6:5a–b
Most scholars indicate that 6:5a–b adds two experiences to the list in 6:4:
(a) The people experienced for themselves the goodness of God’s word (5a).
(b) They also experienced the powers of the coming age (5b).
In 6:5b the author did not imply that people were able to visit the future. He indicated that some people were already able to experience miracles that will be common in the age to come.
who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age: The verb tasted is the same verb that was used in the phrase “tasted the heavenly gift” 6:4b. As in 6:4b, the word tasted means “to actually experience” something. It does not imply that the experience is limited like a little taste of food.
Languages have different ways to speak of experiencing something. They may use verbs that mean “see” or “feel.” There may also be different ways to speak of different types of experiences. In some languages it is necessary to translate tasted in two different ways in 6:5a and 6:5b. For example:
They found out how good God’s word is, and they received the powers of his new world. (New Century Version)
-or-
they knew from experience that God’s word is good, and they had felt the powers of the coming age (Good News Translation)
Translate the verb in a natural way in your language for this context.
6:5a
the goodness of the word of God: The phrase the goodness of the word of God indicates that God’s message is good. The word of God probably refers specifically here to the good message that God saves us through Christ. Some other ways to translate it are:
the good message of God (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
that God’s word is good
6:5b
the powers of the coming age: This phrase implies that in the future God will show his power in special ways. Miracles will be common. God will give his people special power to do great things. The word powers does not imply that the power will come from any spirit or “god” except the Creator.
Some other ways to translate the phrase are:
the power ⌊of God⌋ that he will make clear in the future
-or-
the powerful ⌊miracles⌋ that ⌊will be common⌋ in the coming age
-or-
what can be done through the power which God will reveal in the future at the last days
powers: In this context the word powers refers to actions that require God’s power to accomplish. These actions will be miraculous and extraordinary. The word is plural because the author referred to more than one event or miracle. It also occurs with the words “wonders” and “signs” in Acts 2:12 and 2 Corinthians 12:12. See the preceding note for translation examples.
the coming age: The coming age refers to a new period of time that will begin in the future. The text does not specify exactly which future time that will be.
Some other ways to translate this meaning are:
the future world (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
in the coming time
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