The Epistle to the Hebrews

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 6 -

So then, let us leave the beginning of the message of Christ and move forward to maturity. Let us not lay again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith in God,

nor the foundation of teaching about baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead people, and eternal judgment.

We will also do this if God permits.

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who were sharers of the Holy Spirit,

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

but who then fell away-it is impossible to restore them again to repentance. This is because they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and publicly shame him.

For the land that drinks in the rain that often comes on it, and that gives birth to the plants useful to those for whom the land was worked-this is the land that receives a blessing from God.

But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and is near to a curse. Its end is in burning.

But we are convinced about better things concerning you, beloved ones, things that concern salvation, even though we speak like this.

For God is not so unjust that he would forget your work and the love that you have shown for his name, because you served the believers and still serve them.

And we greatly desire that each of you may show the same diligence to the end for the sake of full assurance of confidence.

This is so that you will not become lazy, but imitators of those who by faith and patience inherit the promises.

God’s Unchangeable Promise

For when God made his promise to Abraham, he swore by himself, since he could not swear by anyone greater.

He said, “I will certainly bless you, and I will greatly increase you.”

In this way, Abraham obtained what was promised after he had patiently waited.

For people swear by someone greater than themselves. At the end of each of their disputes, an oath serves as confirmation.

When God decided to show more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable quality of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath.

He did this so that by two unchangeable things-with which it is impossible for God to lie-we, who have fled for refuge, will have a strong encouragement to hold firmly to the confidence that has been placed before us.

We have this confidence as a secure and reliable anchor of our souls, confidence that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.

Jesus entered into that place as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever after the manner 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