1 W herefore, leaving the word of the beginning of the Christ, let us go on to full growth, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God,

2 o f doctrine of washings, and of imposition of hands, and of resurrection of dead, and of eternal judgment;

3 a nd this will we do if God permit.

4 F or it is impossible to renew again to repentance those once enlightened, and who have tasted of the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of Holy Spirit,

5 a nd have tasted the good word of God, and works of power of age to come,

6 a nd have fallen away, crucifying for themselves the Son of God, and making a show of.

7 F or ground which drinks the rain which comes often upon it, and produces useful herbs for those for whose sakes also it is tilled, partakes of blessing from God;

8 b ut bringing forth thorns and briars, it is found worthless and nigh to a curse, whose end to be burned.

9 B ut we are persuaded concerning you, beloved, better things, and connected with salvation, even if we speak thus.

10 F or God not unrighteous to forget your work, and the love which ye have shewn to his name, having ministered to the saints, and ministering.

11 B ut we desire earnestly that each one of you shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end;

12 t hat ye be not sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience have been inheritors of the promises.

13 F or God, having promised to Abraham, since he had no greater to swear by, swore by himself,

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

15 a nd thus, having had long patience, he got the promise.

16 F or men indeed swear by a greater, and with them the oath is a term to all dispute, as making matters sure.

17 W herein God, willing to shew more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his purpose, intervened by an oath,

18 t hat by two unchangeable things, in which impossible that God should lie, we might have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us,

19 w hich we have as anchor of the soul, both secure and firm, and entering into that within the veil,

20 w here Jesus is entered as forerunner for us, become for ever a high priest according to the order of Melchisedec.