Hebrews 6:9
in Hebrews 6Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak:
KJV
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
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This verse in Hebrews 6
Commentary
15 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things - We confidently hope for better things respecting you. We trust that you are true Christians; that you will produce the proper fruits of holiness; that you will be saved. “Things that accompany salvation.” Things that pertain to salvation. The Greek phrase here means, “near to salvation,” or things that are conjoined with salvation. So Coverdale renders it, “and that salvation is nigher.” The form of expression seems to refer to what was said in Heb 6:
This site's exposition
better things in your case
on Hebrews 6:9-10
After the warning the writer calls the readers beloved and says we are convinced of better things in your case. He grounds that judgment on their service to the saints and on God's character, for God is not unjust.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Having sufficiently struck them by calling them sluggish, and saying other things, he now comforts them; therefore he did not say, "I think," but "I am convinced." "and things pertaining to salvation." Being near. "even though we speak in this way." He says, I know …
A commentator
Ephrem the SyrianCOMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS · Written before 373.
proposed
After the apostle said these words and discouraged them from sinning and being in want of propitiation, he changed his tone and encouraged them, as if to say, "If there is no second baptism to purify you, your deeds and charity are to be an …
Having therefore sufficiently rebuked them, and alarmed and wounded them, he in turn heals them, so as not to cast them down too much, and make them supine. For he that strikes one that is "dull," makes him more dull. So then he neither flatters them throughout, lest he should make them supine, nor does he wound them throughout, but having inserted a little to wound them, he applies much to heal in what follows. For what does he say? We speak not these things, as having condemned you, nor as thinking you to be full of thorns, but fearing lest this should come to pass. For it is better to terrify you by words, that ye may not suffer by the realities. And this is specially of Paul's wisdom. Moreover he did not say, We think, or, we conjecture, or, we expect, or, we hope, but what? "But beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak." Which word he also used in writing to the Galatians: "But I am persuaded of you in the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded." (Gal. v. 10.) For in that instance, inasmuch as they were greatly to be condemned, and he could not praise them from things present, he does it from things future ("that ye will be none otherwise minded," he says): he said not, ye are, but "ye will be none otherwise minded." But here he encourages them from things present. "We are persuaded better things of you, beloved, and things that accompany to salvation, though we thus speak." And since he was not able to say so much from things present, he confirms his consolation from things past.
The Medieval Church2 voices
301. – Because the Apostle had said many seemingly harsh things about their state, now to keep them from despair, he shows the intention he had in saying these things, namely, to snatch them from danger. Hence, he does two things: first, he shows the …
Having sufficiently rebuked and frightened them, he again consoles, so as not to make them completely careless. For whoever punishes a lazy person severely makes him even lazier. Therefore he says: I say this not because I have condemned you, and not because I consider …
8 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
But, beloved - in this one place he calls them so. he never uses this appellation, but in exhorting. We are persuaded of you things that accompany salvation - We are persuaded you are now saved from your sins; and that ye have that faith, love, and holiness, which lead to final salvation.
There are things that accompany salvation, things that are never separated from salvation, things that show the person to be in a state of salvation, and will issue in eternal salvation. The things that accompany salvation are better things than ever any hypocrite or apostate enjoyed.
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you,....
And the doctrine of an inward baptism, that of the Spirit sprinkling the blood of Christ upon the soul, for justification, and the graces of the Spirit for sanctification. This ordinance of baptism is a foundation to be rightly laid, and daily remembered, but not repeated.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Greek "the things which are better"; that ye are not thorn-bearing, or nigh unto cursing, and doomed unto burning, but heirs of salvation in accordance with God's faithfulness (Heb 6:10). we are persuaded--on good grounds; the result of proof.
I AM not quite certain that my text will warrant all I shall say upon it this day if read and understood in its connection. But I have taken the words rather by accommodation than otherwise, and shall make use of them as a kind of heading to the discourse which I hope to be enabled to deliver. I sat myself down, and I meditated on this subject—“Things that accompany Salvation.” And after some period of rumination, my thoughts assumed the form of an allegory; in which I hope to present them to you this morning.
I AM not quite certain that my text will warrant all I shall say upon it this day if read and understood in its connection. But I have taken the words rather by accommodation than otherwise, and shall make use of them as a kind of heading to the discourse which I hope to be enabled to deliver. I sat myself down, and I meditated on this subject—“Things that accompany Salvation.” And after some period of rumination, my thoughts assumed the form of an allegory; in which I hope to present them to you this morning. I compared Salvation to a rich and costly treasure, which God in his infinite love and mercy had determined to send into the world, and I remembered that our Lord Jesus was so much interested in the bringing of this Salvation to this earth, that he did send all that he had, and came himself to attend and to accompany this Salvation. I then pictured to myself a great march of bright ones through this land, carrying in their midst the sacred jewel of Salvation. I looked forward, and I saw a mighty van-guard, who already had attained the shores of Eternity. I looked around Salvation, and I saw it always in every case attended with divers graces and virtues which seemed to be like troops and soldiers to guard it in the ran, about its flanks, and in the rear. Before we begin, however, let us just make this caution. When the Apostle speaks of virtues and of graces, he calls them “things that accompany Salvation,” not things which cause it. Our faith does not cause Salvation, nor our hope, nor our love, nor our good works; they are things which attend it as its guard of honor. The origin of Salvation lies alone in the sovereign will of God the Father; in the infinite efficacy of the blood of Jesus—God the Son, and in the divine influence of God the Holy Spirit.
But, beloved - Here he softens what he had before said; having given them the most solemn warning against apostasy, he now encourages them to persevere, commends the good that is in them, and excites them to watchfulness and activity. Better things of you - Than that you shall resemble that unfruitful ground that can be improved by no tillage, and is thrown into waste, and is fit only for the beasts of the forests to roam in. Things that accompany salvation - Τα εχομενα σωτηριας· Things that are suitable to a state of salvation; you give proofs still that you have not, whatever others have done, departed from the living God. Several of your brethren have already apostatized, and the whole nation is in a state of rebellion against God; and, in consequence of their final rejection of Christ and his Gospel, are about to be finally rejected by God. They must meet with destruction; they have the things that are suitable to, and indicative of, a state of reprobation; the wrath of God will come upon them to the uttermost; but, while they meet with destruction, you shall meet with salvation. It is worthy of remark, that no genuine Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem; they all, previously to the siege by Titus, escaped to Pella, in Coelosyria; and it is as remarkable that not one Jew escaped! all either fell by the sword, perished by famine, or were led into captivity! According to their own imprecation, His blood be upon us and our children, God visited and avenged the innocent blood of Christ upon them and upon their posterity; and they continue to be monuments of his displeasure to the present day.
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Πεπείσμεθα | pepeismetha | We have been persuaded | G3982 → | 51 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| περὶ | peri | concerning | G4012 → | 332 times |
| ὑμῶν, | humon | you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἀγαπητοί, | agapetoi | beloved, | G27 → | |
| τὰ | ta | [of] <the> [things] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κρείσσονα | kreissona | better | G2908 → | 19 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐχόμενα | echomena | [things] accompanying | G2192 → | 707 times |
| σωτηρίας, | soterias | salvation, | G4991 → | 49 times |
| εἰ | ei | if | G1487 → | 508 times |
| καὶ | kai | even | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οὕτως | houtos | like this | G3779 → | 208 times |
| λαλοῦμεν. | laloumen | we speak. | G2980 → | 294 times |
ΠεπείσμεθαWe have been persuaded
pepeismethaG3982 →51 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
περὶconcerning
periG4012 →332 times
ὑμῶν,you,
humonG4771 →2973 times
ἀγαπητοί,beloved,
agapetoiG27 →
τὰ[of] <the> [things]
taG3588 →19766 times
κρείσσοναbetter
kreissonaG2908 →19 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐχόμενα[things] accompanying
echomenaG2192 →707 times
σωτηρίας,salvation,
soteriasG4991 →49 times
εἰif
eiG1487 →508 times
καὶeven
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οὕτωςlike this
houtosG3779 →208 times
λαλοῦμεν.we speak.
laloumenG2980 →294 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Corinthians 7:10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
it leads to
- Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,
- Acts 11:18
When they heard this, their objections were put to rest, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
- 2 Timothy 2:25–26
He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
- 2 Samuel 12:13
Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.
- Luke 18:13
But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
- Acts 3:19
Through
Hebrews 2:3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
it leads to
- Hebrews 10:28–29
Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- Hebrews 12:25
See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if…
- Hebrews 10:28–29
Through
Hebrews 10:39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
it leads to
- 1 John 5:5
Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
- 1 John 5:5
Where this verse is studied
About Hebrews
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon No. 152: “Things That Accompany Salvation” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 10; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.