Hebrews 6:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Therefore, leaving the principles— "Laying aside, comparatively speaking, the doctrines which were taught you when you were first initiated into Christianity." The apostle means what in the preceding chapter were called the elements, or first principles of the oracles of God, Hebrews 6:12.—Let us go on to perfection, τελειοτητα; "To that state of knowledge, experience, and practice, to which "the following doctrines are designed to lead; searching with industry and diligence what the word of God has taught concerning Christ." The τελειοι, perfect, are opposed to babes in Christ. See ch. Hebrews 5:12. The foundation means, the doctrines taught men at first, in order to baptism into Christ. So St. Paul, As a wise master-builder, I have laid the foundation; 1 Corinthians 3:10 and in the next verse, Other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.—Dead works are no where mentioned but in this epistle, in the present verse, and ch. Hebrews 9:14. St. James indeed speaks of faith without works as dead, ch. Hebrews 2:17, &c. by which he means, that it is useless to him who has it; but here dead works are such as are not only useless and unprofitable, but as lead to death. They are such as God will punish with death. All sin exposes men to God's justice, and the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23.