Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

THE LETTER TO THE HEBREWS

Chapter One

In many parts and in many ways God, having spoken of old to the fathers in the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us in his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things; by means of whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory and the exact expression of his substance, and upholding everything by the word of his power, by himself having cleansed our sins, has sat down on the right hand of the greatness on high; being so much better than the angels in so much as he has inherited a name more excellent than they.

For to which of the angels did he ever say, “You are my Son, today I have fathered you”, and again, “I’ll be to him for a Father, and he’ll be to me for a Son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world he says, “And let all the angels of God worship him!” And as to the angels he says, “who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire” but as to the Son, “Your throne Oh God, is for ever and ever, a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; because of this God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joyfulness above your companions.” And, “You in the beginning Lord founded the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands. They shall perish but you continue, and they shall all grow old like a garment, and like a covering you shall roll them up, and they shall be changed. But you are the same and your years shall not fail.” But as to which of the angels did he ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies as a footstool for your feet.”? Aren’t they all ministering spirits sent forth to service on behalf of those who are going to inherit salvation?

Chapter Two

So then we ought to give heed more earnestly to the things we’ve heard, lest at any time we should fall away. For if the word spoken by angels was certain, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we’ve neglected so great a salvation, which, having received a beginning spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who’d heard, God bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by various deeds of power and gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his will?

For it wasn’t to angels that he subjected the world to come of which we’re speaking, but someone fully testified somewhere saying, “What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you visit him? You’ve made him for a short while lower than angels, you’ve crowned him with glory and honour and set him over the works of your hands, you’ve put all things in subjection under his feet.”

For in subjecting all things to him he left nothing that wasn’t subject to him, but now we don’t yet see everything subjected, but we see Jesus “who for a short time was made lower than the angels” crowned with glory and honour on account of suffering death, so that by the grace of God, on behalf of every one he might taste death.

For it was fitting for him, for the sake of whom are all things, and by means of whom are all things, to bring many sons to glory, to make the leader of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he who sanctifies and those sanctified, are all from one; for which reason he isn’t ashamed to call them ‘brethren’, saying “I’ll declare your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I’ll sing praises to you!” And again, “I’ll put my trust in him” and again, “Look, I and the children which God has given me.”

So then since ‘the children’ have taken on flesh and blood, he too, in similar fashion, took on the same, so that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and might set free those who, in fear of death, throughout all their lifetime were subject to bondage.

For indeed he isn’t taking hold of angels, but he’s taking hold of the seed of Abraham. So then he had to be made like his brethren in all things so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest on God’s behalf to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered being tested, he is able to help those being tested.

Chapter Three

So then holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly confession, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our calling, Christ Jesus, being faithful to him who appointed him, as also Moses in all his house. For he has been counted of more glory than Moses, in so far as he who built the house has more honour than the house. For every house is built by someone, and he who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, as a testimony of the things which were going to be spoken, but Christ as a son over his own house, whose house we are, if indeed we hold fast the boldness and rejoicing of the hope until the end.

So then, even as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today if you will hear his voice don’t harden your hearts as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the desert, where your fathers tempted me, proved me and saw my works forty years. So I was grieved with that generation and said, ‘They are always erring in their heart and they haven’t known my ways.’ So I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter into my rest!’”

Look out brethren in case perhaps there is in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the Living God. But encourage yourselves every day, as long as it’s called ‘today’ so that none of you may be hardened by the deceit of sin. For we’ve become companions of Christ, if indeed we hold the beginning of the assurance firm until the end, as it’s said, “Today, if you’ll listen to his voice don’t harden your hearts as in the provocation.” For some, having heard, provoked, but not all who came out of Egypt by means of Moses.

And with whom was he indignant for forty years? Wasn’t it with those who’d sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they should not enter into his rest, except to them who disobeyed? And we see that they couldn’t enter in because of unbelief.

Chapter Four

So then let us be fearful in case perhaps a promise being left of entering into his rest any of you might seem to come short. For indeed we had the joyful news proclaimed to us even as they did too, but the word of the report didn’t profit them, not having been mixed with faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter into the rest, as he said, “As I swore in my wrath ‘They shall not enter into my rest!’” although in truth the works were performed from the founding of the world.

For he has said somewhere about the seventh day thus, “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And here again, “They shall not enter into my rest.” Since therefore it remains that some enter into it, and those who before heard the joyful news didn’t enter in by reason of unbelief, again he decides on a certain day, saying through David after a certain time, “Today” - even as it had been said, “Today if you will hear his voice don’t harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest he wouldn’t have spoken afterwards about another day. There remains therefore a sabbatical rest to the people of God. For he who has entered into his rest has also rested from his works as God did from his own.

We should study therefore to enter into that rest in case anyone falls after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is living and potent and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a judge of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Nor is there any creature that is not apparent before him, but everything is naked and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom is our account.

So then having a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, we should hold fast the confession. For we don’t have a high priest who is incapable of sympathizing with our infirmities, but one who has been tried in all things according to our likeness, yet without sin. So then we should come with boldness to the throne of grace so that we may receive mercy and find grace for timely help.

Chapter Five

For every high priest being taken from men is ordained in things concerning God, on behalf of men, so that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; being capable of exercising forbearance on those who are ignorant and erring, since he himself is encompassed with infirmity. And because of this he ought, even as for the people so too for himself, to offer for sins. And no one takes this honour for himself but he who is called by God, even as also Aaron was.

So also Christ didn’t glorify himself to become a high priest but he who said to him, “You are my Son, today I’ve begotten you.” Even as he says too in another place, “You’re a priest for ever according to the order of Mechisedek” who in the days of his flesh, having offered both prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard in that he feared, though being a Son he learned, from the things he suffered, obedience.

And having been perfected he became, to all those who obey him, the author of everlasting salvation, having been called by God a high priest after the order of Melchisedek. About whom our words are many and difficult to interpret since you’ve become sluggish in hearing. For truly you ought to be teachers because of the time, yet you need to be taught again what are the elements of the words of God, and have become in need of milk and not of solid food, for everyone partaking of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is an infant, but solid food is for the fully grown, who by reason of habit have the senses exercised for distinguishing both good and evil.

Chapter Six

So then, having left the beginning of the teaching of Christ, we should go on to the full growth, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and faith in God, of the teaching of baptism, and the laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of everlasting judgement, and this we will do if indeed God allows. For it’s impossible for those once enlightened, and who’ve tasted of the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and who’ve fallen away, to renew again to repentance, crucifying for themselves the Son of God and publicly shaming him.

For the earth which drank up the rain which comes upon it frequently, and produces herbs fit for those for the sake of whom it is cultivated, partakes of God’s blessing; but that producing thorns and thistles is rejected and near to a curse, whose end is for burning.

But we are persuaded better things about you, beloved, and things to do with salvation, even if we do speak thus. For God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work, and the labour of love which you have shown to his name, having ministered and ministering still to the saints. And we desire that each of you shows the same care to the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you be not sluggish but imitators of those who, through faith and long patience, inherit the promises.

For God, having made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, swore by himself saying,

“Surely I will bless you, and mutiplying I will multiply you!”

And so, having been patient for a long time, he obtained the promise.

For indeed men swear by the greater, and the oath, in confirmation, is an end to them of all contradiction. In which God, desiring more definitely to show to the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it with an oath. So that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we, who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to lay hold on the hope set before us, which we have as an anchor for the soul - both sure and firm - and entering in within the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us: Jesus, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek.

Chapter Seven

For this Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham, returning from the rout of the kings, and having blessed him - to whom also Abraham divided a tenth of all - first being interpreted King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is King of peace - without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but equated to the Son of God, remains a priest for ever.

Now consider how great this one was, to whom the patriarch Abraham gave even a tenth out of the spoils! And they indeed of the sons of Levi, receiving the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is from their brethren, though having come out from the loins of Abraham, but he who reckons no genealogy from them has been tithed to by Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without any contradiction, the inferior is blessed by the superior. And here men who die receive tithes, but there one of whom it is testified that he lives, and, so as to say, through Abraham, Levi also who receives tithes, has paid tithes. For he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. If then perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, for the people had received the laws under it, what need was there still for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek and not to be named according to the order of Aaron?

For the priesthood being changed, out of necessity a change also of law takes place. For he of whom these things are spoken belongs to a different tribe from which no one has given attendance at the altar. For it is obvious that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning the priesthood. And it is even more apparent that a different priest arises according to the similitude of Melchizedek, who has been made not according to the law of a fleshly commandment but according to the power of indissoluble life.

For he testifies,

“You are a priest for ever according to the order of Mechizedek.”

For there is a putting away of the previous commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, (for the law profited nothing) and the introduction of a better hope by means of which we draw near to God. And in as much as it was not without the swearing of an oath - for they are become priests without the swearing of an oath - but he with the swearing of an oath, by means of him who says to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not repent: You are a priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek.” By so much more has Jesus become surety of a better covenant.

And they are indeed many priests on account of being hindered from continuing by death, but this one because of his remaining forever has the non-transferable priesthood. So that he is also able to save completely those who approach by means of him to God, always living to intercede for them.

For such a high priest was fitting for us, holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and become higher than the heavens, who doesn’t need, day by day, as the high priests, first for his own sins to offer up sacrifices, then for those of the people, for this he did once for all, having offered up himself. For the law constitutes men, who have infirmity, high priests; but the word of the swearing of the oath, since the law, has perfected the Son for ever.

Chapter Eight

And a summary of the things spoken of: We have such a high priest who has sat down on the right hand of the throne of greatness in heaven, a minister of the holy places and of the true tabernacle which the Lord and not man has pitched.

For every high priest is constituted to offer both gifts and sacrifices so that it’s necessary for this one to have something also which he may offer. For if indeed he were on earth he wouldn’t even be a priest, there being the priests who offer gifts according to the law, who serve a representation and shadow of the heavenlies, even as Moses was divinely instructed being about to construct the tabernacle, “For see” he says, “you make everything according to the pattern which was shown you in the mountain.” But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry and by so much too he is mediator of a better covenant which has been established on better promises.

For if the first had been faultless there would not have been a place sought for a second. For finding fault he says to them, “Look, the days are coming says the Lord when I will ratify a new covenant regarding the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day I took hold of their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I disregarded them says the Lord, because this is the covenant which I’ll make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord, giving my laws into their mind, also I will inscribe them on their hearts and I will be to them a God and they will be to me a people. And they will not at all teach each one his neighbour and each one his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord!’ because they will all know me, from their little ones to their great ones. Because I’ll be merciful to their unrighteousness and I won’t remember their sins and their lawlessness any more at all.”

In saying ‘new’ he has made the first old, and that which is growing old and aged is near disappearing.

Chapter Nine

So then the first tabernacle also had ordinances of service, and a worldly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was prepared: the first in which were the lamp and the table and the loaves of presentation which is called ‘holy’ and after, the second veil a tabernacle which is called ‘holy of holies’, having a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant, every part overlaid with gold, in which was the golden pot having the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant, and above it the cherubim of glory over-shadowing the mercy-seat, about which now is not the time to speak in detail.

Now these things having been prepared thus, the priests at all times enter the tabernacle performing the services, but into the second, once a year the high priest alone not without blood which he offers for himself and for the people’s sins of ignorance, the Holy Spirit signifying this: that the way of the holy of holies had not yet being revealed, the first tabernacle still being in place, which is a parable for the present time, in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, which cannot perfect the conscience of the one serving, consisting only of food and drink and various washings and fleshly ordinances, imposed until the time of setting things right.

But Christ having come as high priest of the future good things by the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by hand - that is to say not of this creation - nor by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, has entered once and for all into the holies, having found everlasting redemption.

For if the blood of bulls and of goats and a heifer’s ashes sprinkling the defiled, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh, how much rather shall the blood of Christ, who through the everlasting Spirit offered himself spotless to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant so that death having occurred for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, they who have been called might receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance. For where there is a testament it is necessary for the death of the testator to occur. For a testament is affirmed on death, since it is in no way in force when the testator is living. So that neither was the first inaugurated without blood. For every commandment having been uttered, according to the law, by Moses to all the people, having taken the blood of calves and of goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, he sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the testament which God has prescribed for you.” And he sprinkled the tabernacle also and similarly all the vessels of the ministry with blood. And almost all things are, according to the law, purified by blood, and apart from the shedding of blood there is no remission.

It was necessary then for the representation of the things in heaven to be purified with these, but the heavenlies themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ hasn’t entered into the holies made by hands, patterns of the true ones, but into heaven itself, to appear now in the presence of God for us, nor so that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holies year by year with another’s bolood, since he would have to have suffered many times since the foundation of the world, but now, once, in the cosummation of the ages he has been revealed for the putting away of sin by his sacrifice. And in so far as it is appointed to men to die once and after this the judgement, thus Christ, having been once offered so as to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those awaiting him for salvation.

Chapter Ten

For the law having a shadow of the good things coming, not the image itself of those things, is never able, with the same sacrifices which they offer perpetually, to make perfect those who approach. Since wouldn’t they then have stopped being offered, because the worshippers once purged would have no more consciousness of sins? But in these there is a remembrance of sin year by year. For it’s impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.

So then, coming into the world he says,

“Sacrifice and offering you didn’t want but you’ve prepared me a body. You don’t delight in burnt offerings and sacrifice for sin. Then I said, ‘Look, I’m coming, it’s written of me in the roll of the book, to do your will, Oh God!’”

Above, saying, “Sacrifice and offering and burnt offering and sacrifice for sin you didn’t want nor did you delight in” (which are offered according to the law), then he said, “Look, I’m coming to do your will, Oh God!” He takes away the first so that he may establish the second.

In which “will” we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.

And every priest stands ministering day by day and offering the same sacrifices often, which are never able to take away sins. But he, having offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God, meanwhile waiting until his enemies are put as a footstool for his feet. For by one offering he has perfected the sanctified ones for ever. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us, since he said before, “This is the covenant which I’ll make with them after those days, says the Lord, giving my laws into their hearts and I’ll inscribe them in their minds, and their sins and their lawlessness I won’t remember any more at all.” And where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

So then brethren, having boldness for entrance into the holy of holies by the blood of Jesus, a newly made and living way which he has dedicated for us through the veil, that is his flesh, and having a great priest over the house of God, we should approach with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from a wicked conscience and our body washed with pure water, we should hold fast the confession of the hope unwavering, for he who promised is faithful, and we should consider each other to provoke each other to love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together even as the custom is with some, but encouraging each other, and by so much more as you see the day drawing near. For if we willingly sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth there remains no longer a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgement and fiery zeal which is going to devour the adversaries.

Anyone having set aside Moses’ law dies without mercy by two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you reckon will he be counted worthy of, who has trampled on the Son of God and esteemed common the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord!” and again, “The Lord will judge his people!” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.

But remember the former days in which, having been enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings; partly, being made a spectacle both in reproaches and tribulations, and partly having become partners of those so passing through them. For you sympathized both with my bonds, and the plunder of your possessions you took joyfully, knowing in yourselves you have a better and lasting possession in heaven. So then don’t throw away your boldness which has great recompense. For you have need of endurance, so that having done the will of God you may receive the promise. For yet a little while, he who is coming will come and won’t delay. Now the just will live by faith and if he draws back, my soul does not delight in him. But we are not of those drawing back to destruction, but of those of faith to the saving of the soul.

Chapter Eleven

Now faith is the assurance of what is hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by this the elders were testified to. By faith we understand the worlds to have been framed by the word of God, so that the things seen exist from things not appearing.

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he was testified to as being righteous, God bearing witness to his gifts, and through it, having died, yet speaks. By faith Enoch was translated so as not to see death, and was not found because God had translated him, for before his translation he has been testified to that he pleased God well.

But without faith it is impossible to please him well. For he who approaches God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him out. By faith Noah, having been divinely instructed about things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the salvation of his family, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness according to faith. By faith, Abraham being called to go out to the place which he was going to receive as an inheritance, obeyed and went out not knowing where he was going. By faith he sojourned in the land of the promise, as in a strange country, having dwelt in tents witth Isaac and Jacob the joint heirs of the same promise. For he was waiting for a city which has foundations, whose builder and constructor is God. By faith also Sarah herself received power to conceive seed and gave birth beyond a seasonable age, since she esteemed him who promised faithful. So that there were born from one, and that one having become dead, even as the stars of heaven in great number and as the countless sand which is by the seashore.

In faith these all died, not having received the promises but having seen them from afar, and having been persuaded, and having embraced, and having confessed that they are strangers and sojourners on the earth. For they who say such things make it evident that they are seeking their own country. And if indeed they were being in mind of from where they came out, they might have had the opportunity to have returned: but now they’re reaching out to a better, that is a heavenly one, so that God is not ashamed of them to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac, and he who had accepted the promises was offering up his only-begotten, about whom it had been said, “In Isaac shall your seed be called” counting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead from where also in a parable he did receive him.

By faith about the things coming Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshipped on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave instruction about his bones.

By faith Moses, having been born, was hidden three months by his parents, they saw the child was beautiful and they did not fear the commandment of the king. By faith Moses, having grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, having chosen rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to have temporary enjoyment of sin, having esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he had respect for the reward. By faith he left Egypt not having feared the anger of the king for he persevered as if seeing the invisible one. By faith he kept the passover and the sprinkling of the blood so that the destroyer of the first born should not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, which the Egyptians having tried to do were swallowed up. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been circled about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who did not believe, having received the spies with peace.

And what more am I to say? For the time will fail me telling of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthae, David too and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith overcame kingdoms, performed righteous deeds, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, obtained strength out of weakness, waxed mighty in war, put to flight the armies of foreigners. Women received their dead resurrected, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, so that they might obtain a better resurrection, and others were tried by mockings and scourgings, even of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawn in two, tempted; they died by means of the sword, they wandered in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, oppressed, evil-treated, of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts and in mountains and in caves and in the holes of the earth. And all these, having been testified to through faith did not receive the promise, God having foreseen something better for us, so that they should not be made perfect without us.

Chapter Twelve

And so then we, having so great a cloud of witnesses encompassing us, having laid aside every weight and easily besetting sin, should run the race lying before us with endurance, looking to Jesus the beginner and finisher of our faith, who in view of the joy lying before him, endured the cross, having despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who has endured such great contradiction from sinners against himself, so that you are not wearied, fainting in your souls. You have not yet resisted to the point of blood wrestling against sin, and you have quite forgotten the exhortation which he addresses to you as to sons,

“My son don’t despise the discipline of the Lord, nor faint being reproved by him, for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and scourges every son whom he receives.” If you endure discipline, God is dealing with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the father doesn’t discipline? But if you’re without discipline, of which all are partakers, then you are bastards and not sons. Besides we have had fathers of our flesh who discipline us and we respected them, won’t we much more rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they indeed for a few days disciplined us according to that which seemed good to them, but he for our profit so we should partake of his holiness. Now no discipline at the time seems to be a thing of joy, but of grief; but afterwards it delivers peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who’ve been exercised by it.

So then lift up the hands hanging down and lift up the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet in case that which is lame is turned aside, but rather that it may be healed. Follow after peace with everyone, and holiness without which no one will see the Lord, looking carefully in case anyone lacks the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up should trouble you and many be defiled through this, lest there is any fornicator or profane person, like Esau who, for a single meal, sold his birthright. For you know also that afterwards, wanting to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place of repentance, even though he sought it earnestly with tears.

For you haven’t come to the mount that being touched burned with fire, nor to obscurity, nor to darkness, nor to tempest, nor to the ring of a trumpet and the sound of words which they who heard begged that the word should not be addressed to them, - for they couldn’t bear that which was commanded, - and if a beast should touch the mountain it was to be stoned or shot through with a dart, and so fearful was the spectacle that Moses said, “I am greatly afraid and trembling”, but rather you have come to mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the universal gathering and the assemblies of the first born registered in heaven, and to God, judge of everyone, and to the spirits of the just who have been perfected, and to Jesus, mediator of a fresh covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling speaking better things than Abel.

Take heed that you don’t refuse him who is speaking. For if they who refused him who divinely instructed them on the earth did not escape, how much rather if we turn away from him from heaven, whose voice shook the earth then? But now he has promised saying, “Once more I shake not only the earth but the heaven too!” And the “once more” signifies the removing of that which is shaken, as having been made, so that the unshaken things may remain. So that receiving a kingdom not to be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God in a manner very pleasing to him with reverence and fear. For our God is also a consuming fire.

Chapter Thirteen

Let brotherly love remain. Don’t be forgetful of hospitality, for by this some have entertained angels unawares. Remember prisoners, as bound with them, those being ill-treated, as you yourselves, being in the body too. Marriage is honourable in everyone, and the bed undefiled, but God will judge fornicators and adulterers.

Let your manner of life be without love of money, satisfied with the present, for he has said, “In no way will I leave you, nor in any way will I forsake you.” So that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper and I will not be afraid of what man will do to me.”

Remember your leaders, who have spoken to you the word of God, whose faith imitate, considering the issue of their conduct. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and for ever! Don’t be carried about with various and strange teachings, for it’s good for the heart to be confirmed with grace, not with food in which those who walked were not profited. We have an altar, to eat from which they, who serve the tabernacle, have no authority. For those animals, whose blood is brought for sin into the holies by the high priest, - the bodies of these are burned outside the camp. So then also Jesus, so that he might sanctify the people by means of his own blood, suffered outside the gate.

Therefore we should go out to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach, for here we have no enduring city, but we’re looking for the coming one. By means of him then we should offer a sacrifice of praise continually to God, that is the fruit of our lips confessing to his name.

And of doing good, and of communicating, don’t be forgetful. For with such sacrifices God is well-pleased. Obey your leaders and be submissive, for they watch over your souls, as they are going to render an account, so that they may do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, wanting to conduct ourselves well in all things. And I beg you to do this even more, so that I may be restored to you more quickly.

Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead, our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, in the blood of the everlasting covenant, perfect you in every good work so as to do his will, performing in you that which is well-pleasing before him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Truly.

And I beg you brethren, bear the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in a few words.

Know that brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes sooner, I’ll see you. Greet all your leaders and all the saints. The ones from Italy greet you. Grace be with you all. Truly.

To the Hebrews, written from Italy by Timothy


This translation,

from the Greek Text used for the ‘Authorized’ or ‘King James’ Version

Copyright © David Lawrie 1998

Home

URL of this site: https://www.angelfire.com/mp/david

Email: fourthreichvictims@yahoo.com