What Does Hebrews 6:1 Mean in the King James?
Therefore 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,
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The foundation is meant to carry you toward maturity, not become a place you have to rebuild forever.
THE MEANING
This verse speaks of moving beyond the first teachings while keeping them as the foundation: turning from dead works and trusting God. The Greek for “let us go on” is a passive form meaning “let us be carried forward,” and “perfection” here points toward maturity and completion. The movement is toward fuller discernment, not flawless performance.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that perfection means never making a mistake, or that growth requires endlessly starting over. The foundation remains beneath you as you grow beyond it.
THE ROOT
τελειότητα
teleiotēta
GROWS FROM
τελει-
telei-
Completion, reaching a full measure or intended end.
English “perfection” can suggest flawlessness, but τελειότητα points toward completed growth and maturity. The next verse describes the mature as people trained to discern, showing what that completion looks like here.
ALSO GROWS
teleios: complete, mature, full-grown
τέλειος
The related word translated “full age” in Hebrews 5:14 connects perfection here with maturity.
teleioō: bring to completion, complete
τελειόω
This verb makes completion a process of reaching its full measure.
telos: end, goal, outcome
τέλος
It shows the sense of a movement toward fulfillment rather than a demand for flawlessness.
φερώμεθα
pherōmetha
GROWS FROM
φερ-
pher-
Carry, bear, bring.
“Let us go on” translates a passive form of φέρω, with the sense “let us be carried forward.” The sentence pictures maturity as movement toward a goal, not the construction of a flawless self.
ALSO GROWS
pherō: carry, bear, bring
φέρω
This is the verb family behind the passage’s image of being borne forward.
prospherō: bring toward, offer
προσφέρω
The compound retains the idea of bringing something toward a destination.
anapherō: carry up, bring up, offer
ἀναφέρω
This related compound preserves the root’s sense of carrying or bringing onward.
πίστεως
pisteōs
GROWS FROM
πειθ-
peith-
Persuade, trust, rely upon.
“faith” in this verse is pisteōs. The foundation is not merely information about God; πίστις carries the sense of trust and reliance. Here that trust is directed toward God, giving the passage’s onward movement something to rest on.
ALSO GROWS
pistis: trust, reliance
πίστις
This is the noun used in the verse, translated “faith.”
pisteuō: trust, rely, believe
πιστεύω
The related verb expresses trust as an active orientation.
pistos: trustworthy, dependable, steady
πιστός
This related word shows the steadiness associated with trust.
THE PATTERN
A foundation is meant to support growth into fuller capacity, not become a place of endless restarting.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.THE THREAD
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.“Full age” translates τέλειοι (teleioi), from the same Greek word family as “perfection” in Hebrews 6:1. The shared root ties completion to practiced discernment: maturity is a developed capacity, not flawlessness.
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