WHEREFORE, desisting from initiatory discourse respecting Christ, let
us advance towards perfection; not again laying a foundation of
repentance from dead works, and faith in God, (2)of the doctrine of
ablutions, and of imposition of hands, and of the resurrection of the
dead, and of eternal judgment. (3)And so we will do, if God permit.
(4)For it is not possible to renew again unto repentance those who have
been once illuminated, and have tasted the celestial gift, and have
been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5)and have tasted the good word
of God, and the powers of the world to come, (6)and yet have fallen
away: for they crucify again to themselves the Son of God, and expose
him to public infamy. (7)For the earth which imbibes the rain which
often falls upon it, and bringeth forth herbage suitable for those by
whom it is cultured, receiveth a blessing from God; (8)but if it
produceth thorns and thistles, it is abandoned, and near the curse _of
barrenness_, whose end will be for burning.
(9)But, beloved, we are persuaded concerning you that things are
better, and connected with salvation, though we thus speak. (10)For God
is not unjust, to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have
demonstrated in his name, having ministered assistance to the saints,
and still ministering. (11)But we earnestly desire that every one of
you do manifest the same diligence, in order to obtain the full
assurance of hope unto the end: (12)that ye be not slothful, but
imitators of those who, by faith and long suffering, are inheriting the
promises. (13)For God when he gave the promise to Abraham forasmuch as
he had nothing greater to swear by, sware by himself, (14)saying,
"Verily, blessing, I will bless thee, and multiplying, I will multiply
thee[134]." (15)And so after long patient waiting he obtained the
promise. (16)For men indeed swear by something greater than themselves;
and an oath for confirmation is with them conclusive in all disputes.
(17)And thus God, designing more abundantly to demonstrate to the heirs
of promise the immutability of his will, pledged himself by oath,
(18)that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to
lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay
hold on the hope set before us; (19)which, as an anchor for our soul,
we hold both sure and stedfast, and entering into the sanctuary within
the vail, (20)into which the forerunner for us is entered, even Jesus,
made after the order of Melchisedec an high-priest for ever.