Hebrews 6
New Matthew Bible
He continues with the thing that he began in the latter end of chapter 5, and exhorts them not to faint, but to be steadfast and patient, seeing as God is trustworthy and faithful in his promise.
6 Therefore let us leave the questions that belong to the beginning of a Christian life, and let us go on to maturity, and not now again lay the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 of baptism, of doctrine, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection from death, and of eternal judgment. 3 And so will we do, if God permits.
4 For it is not possible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted of the good word of God and of the power of the world to come, 6 if they fall, to be renewed again to repentance, seeing they have (as concerning themselves) crucified the Son of God afresh, making a mock of him. 7 For that earth which drinks in the rain that comes oft upon it, and brings forth herbs meet for those who tend it, receives blessing from God. 8 But that ground which bears thorns and briars is reproved, and is near to cursing: whose end is to be burned.
9 Nevertheless, dear friends, we trust to see better of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we speak this way. 10 For God is not unrighteous, that he should forget your work and labour that proceeds of love – which love you have shown in his name, you who have ministered to the saints, and still minister. 11 Yea and we desire that every one of you show the same diligence to secure your hope right to the end: 12 that you faint not, but follow those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he had no greater thing to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying: Surely I will bless you and multiply you indeed. 15 And so after he had waited a long time, Abraham enjoyed the promise.
16 Men will swear by one who is greater than themselves, and an oath to confirm the thing is among them an end of all strife. 17 So God, wanting very much to show to the heirs of promise the certainty of his counsel, added an oath, 18 so that by two immutable things (in which it was impossible that God should lie) we may have perfect consolation – we who have fled to hold fast the hope that is set before us, 19 which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast. Which hope also enters in, into those things that are within the veil, 20 to where the forerunner has entered in for us – I mean Jesus, who is made a high priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6
Authorized (King James) Version
6 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.