The Epistle to the Hebrews

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 6 -

For this reason, having left the word of the beginning of the Christ, we may advance to perfection, not laying again a foundation of conversion from dead works, and of faith on God,

of the teaching of immersions, also of laying on of hands, also of [the] resurrection of the dead, and of continuous judgment,

and this we will do, if God may permit,

for [it is] impossible for those once enlightened, having also tasted of the heavenly gift, and having become partakers of the Holy Spirit,

and tasted the good saying of God, also the powers of the coming age,

and having fallen away, to renew [them] again to conversion, having crucified to themselves the Son of God again, and exposed to public shame.

For the earth, having drunk in the rain coming on it many times, and is bringing forth herbs fit for those because of whom it is also dressed, partakes of blessing from God,

but that which is bearing thorns and briers [is] disapproved of, and near to cursing, whose end [is] for burning;

but we are persuaded, concerning you, beloved, the things that are better, and accompanying salvation, though even thus we speak,

for God is not unrighteous to forget your work, and the labor of love that you showed to His Name, having ministered to the holy ones and ministering;

and we desire each one of you to show the same diligence, to the full assurance of the hope to the end,

that you may not become slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patient endurance are inheriting the promises.

God’s Unchangeable Promise

For God, having made promise to Abraham, seeing He was not able to swear by [any] greater, swore by Himself,

saying, “Blessing I will indeed bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you”;

and so, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise;

for men swear by the greater, and the oath [is] for confirmation of the end of all their controversy,

in which God, more abundantly willing to show to the heirs of the promise the immutability of His counsel, interposed by an oath,

that through two immutable things, in which [it is] impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong comfort, having fled for refuge, to lay hold on the hope being set before [us],

which we have, as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and entering into that within the veil,

to where a forerunner entered for us—Jesus, having become Chief Priest throughout the age after the order of Melchizedek.

Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let’s press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,

of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

This will we do, if God permits.

For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.

For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it and produces a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God;

but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we speak like this.

For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.

We desire that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end,

that you won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherited the promises.

God’s Unchangeable Promise

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,

saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”(a)

Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

For men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.

In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath,

that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil,

where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Footnotes

(a)6:14 ℘ Genesis 22:17