Advanced Teaching Hindered by Immaturity

11 Concerning thise ⌊we have much to say and it is difficult to explain⌋f, since you have become sluggish in hearing. 12 For indeed, although you* ought to be teachers ⌊by this time⌋g, you have need of someone to teach you again the beginning elements of the oracles of God, and ⌊you have need of⌋h milk, noti solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes of milk is unacquainted with the message of righteousness, because he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have trained their faculties for the distinguishing of both good and evil.

A Serious Warning Against Falling Away

6 Therefore, leaving behind the elementary message about Christ, let us move on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God, 2 teaching about baptisms and laying on of hands, and resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do, if God permits. 4 For it is impossible concerning those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become sharers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 and having fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, because they* have crucified again for themselves the Son of God and held him up to contempt. 7 For ground that drinks the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth vegetation usable to those people ⌊for whose sake⌋a it is also cultivated, shares a blessing from God. 8 But if it* produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to a curse, whose end is for burning.

9 But even if we are speaking in this way, dear friends, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and belonging to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust, so as to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for his name by* having served the saints, and continuing to serve them. 11 And we desire each one of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, 12 in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and patience.