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NASB | Hebrews 6:4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 6:4 For [it is impossible to restore to repentance] those who have once been enlightened [spiritually] and who have tasted and consciously experienced the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit, |
Bible Question: Who are those "who have once been enlightened"? |
Bible Answer: New Hope Mike, In Hebrews 6:4, "those who have been enlightened" refers to those who have been baptised, as does Hebrews 10:32. The Early Church Fathers called baptism "the bath of enlightenment." The quote from Justin Martyr's First Apologia in the second paragraph below is from 155 A.D. "679. "Christ is Lord of eternal life. Full right to pass definitive judgement on the works and hearts of men belongs to him as redeemer of the world. He 'acquired' this right by his cross. The Father has given 'all judgement to the Son'.[Jn 5:22 ; cf. Jn 5:27 ; Mt 25:31 ; Acts 10:42 ; Acts 17:31 ; 2 Tim 4:1 .] Yet the Son did not come to judge, but to save and to give the life he has in himself.[Cf. Jn 3:17 ; Jn 5:26 .] By rejecting grace in this life, one already judges oneself, receives according to one's works, and can even condemn oneself for all eternity by rejecting the Spirit of love.[Cf. Jn 3:18 ; Jn 12:48 ; Mt 12:32 ; 1 Cor 3:12-15 ; Heb 6:4-6 ; Heb 10:26-31 .]" To view the context, please visit http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/creed9.html#JUDGE 1216. "'This bath is called enlightenment, because those who receive this (catechetical) instruction are enlightened in their understanding . . . .'[St. Justin, Apol. 1, 61, 12: PG 6, 421.] Having received in Baptism the Word, 'the true light that enlightens every man,' the person baptized has been 'enlightened,' he becomes a 'son of light,' indeed, he becomes 'light' himself:[Jn 1:9 ; 1 Thess 5:5; Heb 10:32 ; Eph 5:8 .] Baptism is God's most beautiful and magnificent gift....We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God's Lordship.[St. Gregory Of Nazianzus, Oratio 40, 3-4: PG 36, 361C.]" To view the context, please visit http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/baptism.html#CALLED Emmaus |