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

If they shall fall away,— Two things are here to be observed; First, That the apostle speaks of such as not only fell away or apostatized from the genuine experience of the Christian, but also from the very profession of Christianity. This appears, from what he presently adds, to set forth the aggravation of their guilt,—that they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. It is therefore very unreasonable, for persons to give way to despair themselves, or to drive others to it, by applying this text to other, and even the grossest sins, when it only relates to the case of an absolute and complete apostacy. Secondly, As the same thing is spoken of again, ch. Hebrews 10:26, &c. it cannot be improper to compare the two places together, in order to a complete understanding of the apostle's design; and therefore from the other place we may explain this if: If they shall εκουσιως, WILFULLY fall away. We may observe further, that the word παραπεσοντας here used, not only signifies falling away, but "all sinning;" that is, all departing from the rule which ought to have been followed: and accordingly, the substantive παραπτωμα is commonly used for trespass or lapse. Here it signifies a total falling away from Christ; deserting the brethren, and withdrawing from religion in times of difficulty;—crimes hinted at toward the close of this epistle. To renew them to repentance, means inwardly to convince them again of the truth, and bring them afresh to an inward change and new birth. See Colossians 3:10. The apostle adds, seeing they crucify to themselves, &c. That is, "They treat Christ, as if they thought he deserved the sentence executed upon him; and thus they expose him to an open shame, and act as if they thought he deserved to be treated as he was." It may be inquired, why the apostle speaks so severely of the condition of such apostates. Now the reason of this may be taken, partly from the nature of the evidence which they rejected: the fullest and clearest evidence that God ever designed to give of the truth of Christianity, was the miraculous operations of the Spirit; and when men not only experienced the genuine power of Christianity, but were eye witnesses of the miracles wrought in those primitive times, and were themselves empowered to work them, and yet rejected all this evidence, they could have no further or higher means whereby they should be convinced; so that their case must in that respect be absolutely desperate. And, finally, this may be resolved into the righteous judgment of God against such men, for the heinous aggravated wickedness of which they are guilty. If, where men have not had the advantage of this highest evidence, but barely have rejected the love of the truth which they once enjoyed, God may, in many given cases, justly send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; there certainly must be much stronger reason for such a judicial proceeding of God against those who apostatized in the apostolic age, seeing their sin was so very great: and our author grounds this severe sentence upon the greatness of their sin, because they crucified the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame; and in the other place, because they do despight unto the Spirit of grace. See Parkhurst on the word Παραπιπτω.