscontendthatthesesversesspeakofbelieverswhoareinjeopardyoflosingblessings.Whoisright?Howareinterpreterstomakesenseofthisdifficultpassage?Thepurposeofthispaperistoshowthatthedifficultytypicallyassociatedwiththispassageisperhapsoverstated.ConfusiononlyariseswheninterpretersattempttounderstandHebrews6:4-6inisolationofwhatprecedestheseversesafewchaptersearlier.2InHebrews3–4,thewritercompareshisaudiencetothegenerationofJewsthatcommittedthesinofunbeliefatKadeshBarnea(Num13–14).Suchacomparisoniswarrantedonaccountofthesimilaritiesbetweenthetwogroups.FearoftheCanaanitegiantscausedtheExodusgenerationtodistrustGodanddisobeyHiscommandtotakeCanaan.SuchdistrustanddisobediencehadirretrievableconsequencesasthatgenerationpermanentlyforfeitedtheblessingsofinheritingandenjoyingthePromisedLand.Similarly,fearofpersecutionfromtheJewswastemptingtheHebrewChristiansintolapsingbackintoJudaism.SuchpersecutionwascausingthemtoloseconfidenceinGodandthusviolateHis1RobertGromacki,SalvationIsForever(Chicago:Moody,1973),151.2J.DwightPentecost,classnotesofAndyWoodsinBE450ATheBookofHebrews,DallasTheologicalSeminary,February10,Spring2005.
  2. 2admonitiontopressoninthefaith.TheauthorofHebrewsconnectsthesinoftheExodusgenerationwiththatofhisaudienceforthepurposeofshowingthemthattheytoowouldirrevocablyforfeitblessingsiftheyimitatedthedistrustanddisobedienceoftheExodusgeneration.ThecontentionofthispaperisthatiftheinterpreterfirstbeginswithHebrews3–4andconsidershowthewritercompareshisaudiencetothegenerationofJewsthatcommittedthesinofunbeliefatKadeshBarnea(Num13–14),thenthewarningofHebrews6becomesunderstandable.Inotherwords,ifKadeshBarneaisseenastheparadigmfortheBookofHebrews,thenthewarningpassagesaredecipherable.3SuchaperspectivelogicallyleadstheinterpreterawayfromtheCalvinist,Arminian,andhypotheticalviewsandinsteadcausestheinterpretertoembracethelossofblessingview.Inordertobuildthiscase,thepaperwillfirstfocusupontheExodusgeneration.Specificattentionwillbegiventothespiritualstatusofthatgeneration.ItwillbedemonstratedthattheExodusgenerationwasredeemedwithitspopulationregeneratedpriortotheeventsofKadeshBarnea.Thus,theirunbeliefatKadeshBarneadidnotaffecttheirjustifiedstatusbutratherintroducedanirrevocableforfeitureofenjoyingtheblessingsofCanaan.Second,thepaperwillexaminetheaudienceofthewriterofHebrews.Attentionwillbecalledtotheaudience’sregeneratedstatus.Attentionwillalsobecalledtohowthisregeneratedgroupwasalsoonthevergeofexperiencingapermanentlossofblessings.Finally,thepaperwillinteractwithalternativeinterpretationsofHebrews6:4-6.TheseincludetheviewsofCalvinismandArminianism,aswellasthehypotheticalview.ItwillbedemonstratedthatthesealternativeviewsdonotgiveadequateattentiontotheKadeshBarneaparadigmandthusareinadequateincomparisontothelossofblessingsview.3ThisthesisisdevelopedinJ.DwightPentecost,FaithThatEndures:APracticalCommentaryontheBookofHebrews,rev.ed.(GrandRapids:KregelPublications,1992);idem,classnotesofAndyWoodsinBE450ATheBookofHebrews,DallasTheologicalSeminary,Spring2005.
  3. 3THEEXODUSGENERATIONTheExodusGeneration’sRedeemedStatusCrucialtothethesisadvancedinthispaperisthedemonstrationoftheExodusgeneration’sbelievingspiritualstatus.SuchadeterminationiscriticaltowardunderstandingexactlywhatwaslostatKadeshBarnea.Ifitcanbeshownthattheywerealreadyredeemedandregenerated,thenwhatwaslostatKadeshBarneawasnon-soteriologicalinnaturebutratherwasrelatedtoadditionalrewardsorblessingsforfeitedbythatredeemedgeneration.Whiletheremayhavebeensomeunbelieversinthegroup,thebiblicaldatapointsinthedirectionofviewingtheExodusgenerationasredeemedandthecruxofthenationasbelievingandregeneratedpriortotheeventsofNumbers13–14.SeveralcluesfromtheBookofExodusfurnishevidenceofthenation’sredeemedandbelievingstatus.4Forexample,inExodus4:22-23,GodreferredtothenationasHisfirst-bornson.SuchatitlesignifiestheadoptedstatusofYahweh’sspecialnation.Also,inExodus12:27-28,aftertrustinginthePassoversacrifice,thenationisdepictedasbowingdownandworshippingYahweh.Thesecouldhardlyconstitutetheactionsofanunregeneratenation.Moreover,immediatelyafterthemiracleofthepartingoftheRedSea,“thepeoplefearedtheLordandtheybelievedintheLordandinHisservantMoses”(Exod14:31).5AllenobservesthatthisverseisnearlysemanticallyidenticaltoGenesis15:6,whichtheNewTestamentusesasanexampleofAbraham’sjustification(Rom4:3).BothversescontainthehiphilofplustheprepositionfollowedbythenameYahweh.Thus,bothversesmean“tobelieveinYahweh.”ThesamekindofideaisfoundintheNewTestamentconstructionpisteuplustheprepositioneisfollowedbythenameJesusmeaning4JosephDillow,TheReignoftheServantKings:AStudyoftheEternalSecurityandtheFinalSignificanceofMan(MiamiSprings,FL:SchoettlePublishing,1992),50,55.5AllScripturequotationsthroughoutaretakenfromtheNASB.
  4. 4“tobelieveinJesus.”TheonlyrealdifferencebetweenthetwoversesisthatinGenesis15:6theverbisinthesingularwhileinExodus14:31theverbisintheplural.AllenfurtherobservesthatjustasPaulusesthechronologyofGenesis15:6andGenesis17toprovethatAbrahamwasjustifiedbeforebeingcircumcised(Rom4),Exodus14:31couldbesimilarlyusedtoprovethatthenationwasjustifiedbeforereceivingthelaw,whichcamelaterinExodus19–24.6RegardingExodus14:31,theNelson’sNewIllustratedBibleCommentarynotes:WhenwereadsothepeoplefearedtheLordandthewordsthatfollow,wearemeanttounderstandthatthecommunityhadcometosavingfaithandsowerearebornpeople.TheybelievedtheLord(thesamewordingusedofAbraham’ssavingfaithinGen.15:6;readPaul’scommentsinRom.4)...Thepeopleweretransformedspirituallyevenastheyweredeliveredphysically.7Furthermore,Exodus15recordsthenation’sworshipofYahwehafterHehaddeliveredthem.Thenation’sworshipofYahwehisreiteratedinExodus33:10.Suchworshipwouldbeuncharacteristicofanunregeneratepeople.Thenationalsoseemedtoprovidefurtherevidenceofitsregeneratedstatuswhenitpromised,“AllthattheLordhasspokenwewilldo!”(Exod19:8).Thenation’spromisetosubmittoeverythingGodhadrevealedwasreiteratedontwomoreoccasionsafterthelawhadbeengiven(Exod24:3,7).ThesepromisesmustbeemanatingfromspirituallybornpeoplesincethesinfulmindishostiletoGodandunabletosubmittoGod’slaw(Rom8:7-8).Giventhenaturalman’shostilitytoGod,whywouldGodgiveHislaw(Exod19–24)andinstructionsforworship(Exod25–31;35–40)tothosewhoareunregenerateandthusincapableofsuchobedienceandworship?WhileitistruethattheExodusgenerationdidengageinsomeheinoussinsuchasthemanufacturingofagoldencalf(Exod32),suchcarnalbehaviordoesnotdisqualifythemfrombeing6RonaldB.Allen,classnotesofAndyWoodsinBE2006SeminarinTorahandtheFormerProphets,DallasTheologicalSeminary,February17,March3,Spring2005.7EarlRadmacher,RonaldB.Allen,andH.WayneHouse,eds.,Nelson'sNewIllustratedBibleCommentary(Nashville:ThomasNelsonPublishers,1999),113.
  5. 5believers.Asnewbelievers,theywereimmature.Itispossibleforbelieverstoengageincarnalactivity.TheCorinthiansprovideanexampleofthis.Althoughtheirpositionalstatuswasthatofasaint(1Cor1:2),theirpracticalbehaviorwasanythingbutsaintly.ThroughoutthelettertheyaredepictedasfollowingmeninsteadofChrist(1Cor1:10-17),exhibitingworldlywisdom(1Cor1:18-2:16),divisive(1Cor3),sexuallyimmoral(1Cor5;7),litigious(1Cor6),drunkattheLord’stable(1Cor11),abusingtheirspiritualgifts(1Cor12–14),anddenyingtheresurrection(1Cor15).Kendallnoteshowthebiblicalevidencefavorsviewingthenationasregeneratedinspiteofhercarnality.Heobserves:ItwouldbeaseriousmistaketodismissthechildrenofIsraelinthewildernessbywritingthemoffasunregeneratefromthestart.TosaythatsuchpeoplewereneversavedistoflyinthefaceofthememorablefactthattheykeptthePassover.TheyobeyedMoses,whogaveanunprecedented,ifnotstrangecommandtosprinklebloodoneithersideandoverthedoors(Ex.12:7).Buttheydidit...IfobeyingMoses’commandtosprinklebloodonthenightofthePassoverwasnotatypeofsavingfaith,Idonotknowwhatis.Thesepeopleweresaved.Weshallseetheminheaven,evenifitturnsouttheywere“savedsoasbyfire”(1Cor.3:15).8InadditiontothesecluesfoundintheBookofExodus,theNewTestamentalsomakesclearthattheExodusgenerationwasabelieving,redeemedgeneration.Forexample,PaulanalogizestheExodusgenerationtomembersoftheNewTestamentchurch(2Cor10:4-6).Infact,inthispassage,PaulevensaysthatthewaterfromtherockthattheExodusgenerationdrankfromtypifiedspiritualdrinkofferedbythespiritualrockChrist.9Moreover,theauthorofHebrewsincludestheExodusgenerationinthe“HallofFaith”(Heb11:29-30).Heusesthesamephrase“byfaith”todescribethisgenerationthatheusestodescribetheothermembersofthe“HallofFaith.”TheseotherinducteesincludeEnoch,Abraham,Moses,andnumerousothers.Allofthesegiantswerecertainlyjustified.ThereisnodoubtthatEnochwasjustifiedsincehewastranslatedintoheaven(Gen5:24).8R.T.Kendall,OnceSavedAlwaysSaved(Chicago:MoodyPress,1985),153-54.9Dillow,TheReignoftheServantKings:AStudyoftheEternalSecurityandtheFinalSignificanceofMan,45,54,55.
  6. 6Abrahamwasjustified(Gen15:6).Moseswasjustified(Matt17:3).Thepointisthatifthephrase“byfaith”referstoothermembersofthe“HallofFaith”thatweknowwereregenerated,thenconsistencyseemstodictatethatweviewtheExodusgenerationasregeneratedaswellsincethesamephrase“byfaith”isalsousedtodescribethem.10DespitetheevidenceofthebelievingstatusoftheExodusgeneration,manystillcontendthatthisgenerationwasnotregeneratedonaccountofthefactthattheyfailedtoenterthePromisedLand.ChristianhymnssometimesanalogizethepassingfromthislifeintoheavenwiththecrossingoftheJordanintoCanaan.NumerousinfluentialcommentariesattempttodrawaparallelbetweentheentranceintoCanaanintheOldTestamentwiththeNewTestamentbeliever’sentranceintoheaven.11Forexample,PinkconnectsthejourneyfromEgypttoCanaanwiththeChristian’sjourneyintoheaven.12Hoekemaobserves,“Canaan,therefore,wasnotanendinitself;itpointedforwardtothenewearth...ofwhichCanaanwasonlyatype.”13AccordingtoFairbairn,“TheoccupationoftheearthlyCanaanbythenaturalseedofAbraham,initsgrandandultimatedesign,wasatypeoftheoccupationbytheredeemedchurchofherdestinedinheritanceofglory.”14Althoughsuchanequationmightatfirstsoundgoodatadevotionallevel,itrepresentstheologicalerror.IfCanaanrepresentsheaven,thenMosesisnotacitizeninheavensinceHediedbeforeenteringCanaan(Deut3:27;4:21-22;31:2;32:52;34:5-8).ToarguethatMosesnevermadeitintoheavenisquiteunsatisfactorygiventhefactthatheappearedwithChristontheMountofTransfiguration(Matt17:3),isenumeratedinthe“HallofFaith”(Heb11:23-28),andmaybeoneofthetwowitnessesdepictedintheBookofRevelation(Rev11:6).15Furthermore,ifCanaan10Ibid.,54.11Ibid.,55-56.12ArthurPink,AnExpositionoftheBookofHebrews(GrandRapids:Baker,1968),196.13AnthonyHoekema,TheBibleandtheFuture(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1979),279.14PatrickFairbairn,TypologyofScripture(1845-47;reprint,NewYork:FunkandWagnalls,1900),2:4.15Dillow,TheReignoftheServantKings:AStudyoftheEternalSecurityandtheFinalSignificanceofMan,50.ForanalternativeviewarguingthatthefigureInRevelation11:6isMoseslikeratherthanMoseshimselfseeJ.
  7. 7representsheaven,thenoneisforcedtoconcludethatallbuttwoofthe2.5millionmembersoftheExodusgenerationareinhell.BecauseJoshuaandCalebweretheonlytwomembersfromthatgenerationtoenterCanaan,theyarethatgeneration’sonlyrepresentativesinheaven.16AccordingtoFarrar,“If...therestmeantheaven,itwouldbeagainstallScriptureanalogytoassumethatalltheIsraeliteswhodiedinthewildernesswereexcludedfromfuturehappiness.Andtherearemanyotherdifficultieswhichwillatoncesuggestthemselves.”17VariousOldTestamentpassagesmakeitclearthatJoshuaandCalebenteredthelandnotbecausetheywerejustifiedsoteriologicallybutratherbecausetheyfollowedtheLordwhole-heartedly.18Inotherwords,becauseoftheirfaithandobedienceinGodaftertheywerejustified,theyweretheonlytwoofthatredeemedgenerationtoentertheland.Numbers14:24says,“ButMyservantCaleb,becausehehasadifferentspiritandhasfollowedmefully,Iwillbringintothelandwhichheentered,andhisdescendantsshalltakepossessionofit.”AccordingtoNumbers32:11-12,“NoneofthemenwhocameupfromEgypt,fromtwentyyearsoldandupward,shallseethelandwhichIsworetoAbraham,toIsaac,andtoJacob;fortheydidnotfollowmefully,exceptCaleb...andJoshua...fortheyhavefollowedmefully.”InJoshua14:8-9,Joshuasays,“...IfollowedtheLordmyGodfully.SoMosessworetomeonthatday,saying,‘Surelythelandonwhichyourfoothastroddenshallbeaninheritancetoyou...becauseyouhavefollowedtheLordmyGodfully.’”19AparallelcanbefoundinthelifeofAbraham.20Althoughhewasjustifiedalready(GenDwightPentecost,ThingstoCome:AStudyinBiblicalEschatology(Findley,OH:DunhamPublishingCompany,1958),306-7.16ZaneHodges,“Hebrews,”inTheBibleKnowledgeCommentary,ed.JohnF.WalvoordandRoyB.Zuck(Wheaton:Victor,1983),787.17F.W.Farrar,“TheEpistleofPaultheApostletotheHebrews,”inCambridgeGreekTestamentforSchoolsandColleges(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1984),67.18Dillow,TheReignoftheServantKings:AStudyoftheEternalSecurityandtheFinalSignificanceofMan,49.19Emphasisismineintheprecedingpassages.20Dillow,TheReignoftheServantKings:AStudyoftheEternalSecurityandtheFinalSignificanceofMan,53-54,58.
  8. 815:6),hisentranceintotheblessingsoftheAbrahamiccovenantwasonlypossiblethroughhispersonalobedience.Thisbecomesclearthroughthephrase,“...becauseyouhaveobeyedMyvoice”foundinGenesis22:18.AllofthisinformationestablishesthatthereisnonecessarynexusbetweenthefailuretoenterCanaanandbeinganunbeliever.ThesinoftheExodusgenerationatKadeshBarneawasnotthesinofbeinganunbeliever.Rather,theirsinwasinbeingunbelievingtowardGod’scommandtotakeCanaan.TheExodusGeneration’sIrrevocableDecisionSincetheExodusgenerationwasalreadyregenerated,believing,andredeemedpriortotheeventsofKadeshBarnea,whatthenationforfeitedinNumbers13–14wasunrelatedtotheopportunitytobesavedbutratherinvolvedtheblessingsofinheritingtheland.Theseblessingswereirretrievablylostforthatgeneration.SuchirrevocabilitycanbeseeninNumbers14:20-38whenGodannouncesjudgmentuponthatgenerationfortheirunbeliefanddisobedience.Inthissection,GodrepeatedlyreaffirmsthattheExodusgenerationwouldneverseethePromisedLand.Suchirrevocabilitycanalsobeseeninthenation’sdecisiontoenterthelandanywaythenextday.Theywerewarnednottoandweresubsequentlydefeated(Num14:40-45).Pentecostexplains,“ThusGodmadeitimpossibleforthosewhohadrebelled–eventhoughtheyrepented–toproceedintothelandtoenjoyitsblessings.Theirlossofprivilegewas,inotherwords,irreversible.”21AnexampleofsuchanirreversibleforfeitureofblessingscanalsobefoundinthelifeofEsau.Afterbarteringawayhisbirthrightinexchangeforsomevegetablestew(Gen25:29-34),helaterrepentedwithtears(Gen27:38).“However,neitherEsau’spleanorhistearscouldbringIsaac’sblessingstohim.Byhisearlierwillfulact,theprivilegesandblessingsthatmighthave21Pentecost,FaithThatEndures:APracticalCommentaryontheBookofHebrews,106.
  9. 9belongedtoEsauwereforeverlost.”22Insum,sincetheExodusgenerationistheparadigmforunderstandingHebrews,therearetwothingsthatmustbeunderstoodaboutthatgenerationbeforethewarningpassagesofHebrewscanbegrasped.First,theExodusgenerationwasalreadybelieving,redeemed,andregeneratedpriortotheeventsatKadeshBarnea.Thus,whatthatgenerationforfeitedinNumbers13–14involvedblessingsreceivedaftersalvation.Second,theforfeitureoftheblessingofenjoyingthelandwasanirreversibledecision.NowthatthisfoundationhasbeenlaidweareinapositiontobetterunderstandthewarningpassageofHebrews6.HEBREWS6:4-6IftheExodusgenerationandtheincidentofKadeshBarneaistheparadigmfortheBookofHebrews,thenthecharacteristicsthatepitomizedtheExodusgenerationshouldalsobethesameattributesthatcharacterizethoseaddressedinHebrews6.Intheprevioussection,itwasestablishedthattheExodusgenerationwasredeemedandthattheirdisobedienceinNumbers13–14introducedanirreversibleforfeitureofblessings.Inthisportionofthepaper,itwillbesimilarlyshownthatthoseaddressedinHebrews6werealsoregeneratedandonthevergeofirreversiblyforfeitingblessings.TheBelievingStatusofThoseAddressedAproperunderstandingofthewarningisintertwinedwithaproperunderstandingofthespiritualstatusoftheaudience.IfitcanbeshownthattheaddresseesofHebrewswerealreadybelievers,thenwhatthepassageiswarningcanbeforfeitedisnotrelatedtojustificationbutrathertoadditionalblessingsbelieversreceiveaftertheyaresaved.Thisviewallowsforatheologythatsayswhileallthoseblessedarebelievers,notallbelieversareblessed.Thus,thepurposeofthissectionistodemonstratethatthoseaddressedinHebrews6:4-6,liketheExodusgeneration,were22Ibid.
  10. 10alreadybelievers.Thispointbecomesclearbycarefullyexaminingthevariouscontextssurroundingtheversesinquestion.Tothisend,thissectionwillexploretheextendedcontext,theprecedingcontext,theimmediatecontext,andthesubsequentcontextofHebrews6:4-6.ExtendedContextTheextendedcontextreferstothecontextofthebookasawhole.Itisclearfromthebookasawholethattheaddresseesweregenuinebelievers.23Theauthorroutinelyuses“us”whendescribinghisaudiencethusequatinghisownspiritualstatuswiththatofhisaudience(Heb1:2).Healsoreferstohisaudienceasthosewhohadtheirsinspurged(1:3)andthosewhowereonthevergeofneglectingratherthanrejectingtheirsalvation(2:1-3).Thenotionofneglectingimpliesapriorpossession.Forexample,thefactthatTimothywastoldnottoneglecthisministrygiftautomaticallyimpliesthathepresentlypossessessuchagift(1Tim4:14).24Healsocallshisaudienceholybrethrenwhoarepartakersoftheheavenlycalling(3:1).Theterm“brethren”isusedtentimesinHebrews.Fouroftheseusesdonotdescribetheoriginalaudience.Thewordsimplyreferstoeitherhumanityingeneral(2:17)orisusedintheOldTestamentsenseofJewishbrethren(2:12;7:5;8:11).However,theremainingsixusesdodescribetheoriginalaudience.Theseuseseitherinarguablyrefertobelieversormustrefertobelieverssincetheexhortationstheyareassociatedwithwouldbeinapplicabletounbelievers(2:11;3:1,12;10:19;13:22,23).25Inchapterfourthewriterexpressesconcernthathisaudiencewillnotattainrestratherthannotattainsalvation(4:1).Healsoreferstothemasfellowbelieverstogetherwithhim(4:3).HeassumesthatChristtheirhighpriestisintercedingforthem(4:14,cf.7:26-8:1;10:21),andthatthey23MostoftheitemsenumeratedonthefollowinglistwereoriginallycompiledinIbid.,29-31.24MikeDuffy,“TheHermeneuticalProblemoftheMixedAudienceintheBookofHebrews”(Th.M.thesis,DallasTheologicalSeminary,1988),38.25Ibid.,32-34.
  11. 11alreadyhaveaccesstothethroneofgracetoobtainhelpintimeofneed(4:16).Heassumestheirneedispatientenduranceratherthansalvation(10:36-39).Accordingto10:22-25,theyhavebeencleansed,sprinkledfromanevilconscience,madeapublicconfession,andidentifiedwithotherbelievers.HepresupposesthattheycouldservethelivingGod(9:14),havebeensanctified(10:10),havereceivedtheministryoftheHolySpirit(10:15),andthatJesusistheauthorandfinisheroftheirfaith(12:2).Healsoreferstothemassons(12:7)andasthosewhoareinheritingakingdom(12:28).Thebelievingstatusoftheaudienceisalsoevidencedthroughthenumerousexhortationsgiveninthebook.Pentecostidentifiesatleast38exhortationsthatthewritergivestohisreaders.26YetthereisnottobefoundinthebookasingleexhortationtotrustChristforsalvation.Onewouldexpectthisexhortationtoshowupatleastonceifthewriterwasaddressingunbelievers.27Bywayofcomparison,oneofthereasonsweknowthattheGospelofJohnhasanevangelisticpurposeisbecausethepurposestatementofthebookisanexhortationtosavingfaith(John20:31).YetnosimilarexhortationisfoundinHebrews.PrecedingContextTheprecedingcontextreferstotheversesoccurringimmediatelybeforetheversesinquestion.Inthiscase,theprecedingcontextencompasses5:11-6:3.Itwillnowbeshownthatthissectioncouldonlybedescribingbelievers.Lookingfirstat5:11-14,sixfactsmakeitclearthatthissectionreferstobelievers.First,theyareencouragedtogrow.28Youdonotencouragean26Pentecost,FaithThatEndures:APracticalCommentaryontheBookofHebrews,33-34.27Duffy,“TheHermeneuticalProblemoftheMixedAudienceintheBookofHebrews,”40.28F.F.Bruce,TheEpistletotheHebrews,NewInternationalCommentaryontheNewTestament(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1964),108;B.F.Westcott,TheEpistletotheHebrews,2ded.(London:Macmillan,1892;reprint,GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1984),135.
  12. 12unbelievertogrow.Rather,youencouragesuchapersontogetsaved.29Second,hecallsthem“babes”(5:13).Suchterminologyreferstonewspirituallybornpeopleratherthantounbelieversbecauseunbelieversmustbebornagain(John3).30“Babes”isfrequentlyusedintheNewTestamenttocontrastimmaturebelieverswithmaturebelievers(Gal4:3;1Cor2:6;3:1;14:20;Eph4:13-14).31Third,hestatesthatsomeofthemshouldbeteachersbynow(5:12).Thewritercertainlywouldnotbeadmonishingunbelieverstoteachbelievers.32Fourth,hesaysthattheyneedmilkandnotsolidfood(5:12).ElsewherePeterdescribesnewlybornbelieversasthosewhohungerafterthemilkoftheword(1Peter2:2).Theneedoftheunsavedisnotmilkbutlife.33Fifth,hedescribeshisaudienceasthosewhoareslowtolearn(5:11).Itisthisreasonthathascausedhimtointerrupthistrainofthoughtandinterjectthewarningof5:11-6:20.HewantstoconveytothemthecomplexspiritualtruthoftheMelchizedekianorderbutheisunabletodosoduetotheirspiritualinfancy.Thiscannotbedescribingunbelieverswhoarenotmarkedbyaslownessoflearningbutratherbyaninabilitytolearnspiritualtruth(1Cor2:14;2Cor4:4;Eph2:1-3;Rom3:11).Giventheirlimitations,howcouldanunbelieverbeexpectedtodigestthecomplexspiritualtruthoftheMelchizedekianpriesthood?34Sixth,hedesiresforhisaudiencetotrainthemselvesbyGod’swordsothattheycandistinguishbetweengoodandevil(5:14).Yetsuchdiscernmentwouldbeimpossibleforanunbelieverduetotheirspiritualblindnessanddeadness.Insum,theseversesareclearlyspeakingofbelievers.MacArthur,aCalvinistinterpreter,attemptstogetaroundtheclearimportoftheseversesbymakingthemapplytounbelievers.He29Duffy,“TheHermeneuticalProblemoftheMixedAudienceintheBookofHebrews,”40.30J.B.Rowell,“ExpositionofHebrewsSix,”BibliothecaSacra94(July-September1937):325.31Farrar,“TheEpistleofPaultheApostletotheHebrews,”78.32Duffy,“TheHermeneuticalProblemoftheMixedAudienceintheBookofHebrews,”44.33Rowell,“ExpositionofHebrewsSix,”325.34Dillow,TheReignoftheServantKings:AStudyoftheEternalSecurityandtheFinalSignificanceofMan,448.
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