{Wherefore} (dio). Because of the argument already made
about the difficulty of the subject and the dulness of the
readers. {Let us cease to speak} (aphentes ton logon). Second
aorist active participle of aphi(886d)i, to leave off or behind.
{Of the first principles of Christ} (	(8873) arch(8873) tou Christou).
Objective genitive Christou (about Christ). "Leaving behind the
discussion of the beginning about Christ," another way of saying
again 	a stoicheia t(8873) arch(8873) t(936e) logi(936e) tou theou of  5:12 .
{And press on} (kai pher(936d)etha). Volitive present subjunctive
passive, "Let us be borne on" (both the writer and the readers).
The Pythagorean Schools use pher(936d)etha in precisely this sense
of being borne on to a higher stage of instruction. Bleek quotes
several instances of Greek writers using together as here of
aphentes pher(936d)etha (Eurip., _Androm_. 393, for instance).
{Unto perfection} (epi t(886e) teleiot(8874)a). Old word from 	eleios
mature, adults as in  5:14 . Only twice in N.T. (here and  Col
3:14 ). Let us go on to the stage of adults, not babes, able to
masticate solid spiritual food. The writer will assume that the
readers are adults in his discussion of the topic. {Not laying
again the foundation} (m(8820)palin themelion kataballomenoi). The
regular idiom for laying down the foundation of a building
(	hemelion,  Lu 6:48f. ). The metaphor is common ( 1Co 3:11 )
and the foundation is important, but one cannot be laying the
foundation always if he is to build the house. There are six
items mentioned here as part of the "foundation," though the
accusative didach(886e) in apposition with 	hemelion may mean
that there are only four included in the 	hemelion. Two are
qualitative genitives after 	hemelion (metanoias and
piste(9373)). What is meant by "dead works" (apo nekr(936e) erg(936e)) is
not clear ( 9:14 ), though the reference may be to touching a
corpse ( Nu 19:1f.  31:19 ). There are frequent allusions to the
deadening power of sin ( Jas 2:17,26  Joh 7:25  Rom 6:1,11  7:8  Col 2:13  Eph 2:1,5 ). The use of repentance and faith together
occurs also elsewhere ( Mr 1:15  Ac 20:21  1Th 1:9 ).