“Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”
My Notes
What Does Hebrews 6:2 Mean?
"Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." The author lists four foundational doctrines (alongside repentance and faith from v. 1): baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection, and eternal judgment. These are the ABCs of Christian theology — the elementary principles (v. 1: stoicheia tēs archēs) that every believer should know. The author wants to move past these basics (v. 1: "let us go on unto perfection") but names them to establish the foundation that maturity builds on.
The plural "baptisms" (baptismōn) may include: water baptism, Spirit baptism, and the Jewish ritual washings that the audience would need to distinguish Christian baptism from. The laying on of hands covers ordination, healing, and the reception of the Holy Spirit.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Which of these foundational doctrines do you still need clarified — and which should you have moved past by now?
- 2.What does the author's frustration ('you should be teachers by now') reveal about expected spiritual growth rates?
- 3.Where is your community stuck relaying the foundation rather than building on it?
- 4.What does 'going on unto perfection' (advancing beyond the basics) look like in your spiritual development?
Devotional
Baptisms. Laying on of hands. Resurrection. Eternal judgment. The foundational curriculum of Christian faith — the things you should have learned first and should have moved past by now. The ABCs that the author of Hebrews says: let's leave these and go deeper.
These are elementary doctrines (v. 1-2): the milk of the word (5:12-13), not the meat. The author isn't dismissing them — they're essential. A building needs a foundation. But the building isn't supposed to stay at the foundation level forever. You lay the foundation so you can build on it, not so you can keep relaying it.
Baptisms. Plural — likely covering water baptism (the outward sign), Spirit baptism (the inward reality), and the Jewish ceremonial washings that needed to be distinguished from Christian baptism. Understanding what baptism means — and which baptisms matter — is elementary. Debating it endlessly is staying in elementary school.
Laying on of hands. The physical practice that accompanies ordination (Acts 13:3), healing (Mark 16:18), and the reception of the Spirit (Acts 8:17). The doctrine: God works through physical touch mediated by authorized persons. Understanding this is basic. Still needing it explained after years of faith is a sign of arrested development.
Resurrection of the dead. The belief that the dead will rise — both the righteous and the unrighteous. This is foundation-level Christianity: if you don't know about resurrection, you haven't started. The author treats it as something that should have been settled long ago.
Eternal judgment. The reality of a final, permanent evaluation of every human life. Not temporary. Eternal. Not corrective. Definitive. The judgment that assigns permanent destinations. Again: foundational. If you're still debating whether judgment is real after years of faith, you're rebuilding the foundation rather than building the house.
The author's frustration (5:12-6:3) is with a community that should be teachers by now but still needs to be taught the elementary principles. The foundation keeps getting relaid because the community won't build on it. And the exhortation is: leave these things behind — not by forgetting them but by advancing beyond them. Let's go on unto perfection. The foundation is laid. Start building.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Of the doctrine of baptisms,.... Some read this divisively, "baptism and doctrine", as the Ethiopic version; as if the…
Of the doctrine of baptisms - This is mentioned as the third element or principle of the Christian religion. The Jews…
Of the doctrine of baptisms - "There were two things," says Dr. Owen, "peculiar to the Gospel, the doctrine of it and…
We have here the apostle's advice to the Hebrews - that they would grow up from a state of childhood to the fullness of…
of the doctrine of baptisms Perhaps rather, "of ablutions" (Heb 9:10; Mar 7:3-4), both (1) from the use of the plural…
Cross References
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