and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The plural "baptisms" here isn't just about the Christian act, but points to the deeper Jewish roots of ritual washings and their symbolic meaning, which needed to be understood as the foundation for Christian faith. It suggests that converts needed clarity on how these ancient practices found their true fulfillment and significance in Christ.
and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author is listing the foundational "elementary principles" of Christian teaching that new believers, particularly Jewish converts, would have learned after grasping repentance and faith. These include the significance of various washings and purifications (baptisms), the practice of laying on of hands, the certainty of the resurrection of the dead, and the reality of an eternal judgment. The point is that these are basic lessons, and the readers should be moving beyond them toward spiritual maturity.
The Bible uses the word 'baptisms' in the plural here. Why? What does this suggest about what early believers understood?
The reference to 'baptisms' in the plural likely encompassed various purification rituals known to Jewish converts, not just Christian baptism.
Jewish Roots, Christian Fulfillment
The early church, especially with Jewish believers, would need instruction to understand how these different rites pointed to the singular, profound reality of Christian baptism.
This practice appears in both the Old and New Testaments. What spiritual significance did it carry, and why was it a foundational teaching?
Ask a follow-up
The laying on of hands was a significant symbolic act in Scripture, signifying the impartation of blessings, authority, or spiritual gifts.
A Symbol of Impartation
For early believers, understanding this practice connected them to the tangible impartation of God's Spirit and the commissioning of His people, a crucial element of their new life in Christ.
These aren't just abstract concepts; they were core certainties for both Jews and Christians. Why were they so crucial for the early church?
The resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment were not new ideas for Jewish believers, but Christianity brought them into sharper focus and ultimate certainty.
Pillars of Hope and Accountability
These doctrines provided a framework for life, motivating believers to live faithfully in light of their future vindication and reward, or condemnation.
Understand the original words
baptismos · Greek Noun
A term often referring to the ritual ablutions or ceremonial purifications required under the Old Covenant, now surpassed by the inner cleansing provided by Christ. It emphasizes the necessity of spiritual cleansing in approaching God.
epithesis cheiron · Greek Noun phrase
A symbolic or liturgical act often associated with blessing, identification, ordination, or the impartation of a spiritual gift within the community of faith. It signifies the transfer of authority or the affirmation of God's presence and favor.
anastasis nekron · Greek Noun phrase
The future event in which the dead shall be raised to life, physically or spiritually, as a direct consequence of Christ's resurrection. It is the Christian hope for the triumph of life over death.
krima aionios · Greek Noun phrase
The final, irreversible judgment conducted by God, determining the eternal state of individuals. It is based on truth and righteousness, underscoring the gravity of life and choices before the Creator.
The foundational 'elementary' teachings mentioned in Hebrews 6:2—washings, laying on of hands, resurrection, and eternal judgment—were deeply rooted in the Jewish experience of the readers. The author uses these familiar concepts to point them toward the deeper fulfillment found in Christ, urging them to move beyond mere familiarity with these rites and doctrines toward spiritual maturity.
c. 1500 BC - 500 BC
Mosaic Law and Temple Rites
The period when the Mosaic Law was given and the Temple in Jerusalem was central. This era was characterized by numerous ritual 'washings' (purifications) and the symbolic laying on of hands, particularly in sacrifices, all pointing toward deeper spiritual realities.
c. 25 BC - AD 30
John the Baptist's Ministry
John the Baptist's ministry involved a baptism of repentance, which he proclaimed as preparing the way for the Messiah. This baptism was a significant public act that would have been familiar to those transitioning to Christianity.
c. AD 30 - AD 60— this verse
Early Christian Teaching and Practice
Following Jesus' resurrection and ascension, the early church, composed largely of Jewish converts, began to teach and practice Christian baptism and the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Spirit. These practices were built upon existing Jewish understanding of these rituals.
c. AD 60 - AD 70
Composition of the Book of Hebrews
The author of Hebrews writes to a community of Jewish believers who are struggling to mature in their faith. The letter addresses their tendency to revert to simpler, foundational teachings rather than advancing to spiritual maturity.
This passage describes various ceremonial washings and purifications commanded by God in the Old Testament, illustrating the 'doctrine of baptisms' as an elementary principle that Jewish believers would have been familiar with before transitioning to Christian baptism.
Numbers 8:5-14This passage details the rite of the laying on of hands for the consecration of Levites and for sacrifices, showing its Old Testament roots and how it was understood as a foundational practice before its New Testament significance was fully revealed.
Daniel 12:2This verse is a clear Old Testament teaching on the resurrection of the dead, with some raised to life and others to shame, highlighting how this was already a known doctrine that Christianity would illuminate further.
Matthew 25:31-46Jesus' parable of the sheep and the goats directly addresses eternal judgment, showing how this concept, while foundational in Judaism, was powerfully expanded and clarified through Christ's teachings.
Acts 19:1-7This passage shows the apostles laying hands on disciples who had only experienced John's baptism, resulting in them receiving the Holy Spirit. This connects the 'laying on of hands' directly to the empowerment of the Spirit, a key aspect of Christian doctrine.
jfbHebrews 6:2: "Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."
- the doctrine of baptisms—paired with "laying on of hands," as the latter followed on Christian baptism, and answers to the rite of confirmation in Episcopal churches. Jewish believers passed, by an easy transition, from Jewish baptismal purifications (Heb 9:10, "washings"), baptism of proselytes, and John's baptism, and legal imposition of hands, to their Christian…
vincentHebrews 6:2: "Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."
Doctrine of baptisms (βαπτισμῶν διδαχὴν)Not laying again as a foundation the teaching (διδαχὴν) of baptisms. βαπτισμός only here, Hebrews 9:10, and Mark 7:4. The common form is βάπτισμα. Neither word in lxx or Class. The meaning here is lustral rites in general, and may include the baptism of John and Christian baptism. The teaching would cover all such rites, th…
The plural "baptisms" here isn't just about the Christian act, but points to the deeper Jewish roots of ritual washings and their symbolic meaning, which needed to be understood as the foundation for Christian faith. It suggests that converts needed clarity on how these ancient practices found their true fulfillment and significance in Christ.
The author is listing the foundational "elementary principles" of Christian teaching that new believers, particularly Jewish converts, would have learned after grasping repentance and faith. These include the significance of various washings and purifications (baptisms), the practice of laying on of hands, the certainty of the resurrection of the dead, and the reality of an eternal judgment. The point is that these are basic lessons, and the readers should be moving beyond them toward spiritual maturity.
The author is listing the foundational "elementary principles" of Christian teaching that new believers, particularly Jewish converts, would have learned after grasping repentance and faith. These include the significance of various washings and purifications (baptisms), the practice of laying on of hands, the certainty of the resurrection of the dead, and the reality of an eternal judgment. The point is that these are basic lessons, and the readers should be moving beyond them toward spiritual maturity.
"and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment." — The plural "baptisms" here isn't just about the Christian act, but points to the deeper Jewish roots of ritual washings and their symbolic meaning, which needed to be understood as the foundation for…
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Last reviewed October 2026