once enlightened - The word enlightened means to bring to light, to shed light upon or to cause light to shine upon some object, in the sense of illuminating it. Figuratively, photizo means to give guidance or understanding, to make clear or to cause something to be known by revealing clearly. John 1:9 describes Jesus, the "true Light," giving light "to every man"; but this cannot mean the light of salvation, because not every man is saved. This light either leads to the complete acceptance of Jesus Christ or produces condemnation in those who reject such light.
partakers of the Holy Spirit - Partakers describes one who shares with someone else as an associate in an enterprise or undertaking. It speaks of those who are participators in something. Business partner, companion. Participating in. Accomplice in. Comrade. Metochos is used elsewhere in Hebrews in the context of believers (Hebrews 3:14 - "For we have become partakers of Christ") and thus the statement that the readers have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit seems at first glance to be support that true believers are being addressed, yet there are other ministries of the Holy Spirit that precede the indwelling of believers. It is very plausible to envision an individual becoming a sharer in or partaker of the Spirit (and his pre-salvation ministry - convicting of sin, righteousness and judgment to come) by responding for a time to His drawing power intended to lead sinners to Christ. The translation "shared" implies something done in company with others and before salvation all believers shared in the convicting ministry of the Spirit Who drew them to salvation. Note also that the writer does not state that these individuals were "indwelt by the Holy Spirit" or "sealed by the Holy Spirit" or "possessors of the Spirit's pledge (guarantee) of future inheritance."
tasted the good word of God - They had tasted in such a way as to give them a distinct impression of its character and quality, yet they still turned away. Inherent in the idea of tasting is the fact that one might or might not decide to accept the thing that is tasted. For example, the same Greek word (geuomai) is used in Matthew 27:34 to say that those crucifying Jesus "offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it." Do we taste into one Spirit or drink into one Spirit? (1 Corinthians 12:13).
fall away - I find it interesting that the term "fall away" or "stumble" was used by the Lord Jesus of His 11 disciples at the time of His arrest. The disciples deserted Jesus as was predicted and Peter obviously denied Jesus three times. They were said to "fall away." Matthew 26:31 - Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.' 32 "But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." 33 But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away." Obviously, this was not a loss of salvation. For a righteous man may fall seven times AND rise again, But the wicked shall FALL by calamity. (Proverbs 24:16)
Hebrews 6:7,8 - For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. In this agricultural metaphor, those who receive final judgment are compared to land that bears no vegetation or useful fruit, but rather bears thorns and thistles. When we recall the other metaphors in Scripture where good fruit is a sign of true spiritual life and fruitfulness is a sign of false believers (for example - Matthew 3:8-10; 7:15-20; 12:33-35), we already have an indication that the author is speaking of people whose most trustworthy evidence of their spiritual condition (the fruit they bear) is negative, suggesting that the author is talking about people who are not genuine Christians.
Verse 9 sums it up for me. The writer is speaking to those truly saved (calls them BELOVED). He says that even though he speaks like this concerning THOSE types of people, He is convinced of better things concerning YOU. Things that ACCOMPANY SALVATION. Thorns and briars and permanently falling away do not accompany salvation.
It is generally stated by those who believe salvation can be lost that you can get it back again. If the writer of Hebrews was truly teaching that a really "saved," person really "lost their salvation" then why didn't he simply say, "For it is impossible for those who were once born again or saved, if they fall away, to renew them again to salvation? Why is it that we never find the words "lost or lose your salvation" in the Bible? *That would certainly settle the issue.
Hi Mailmandan,
I find it totally incredible that the OSAS crowd has to twist and turn and change scrpture and words to mean what THEY want it to mean.
You gave the correct meaning to each of the above phrases, but then, in usual manner, you twisted the meaning around to make it mean what suits you.
This is from a bible encyclopedia:
Encyclopedias - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Enlighten
ENLIGHTEN
en-lit'-'-n:
(1) 'or, "illumination" in every sense, used in the ordinary sense of giving natural light (Psalms 97:4 the King James Version; see also Ezra 9:8) or as a sign of health and vigor (1 Samuel 14:27,29). "His eyes were enlightened," literally, "became bright." He had become weary and faint with the day's exertions and anxieties, and now recovers (see Job 33:30 and compare Psalms 13:3). Thus in sickness and grief, the eyes are dull and heavy; dying eyes are glazed; but health and joy render them bright and sparkling, as with a light from within.
(2) In Psalms 18:28 the King James Version, The word naghah, figuratively describes the believer's deliverance from the gloom of adversity and the restoration of joy in the knowledge of God.
(3) Most frequently the terms so translated mean the giving of spiritual light to the soul (Psalms 19:8; Ephesians 1:18, photizo; Hebrews 6:4; 10:32). This spiritual enlightening the Spirit of God brings about through the Divine word (Psalms 119:130; 2 Timothy 3:15; 2 Peter 1:19). Sin mars the intellectual discernment; "but he that is spiritual discerneth all things" (1 Corinthians 2:15 King James Version, margin).
M. O. Evans
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KJV Dictionary Definition: partake
PARTAKE, v.i. pret. partook; pp. partaken. part and take.
1. To take a part, portion or share in common with others; to have a share or part; to participate; usually followed by of, sometimes less properly by in. All men partake of the common bounties of Providence. Clodius was at the feast,but could not partake of the enjoyments.
2. To have something of the property, nature, claim or right.
The attorney of the duchy of Lancaster partakes partly of a judge, and partly of an attorney general.
3. To be admitted; not to be excluded.
PARTA'KE, v.t. To have a part in; to share.
My royal father lives;
Let every one partake the general joy.
This is probably elliptical, of being omitted.
1. To admit to a part. Not used.
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TASTE AND SEE
What does it mean to “taste” God? Of course, David was not speaking of anything physical being ingested into our stomachs! “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (Jn:4:24
). David could only have been using a physical illustration to refer to something spiritual: a deepening appreciation of God in the process of worshiping Him in spirit and in truth as Jesus said we must.
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Benson Commentary
TASTE
Psalm 34:8. O taste and see that the Lord is good — That is, kind, merciful, and gracious, namely, to all his people. The goodness of God, here spoken of, includes both the amiableness and benevolence of his nature, and the bounty and beneficence of his providence and grace; and, in calling us to taste and see this, the psalmist means that we should seriously, thoroughly, and affectionately consider it, and make trial of it by our own experience; which is opposed to those slight and vanishing thoughts that men usually have of the divine goodness. It is not sufficient that we find him to be a bountiful benefactor to us, but we must relish and take delight in his goodness manifested in and by his gifts, and in the contemplation of his infinite perfections and boundless love; and must be so convinced and persuaded of his goodness, as thereby to be encouraged, in the worst of times, to trust in him, and cast our care upon him.
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FALL AWAY (from someone or something)
1. Lit. [for something] to drop away from someone or something. The paint is falling away from the sides of the house. Over the years, all the paint fell away.
2. Fig. [for someone] to move back or retreat from someone or something. The soldiers fell away from the line of battle.
3. Fig. to distance oneself from someone; to end an association with someone. The candidate's supporters fell away from her when they heard about the scandal.
See also: away, fall
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
FALL AWAY
1. Also, fall off. Withdraw one's friendship, support, or allegiance. For example, After the divorce, her friends slowly fell away. [Early 1500s]
2. Also, fall off. Gradually decline in size or strength, as in The breeze slowly fell away, or, as Shakespeare put it ( King Lear, 1:2): "Love cools, friendship falls off, Brothers divide." [Early 1500s]
3. Drift from an established faith, cause, or principles. For example, I fell away from the Catholic Church when I was a teenager. [Early 1500]
See also: away, fall
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I am NOT going to make any further comment as you were forced to do.
I am NOT changing any of the meanings.
They are there for all to see. It is not necessary for me to change anything or twist words because words MEAN WHAT THEY MEAN, not what YOU want them to mean.
As for Hebrews, you claim something or other about TRUE BELIEVERS.
Again, we have believers and "true" believers to accomodate your incorrect belief.
In my book there are only believers. You're either a believer or you're not.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK AGAIN
PLEASE NAME ONE THEOLOGIAN WHO BELIEVED A PERSON COULD NOT LOSE THEIR SALVATION PRIOR TO JOHN CALVIN.
Thanks.
Fran
