Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 6:1

"Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God," — Hebrews 6:1 (ASV)

The writer links himself with his readers in his exhortation to leave elementary things behind and go forward. He sees “repentance from acts that lead to death” as basic. “Repentance” (GK 3567) was the first thing required in the preaching of John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostles; and it remains basic. Repentance is “from dead works,” a phrase that has been understood to mean legalistic adherence to Jewish ways (works that could never bring life) or genuinely evil actions (actions that belong to death and not life). The latter seems preferable. Linked with this is the positive attitude of “faith in God.” Faith matters immensely to the author . As used here it means more than a conviction that there is a God; it means trusting in that God in a personal relationship. And it is not so different from faith in Christ as some suggest, because it is basic Christian teaching that God was in Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:19).