Editing Perseverance of the saints (section)

=== Warning passages of the book of Hebrews ===
Several warning passages in the [[book of Hebrews]], especially {{Bibleverse|Hebrews|6:4-6}} and {{Bibleverse|Heb|10:26-39}} seem to contradict the Calvinistic doctrine of the unconditional preservation of the elect.{{sfn|McKnight|1992|p=55}}{{sfn|Ashby|2002|p=173}} The debate over these passages centers around the identity of the persons in question, with the following main interpretations proposed:{{sfn|Oropeza|2011|loc=Part 1, A Synthetic Approach to the Warnings}}

* The hypothetical view: The warnings are genuine but hypothetical, intended to jar believers into moral rectitude and perseverance.{{sfn|McKnight|1992|p=23}}{{sfn|Ashby|2002|p=174}}
* The phenomenological-false believer view: The warnings are real and directed toward people who can genuinely commit the sin, but those who can do so are not true believers.{{sfn|McKnight|1992|p=23}}{{sfn|Oropeza|2011|loc=Part 1}}
* The phenomenological-true believer view: The warnings are given to true believers who can genuinely commit the sin.{{sfn|McKnight|1992|p=24}}{{sfn|Oropeza|2011|loc=Part 1}}
* The covenant community view: The warnings concern the rejection of a covenant community by God when the community as a whole turns away from God's will, rather than individual believers.{{sfn|McKnight|1992|p=25}}{{sfn|Oropeza|2011|loc=Part 1}}
There are several less common interpretations. One suggests that the warnings do not refer to a loss of salvation but rather a loss of eternal rewards.{{sfn|McKnight|1992|p=36}}{{sfn|Ashby|2002|pp=177-178}} Another posits that the warnings could refer to [[Jewish Christians]] reverting to [[Judaism]].{{sfn|McKnight|1992|p=39}}{{sfn|Ashby|2002|pp=175-176}}