Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 5:12

"For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food." — Hebrews 5:12 (ASV)

The readers had been Christians for long enough to qualify as teachers. This does not necessarily mean that the letter was written to a group of teachers, for the emphasis is on progress in the faith. Those addressed had failed to go on, though they had been believers long enough to know more. Christians who have really progressed in the faith ought to be able to instruct others (see 1Pel 3:15; cf. Romans 2:21). But, far from this being the case, they still needed instruction, and that in elementary truths. “Someone to teach you” stands over against “teachers” and points up the contrast. Their knowledge of the faith is minimal when it ought to have been advanced. “The elementary truths” renders an expression that is equivalent to our “ABC.” It points to the real beginnings. The Greek actually means something like “the ABC of the beginning of the oracles of God.” There can be no doubt as to the elementary nature of the teaching in question. But it is not quite clear what “God’s word [lit., oracles; GK 3359]” is. Quite possibly the OT is meant, though some think it is the entire Jewish system. Since the expression is quite general, it seems better to take it of all that God has spoken—i.e., the divine revelation in general. The verse ends with another strong statement about the plight of the readers. “You need milk” renders an expression that literally means “you have become having need of milk,” an expression in which “you have become” is important (cf. 5:11). Once again the writer is drawing attention to the fact that his readers have moved their position. Always in the Christian life, one either moves forward or slips back. It is almost impossible to stand still. These people had not advanced; so the result was that they had gone back and had “become” beginners. The contrast between milk and solid food is found elsewhere (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:2). “Milk” stands for elementary instruction in the Christian way; “solid food” is, of course, more advanced instruction, the kind of teaching beginners cannot make much of but which is invaluable to those who have made some progress. What is appropriate at the early stages of the Christian life may cease to be suitable as time goes on.