Hebrews 6:3
in Hebrews 6And this we will do, if God permits.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And this will we do, if God permit.
KJV
And this will we do, if God permit.
⋯
This verse in Hebrews 6
Commentary
13 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And this will we do - We will make these advances toward a higher state of knowledge and piety. Paul had confidence that they would do it (see Heb 6:9-10), and though they had lingered long around the elements of Christian knowledge, he believed that they would yet go on to make higher attainments.
This site's exposition
go on to maturity
on Hebrews 6:1-3
After the dullness of 5:11 to 14, the remedy is to go on to maturity, teleiotes, the goal the whole letter presses toward. The foundation left behind has six items in three pairs: repentance and faith, baptisms and laying on of hands, resurrection and eternal judgment.
This site's exposition
if God permits
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown report two readings in the oldest manuscripts, one a promise and the other an exhortation. They tie the condition to Philippians 2:13, since even a good resolution succeeds only as God works it. John Wesley takes the resolve as pressing on to perfection.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"And this we will do." Which? To be carried to perfection. "if God permits." The phrase "if God permits" is not to indicate that God does not always permit (for God always permits the good and perfect), but as is customary for us to say, …
The Medieval Church4 voices
A commentator
Photios I of ConstantinopleFRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 6.1-3 · Written before 893.
proposed
Although you ought to be teachers, not only are you not teachers, but also you cannot even learn anything except the rather rudimentary and elementary and simple things, and even these things not absolutely but weaker than the beginning of the oracles of God. He …
A commentator
Photios I of ConstantinopleFRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 6.1-3 · Written before 893.
proposed
When he says to leave behind the elementary matters concerning Christ and to leave behind the word which stops any progress at the beginning and to be carried "to perfection," he does not simply say perfection in its proper sense, but the perfection, as it …
286. – Then (v. 3) he shows how difficult it is to carry out his intention. For it is difficult both in itself and in relation to his hearers. Hence he does three things: first, he suggests that in this he especially needs divine help; …
"This we will do" – what? – that is, to go on to perfection, if God also wills it. He said this not as though God did not command it, but as he usually spoke, that if it is pleasing to God, then this is …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
), and then expresses his good hopes concerning them, that they would persevere in faith and holiness, to which he exhorts them, and sets before them the great encouragement they had from God, both with respect to their duty and happiness,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
And this will we do, if God permit.
And thereby he teaches them, 1. That right resolution is very necessary in order to progress and proficiency in religion. That that resolution is right which is not only made in the sincerity of our hearts, but in a humble dependence upon God for strength, for assistance and righteousness, for acceptance, and for time and opportunity.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The "for" in Heb 6:4 refers to this: I say, if God permit, for there are cases where God does not permit, for example, "it is impossible," &c. Without God's blessing, the cultivation of the ground does not succeed (Heb 6:7).
And this will we do - God being my helper, I will teach you all the sublime truths of the Gospel; and show you how all its excellences were typified by the law, and particularly by its sacrificial system.
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τοῦτο | touto | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ποιήσομεν | poiesomen | we will do | G4160 → | 569 times |
| ἐάνπερ | eanper | if indeed | G1437 →G4007 → | 9 times |
| ἐπιτρέπῃ | epitrepe | shall permit | G2010 → | |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεός. | theos | God. | G2316 → | 1312 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τοῦτοthis
toutoG3778 →1381 times
ποιήσομενwe will do
poiesomenG4160 →569 times
ἐάνπερif indeed
ἐπιτρέπῃshall permit
epitrepeG2010 →
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεός.God.
theosG2316 →1312 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
James 4:15Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”
it leads to
- Acts 18:21
But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.
Reached by 4 separate paths from here.
- Romans 1:10
in my prayers at all times, asking that now at last by God’s will I may succeed in coming to you.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 19:21
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
- Lamentations 3:37
Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?
- 1 Corinthians 16:7
For I do not want to see you now only in passing; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
- Acts 18:21
Through
Acts 18:21But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 4:19
But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- James 4:15
Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 4:19
Through
Romans 15:32so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 16:18
For they refreshed my spirit and yours as well. Show your appreciation, therefore, to such men.
- 1 Corinthians 16:18
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); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; 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; Photios I of Constantinople, FRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 6.1-3; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.