The Nature and Causes of Apostasy from the Gospel
In the early church the Novatians refused to restore believers who had committed serious sins. This was based on the erroneous interpretation of Hebrews 6:4-6, which even caused some to doubt the canonicity of entire epistle. Plausible interpretations are that this is a hypothetical warning to backsliding believers, or that it describes covenant members who were never among the elect.