1
Therefore, having left the beginning teaching of the Christ, we should go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and faith in God,
2
instruction about baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3
And this we will do, if God permits.
4
For it is impossible for those once having been enlightened, and having tasted of the heavenly gift, and having become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5
and word-definition " data-lexid="326153">having tasted word-definition " data-lexid="326154">
the goodness of Gods
word and
word-definition " data-lexid="326157">
the power
word-definition " data-lexid="326159">
of the coming age
6
and then having fallen awayto restore them again to repentance, crucifying in themselves the Son of God and subjecting Him to open shame.
7
For land having drunk in the rain coming often upon it and producing vegetation useful for those for the sake of whom also it is tilled, partakes of blessing from God.
8
But that bringing forth thorns and thistles is worthless and near to a curse, of which the end is unto burning.
9
But even if we speak like this, beloved, we are persuaded of better things concerning you, and things accompanying salvation.
10
For God is not unjust to forget your work and the love that you have shown toward His name, having ministered to the saints, and still ministering.
11
And we desire each of you to show the same earnestness, toward the full assurance of the hope unto the end,
12
so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those inheriting the promises through faith and patience.
13
For God, having made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, swore by Himself,
14
saying, Surely if blessing, I will bless you; and multiplying, I will multiply you.
15
And thus having waited patiently, he obtained the promise.
16
For men swear by one greater, and an end of all their disputes, for confirmation, is the oath,
17
in which God, desiring to show more abundantly the unchangeableness of His purpose to the heirs of the promise, guaranteed it by an oath,
18
so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, having fled for refuge, to take hold of the hope being set before us,
19
which we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and unshakable and entering into that within the veil,
20
where Jesus, the forerunner for us, has entered, having become a high priest to the age, according to the order of Melchizedek.