and this is what the writer expects (6:9–12; 10:39). Nevertheless, he needs to warn them in the strongest, most persuasive terms not to abandon their hope and repudiate Christ. Such a defection would show their faith to have been superficial, however much they may think of themselves as enlightened, sanctified, and so on. This approach does require an adjustment to the straightforward reading of Hebrews 6:4–8 and 10:26–29 (and similar texts; these are the most problematic) based on implications from