What the Bible declares as the
most basic, foundational, key or essential principles and doctrines of Christ widely differ from what different human writers
say those are:
For example the King James translation says:
Hebrews 6:1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us
go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal
judgment.
The American Standard Version says:
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, 2 of the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead,
and of eternal judgment.
And the New International Version
tells us:
1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about
Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of
faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead,
and eternal judgment.
It’s not that grace, justification,
God’s nature and the like aren’t important, but the essential doctrines are what Paul states at Hebrews 6:1.
Think about it. Who was spiritually
more mature and knowledgeable? Writers from ancient to modern times,... or the apostle Paul?
Of course it
is also true that grace, God's nature or the discussion of what the trinity is, etc fall under the essential of
"faith in God."
You can also ponder upon what the "baptisms" (in the plural with an -s
ending) are, and what the "laying on of the hands" means for Christians today.
As to baptism, for example,
some would point out there is spiritual bapitism, baptisms at which witnesses see a person going totally into
water or which is done by a sprinkling of water, baptism in Christ of only adults or baptism of infants either into Christ
or symbolic of their being dedicated for such in the future, symbolic baptism of the dead applied on behalf of those
who died before they had a chance to be physically baptised in water but who had intended to be so and wanted others to witness
it being done.
As to layings on of the hand, if not as in ancient times where a Christian touches a person and
the person comes back to life or is healed, then some would point out that there is the laying on of the hands in the sense
of using one's hands to do good deeds that help the poor, needy widows and orphans, the hungry, blind and lame, alien
residents (foreigners), the homeless etc.
Your coming here and reading Hebrews 6:1, 2 with this discussion
may not settle everything in your mind about this subject, but it should at least give you pause for thoughtful consideration. May
Holy Spirit guide you into not merely knowing or thinking you know what the essentials are for salvation, but rather
also guide you into doing those essentials. Many know, but not all do.
He or she who loves God shows it.
He or she who loves God shows it not only by expressing love for God in prayer and meditation, but also by helping others.
May we always remember that Christ says: Feed my sheep, my little sheep.
