A Call to Maturity 1 RV Wherefore let us cease to speak of the first principles of Christ, and press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, BSB BSB: Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God,
2 RV of the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. BSB BSB: instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
3 RV And this will we do, if God permit. BSB BSB: And this we will do, if God permits.
5 RV and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, BSB BSB: who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age—
6 RV and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. BSB BSB: and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.
7 RV For the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God: BSB BSB: For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God.
8 RV but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned. BSB BSB: But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.
9 RV But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak: BSB BSB: Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation.
10 RV for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye shewed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister. BSB BSB: For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
11 RV And we desire that each one of you may shew the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end: BSB BSB: We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.
12 RV that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. BSB BSB: Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
God’s Unchangeable Promise 13 RV For when God made promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he sware by himself, BSB BSB: When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself,
14 RV saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. BSB BSB: saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.”
15 RV And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. BSB BSB: And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.
16 RV For men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. BSB BSB: Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.
17 RV Wherein God, being minded to shew more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath: BSB BSB: So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath.
18 RV that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us; BSB BSB: Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.
19 RV which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil; BSB BSB: We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
20 RV whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. BSB BSB: where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.