Hebrews 6:4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For it is impossible, &c.— "For your apostacy would put an end to my expectation of doing any good to you; it being impossible for those who have been once thoroughly enlightened in the faith, &c." It is thought by some, that we ought to soften the termimpossible, and understand no more by it than this; that it is extremely difficult. But this interpretation may well be called in question, since, when our apostle speaks of the same case, without using the word here rendered impossible, he describes it in terms equivalent; setting it forth as desperate and remediless; ch. Hebrews 10:26, &c. Besides, the circumstances of the sin were so peculiar, that we need not wonder that it should be as remarkably distinguished in its dreadful consequences. See the end of the note on Hebrews 6:6. And have tasted of the heavenly gift, signifies the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, and revealed in the heart; so that the believer becomes a partaker of the Divine Spirit, and consequently of the divine nature, stiled by our Saviour the gift of God, John 4:10. To taste this gift, is to perceive, to be sensible of the truth and power of such gift of God. Perhaps the word tasted, both here and in the next verse, is used by our apostle with a particular regard to the metaphor that he had used before, of food, or strong meat. To be thoroughly convinced and assured of the reality of our possession of this gift through Jesus Christ, is one of the strongest motives to make any one hold fast his profession. It may seem by the next expression as if every one who had embraced the first principles of Christ, or had been baptized into the Christian religion, had been partaker of some gift or other of the Holy Ghost; and in a large sense this may be admitted to be true: but if it be imagined that every Christian enjoyed some or other of the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit—such as healing the sick, casting out devils, speaking with tongues, and the like; this seems more than fairly can be inferred from the present text. For though, in some places, to partake of, signifies to have a portion or share with others in common; (see ch. Hebrews 2:14; Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 3:14.) yet, if a person were convinced of the truth of the gospel, and converted to a saving experience of its power, by hearing the word preached, or by a careful study of the scriptures, accompanied with the aid of the Holy Spirit; or by seeing himself, or being fully satisfied of, the miraculous powers and assistances of the first preachers of the gospel, accompanied with the same divine grace; he might properly enough be said to be a partaker of the Holy Ghost. Instead of were once enlightened—were made partakers, some read, have been, &c. &c.