Philemon - Hebrews 6

New American Standard Bible

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 ^(AW)spoke long ago to the fathers in ^(AX)the prophets in many portions and ^(AY)in many ways, ^2 [q](AZ)in these last days ^(BA)has spoken to us ^[r]in His ^(BB)Son, whom He appointed ^(BC)heir of all things, ^(BD)through whom He also made the ^[s](BE)world. ^3 [t]And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact ^(BF)representation of His nature, and ^[u](BG)upholds all things by ^[v]the word of His power. When He had made ^(BH)purification of sins, He ^(BI)sat down at the right hand of the ^(BJ)Majesty on high, ⁴ having become so much better than the angels, to the extent that He has inherited a more excellent ^(BK)name than they.

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

And again,

⁶ And ^[w]when He again ^(BN)brings the firstborn into ^[x](BO)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 ^(CC)ministering spirits, sent out to provide service for the sake of those who will ^(CD)inherit ^(CE)salvation?

Pay Attention

2 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to ^[aa]what we have heard, so that ^(CF)we do not drift away from it. ² For if the word ^(CG)spoken through ^(CH)angels proved ^[ab]unalterable, and ^(CI)every violation and act of disobedience received a just ^[ac](CJ)punishment, ^3 (CK)how will we escape if we neglect so great a ^(CL)salvation? ^[ad]After it was at first ^(CM)spoken through the Lord, it was ^(CN)confirmed to us by those who heard, ⁴ God also testifying with them, both by ^(CO)signs and wonders, and by ^(CP)various ^[ae]miracles and by ^[af](CQ)gifts of the Holy Spirit ^(CR)according to His own will.

Earth Subject to Man

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

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

Jesus Briefly Humbled

⁹ But we do see Him who was ^(CY)made ^[aj]for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, ^(CZ)because of His suffering death ^(DA)crowned with glory and honor, so that ^(DB)by the grace of God He might ^(DC)taste death ^(DD)for everyone.

¹⁰ For ^(DE)it was fitting for Him, ^(DF)for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to ^(DG)perfect the ^[ak](DH)originator of their salvation through sufferings. ¹¹ For both He who ^(DI)sanctifies and those who ^(DJ)are ^[al]sanctified are all ^(DK)from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them ^(DL)brothers and sisters, ¹² saying,

¹³ And again,

And again,

¹⁴ Therefore, since the children share in ^[am](DP)flesh and blood, ^(DQ)He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that ^(DR)through death He might destroy ^(DS)the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and free those who through ^(DT)fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. ¹⁶ For clearly He does not ^[an]give help to angels, but He gives help to the ^[ao]descendants of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore, in all things He ^[ap]had ^(DU)to be made like His brothers so that He might ^(DV)become a merciful and faithful ^(DW)high priest in ^(DX)things pertaining to God, to ^(DY)make ^[aq]propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For since He Himself was ^[ar](DZ)tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are ^[as]tempted.

Jesus Our High Priest

3 Therefore, ^(EA)holy brothers and sisters, partakers of a ^(EB)heavenly calling, consider ^(EC)the Apostle and ^(ED)High Priest of our ^(EE)confession: Jesus; ^2 [at]He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as ^(EF)Moses also was in all His house. ^3 (EG)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 ^(EH)Moses was faithful in all ^[au]God’s house as ^(EI)a servant, ^(EJ)for a testimony of those things ^(EK)which were to be spoken later; ⁶ but Christ was faithful as ^(EL)a Son over His house—^(EM)whose house we are, ^(EN)if we hold firmly to our ^(EO)confidence and the boast of our ^[av](EP)hope.

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

The Danger of Unbelief

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

¹⁶ For who ^(FE)provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, ^(FF)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, ^(FG)whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness? ¹⁸ And to whom did He swear ^(FH)that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were ^(FI)disobedient? ¹⁹ And so we see that they were not able to enter because of ^(FJ)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 ^(FK)come short of it. ² For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but ^(FL)the word ^[ba]they heard did not benefit them, because ^[bb]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 ^(FN)from the foundation of the world. ⁴ For He has said ^(FO)somewhere concerning the seventh day: “^(FP)And God ^(FQ)rested on the seventh day from all His works”; ⁵ and again in this passage, “^(FR)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 ^(FS)disobedience, ⁷ He again sets a certain day, “Today,” saying ^[bc]through David after so long a time just ^(FT)as has been said before,

⁸ For ^(FV)if ^[bd]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 ^(FW)rested from his works, as ^(FX)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 ^(FY)example of ^(FZ)disobedience. ¹² For ^(GA)the word of God is ^(GB)living and ^(GC)active, and sharper than any two-edged ^(GD)sword, even penetrating as far as the division of ^(GE)soul and ^(GF)spirit, of both joints and marrow, and ^(GG)able to ^[be]judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And ^(GH)there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are ^(GI)open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom ^[bf]we must answer.

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great ^(GJ)high priest who has ^(GK)passed through the heavens, Jesus ^(GL)the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our ^(GM)confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have ^(GN)a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been ^(GO)tempted in all things just as we are, yet ^(GP)without sin. ¹⁶ Therefore let’s ^(GQ)approach the throne of grace with ^(GR)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 ^(GS)taken from among men is appointed on behalf of people in ^(GT)things pertaining to God, in order to ^(GU)offer both gifts and sacrifices ^(GV)for sins; ^2 [bg](GW)he can deal gently with the ^(GX)ignorant and ^(GY)misguided, since he himself also is ^[bh](GZ)clothed in weakness; ³ and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices ^(HA)for sins for himself, ^(HB)as well as for the people. ⁴ And ^(HC)no one takes the honor for himself, but receives it when he is called by God, just ^(HD)as Aaron also was.

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

⁶ just as He also says in another passage,

⁷ In the days of ^[bi]His humanity, ^[bj](HK)He offered up both prayers and pleas with ^(HL)loud crying and tears to the One ^(HM)able to save Him ^[bk]from death, and He ^[bl]was heard because of His ^(HN)devout behavior. ⁸ Although He was ^(HO)a Son, He learned ^(HP)obedience from the things which He suffered. ⁹ And having been ^(HQ)perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him, ¹⁰ being designated by God as ^(HR)High Priest according to ^(HS)the order of Melchizedek.

¹¹ Concerning ^[bm]him we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become ^[bn]poor listeners. ¹² For though ^[bo]by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you ^(HT)the ^[bp](HU)elementary principles of the ^(HV)actual words of God, and you have come to need ^(HW)milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is an ^(HX)infant. ¹⁴ But solid food is for ^(HY)the mature, who because of practice have their senses ^(HZ)trained to ^(IA)distinguish between good and evil.

The Danger of Falling Away

6 Therefore ^(IB)leaving ^(IC)the ^[bq]elementary teaching about the ^[br]Christ, let us press on to ^[bs](ID)maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from ^(IE)dead works and of faith toward God, ² of ^(IF)instruction about ^[bt]washings and ^(IG)laying on of hands, and about the ^(IH)resurrection of the dead and ^(II)eternal judgment. ³ And this we will do, ^(IJ)if God permits. ⁴ For it is ^(IK)impossible, in the case of those who have once been ^(IL)enlightened and have tasted of ^(IM)the heavenly gift and have been made ^(IN)partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and ^(IO)have tasted the good ^(IP)word of God and the powers of ^(IQ)the age to come, ⁶ and then have ^[bu]fallen away, to ^(IR)restore them again to repentance, ^[bv](IS)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 ^[bw]falls on it and produces vegetation useful to those ^(IT)for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; ⁸ but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and ^[bx](IU)close to being cursed, and ^[by]it ends up being burned.

Better Things for You

⁹ But, ^(IV)beloved, we are convinced of better things regarding you, and things that ^[bz]accompany salvation, even though we are speaking in this way. ¹⁰ For ^(IW)God is not unjust so as to forget ^(IX)your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, by having ^(IY)served and by still serving the ^[ca]saints. ¹¹ And we desire that each one of you demonstrate the same diligence ^[cb]so as to realize the ^(IZ)full assurance of ^(JA)hope until the end, ¹² so that you will not be sluggish, but ^(JB)imitators of those who through ^(JC)faith and endurance ^(JD)inherit the promises.

¹³ For ^(JE)when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear an oath by no one greater, He ^(JF)swore by Himself, ¹⁴ saying, “^(JG)indeed I will greatly bless you and I will greatly multiply you.” ¹⁵ And so, ^(JH)having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. ^16 (JI)For people swear an oath by ^[cc]one greater than themselves, and with them ^(JJ)an oath serving as confirmation is an end of every dispute. ^17 [cd]In the same way God, desiring even more to demonstrate to ^(JK)the heirs of the promise ^[ce](JL)the fact that His purpose is unchangeable, ^[cf]confirmed it with an oath, ¹⁸ so that by two unchangeable things in which ^(JM)it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to ^(JN)the hope set before us. ^19 [cg]This ^(JO)hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which ^(JP)enters ^[ch]within the veil, ^20 (JQ)where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a ^(JR)high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.