Hebrews 6:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"We desire," he says. Therefore we do not merely want this in words. But tell us, what do you desire?

We desire that you be virtuous, not condemning you for the past, but fearing for the future.

Nor did he say, "not condemning you for the past, but for the present, because you have become corrupt and careless."

See how gently he expressed this, and did not utter a reproach.

What then does he say? "And we desire that each one of you show the same zeal to the full assurance of hope until the end."

Paul's wisdom is wonderful. He does not say openly that they have weakened or fallen.

For to say, "we desire that each one of you," means: I desire that you always be diligent, and that as you were before, so you may be now and in the future.

It is as though someone asked: Why did you say this, Paul, if you did not wish to punish us?

He answers that he said it because he desired them to act well in the future also. He is not condemning them for the past, but fearing for the future.

He did not say, "I want," which would show the authority of a teacher, but "I desire," which belongs to fatherly love.

For I do not desire this in words only, but my soul burns for you. Understand the expression "I desire" in this way.

And not simply for you all, but for each one individually. So he cared for all, both small and great, and knew them all.

"That you may show the full assurance of hope." That is, that you may display complete and perfect hope, and not be troubled.

But we desire that each of you should show his zeal before his neighbors, not in order to display himself before his neighbors, but so that your steadfastness may be proclaimed, because you await the full assurance of hope.

By these words the Apostle indicates that in the beginning they showed greater magnanimity, but the continual and unbroken waves of adverse circumstances had dulled it.

Yet he also showed his own tender concern. For he says: It is desirable and greatly longed for by me always to see this zeal in you.

This will happen if you hold within yourselves, without any doubt, the hopes given to you concerning the future.

Look to those saints who were glorified by faith, and who, because of great patience, enjoyed the promised blessings.

For comparison he mentions many, but for the moment he brings forward the patriarch Abraham. He shows that although Abraham received God's promises, he saw their fulfillment only after a very long time had passed.

He desires each to show the same diligence even to the end, so that you may persuade those who see your zeal that you hope for the good things to come. For the one who is zealous here is zealous in hope of the recompense there.

Having spoken above about full assurance in hope, the Apostle showed that God gave Abraham full assurance. It was not the assurance that, by reason of his works, pertained to his own life, but that which belonged to him through the divine economy of salvation.

Nevertheless, concerning the Hebrews to whom he writes the epistle, the Apostle hopes "that they are in a better state, though he speaks thus." Therefore he invites them to labor patiently for their salvation, like Abraham, who "after long patience obtained the promise" given to him by God with an oath (Heb 6:9-15).

But lest he strike his readers too hard by depicting the terrible consequences of falling away, the Apostle considers it necessary to explain that he does not regard them as already fallen and lost.

God is just and will not forget to help those who have done much good in His name.

The Apostle only desires that each of them cultivate hope as firm as their Christian love had formerly been strong.

They must not grow weak in Christian hope. Rather, they must imitate those fellow Christians who, for their faith and steadfastness in sufferings, receive what was promised to them.