做上帝喜悦的事

13 你们要继续彼此相爱,情同手足。 不要忘记款待客旅,因为曾经有人接待客旅时不知不觉接待了天使。 要设身处地地顾念那些被囚禁的人,要感同身受地顾念那些遭遇苦难的人。

人人都要尊重婚姻,不可玷污夫妻关系[a],因为上帝必审判淫乱和通奸的人。

不要贪爱钱财,要对自己拥有的知足,因为上帝说过:

“我永不撇下你,也不离弃你。”

这样,我们可以放胆地说:

“主是我的帮助,
我必不惧怕,
人能把我怎么样?”

你们要记住从前带领你们、把上帝的道传给你们的人,留心观察他们一生如何行事为人,效法他们的信心。 耶稣基督昨日、今日、直到永远都不改变。 你们不要被五花八门的异端邪说勾引了去,因为心中得到力量是靠上帝的恩典,而不是靠饮食上的礼仪,这些礼仪从未使遵守的人受益。

10 我们有一座祭坛,坛上的祭物是那些在圣幕里工作的人没有权利吃的。 11 大祭司把祭牲的血带进圣所作为赎罪祭献上,而祭牲的身体则在营外烧掉。 12 同样,耶稣也在城门外受难,为要用自己的血使祂的子民圣洁。 13 因此,让我们也走出营外到祂那里,忍受祂所忍受的凌辱吧! 14 我们在地上没有永远的城,我们寻求的是那将来的城。

15 让我们靠着基督,常常开口以颂赞为祭献给上帝,这是承认主名的人[b]所结的果子。 16 不可忘记行善和帮补别人,因为这样的祭是上帝所喜悦的。

17 要顺服引导你们的人,因为他们为你们的灵魂时刻警醒,将来要向上帝交账。你们要听从他们,使他们满心喜乐地尽此职责,不致忧愁,否则对你们毫无益处。

18 请为我们祷告,因为我们自信良心无愧,凡事都愿意遵行正道。 19 也请你们特别为我祷告,使我能够早日回到你们那里。

祝福与问安

20 愿赐平安的上帝,就是那位凭着立永恒之约的血使群羊的大牧人——我主耶稣从死里复活的上帝, 21 在各样善事上成全你们,好使你们遵行祂的旨意,并借着主耶稣在你们心中动工,使你们做祂喜悦的事!愿荣耀归给上帝,直到永永远远。阿们!

22 弟兄姊妹,我简短地写信给你们,希望你们听我劝勉的话。 23 你们知道,我们的弟兄提摩太已经被释放了。如果他及时来到,我会与他一起去看你们。

24 请代我问候所有带领你们的人以及众圣徒。从意大利来的人也问候你们。

25 愿恩典与你们众人同在!

Footnotes

  1. 13:4 夫妻关系”希腊文是“婚姻的床”。
  2. 13:15 承认主名的人”希腊文是“承认主名的嘴唇”。

Conclusion

Chapter 13

Aspects of the Christian Life.[a] Let mutual love continue, and do not forget to offer hospitality to strangers, for by doing this some have entertained angels without knowing it.[b] Be mindful of those who are in prison, as though you were imprisoned with them, and of those who are being maltreated, since you too are in the body.

Let marriage be held in honor by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for those who are immoral and adulterers will have to face God’s judgment. Do not succumb to the love of money, but be content with what you have, for God has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.” Therefore, we can say with confidence:

“The Lord is my helper;
    I will not be afraid.
    What can anyone do to me?”

Let Us Seek the City That Is To Come.[c] Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Keep in mind the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Do not be led astray by all kinds of strange doctrines. It is good for us to have our hearts strengthened by grace, and not by ceremonial foods, which have not benefited those who partake of them.

10 We have an altar[d] from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.[e] 12 Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood.[f]

13 Let us then go to him outside the camp[g] and bear the abuse he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we are seeking the one that is to come. 15 Through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise,[h] that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.

16 [i]Do not neglect to do good works and to share with others what you have, for these are the kind of sacrifices that please God. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls and will have to render an account in that regard. Make this a joy for them to do rather than a grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

18 Pray for us. We are sure that our own conscience is clear, and our desire is to act honorably in everything we do. 19 I especially ask you to do this that I may be restored to you as soon as possible.

20 Final Doxology.[j]May the God of peace—who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant— 21 make you perfect in every respect so that you may do his will. And may he enable us to achieve what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

22 News and Farewell. I urge you, brethren, to listen to my words of exhortation; that is why I have written to you only a short letter. 23 I want to let you know that our brother Timothy has been set free.[k] If he arrives in time, he will be with me when I see you.

24 My greetings to all your leaders and to all the saints.[l] Those from Italy send you their greetings as well.

25 Grace be with all of you.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 13:1 The Letter’s conclusion opens with a series of recommendations concerning the conduct and attitude of Christians.
  2. Hebrews 13:2 Some have entertained angels without knowing it: e.g., Abraham (see Gen 18), Gideon (see Jdg 6), and Manoah (see Jdg 13).
  3. Hebrews 13:7 The remembrance of leaders, who perhaps confronted martyrdom, is a call to fidelity. It provides the author with the opportunity to insert a new development in the Letter. Christians must cling to the teaching received from their leaders and not to the doctrines of Judaism. They should, therefore, look to Christ; only in him and nowhere else will believers find what can evoke the altar or the sacrifice. If Christ suffered outside of Jerusalem and not in the temple, was that not perhaps a sign that the worship of Mosaic times must be replaced by the definitive worship, which is spiritual? Note three important verses in this section: v. 8, a splendid profession of faith in Christ; v. 14, the thrust toward the future and the realities that endure; and v. 15, life as praise of God (see Ps 50:14, 23; Hos 14:3).
  4. Hebrews 13:10 Have an altar: an allusion to Eucharistic worship and sacrifice, compared with the Levitical worship and sacrifices of the Old Testament (“the tabernacle”).
  5. Hebrews 13:11 Camp: here, as in v. 9, the author uses the great Jewish rite of atonement as a point of comparison (see Lev 16:27).
  6. Hebrews 13:12 Christ’s death outside Jerusalem symbolized the removal of sin in the same way that the removal of the bodies of sacrificed animals outside the camp of Israel had done.
  7. Hebrews 13:13 Let us then go to him outside the camp: this is a call to separate from Judaism. Just as Christ died in disgrace outside the city, so Christians should be willing to face scorn by leaving Judaism for Christ.
  8. Hebrews 13:15 Sacrifice of praise: “sacrifice” here means an offering to God (see Rom 12:1; Phil 4:18). There is no longer need for animal sacrifices.
  9. Hebrews 13:16 Christians will have to facilitate the task of the leaders of the community and to put their preoccupations in prayer, even when these leaders believe themselves obliged to remind them of the difficult demands of fidelity.
  10. Hebrews 13:20 The author artfully summarizes his ideas and his concerns. The news that he gives seems to indicate that he is waiting for Timothy in order to visit Palestine with him. The mention of “those from Italy” can indicate that he is in a port in Italy or simply that he is surrounded by Italians in some city of the Empire.
  11. Hebrews 13:23 Timothy has been set free: the event to which the author is referring is unknown to us.
  12. Hebrews 13:24 Saints: a term in use among the early Church for God’s people, those who have been set apart as holy to the Lord (see note on Rom 1:7).

Concluding Moral Directions

13 Let (A)brotherly love continue. (B)Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing (C)some have unwittingly entertained angels. (D)Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.

(E)Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; (F)but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, (G)“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say:

(H)“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”

Concluding Religious Directions

Remember those who [a]rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is (I)the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried [b]about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might [c]sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing (J)His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 (K)Therefore by Him let us continually offer (L)the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, (M)the fruit of our lips, [d]giving thanks to His name. 16 (N)But do not forget to do good and to share, for (O)with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

17 (P)Obey those who [e]rule over you, and be submissive, for (Q)they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Prayer Requested

18 (R)Pray for us; for we are confident that we have (S)a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. 19 But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction, Final Exhortation, Farewell

20 Now may (T)the God of peace (U)who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, (V)that great Shepherd of the sheep, (W)through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you [f]complete in every good work to do His will, (X)working in [g]you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

22 And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. 23 Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.

24 Greet all those who [h]rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 13:7 lead
  2. Hebrews 13:9 NU, M away
  3. Hebrews 13:12 set apart
  4. Hebrews 13:15 Lit. confessing
  5. Hebrews 13:17 lead
  6. Hebrews 13:21 perfect
  7. Hebrews 13:21 NU, M us
  8. Hebrews 13:24 lead

Concluding Exhortations

13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.(A) Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,(B) for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.(C) Continue to remember those in prison(D) as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Marriage should be honored by all,(E) and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.(F) Keep your lives free from the love of money(G) and be content with what you have,(H) because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”[a](I)

So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?”[b](J)

Remember your leaders,(K) who spoke the word of God(L) to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate(M) their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.(N)

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.(O) It is good for our hearts to be strengthened(P) by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods,(Q) which is of no benefit to those who do so.(R) 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle(S) have no right to eat.(T)

11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering,(U) but the bodies are burned outside the camp.(V) 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate(W) to make the people holy(X) through his own blood.(Y) 13 Let us, then, go to him(Z) outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.(AA) 14 For here we do not have an enduring city,(AB) but we are looking for the city that is to come.(AC)

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice(AD) of praise—the fruit of lips(AE) that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others,(AF) for with such sacrifices(AG) God is pleased.

17 Have confidence in your leaders(AH) and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you(AI) as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

18 Pray for us.(AJ) We are sure that we have a clear conscience(AK) and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.(AL)

Benediction and Final Greetings

20 Now may the God of peace,(AM) who through the blood of the eternal covenant(AN) brought back from the dead(AO) our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,(AP) 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will,(AQ) and may he work in us(AR) what is pleasing to him,(AS) through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(AT)

22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.(AU)

23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy(AV) has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.

24 Greet all your leaders(AW) and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy(AX) send you their greetings.

25 Grace be with you all.(AY)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 13:5 Deut. 31:6
  2. Hebrews 13:6 Psalm 118:6,7