The Epistle to the Hebrews

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 6 -

Wherefore leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us go on to things more perfect, not laying again the foundation of penance from dead works, and of faith towards God,

Of the doctrine of baptisms, and imposition of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

And this will we do, if God permit.

For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, have tasted also the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

Have moreover tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

And are fallen away: to be renewed again to penance, crucifying again to themselves the Son of God, and making him a mockery.

For the earth that drinketh in the rain which cometh often upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is tilled, receiveth blessing from God.

But that which bringeth forth thorns and briers, is reprobate, and very near unto a curse, whose end is to be burnt.

But, my dearly beloved, we trust better things of you, and nearer to salvation; though we speak thus.

For God is not unjust, that he should forget your work, and the love which you have shewn in his name, you who have ministered, and do minister to the saints.

And we desire that every one of you shew forth the same carefulness to the accomplishing of hope unto the end:

That you become not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience shall inherit the promises.

God’s Unchangeable Promise

For God making promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom he might swear, swore by himself,

Saying: Unless blessing I shall bless thee, and multiplying I shall multiply thee.

And so patiently enduring he obtained the promise.

For men swear by one greater than themselves: and an oath for confirmation is the end of all their controversy.

Wherein God, meaning more abundantly to shew to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed an oath:

That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have the strongest comfort, who have fled for refuge to hold fast the hope set before us.

Which we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, and which entereth in even within the veil;

Where the forerunner Jesus is entered for us, made a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.

Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let’s press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,

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

This will we do, if God permits.

For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

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

and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.

For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it and produces a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God;

but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we speak like this.

For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.

We desire that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end,

that you won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherited the promises.

God’s Unchangeable Promise

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,

saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”(a)

Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

For men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.

In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath,

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 take hold of the hope set before us.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil,

where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Footnotes

(a)6:14 ℘ Genesis 22:17