1 W herefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 o f the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3 A nd this will we do, if God permit.

4 F or as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

5 a nd tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come,

6 a nd 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.

7 F or 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:

8 b ut if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned.

9 B ut, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak:

10 f or God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister.

11 A nd we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end:

12 t hat ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 F or when God made promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he sware by himself,

14 s aying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

15 A nd thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

16 F or men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.

17 W herein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath;

18 t hat 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:

19 w hich we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil;

20 w hither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.