Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of ^[a]Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the ^(A)promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

² To Timothy, a ^(B)beloved son:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Timothy’s Faith and Heritage

³ I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my ^(C)forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, ⁴ greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, ⁵ when I call to remembrance ^(D)the ^[b]genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and ^(E)your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. ⁶ Therefore I remind you ^(F)to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For ^(G)God has not given us a spirit of fear, ^(H)but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Not Ashamed of the Gospel

^8 (I)Therefore do not be ashamed of ^(J)the testimony of our Lord, nor of me ^(K)His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, ⁹ who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, ^(L)not according to our works, but ^(M)according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus ^(N)before time began, ¹⁰ but ^(O)has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ^11 (P)to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher ^[c]of the Gentiles. ¹² For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, ^(Q)for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Be Loyal to the Faith

^13 (R)Hold fast ^(S)the pattern of ^(T)sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

¹⁵ This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶ The Lord grant mercy to the ^(U)household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; ¹⁷ but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. ¹⁸ The Lord ^(V)grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord ^(W)in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ^(X)ministered ^[d]to me at Ephesus.

Be Strong in Grace

2 You therefore, ^(Y)my son, ^(Z)be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³ You therefore must ^(AA)endure^[e] hardship ^(AB)as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ^4 (AC)No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And also ^(AD)if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I say, and ^[f]may the Lord ^(AE)give you understanding in all things.

⁸ Remember that Jesus Christ, ^(AF)of the seed of David, ^(AG)was raised from the dead ^(AH)according to my gospel, ^9 (AI)for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, ^(AJ)even to the point of chains; ^(AK)but the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(AL)I endure all things for the sake of the ^[g]elect, ^(AM)that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

¹¹ This is a faithful saying:

Approved and Disapproved Workers

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, ^(AR)charging them before the Lord not to ^[h]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ^15 (AS)Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶ But shun profane and ^[i]idle babblings, for they will ^[j]increase to more ungodliness. ¹⁷ And their message will spread like cancer. ^(AT)Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, ¹⁸ who have strayed concerning the truth, ^(AU)saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless ^(AV)the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord ^(AW)knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of ^[k]Christ depart from iniquity.”

²⁰ But in a great house there are not only ^(AX)vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, ^[l]sanctified and useful for the Master, ^(AY)prepared for every good work. ^22 (AZ)Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And ^(BA)a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, ^(BB)able to teach, ^(BC)patient, ^25 (BD)in humility correcting those who are in opposition, ^(BE)if God perhaps will grant them repentance, ^(BF)so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and ^(BG)escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Perilous Times and Perilous Men

3 But know this, that ^(BH)in the last days ^[m]perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, ^[n]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ^4 (BI)traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ^5 (BJ)having a form of godliness but ^(BK)denying its power. And ^(BL)from such people turn away! ⁶ For ^(BM)of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, ⁷ always learning and never able ^(BN)to come to the knowledge of the truth. ^8 (BO)Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: ^(BP)men of corrupt minds, ^(BQ)disapproved concerning the faith; ⁹ but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, ^(BR)as theirs also was.

The Man of God and the Word of God

^10 (BS)But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, ¹¹ persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me ^(BT)at Antioch, ^(BU)at Iconium, ^(BV)at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And ^(BW)out of them all the Lord delivered me. ¹² Yes, and ^(BX)all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. ^13 (BY)But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But you must ^(BZ)continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known ^(CA)the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

^16 (CB)All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, ^(CC)and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for ^[o]instruction in righteousness, ^17 (CD)that the man of God may be complete, ^(CE)thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Preach the Word

4 I ^(CF)charge you ^[p]therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, ^(CG)who will judge the living and the dead ^[q]at His appearing and His kingdom: ² Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. ^(CH)Convince, ^(CI)rebuke, ^(CJ)exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ^3 (CK)For the time will come when they will not endure ^(CL)sound doctrine, ^(CM)but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and ^(CN)be turned aside to fables. ⁵ But you be watchful in all things, ^(CO)endure afflictions, do the work of ^(CP)an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Paul’s Valedictory

⁶ For ^(CQ)I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^(CR)my departure is at hand. ^7 (CS)I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me ^(CT)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous ^(CU)Judge, will give to me ^(CV)on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Abandoned Apostle

⁹ Be diligent to come to me quickly; ¹⁰ for ^(CW)Demas has forsaken me, ^(CX)having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Get ^(CY)Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. ¹² And ^(CZ)Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³ Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.

^14 (DA)Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. ¹⁵ You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

¹⁶ At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. ^(DB)May it not be charged against them.

The Lord Is Faithful

^17 (DC)But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, ^(DD)so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered ^(DE)out of the mouth of the lion. ^18 (DF)And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. ^(DG)To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Come Before Winter

¹⁹ Greet ^(DH)Prisca and Aquila, and the household of ^(DI)Onesiphorus. ^20 (DJ)Erastus stayed in Corinth, but ^(DK)Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

²¹ Do your utmost to come before winter.

Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.

Farewell

²² The Lord ^[r]Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of ^[a]Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the ^(A)promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

² To Timothy, a ^(B)beloved son:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Timothy’s Faith and Heritage

³ I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my ^(C)forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, ⁴ greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, ⁵ when I call to remembrance ^(D)the ^[b]genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and ^(E)your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. ⁶ Therefore I remind you ^(F)to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For ^(G)God has not given us a spirit of fear, ^(H)but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Not Ashamed of the Gospel

^8 (I)Therefore do not be ashamed of ^(J)the testimony of our Lord, nor of me ^(K)His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, ⁹ who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, ^(L)not according to our works, but ^(M)according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus ^(N)before time began, ¹⁰ but ^(O)has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ^11 (P)to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher ^[c]of the Gentiles. ¹² For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, ^(Q)for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Be Loyal to the Faith

^13 (R)Hold fast ^(S)the pattern of ^(T)sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

¹⁵ This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶ The Lord grant mercy to the ^(U)household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; ¹⁷ but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. ¹⁸ The Lord ^(V)grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord ^(W)in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ^(X)ministered ^[d]to me at Ephesus.

Be Strong in Grace

2 You therefore, ^(Y)my son, ^(Z)be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³ You therefore must ^(AA)endure^[e] hardship ^(AB)as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ^4 (AC)No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And also ^(AD)if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I say, and ^[f]may the Lord ^(AE)give you understanding in all things.

⁸ Remember that Jesus Christ, ^(AF)of the seed of David, ^(AG)was raised from the dead ^(AH)according to my gospel, ^9 (AI)for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, ^(AJ)even to the point of chains; ^(AK)but the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(AL)I endure all things for the sake of the ^[g]elect, ^(AM)that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

¹¹ This is a faithful saying:

Approved and Disapproved Workers

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, ^(AR)charging them before the Lord not to ^[h]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ^15 (AS)Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶ But shun profane and ^[i]idle babblings, for they will ^[j]increase to more ungodliness. ¹⁷ And their message will spread like cancer. ^(AT)Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, ¹⁸ who have strayed concerning the truth, ^(AU)saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless ^(AV)the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord ^(AW)knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of ^[k]Christ depart from iniquity.”

²⁰ But in a great house there are not only ^(AX)vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, ^[l]sanctified and useful for the Master, ^(AY)prepared for every good work. ^22 (AZ)Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And ^(BA)a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, ^(BB)able to teach, ^(BC)patient, ^25 (BD)in humility correcting those who are in opposition, ^(BE)if God perhaps will grant them repentance, ^(BF)so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and ^(BG)escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Perilous Times and Perilous Men

3 But know this, that ^(BH)in the last days ^[m]perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, ^[n]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ^4 (BI)traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ^5 (BJ)having a form of godliness but ^(BK)denying its power. And ^(BL)from such people turn away! ⁶ For ^(BM)of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, ⁷ always learning and never able ^(BN)to come to the knowledge of the truth. ^8 (BO)Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: ^(BP)men of corrupt minds, ^(BQ)disapproved concerning the faith; ⁹ but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, ^(BR)as theirs also was.

The Man of God and the Word of God

^10 (BS)But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, ¹¹ persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me ^(BT)at Antioch, ^(BU)at Iconium, ^(BV)at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And ^(BW)out of them all the Lord delivered me. ¹² Yes, and ^(BX)all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. ^13 (BY)But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But you must ^(BZ)continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known ^(CA)the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

^16 (CB)All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, ^(CC)and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for ^[o]instruction in righteousness, ^17 (CD)that the man of God may be complete, ^(CE)thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Preach the Word

4 I ^(CF)charge you ^[p]therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, ^(CG)who will judge the living and the dead ^[q]at His appearing and His kingdom: ² Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. ^(CH)Convince, ^(CI)rebuke, ^(CJ)exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ^3 (CK)For the time will come when they will not endure ^(CL)sound doctrine, ^(CM)but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and ^(CN)be turned aside to fables. ⁵ But you be watchful in all things, ^(CO)endure afflictions, do the work of ^(CP)an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Paul’s Valedictory

⁶ For ^(CQ)I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^(CR)my departure is at hand. ^7 (CS)I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me ^(CT)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous ^(CU)Judge, will give to me ^(CV)on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Abandoned Apostle

⁹ Be diligent to come to me quickly; ¹⁰ for ^(CW)Demas has forsaken me, ^(CX)having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Get ^(CY)Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. ¹² And ^(CZ)Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³ Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.

^14 (DA)Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. ¹⁵ You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

¹⁶ At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. ^(DB)May it not be charged against them.

The Lord Is Faithful

^17 (DC)But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, ^(DD)so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered ^(DE)out of the mouth of the lion. ^18 (DF)And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. ^(DG)To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Come Before Winter

¹⁹ Greet ^(DH)Prisca and Aquila, and the household of ^(DI)Onesiphorus. ^20 (DJ)Erastus stayed in Corinth, but ^(DK)Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

²¹ Do your utmost to come before winter.

Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.

Farewell

²² The Lord ^[r]Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

God’s Supreme Revelation^(A)

1 God, who ^[a]at various times and ^(B)in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the ^[b]worlds; ^3 (C)who being the brightness of His glory and the express ^(D)image of His person, and ^(E)upholding all things by the word of His power, ^(F)when He had ^[c]by Himself ^[d]purged ^[e]our sins, ^(G)sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become so much better than the angels, as ^(H)He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

The Son Exalted Above Angels

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

And again:

⁶ But when He again brings ^(K)the firstborn into the world, He says:

⁷ And of the angels He says:

⁸ But to the Son He says:

¹⁰ And:

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

^14 (U)Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will ^(V)inherit salvation?

Do Not Neglect Salvation

2 Therefore we must give ^[g]the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. ² For if the word ^(W)spoken through angels proved steadfast, and ^(X)every transgression and disobedience received a just ^[h]reward, ^3 (Y)how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, ^(Z)which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was ^(AA)confirmed to us by those who heard Him, ^4 (AB)God also bearing witness ^(AC)both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and ^(AD)gifts^[i] of the Holy Spirit, ^(AE)according to His own will?

The Son Made Lower than Angels^(AF)

⁵ For He has not put ^(AG)the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. ⁶ But one testified in a certain place, saying:

For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now ^(AJ)we do not yet see all things put under him. ⁹ But we see Jesus, ^(AK)who was made ^[l]a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death ^(AL)crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death ^(AM)for everyone.

Bringing Many Sons to Glory

¹⁰ For it was fitting for Him, ^(AN)for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation ^(AO)perfect through sufferings. ¹¹ For ^(AP)both He who ^[m]sanctifies and those who are being sanctified ^(AQ)are all of one, for which reason ^(AR)He is not ashamed to call them brethren, ¹² saying:

¹³ And again:

And again:

¹⁴ Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He ^(AV)Himself likewise shared in the same, ^(AW)that through death He might destroy him who had the power of ^(AX)death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and release those who ^(AY)through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. ¹⁶ For indeed He does not ^[n]give aid to angels, but He does ^[o]give aid to the seed of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore, in all things He had ^(AZ)to be made like His brethren, that He might be ^(BA)a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ^18 (BB)For in that He Himself has suffered, being ^[p]tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

The Son Was Faithful

3 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, ² who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as ^(BC)Moses also was faithful in all His house. ³ For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as ^(BD)He who built the house has more honor than the house. ⁴ For every house is built by someone, but ^(BE)He who built all things is God. ^5 (BF)And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as ^(BG)a servant, ^(BH)for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, ⁶ but Christ as ^(BI)a Son over His own house, ^(BJ)whose house we are ^(BK)if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope ^[q]firm to the end.

Be Faithful^(BL)

⁷ Therefore, as ^(BM)the Holy Spirit says:

¹² Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; ¹³ but ^[r]exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ¹⁴ For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, ¹⁵ while it is said:

Failure of the Wilderness Wanderers

^16 (BP)For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? ¹⁷ Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, ^(BQ)whose corpses fell in the wilderness? ¹⁸ And ^(BR)to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? ¹⁹ So we see that they could not enter in because of ^(BS)unbelief.

The Promise of Rest

4 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, ^(BT)let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. ² For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, ^[s]not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. ³ For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. ⁴ For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: ^(BV)“And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; ⁵ and again in this place: ^(BW)“They shall not enter My rest.”

⁶ Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, ⁷ again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:

⁸ For if ^[t]Joshua had ^(BY)given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. ⁹ There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

The Word Discovers Our Condition

^11 (BZ)Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is ^(CA)living and powerful, and ^(CB)sharper than any ^(CC)two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is ^(CD)a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ^13 (CE)And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are ^(CF)naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Our Compassionate High Priest

¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great ^(CG)High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, ^(CH)let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For ^(CI)we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but ^(CJ)was in all points tempted as we are, ^(CK)yet without sin. ^16 (CL)Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Qualifications for High Priesthood

5 For every high priest taken from among men ^(CM)is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He can ^[u]have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to ^(CN)weakness. ³ Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for ^(CO)himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. ⁴ And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as ^(CP)Aaron was.

A Priest Forever

^5 (CQ)So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:

⁶ As He also says in another place:

⁷ who, in the days of His flesh, when He had ^(CT)offered up prayers and supplications, ^(CU)with vehement cries and tears to Him ^(CV)who was able to save Him from death, and was heard ^(CW)because of His godly fear, ⁸ though He was a Son, yet He learned ^(CX)obedience by the things which He suffered. ⁹ And ^(CY)having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, ¹⁰ called by God as High Priest ^(CZ)“according to the order of Melchizedek,” ¹¹ of whom ^(DA)we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become ^(DB)dull of hearing.

Spiritual Immaturity

¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the ^[v]oracles of God; and you have come to need ^(DC)milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is ^(DD)a babe. ¹⁴ But solid food belongs to those who are ^[w]of full age, that is, those who by reason of ^[x]use have their senses exercised ^(DE)to discern both good and evil.