The Epistle to the Hebrews

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 12 -

(2 Timothy 2:1–13)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a large cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and easily entangling sin. Let us patiently run the race that is placed before us.

Let us pay attention to Jesus, the beginner and perfecter of the faith. For the joy that was placed before him, he endured the cross, despised its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

So think about him, the one who has endured such opposition from sinners against himself, so that you do not become weary in your hearts and give up.

God Disciplines His Sons

You have not yet resisted or struggled against sin to the point of blood.

And you have forgotten the encouragement that instructs you as sons: “My son, do not think lightly of the Lord’s discipline, nor grow weary when you are corrected by him.”

For the Lord disciplines everyone whom he loves, and he punishes every son whom he receives.

Endure suffering as discipline. God deals with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

But if you are without discipline, which all people share in, then you are illegitimate and not his sons.

Furthermore, we had fathers in the flesh as disciplinarians, and we respected them. Should we not even more so obey the Father of spirits and live?

For on the one hand, our fathers disciplined us for a few days as it seemed right to them. But on the other hand, God does so for our good so that we can share in his holiness.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but rather painful. However it later produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it.

So strengthen your hands that hang down and your weak knees.

Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame will not be sprained but rather be healed.

A Call to Holiness

(1 Peter 1:13–21)

Pursue peace with everyone, and also the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Be careful so that no one lacks God’s grace, and that no root of bitterness grows up to cause trouble, so that many do not become polluted by it.

Be careful that there be no sexually immoral or ungodly person such as Esau, who for one meal sold his own birthright.

For you know that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, because he found no opportunity for repentance, even though he sought it with tears.

An Unshakable Kingdom

(Exodus 20:18–21; Deuteronomy 5:22–33)

For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched, a mountain of burning fire, darkness, gloom, and storm.

You have not come to a trumpet blast, nor to a voice that speaks words whose hearers begged that not another word be spoken to them.

For they could not endure what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”

So fearful was this sight that Moses said, “I am terrified and am trembling.”

Instead, you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to tens of thousands of angels in celebration.

You have come to the congregation of the firstborn, who have been registered in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous ones who have been made perfect.

And you have come to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than Abel’s blood.

See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we turn away from the one who is warning from heaven.

At one time, his voice shook the earth. But now he has promised and said, “One more time I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.”

These words, “One more time,” mean the removal of those things that can be shaken, that is, of the things that have been created, so that the things that cannot be shaken will remain.

Therefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be grateful and in this manner worship God with reverence and awe.

For our God is a consuming fire.

(2 Timothy 2:1–13)

Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us,

looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls.

God Disciplines His Sons

You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin.

You have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, “My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him;

for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and chastises every son whom he receives.”(a)

It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn’t discipline?

But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then you are illegitimate, and not children.

Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

For they indeed for a few days disciplined us as seemed good to them, but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.

All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, (b)

and make straight paths for your feet,(c) so what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

A Call to Holiness

(1 Peter 1:13–21)

Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,

looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and many be defiled by it,

lest there be any sexually immoral person or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal.

For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears.

An Unshakable Kingdom

(Exodus 20:18–21; Deuteronomy 5:22–33)

For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm,

the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them,

for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned”.(d)

(e)

So fearful was the appearance that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.”(f)

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels,

to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,

to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,(g) and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.

See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,

whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.”(h)

This phrase, “Yet once more” signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.

Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let’s have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,

for our God is a consuming fire.(i)

Footnotes

(a)12:6 ℘ Proverbs 3:11-12

(b)12:12 ℘ Isaiah 35:3

(d)12:20 TR adds “or shot with an arrow”

(e)12:20 ℘ Exodus 19:12-13

(f)12:21 ℘ Deuteronomy 9:19

(g)12:24 ℘ Jeremiah 31:31

(h)12:26 ℘ Haggai 2:6

(i)12:29 ℘ Deuteronomy 4:24