Difficult Times Will Come

3 But realize this, that ^(A)in the last days difficult times will come. ² For people will be ^(B)lovers of self, ^(C)lovers of money, ^(D)boastful, ^(E)arrogant, ^(F)slanderers, ^(G)disobedient to parents, ^(H)ungrateful, ^(I)unholy, ^3 (J)unloving, irreconcilable, ^(K)malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, ^[a](L)haters of good, ^4 (M)treacherous, ^(N)reckless, ^(O)conceited, ^(P)lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ holding to a form of ^[b](Q)godliness although they have ^(R)denied its power; ^(S)avoid such people as these. ⁶ For among them are those who ^[c](T)slip into households and captivate ^[d](U)weak women weighed down with sins, led on by ^(V)various impulses, ⁷ always learning and never able to ^(W)come to the ^[e]knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Just as ^(X)Jannes and Jambres ^(Y)opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, ^(Z)men of depraved mind, ^[f]worthless in regard to the faith. ⁹ But they will not make further progress; for their ^(AA)foolishness will be obvious to all, just ^(AB)as was that also of ^[g]Jannes and Jambres.

¹⁰ Now you ^(AC)followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, ^(AD)love, ^[h]perseverance, ^11 (AE)persecutions, and ^(AF)sufferings, such as happened to me at ^(AG)Antioch, at ^(AH)Iconium, and at ^(AI)Lystra; what ^(AJ)persecutions I endured, and out of them all ^(AK)the Lord rescued me! ¹² Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus ^(AL)will be persecuted. ¹³ But evil people and impostors ^(AM)will proceed from bad to worse, ^(AN)deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ You, however, ^(AO)continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that ^(AP)from childhood you have known ^(AQ)the sacred writings which are able to ^(AR)give you the wisdom that leads to ^(AS)salvation through faith which is in ^(AT)Christ Jesus. ^16 (AU)All Scripture is ^[i]inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for ^[j]rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that ^(AV)the man or woman of God may be ^[k]fully capable, ^(AW)equipped for every good work.

Preach the Word

4 ^(AX)I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to ^(AY)judge the living and the dead, and by His ^(AZ)appearing and His kingdom: ² preach ^(BA)the word; be ready ^[l]in season and out of season; ^(BB)correct, rebuke, and ^[m]exhort, with ^[n]great ^(BC)patience and instruction. ³ For ^(BD)the time will come when they will not tolerate ^(BE)sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, ⁴ and they ^(BF)will turn their ears away from the truth and ^(BG)will turn aside to myths. ⁵ But as for you, ^(BH)use self-restraint in all things, ^(BI)endure hardship, do the work of an ^(BJ)evangelist, fulfill your ^(BK)ministry.

⁶ For I am already being ^(BL)poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^(BM)my departure has come. ^7 (BN)I have fought the good fight, I have finished ^(BO)the course, I have kept ^(BP)the faith; ⁸ in the future there ^(BQ)is reserved for me ^(BR)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on ^(BS)that day; and not only to me, but also to ^(BT)all who have loved His ^(BU)appearing.

Personal Concerns

^9 (BV)Make every effort to come to me soon; ¹⁰ for ^(BW)Demas, having loved ^(BX)this present ^[o]world, has deserted me and gone to ^(BY)Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to ^[p](BZ)Galatia, ^(CA)Titus to Dalmatia. ^11 (CB)Only ^(CC)Luke is with me. Take along ^(CD)Mark and bring him with you, ^(CE)for he is useful to me for service. ¹² But I have sent ^(CF)Tychicus to ^(CG)Ephesus. ¹³ When you come, bring the overcoat which I left at ^(CH)Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. ^14 (CI)Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; ^(CJ)the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. ¹⁵ Be on guard against him yourself too, for he vigorously opposed our ^[q]teaching.

¹⁶ At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; ^(CK)may it not be counted against them. ¹⁷ But the Lord stood with me and ^(CL)strengthened me, so that through me ^(CM)the proclamation might ^[r]be ^(CN)fully accomplished, and that all ^(CO)the Gentiles might hear; and I was ^(CP)rescued out of ^(CQ)the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will ^[s](CR)bring me safely to His ^(CS)heavenly kingdom; ^(CT)to ^[t]Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

¹⁹ Greet Prisca and ^(CU)Aquila, and ^(CV)the household of Onesiphorus. ^20 (CW)Erastus remained at ^(CX)Corinth, but I left ^(CY)Trophimus sick at ^(CZ)Miletus. ^21 (DA)Make every effort to come before ^(DB)winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.

^22 (DC)The Lord be with your spirit. ^(DD)Grace be with you.

Salutation

1 Paul, ^(A)a bond-servant of God and an ^(B)apostle of Jesus Christ, ^[a]for the faith of those ^(C)chosen of God and ^(D)the knowledge of the truth which is ^(E)according to godliness, ² in ^(F)the hope of eternal life, which God, ^(G)who cannot lie, ^(H)promised ^[b](I)long ages ago, ³ but ^(J)at the proper time revealed His word in ^(K)the proclamation ^(L)with which I was entrusted ^(M)according to the commandment of ^(N)God our Savior;

⁴ To ^(O)Titus, ^(P)my true ^[c]son ^[d]in a ^(Q)common faith: ^(R)Grace and peace from God the Father and ^(S)Christ Jesus our Savior.

Qualifications of Elders

⁵ For this reason I left you in ^(T)Crete, that you would set in order what remains and ^(U)appoint ^(V)elders in every city as I directed you, ⁶ namely, ^(W)if any man is beyond reproach, the ^(X)husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of ^(Y)indecent behavior or ^(Z)rebellion. ⁷ For the ^[e](AA)overseer must be beyond reproach as ^(AB)God’s steward, not ^(AC)self-willed, not quick-tempered, not ^(AD)overindulging in wine, not ^[f]a bully, ^(AE)not greedy for money, ⁸ but ^(AF)hospitable, ^(AG)loving what is good, self-controlled, righteous, holy, disciplined, ^9 (AH)holding firmly the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to ^[g]exhort in ^(AI)sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.

^10 (AJ)For there are many ^(AK)rebellious people, ^(AL)empty talkers and deceivers, especially ^(AM)those of the circumcision, ¹¹ who must be silenced because they are upsetting ^(AN)whole families, teaching ^(AO)things they should not teach ^(AP)for the sake of ^[h]dishonest gain. ¹² One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “^(AQ)Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ¹³ This testimony is true. For this reason ^(AR)reprimand them ^(AS)severely so that they may be ^(AT)sound in the faith, ¹⁴ not paying attention to Jewish ^(AU)myths and ^(AV)commandments of men who ^(AW)turn away from the truth. ^15 (AX)To the pure, all things are pure; but ^(AY)to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their ^(AZ)mind and their conscience are defiled. ^16 (BA)They profess to know God, but by their deeds they ^(BB)deny Him, being ^(BC)detestable and ^(BD)disobedient and ^(BE)worthless ^(BF)for any good deed.

Proclaim Sound Doctrine

2 But as for you, proclaim the things which are fitting for ^(BG)sound doctrine. ^2 (BH)Older men are to be ^[i](BI)temperate, dignified, self-controlled, ^(BJ)sound ^(BK)in faith, in love, in ^[j]perseverance.

³ Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, ^(BL)not malicious gossips nor ^(BM)enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, ⁴ so that they may ^[k]encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ to be sensible, pure, ^(BN)workers at home, kind, being ^(BO)subject to their own husbands, ^(BP)so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

⁶ Likewise urge ^(BQ)the young men to be ^[l]sensible; ⁷ in all things show yourself to be ^(BR)an example of good deeds, with ^[m]purity in doctrine, dignified, ⁸ sound in speech which is beyond reproach, ^(BS)so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

⁹ Urge ^[n](BT)slaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be pleasing, not ^[o]argumentative, ¹⁰ not stealing, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of ^(BU)God our Savior in every respect.

¹¹ For the grace of God has ^(BV)appeared, ^[p](BW)bringing salvation to all people, ^12 [q]instructing us to deny ungodliness and ^(BX)worldly desires and ^(BY)to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner ^(BZ)in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and the ^(CA)appearing of the glory of ^[r](CB)our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, ¹⁴ who ^(CC)gave Himself for us ^(CD)to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to ^(CE)purify for Himself a ^(CF)people for His own possession, ^(CG)eager for good deeds.

¹⁵ These things speak and ^(CH)[s]exhort, and ^(CI)rebuke with all authority. ^(CJ)No one is to disregard you.

Godly Living

3 ^(CK)Remind them ^(CL)to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ^(CM)ready for every good deed, ² to slander no one, ^(CN)not to be contentious, to be ^(CO)gentle, ^(CP)showing every consideration for all people. ^3 (CQ)For we too were once foolish, ^(CR)disobedient, ^(CS)deceived, ^(CT)enslaved to ^(CU)various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in ^(CV)malice and ^(CW)envy, hateful, hating one another. ⁴ But when the ^(CX)kindness of ^(CY)God our Savior and His love for mankind ^(CZ)appeared, ^5 (DA)He saved us, ^(DB)not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but ^(DC)in accordance with His mercy, by the ^(DD)washing of regeneration and ^(DE)renewing by the Holy Spirit, ^6 (DF)whom He ^(DG)richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that being justified by His grace we would be made ^(DH)heirs ^[t]according to the hope of eternal life. ^8 (DI)This statement is trustworthy; and concerning these things I ^(DJ)want you to speak confidently, so that those who have ^(DK)believed God will be careful to ^(DL)engage in good deeds. These things are good and beneficial for people. ⁹ But ^(DM)avoid ^(DN)foolish controversies and ^(DO)genealogies and strife and ^(DP)disputes about the Law, for they are ^(DQ)useless and worthless. ^10 (DR)Reject a ^[u](DS)divisive person ^(DT)after a first and second warning, ¹¹ knowing that such a person has ^(DU)deviated from what is right and is sinning, being self-condemned.

Personal Concerns

¹² When I send Artemas or ^(DV)Tychicus to you, ^(DW)make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to ^(DX)spend the winter there. ¹³ Diligently help Zenas the ^(DY)lawyer and ^(DZ)Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them. ^14 (EA)Our people must also learn to ^(EB)engage in good ^[v]deeds to meet ^(EC)pressing needs, so that they will not be ^(ED)unproductive.

^15 (EE)All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us ^(EF)in the faith.

^(EG)Grace be with you all.

Salutation

^1 (A)Paul, ^(B)a prisoner of ^(C)Christ Jesus, and ^(D)Timothy ^[a]our brother,

To Philemon our beloved brother and ^(E)fellow worker, ² and to Apphia ^[b](F)our sister, and to ^(G)Archippus our ^(H)fellow soldier, and to ^(I)the church in your house: ^3 (J)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

^4 (K)I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, ⁵ because I ^(L)hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the ^[c]saints; ⁶ and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective ^[d]through the ^(M)knowledge of every good thing which is in you ^[e]for the sake of Christ. ⁷ For I have had great ^(N)joy and comfort in your love, because the ^[f]hearts of the ^[g]saints have been ^(O)refreshed through you, brother.

⁸ Therefore, ^(P)though I have ^[h]enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is ^(Q)proper, ⁹ yet for love’s sake I rather ^(R)appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, ^[i]an ^(S)old man, and now also ^(T)a prisoner of ^(U)Christ Jesus—

Plea for Onesimus, a Free Man

¹⁰ I ^(V)appeal to you for my ^(W)[j]son ^[k](X)Onesimus, whom I ^[l]fathered in my ^[m]imprisonment, ¹¹ who previously was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. ¹² I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, ¹³ whom I wanted to keep with me, so that in your behalf he might be at my service in my ^[n](Y)imprisonment for the gospel; ¹⁴ but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness would ^(Z)not be, in effect, by compulsion, but of your own free will. ¹⁵ For perhaps it was ^(AA)for this reason that he was separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, ^16 (AB)no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, ^(AC)a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both ^(AD)in the flesh and in the Lord.

¹⁷ If then you regard me as a ^(AE)partner, accept him as you would me. ¹⁸ But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; ^19 (AF)I, Paul, have written this with my own hand, I will repay it (^(AG)not to ^[o]mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). ²⁰ Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; ^(AH)refresh my heart in Christ.

^21 (AI)Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

²² At the same time also prepare me a ^(AJ)guest room, for ^(AK)I hope that through ^(AL)your prayers ^(AM)I will be given to you.

^23 (AN)Epaphras, my ^(AO)fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, ²⁴ as do ^(AP)Mark, ^(AQ)Aristarchus, ^(AR)Demas, and ^(AS)Luke, my ^(AT)fellow workers.

^25 (AU)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be ^(AV)with your spirit.^[p]

God’s Final Word in His Son

1 God, after He ^(A)spoke long ago to the fathers in ^(B)the prophets in many portions and ^(C)in many ways, ^2 [a](D)in these last days ^(E)has spoken to us ^[b]in His ^(F)Son, whom He appointed ^(G)heir of all things, ^(H)through whom He also made the ^[c](I)world. ^3 [d]And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact ^(J)representation of His nature, and ^[e](K)upholds all things by ^[f]the word of His power. When He had made ^(L)purification of sins, He ^(M)sat down at the right hand of the ^(N)Majesty on high, ⁴ having become so much better than the angels, to the extent that He has inherited a more excellent ^(O)name than they.

⁵ For to which of the angels did He ever say,

And again,

⁶ And ^[g]when He again ^(R)brings the firstborn into ^[h](S)the world, He says,

⁷ And regarding the angels He says,

⁸ But regarding the Son He says,

¹⁰ And,

¹³ But to which of the angels has He ever said,

¹⁴ Are they not all ^(AG)ministering spirits, sent out to provide service for the sake of those who will ^(AH)inherit ^(AI)salvation?

Pay Attention

2 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to ^[k]what we have heard, so that ^(AJ)we do not drift away from it. ² For if the word ^(AK)spoken through ^(AL)angels proved ^[l]unalterable, and ^(AM)every violation and act of disobedience received a just ^[m](AN)punishment, ^3 (AO)how will we escape if we neglect so great a ^(AP)salvation? ^[n]After it was at first ^(AQ)spoken through the Lord, it was ^(AR)confirmed to us by those who heard, ⁴ God also testifying with them, both by ^(AS)signs and wonders, and by ^(AT)various ^[o]miracles and by ^[p](AU)gifts of the Holy Spirit ^(AV)according to His own will.

Earth Subject to Man

⁵ For He did not subject to angels ^[q](AW)the world to come, about which we are speaking. ⁶ But someone has testified ^(AX)somewhere, saying,

For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now ^(BB)we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

Jesus Briefly Humbled

⁹ But we do see Him who was ^(BC)made ^[t]for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, ^(BD)because of His suffering death ^(BE)crowned with glory and honor, so that ^(BF)by the grace of God He might ^(BG)taste death ^(BH)for everyone.

¹⁰ For ^(BI)it was fitting for Him, ^(BJ)for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to ^(BK)perfect the ^[u](BL)originator of their salvation through sufferings. ¹¹ For both He who ^(BM)sanctifies and those who ^(BN)are ^[v]sanctified are all ^(BO)from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them ^(BP)brothers and sisters, ¹² saying,

¹³ And again,

And again,

¹⁴ Therefore, since the children share in ^[w](BT)flesh and blood, ^(BU)He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that ^(BV)through death He might destroy ^(BW)the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and free those who through ^(BX)fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. ¹⁶ For clearly He does not ^[x]give help to angels, but He gives help to the ^[y]descendants of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore, in all things He ^[z]had ^(BY)to be made like His brothers so that He might ^(BZ)become a merciful and faithful ^(CA)high priest in ^(CB)things pertaining to God, to ^(CC)make ^[aa]propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For since He Himself was ^[ab](CD)tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are ^[ac]tempted.

Jesus Our High Priest

3 Therefore, ^(CE)holy brothers and sisters, partakers of a ^(CF)heavenly calling, consider ^(CG)the Apostle and ^(CH)High Priest of our ^(CI)confession: Jesus; ^2 [ad]He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as ^(CJ)Moses also was in all His house. ^3 (CK)For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. ⁴ For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. ⁵ Now ^(CL)Moses was faithful in all ^[ae]God’s house as ^(CM)a servant, ^(CN)for a testimony of those things ^(CO)which were to be spoken later; ⁶ but Christ was faithful as ^(CP)a Son over His house—^(CQ)whose house we are, ^(CR)if we hold firmly to our ^(CS)confidence and the boast of our ^[af](CT)hope.

⁷ Therefore, just as ^(CU)the Holy Spirit says,

The Danger of Unbelief

^12 (DB)Take care, brothers and sisters, that there will not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart ^[ah]that falls away from ^(DC)the living God. ¹³ But ^(DD)encourage one another every day, as long as it is still called “today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the ^(DE)deceitfulness of sin. ¹⁴ For we have become partakers of Christ ^(DF)if we keep the beginning of our ^[ai](DG)commitment firm until the end, ¹⁵ while it is said,

¹⁶ For who ^(DI)provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, ^(DJ)did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? ¹⁷ And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, ^(DK)whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness? ¹⁸ And to whom did He swear ^(DL)that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were ^(DM)disobedient? ¹⁹ And so we see that they were not able to enter because of ^(DN)unbelief.

The Believer’s Rest

4 Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have ^(DO)come short of it. ² For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but ^(DP)the word ^[ak]they heard did not benefit them, because ^[al]they were not united with those who listened with faith. ³ For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,

although His works were finished ^(DR)from the foundation of the world. ⁴ For He has said ^(DS)somewhere concerning the seventh day: “^(DT)And God ^(DU)rested on the seventh day from all His works”; ⁵ and again in this passage, “^(DV)They certainly shall not enter My rest.” ⁶ Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of ^(DW)disobedience, ⁷ He again sets a certain day, “Today,” saying ^[am]through David after so long a time just ^(DX)as has been said before,

⁸ For ^(DZ)if ^[an]Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. ⁹ Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For the one who has entered His rest has himself also ^(EA)rested from his works, as ^(EB)God did from His. ¹¹ Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same ^(EC)example of ^(ED)disobedience. ¹² For ^(EE)the word of God is ^(EF)living and ^(EG)active, and sharper than any two-edged ^(EH)sword, even penetrating as far as the division of ^(EI)soul and ^(EJ)spirit, of both joints and marrow, and ^(EK)able to ^[ao]judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And ^(EL)there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are ^(EM)open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom ^[ap]we must answer.

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great ^(EN)high priest who has ^(EO)passed through the heavens, Jesus ^(EP)the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our ^(EQ)confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have ^(ER)a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been ^(ES)tempted in all things just as we are, yet ^(ET)without sin. ¹⁶ Therefore let’s ^(EU)approach the throne of grace with ^(EV)confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.

The Perfect High Priest

5 For every high priest ^(EW)taken from among men is appointed on behalf of people in ^(EX)things pertaining to God, in order to ^(EY)offer both gifts and sacrifices ^(EZ)for sins; ^2 [aq](FA)he can deal gently with the ^(FB)ignorant and ^(FC)misguided, since he himself also is ^[ar](FD)clothed in weakness; ³ and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices ^(FE)for sins for himself, ^(FF)as well as for the people. ⁴ And ^(FG)no one takes the honor for himself, but receives it when he is called by God, just ^(FH)as Aaron also was.

⁵ So too Christ ^(FI)did not glorify Himself in becoming a ^(FJ)high priest, but it was He who ^(FK)said to Him,

⁶ just as He also says in another passage,

⁷ In the days of ^[as]His humanity, ^[at](FO)He offered up both prayers and pleas with ^(FP)loud crying and tears to the One ^(FQ)able to save Him ^[au]from death, and He ^[av]was heard because of His ^(FR)devout behavior. ⁸ Although He was ^(FS)a Son, He learned ^(FT)obedience from the things which He suffered. ⁹ And having been ^(FU)perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him, ¹⁰ being designated by God as ^(FV)High Priest according to ^(FW)the order of Melchizedek.

¹¹ Concerning ^[aw]him we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become ^[ax]poor listeners. ¹² For though ^[ay]by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you ^(FX)the ^[az](FY)elementary principles of the ^(FZ)actual words of God, and you have come to need ^(GA)milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is an ^(GB)infant. ¹⁴ But solid food is for ^(GC)the mature, who because of practice have their senses ^(GD)trained to ^(GE)distinguish between good and evil.

The Danger of Falling Away

6 Therefore ^(GF)leaving ^(GG)the ^[ba]elementary teaching about the ^[bb]Christ, let us press on to ^[bc](GH)maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from ^(GI)dead works and of faith toward God, ² of ^(GJ)instruction about ^[bd]washings and ^(GK)laying on of hands, and about the ^(GL)resurrection of the dead and ^(GM)eternal judgment. ³ And this we will do, ^(GN)if God permits. ⁴ For it is ^(GO)impossible, in the case of those who have once been ^(GP)enlightened and have tasted of ^(GQ)the heavenly gift and have been made ^(GR)partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and ^(GS)have tasted the good ^(GT)word of God and the powers of ^(GU)the age to come, ⁶ and then have ^[be]fallen away, to ^(GV)restore them again to repentance, ^[bf](GW)since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. ⁷ For ground that drinks the rain which often ^[bg]falls on it and produces vegetation useful to those ^(GX)for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; ⁸ but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and ^[bh](GY)close to being cursed, and ^[bi]it ends up being burned.

Better Things for You

⁹ But, ^(GZ)beloved, we are convinced of better things regarding you, and things that ^[bj]accompany salvation, even though we are speaking in this way. ¹⁰ For ^(HA)God is not unjust so as to forget ^(HB)your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, by having ^(HC)served and by still serving the ^[bk]saints. ¹¹ And we desire that each one of you demonstrate the same diligence ^[bl]so as to realize the ^(HD)full assurance of ^(HE)hope until the end, ¹² so that you will not be sluggish, but ^(HF)imitators of those who through ^(HG)faith and endurance ^(HH)inherit the promises.

¹³ For ^(HI)when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear an oath by no one greater, He ^(HJ)swore by Himself, ¹⁴ saying, “^(HK)indeed I will greatly bless you and I will greatly multiply you.” ¹⁵ And so, ^(HL)having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. ^16 (HM)For people swear an oath by ^[bm]one greater than themselves, and with them ^(HN)an oath serving as confirmation is an end of every dispute. ^17 [bn]In the same way God, desiring even more to demonstrate to ^(HO)the heirs of the promise ^[bo](HP)the fact that His purpose is unchangeable, ^[bp]confirmed it with an oath, ¹⁸ so that by two unchangeable things in which ^(HQ)it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to ^(HR)the hope set before us. ^19 [bq]This ^(HS)hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which ^(HT)enters ^[br]within the veil, ^20 (HU)where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a ^(HV)high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.