Hebrews 6
1 Therefore, let us leave behind the elementary teaching about the Christ and press on to perfection, not always laying over again a foundation of repentance for a lifeless formality, of faith in God —
Wherefore leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us go on to things more perfect, not laying again the foundation of penance from dead works, and of faith towards God,
2 teaching concerning baptisms and the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and a final judgment. (aiōnios g166)
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and imposition of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (aiōnios g166)
3 Yes and, with God’s help, we will.
And this will we do, if God permit.
4 For if those who were once for all brought into the Light, and learned to appreciate the gift from Heaven, and came to share in the Holy Spirit,
For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, have tasted also the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 and learned to appreciate the beauty of the Divine Message, and the new powers of the Coming Age — (aiōn g165)
Have moreover tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (aiōn g165)
6 if those, I say, fell away, it would be impossible to bring them again to repentance; they would be crucifying the Son of God over again for themselves, and exposing him to open contempt.
And are fallen away: to be renewed again to penance, crucifying again to themselves the Son of God, and making him a mockery.
7 Ground that drinks in the showers that from time to time fall upon it, and produces vegetation useful to those for whom it is tilled, receives a blessing from God;
For the earth that drinketh in the rain which cometh often upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is tilled, receiveth blessing from God.
8 but, if it ‘bears thorns and thistles,’ it is regarded as worthless, it is in danger of being ‘cursed,’ and its end will be the fire.
But that which bringeth forth thorns and briers, is reprobate, and very near unto a curse, whose end is to be burnt.
9 But about you, dear friends, even though we speak in this way, we are confident of better things — of things that point to your Salvation.
But, my dearly beloved, we trust better things of you, and nearer to salvation; though we speak thus.
10 For God is not unjust; he will not forget the work that you did, and the love that you showed for his Name, in sending help to your fellow Christians — as you are still doing.
For God is not unjust, that he should forget your work, and the love which you have shewn in his name, you who have ministered, and do minister to the saints.
11 But our great desire is that every one of you should be equally earnest to attain to a full conviction that our hope will be fulfilled, and that you should keep that hope to the end.
And we desire that every one of you shew forth the same carefulness to the accomplishing of hope unto the end:
12 Then you will not show yourselves slow to learn, but you will copy those who, through faith and patience, are now entering upon the enjoyment of God’s promises.
That you become not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience shall inherit the promises.
13 When God gave his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater by whom he could swear, he swore by himself.
For God making promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom he might swear, swore by himself,
14 His words were — ‘I will assuredly bless thee and increase thy numbers.’
Saying: Unless blessing I shall bless thee, and multiplying I shall multiply thee.
15 And so, after patiently waiting, Abraham obtained the fulfilment of God’s promise.
And so patiently enduring he obtained the promise.
16 Men, of course, swear by what is greater than themselves, and with them an oath is accepted as putting a matter beyond all dispute.
For men swear by one greater than themselves: and an oath for confirmation is the end of all their controversy.
17 And therefore God, in his desire to show, with unmistakable plainness, to those who were to enter on the enjoyment of what he had promised, the unchangeableness of his purpose, bound himself with an oath.
Wherein God, meaning more abundantly to shew to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed an oath:
18 For he intended us to find great encouragement in these two unchangeable things, which make it impossible for God to prove false — we, I mean, who fled for safety where we might lay hold on the hope set before us.
That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have the strongest comfort, who have fled for refuge to hold fast the hope set before us.
19 This hope is a very anchor for our souls, secure and strong, and it ‘reaches into the Sanctuary that lies behind the Curtain,’
Which we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, and which entereth in even within the veil;
