Which translation is this?
Good News Translation.
From the New American Standard:
“For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.”
“and then have fallen away”
Young’s Literal Translation:
” for [it is] impossible for those once enlightened, having tasted also of the heavenly gift, and partakers having became of the Holy Spirit, 5 and did taste the good saying of God, the powers also of the coming age, 6 and having fallen away, again to renew [them] to reformation, having crucified again to themselves the Son of God, and exposed to public shame.”
From the Amplified Bible:
“For it is impossible [to restore and bring again to repentance] those who have been once for all enlightened, who have consciously tasted the heavenly gift and have become sharers of the Holy Spirit,
5 And have felt how good the Word of God is and the mighty powers of the age and world to come,
6 If they then deviate from the faith and turn away from their allegiance—[it is impossible] to bring them back to repentance, for (because, while, as long as) they nail upon the cross the Son of God afresh [as far as they are concerned] and are holding [Him] up to contempt and shame and public disgrace.”
English Standard Version:
“4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance”
The problem, imardmd1, isn’t the translation. It is your theology doesn’t match the text!
“Your words are contrary to the King James translation.” - imardmd1
So what? The KJV is an OK translation but no more. From Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament:
“If they shall fall away (GREEK) Lit. and having fallen away.
From The Bible Knowledge Commentary:
“But the translation does not do full justice to the original language, where there is no hint of a conditional element.The Greek word parapesontas is in fact a part of the construction to which the preceding descriptive phrases belong. A more accurate translation would be: “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted...who have shared...who have tasted...and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance.” Far from treating the question in any hypothetical way, the writer’s language sounds as if he knew of such cases.”
The text has no problem speaking for itself. Nor is it alone.
“Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end...” - Hebrews 3
This is NOT salvation by works. We don’t work or earn SQUAT. All we do is not actively REJECT the Christ who has saved us!
I’m done with this thread. I see no value in repeating, ad nauseum, the same text again and again. Folks can read it and understand easily. Or not. It is not hard, except it may require some to give up cherished beliefs.