| Introduction and Overview of Repentance | | Confusion Over Repentance 3 | | Repentance in a Nutshell | | In a Nutshell, Repentance in the Old Testament | | In a Nutshell -- Repentance in the New Testament | | Generic Repentance | | What Is Saving Repentance? | | Repentance: Looking at the Context | | Repentance and the Divinity of Jesus, Part 1 | | Repentance and the Divinity of Jesus, Part 2 | | Repentence and the Divinity of Jesus, Part 3 | | Savins Repentnace About the Person and Work of Christ | | Repentance and Jesus' Offer of Salvation | | Repentance from Religion, Matthew 3:5-9 Part 1 | | Rep;entance from Religion, Matthew 3:5-9 Part 2 | | Repentance from Religion: Matthew 3:5-9, Part 3 | | Repentance from self righteousness: Luke 13:4-5 | | Repentance from Self Righteousness, Luke 13:4-5 | | Repentence from Self Righteousness, Luke 13:4-5 | | Repentance from Religious Ritiuals, Hebrews 6:1-2 | | Repentance from Religious Rituals, Hebrews 6:1-2 | | Repentance and Jesus' Offer of Salvation, Summary | | Repentance from Sin | | Why Would God Need a Bull Horn? | | Repentance throughout the New Testament, Introduction | | Repentance in Matthew 3 | | Repentance in Matthew 4:17 | | Repentance in Matthew 9:13 | | Repentance in Matthew 11:20-24 | | Repentance in Matthew 12:41 | | Repentance in Matthew 21:29 | | Repentance in Matthew 27:3 | | Repentance in Mark 1:4 | | Repentance in Mark 1:15 | | Repentance in Mark 2:17 | | Repentance in Mark 6:12 | | Repentance in Luke 3:3 | | Repentance in Luke 3:8 | | Repentance in Luke 5:32 | | Repentance in Luke 10:13 | | Repentance in Luke 11:32 | | Repentance in Luke 13:3, 5 | | Repentance in Luke 15:7 | | Repentance in Luke 16:30 | | Luke 17:3-4 | | Repentance in Luke 24:47 | | Repentance in Acts 2:38 | | Repentance in Acts 3:19 | | Repentance in Acts 5:31 | | Repentance in Acts 8:22 | | Repentance in Acts 11:18 | | Repentance in Acts 13:24 | | Repentance in Acts 17:30 | | Repentance in Acts 19:4 | | Repentance in Acts 20:21 | | Repentance in Acts 26:20 | | Repentance in Romans 2:4 | | Repentance in Romans 11:29 | | Repentance in 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 | | Repentance in 2 Corinthians 12:21 | | Repentance in 2 Timothy 2:25 | | Repentance in Hebrews 6:1 | | Repentance in Hebrews 6:6 | | Repentance in Hebrews 7:21 | | Repentance in Hebrews 12:17 | | Repentance in 2 Peter 3:9 | | Repentance in Revelation 2:5 (2x) | | Repentance in Revelation 2:16 | | Repentance in Revelation 2:21-22 | | Repentance in Revelation 3:3 | | Repentance in Revelation 3:19 | | Repentance in Revelation 9:20 & 21 | | Repentance in Revelation 16:9 & 11 | | Appendix C, Repentance as a Condition for Salvation, pg. 1 | | Appendix C: Repentance as a Condition for Salvation, pg. 2 | | Appendix D - Repentance from Sin in the New Testament | | Appendix E, Other Theological Usages of Repentance in the New Testament | | Appendix F: Generic Repentance in the New Testament |
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Is this passage soteriological? The author offers three parallel couplets within verses 1-2 which he identifies as: the "first principles of Christ"--taes arxaes tou Xristou logon," and the "foundational elements"--themelion, of the doctrines of Christ.
1) "Repentance from dead works and faith toward God."
2) "the doctrine of baptisms and laying on of hands."
3) "resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."
The couplets are easily discernable by anyone who reads the context, and are further demanded by the Greek language. There are at least three different words for "and" in Greek," kai, te and de. In the verses above, the two related elements in each couplet are held together by the word "kai," a very strong connection, confirming the the relationship between these two concepts. In contrast, the form of the word "and" used to begin the new couplet of verse 2, and again, to begin the new couplet of verse 3, is the word "te." (Technically, "te" is the second word in each of those phrases, "te" being a post enclitic particle.) It is a "weaker" connector. Imagine this distinction being shown by parenthesis around strongly connected words, and an ampersand & connecting strongly related words. The word "and" connects less related words, and there are no parentheses where words are weakly connected. The verse would read as follows:
(repentance from dead works & faith toward God),
and (the doctrine of baptisms & laying on of hands)
and (the resurrection of the dead & eternal judgment).
This probably doesn't teach most of us anything new, since the arrangement of couplets is generally obvious to most readers form the English text, but it confirms from Greek grammar the conclusions we have drawn from English. And the analysis of these couplets reveals another obvious pattern. The first couplet deals with the doctrine of salvation, "of repentance from dead works, and faith toward God), an event that occurs at the very beginning of the Christian life. The second couplet deals with the "journey" of the Christian life (of the doctrine of baptisms, and laying on of hands.) Baptism and laying on of hands are ordinances of the church, which take place after one has been saved, but before one dies. And the final couplet, "of the resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgment) discloses eschatological (end times) doctrines at the close of the age. the resurrection from the dead (for those who are being saved), and eternal judgment (for those who are perishing).
The symmetry and movement of this tri-couplet structure demands that the first couplet is soteriological . . . dealing with eternal salvation. And if it does deal with eternal salvation, then repentance is a requirement for salvation.
Summary:
1) Is this passage soteriological? Unquestionably yes.
2) Is repentance a requirement for salvation? Yes.
3) Is the object of repentance stated implicitly or explicitly? Yes, it is explicitly and plainly stated: One must repent of dead works . . . religious rituals offered to attain a right standing before God, and trust in Christ alone for that salvation.
4) Is this doctrine consistent with other passages of Scripture dealing with eternal salvation? Yes. This very doctrine is taught throughout Scripture. It is called the doctrine of grace.
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Repentance from Religious Rituals, Hebrews 6:1-2 |
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