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Chapter 6
1 Λέγει δὲ ὁ κύριος·
Οὐδεὶς οἰκέτης δύναται δυσὶ κυρίοις δουλεύειν. ἐὰν ἡμεῖς θέλωμεν καὶ θεῷ δουλεύειν καὶ μαμωνᾷ, ἀσύμφορον ἡμῖν ἐστίν. 		But the Lord says, “No servant can serve two masters” {Luke 15:13}.
If we want to serve both God and mammon, it is harmful for us:
2 τί γὰρ τὸ ὄφελος, ἐάν τις τὸν κόσμον ὅλον κερδήσῃ, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν ζημιωθῇ; “For what benefit is it, if a person gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” {See Matt. 16:26; Mark 8:36; Luke 9:25}
3 ἔστιν δὲ οὗτος ὁ αἰὼν καὶ ὁ μέλλων δύο ἐχθροί. Now this age and the future are two enemies.
4 οὗτος λέγει μοιχείαν καὶ φθορὰν καὶ φιλαργυρίαν καὶ ἀπάτην, ἐκεῖνος δὲ τούτοις ἀποτάσσεται. The one speaks of adultery and defilement and avarice and deceit, but the other bids farewell to these.
5 οὐ δυνάμεθα οὖν τῶν δύο φίλοι εἶναι·
δεῖ δὲ ἡμᾶς τούτῳ ἀποταξαμένους ἐκείνῳ χρᾶσθαι. 		We are not able therefore to be friends of the two, but must renounce this one in order to experience that one.
6 οἰόμεθα ὅτι βέλτιόν ἐστιν τὰ ἐνθάδε μισῆσαι, ὅτι μικρὰ καὶ ὀλιγοχρόνια καὶ φθαρτά, ἐκεῖνα δὲ ἀγαπῆσαι, τὰ ἀγαθὰ τὰ ἄφθαρτα. We think that it is better to hate what is here because they are minor and temporary and perishable; and to love the things which are there, for they are good and imperishable.
7 ποιοῦντες γὰρ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Χριστοῦ εὑρήσομεν ἀνάπαυσιν·
εἰ δὲ μήγε, οὐδὲν ἡμᾶς ῥύσεται ἐκ τῆς αἰωνίου κολάσεως, ἐὰν παρακούσωμεν τῶν ἐντολῶν αὐτοῦ. 		For while we do the will of Christ, we will find rest; but otherwise, if we disobey His commandments, then nothing will deliver us from eternal punishment.
8 λέγει δὲ καὶ ἡ γραφὴ ἐν τῷ Ἰεζεκιήλ, ὅτι ἐὰν ἀναστῇ Νῶε καὶ Ἰὼβ καὶ Δανιήλ, οὐ ῥύσονται τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ αἰχμαλωσίᾳ. And the scripture also says in Ezekiel, “Even if Noah and Job and Daniel should rise up, they will not deliver their children” in the captivity. {Ezek. 14-20}
9 εἰ δὲ καὶ οἱ τοιοῦτοι δίκαιοι οὐ δύνανται ταῖς ἑαυτῶν δικαιοσύναις ῥύσασθαι τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν, ἡμεῖς, ἐὰν μὴ τηρήσωμεν τὸ βάπτισμα ἁγνὸν καὶ ἀμίαντον, ποίᾳ πεποιθήσει εἰσελευσόμεθα εἰς τὸ βασίλειον τοῦ θεοῦ; ἢ τίς ἡμῶν παράκλητος ἔσται, ἐὰν μὴ εὑρεθῶμεν ἔργα ἔχοντες ὅσια καὶ δίκαια; But if even such righteous men as these are not able by their righteous deeds to deliver their children, what confidence do we have to enter into the kingdom of God if we don’t keep our baptism pure and undefiled?
Or who will be our advocate if are not found to have pious and righteous works?
Summary
This section develops an apocalyptic dualism between "this age" (οὗτος ὁ αἰών) and "the age to come" (ὁ μέλλων), presenting them as incompatible enemies.

Drawing on the sayings of Jesus (Luke 16:13; Matt 16:26 / Mark 8:36) and the Old Testament (Ezekiel 14:14, 20), the author argues that believers must actively renounce the values of the present world to inherit eternal life.

Furthermore, he emphasizes personal moral accountability: even legendary righteous figures like Noah, Job, and Daniel cannot save others by proxy.

Ultimate salvation requires maintaining one’s baptismal purity through concrete, righteous deeds.
Significant Greek Expressions
ἀσύμφορον ("unprofitable / disadvantageous"): From ἀσύμφορος, contrasting with spiritual benefit. Trying to balance devotion to God with devotion to worldly wealth (μαμωνᾶς) is declared completely incompatible and detrimental to salvation.

δύο ἐχθροί ("two enemies"): A stark dualistic framing. The present age and the coming kingdom are not merely different; they are actively hostile to one another. Spiritual neutrality is impossible.

ἀποτάσσεται / ἀποταξαμένους ("bids farewell" / "renouncing"): The verb ἀποτάσσομαι means to take leave of, renounce, or bid farewell to. It was used in early Christian baptismal contexts to express the formal renouncement of worldly wickedness before stepping into new life.

μικρὰ καὶ ὀλιγοχρόνια καὶ φθαρτά ("small, short-lived, and corruptible"): A triad describing earthly pursuits. The author contrasts the temporal, perishable nature (φθαρτός) of present things with the enduring, imperishable goods (τὰ ἄφθαρτα) of eternity.

αἰωνίου κολάσεως ("eternal punishment"): A solemn eschatological warning (cf. Matt 25:46). Disobedience (παρακούσωμεν) leaves a person without protection from divine judgment.

τὸ βάπτισμα ἁγνὸν καὶ ἀμίαντον ("baptism pure and undefiled"):Ἀμίαντος means untainted or unpolluted. This expression highlights early post-apostolic theology regarding baptismal grace: baptism is a seal of salvation that must be actively guarded through clean living.

ποίᾳ πεποιθήσει ("with what confidence/assurance"):Πεποίθησις denotes trust, boldness, or confidence before a ruler or judge. The author asks how anyone can expect to enter God's royal realm (τὸ βασίλειον τοῦ θεοῦ) without an unblemished record.

παράκλητος ("advocate / intercessor"): A term familiar from Johannine literature (e.g., 1 John 2:1). Here, the author warns that no intercessor can plead for believers on the Day of Judgment if they lack personal holy and righteous deeds (ἔργα... ὅσια καὶ δίκαια).