The New Testament Part 43

CHRIST A CHIEF PRIEST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC.

1 [4:14]HAVING therefore a great chief priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of G.o.d, let us hold fast the profession.

[4:15]For we have not a chief priest who cannot sympathise with our infirmities, but one tried in all respects as we are, without sin.

[4:16]Let us therefore approach with boldness the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace for timely aid.

2 [5:1]For every chief priest taken from men is appointed in behalf of men over things relating to G.o.d, that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sins, [5:2] being able to deal gently with the ignorant and erring, since he is himself encompa.s.sed with infirmity, [5:3]and as for the people, so also for himself, he is obliged to present offerings for sins. [5:4]And no one takes the honor on himself but he that is called by G.o.d, even as Aaron also was. [5:5]So also Christ did not put on himself the honor of being made a chief priest, but he that said to him, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee; [5:6]as also in another place he says, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. [5:7]Who in the days of his flesh having offered both prayers and supplications to him that was able to save him from death, with loud cries and tears, [and being heard and delivered] from fear,-- [5:8]although he was a Son, learned obedience from what he suffered, [5:9]and being made perfect became to all who obey him an author of eternal salvation, [5:10]being called by G.o.d a chief priest after the order of Melchisedec.

3 [5:11]Concerning whom we have much to say, and that which is difficult to explain, because you have become dull of hearing.

[5:12]For you who ought on account of the time to be teachers, have need that one should teach you again what are the first rudiments of the oracles of G.o.d, and have need of milk and not solid food. [5:13]For every one that partakes of milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe; [5:14]but solid food is for the perfect, having their perceptive faculties exercised by practice to distinguish both good and evil.

4 [6:1]Wherefore leaving the account of the beginning of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of a change of mind from dead works, and of faith in G.o.d, [6:2]of baptisms taught, and the imposition of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of the eternal judgment. [6:3] And this we will do if G.o.d permits.

[6:4]For those once enlightened and having tasted of the heavenly gift and been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, [6:5] and having tasted of the good word of G.o.d and the powers of the life to come, [6:6]and having fallen away, it is impossible again to renew to a change of mind, they having crucified again and exposed to shame the Son of G.o.d.

[6:7]But the land which drinks in the rain that often falls on it, and produces plants beneficial to those by whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from G.o.d; [6:8]but that which produces thorns and thistles is disapproved, and is nigh to a curse, the end of which is to be burned.

5 [6:9]But we are persuaded better things of you, beloved, and things pertaining to salvation, though we thus speak. [6:10]For G.o.d is not unjust, to forget your work, and the love which you showed for his name, having served the saints and [still] serving them. [6:11]But we desire each of you to show the same diligence to the full a.s.surance of hope to the end, [6:12]that you be not stupid, but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. [6:13]For G.o.d haying promised Abraham, when he could not swear by a greater, swore by himself, [6:14]saying, Surely, blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you; [6:15]and so having waited long he obtained the promise. [6:16]For men indeed swear by a greater, and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all dispute; [6:17]for which cause, G.o.d wishing more abundantly to show to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his purpose, interposed with an oath, [6:18]that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for G.o.d to lie, we might have strong consolation, who fled to lay hold on the hope set before us, [6:19]which we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, and entering within the vail, [6:20]where our forerunner Jesus entered, made after the order of Melchisedec a chief priest forever.

6 [7:1]For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high G.o.d, who met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, [7:2]to whom also Abraham gave a tenth of all, first being interpreted king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace, [7:3] without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither a beginning of days nor end of life, but being made like the Son of G.o.d, continues a priest forever.

7 [7:4]And behold, how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils. [7:5]And the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to t.i.the the people according to the law, that is their brothers, although descended from Abraham; [7:6]but he whose descent is not reckoned from them received t.i.thes of Abraham, and blessed him who has the promises. [7:7]But beyond all contradiction, the less is blessed by the greater. [7:8]And here, men who die receive t.i.thes, but there, one of whom it is testified that he lives. [7:9]And so to speak, Levi also who receives t.i.thes paid t.i.thes through Abraham; [7:10]for he was yet in his father when Melchisedec met him.

8 [7:11]If therefore there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood,--for the people received the law under it,--what need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec and not to be called after the order of Aaron? [7:12]For the priesthood being changed, of necessity also there is made a change of the law. [7:13]For he of whom these things are said belonged to another tribe, of which no one attended to the altar; [7:14] for it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, in respect to which tribe Moses said nothing concerning priests. [7:15]And moreover, [this] is still further evident, if another priest is raised up according to the likeness of Melchisedec, [7:16]who was not a priest after the law of an external commandment, but after the power of imperishable life. [7:17]For it is testified, Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchisedec.

[7:18]For there is an abrogation of the commandment which goes before, on account of its weakness and unprofitableness; [7:19]for the law made nothing perfect, but was the introduction of a better hope through which we draw nigh to G.o.d. [7:20]And as he was not [const.i.tuted]

without swearing,-- [7:21]for they were made priests without swearing, but he with swearing by him who says to him, The Lord swore, and he will not change, You are a priest forever;-- [7:22]by so much is Jesus the pledge of a better covenant. [7:23]And they indeed were made many priests, on account of being forbidden by death to continue; [7:24]but he, on account of his continuing for ever, has a priesthood which pa.s.ses not away, [7:25]whence also he is able to save forever those who come to G.o.d through him, always living to intercede for them.

9 [7:26]For such a chief priest also was suitable for us, holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens, [7:27]who has no need daily as the chief priests first to present sacrifices for their sins, then for those of the people; for this he did once for all, having offered himself. [7:28]For the law const.i.tutes men chief priests having infirmity, but the word of the oath which is after the law the Son made perfect forever.

CHAPTER III.

CHRIST THE AUTHOR OF A NEW COVENANT AND OF ITS BLESSINGS.

1 [8:1]BUT the chief thing in addition to what has been said is, that we have such a chief priest who sat on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens, [8:2]a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord set up, not man. [8:3]For every chief priest is const.i.tuted to offer gifts and sacrifices, whence it was necessary that this man also should have something to offer.

[8:4]For if he had been on earth he would not have been a priest, there being priests to offer, the gifts according to the law, [8:5]who serve for a symbol and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when about to make the tabernacle; for see, he says, that you make all things after the pattern shown you in the Mount; [8:6]but now he has obtained a more excellent service, by as much also as he is the mediator of a better covenant, which is established on better promises. 2 [8:7]For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for the second. [But it was not].

[8:8]For finding fault with them he says, Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will make with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, a new covenant, [8:9]not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, for they continued not in my covenant, and I neglected them, says the Lord. [8:10]This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put my laws in their minds, and will write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a G.o.d, and they shall be to me a people. [8:11]And they shall not teach every one his [fellow] citizen, and every one his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest of them. [8:12]For I will be merciful to their wickedness, and their sins and transgressions will I remember no more.

[8:13]By saying new, he made the first old; but that which is ancient and weak is about to perish.

3 [9:1]The first covenant then had ordinances of divine service and a worldly sanctuary. [9:2]For the first tabernacle was provided, in which were the candlestick and the table and the show bread, which is called the sanctuary. [9:3]But behind the second vail is the tabernacle, called the inner sanctuary, [9:4]having the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on every side with gold, in which were the golden vase that had the manna and Aaron's rod that budded and the tables of the covenant, [9:5]and over it were the cherubs of glory, overshadowing the propitiation; of which it is not necessary now to speak particularly.

4 [9:6]And these being thus provided, the priests enter into the first tabernacle continually, performing the services, [9:7]but into the second once a year only the chief priest [enters], not without blood, which he offers for his errors and those of the people, [9:8]the Holy Spirit showing this, that the way into the sanctuary is not made manifest while the first tabernacle yet has a standing, [9:9]which is a type of the time at hand, in which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshipper as to the conscience, [9:10]only in meats and drinks and different baptisms, and external ordinances, imposed till the time of reformation.

5 [9:11]But Christ having come, a chief priest of the good times that were to come, with a greater and a more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, [9:12]not with blood of goats and bullocks, but with his own blood, entered once into the sanctuary having found eternal redemption. [9:13]For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the defiled, sanctifies to the purification of the flesh, [9:14]how much more shall the blood of Christ, who with an eternal spirit offered himself without fault to G.o.d, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living G.o.d.

6 [9:15]And for this cause he is the mediator of the new covenant, that death having been for a redemption of transgressions [transgressors]

under the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. [9:16]For where there is a covenant, there must follow the death of the covenant-maker. [9:17]For a covenant is strong for the dead, since it is never strong [unalterable] when the covenant-maker lives; [9:18]whence also the first [covenant] was not initiated without blood. [9:19]For every commandment of the law having been spoken by Moses to all the people, taking the blood of bullocks and goats with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, he sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, [9:20]saying, This is the blood of the covenant which G.o.d has enjoined upon you. [9:21]And he sprinkled also the tabernacle, and all the implements of the service, in like manner, with blood. [9:22]And almost all things, according to the law, are purified with blood, and without the pouring out of blood there is no forgiveness.

7 [9:23]It was necessary, therefore, that the symbols of things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. [9:24]For Christ did not enter into the sanctuary made with hands, a type of the true, but into heaven itself, and already has appeared before G.o.d for us, [9:25]not that he may often present himself, as the chief priest enters into the sanctuary once a year with the blood of another [being]; [9:26]since it was necessary that it should suffer often from the foundation of the world, but now once at the consummation of the world he has been manifested to destroy sins by the sacrifice of himself. [9:27]And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this is the judgment, [9:28]so also Christ having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time without sin, to those who look for him for salvation.

8 [10:1]For the law having a shadow of the good things that were to come, not the very likeness of the things, could not by the sacrifices which they offered continually every year perfect the offerers; [10:2]if they could, would they not have ceased to be offered, because those serving would have had no longer a knowledge of sins, having been once purified? [10:3]But in them there was a remembrance of sins, year by year; [10:4]for it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. [10:5]Wherefore, coming into the world, he says, A sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire, but a body didst thou prepare me. [10:6]Whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou wast not pleased with; [10:7]then I said, Behold, I come,--in the volume of the book it is written of me,--to do thy will, O G.o.d.

[10:8]Saying before, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou didst not desire and wast not pleased with, which are offered according to the law, [10:9] then he said, Behold, I come to do thy will. He takes away the first, that he may establish the second, [10:10]by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all.

9 [10:11]And every priest stood daily performing service and presenting often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; [10:12]but this [priest] having offered one sacrifice forever for sins, sat down on the right hand of G.o.d, [10:13]henceforth waiting till his enemies are made his footstool. [10:14] For by one offering he has perfected forever the sanctified. [10:15]The Holy Spirit also testifies [this] to us; for after it had said before, [10:16]This is the covenant which I will make with them after those days, the Lord says, I will put my laws in their hearts, and in their minds will I write them, [10:17] and their sins and transgressions will I remember no more. [10:18]But where there is a forgiveness of these, an offering for sin is no longer required.

CHAPTER IV.

THE CONTEMPLATION OF CHRIST, FAITH AND ITS MARTYRS.

1 [10:19]HAVING therefore, brothers, confidence in respect to the entrance into the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, [10:20]which [entrance] he consecrated for us a new and living way through the vail, that is his flesh, [10:21]and [having] a great priest over the house of G.o.d, [10:22]let us approach with a true heart in a full a.s.surance of faith, sprinkled in heart from an evil conscience, and washed in body with pure water, [10:23]let us hold firmly the profession of the faith, without declining; for he is faithful that promised; [10:24]and let us observe one another for a provocation of love and of good works, [10:25]not forsaking our own congregation as some are in the habit of [doing], but exhorting [others], and so much the more as you see the day approaching.

2 [10:26]For if we sin willingly after having received the knowledge of the truth, there is no longer a sacrifice left for sins, [10:27]but a fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation, which is about to consume the adversaries. [10:28]Any one who despised the law of Moses died without mercy by two or three witnesses; [10:29]of how much greater punishment do you suppose he will be thought worthy, who has trodden down the Son of G.o.d, and accounted defiled the blood of the covenant with which he was purified, and treated injuriously the Spirit of grace. [10:30]For we know him that said, Judgment belongs to me, I will repay. And again, The Lord will judge his people. [10:31] It is fearful to fall into the hands of the living G.o.d.

3 [10:32]But remember the former days, in which having been enlightened you endured a great conflict with sufferings, [10:33]partly in being made a spectacle by reproaches and afflictions, and partly being companions of those so treated. [10:34]For you sympathized with those in bonds, and received with joy the plunder of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession, and one that endures.

[10:35]Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has a great reward. [10:36]For you have need of patience, that having done the will of G.o.d you may receive the promise. [10:37]For yet a very little while, and he that is to come will come and will not delay; [10:38] but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he draws back my soul takes no pleasure in him. [10:39]But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of faith to the saving of the soul.

4 [11:1]But faith is a confidence in respect to things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. [11:2]For by it the ancients obtained a good repute. [11:3] We know by faith that the worlds were made by the word of G.o.d, that the seen was not made from the apparent. [11:4]By faith Abel offered to G.o.d a greater sacrifice than Cain, through which he was declared to be righteous, G.o.d testifying to his gifts, and through the same, having died, he speaks still. [11:5]By faith Enoch was translated without seeing death, and was not found because G.o.d translated him. For before the translation he was said to have pleased G.o.d; [11:6]but without faith it is impossible to please; for he that comes to G.o.d, must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those that seek him.

5 [11:7]By faith Noah having been divinely instructed concerning things not yet seen, fearing built the ark for the salvation of his house, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness by faith.

6 [11:8]By faith Abraham being called obeyed and went out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance, and went out not knowing where he was going. [11:9]By faith he resided temporarily in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise; [11:10]for he looked for the city which has foundations [fixed abodes] whose designer and builder is G.o.d.

[11:11]By faith also Sarah herself received power to become a mother, even beyond the usual age, because she regarded him faithful that promised. [11:12]Wherefore also there were born of one, and those of one dead, [a posterity] like the stars of heaven for mult.i.tude, and like the sands on the sea-sh.o.r.e innumerable.

7 [11:13]All these died in faith not having received the promises, but having seen and saluted them from a distance, and having professed that they were foreigners and strangers on the earth. [11:14]For those who say such things show that they seek a native country. [11:15]And if they had remembered that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return; [11:16]but now they seek a better, that is a heavenly [country]. Wherefore G.o.d is not ashamed of them to be called their G.o.d; for he has prepared for them a city.

8 [11:17]By faith Abraham when tried offered Isaac, and he that received the promises offered his only son, [11:18]of whom it was said, In Isaac shall your posterity be called, [11:19]judging that G.o.d was able to raise even from the dead; whence also in a figure he received him. [11:20]By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in respect to things to come. [11:21]By faith Jacob dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshipped leaning on the top of his staff. [11:22]By faith Joseph at the close of life made mention of the exodus of the children of Israel and gave charge concerning his bones.

9 [11:23]By faith Moses when he was born was hid three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they feared not the command of the king. [11:24]By faith Moses when he became a man refused to be called a son of Pharaoh's daughter, [11:25]choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of G.o.d, than to have an enjoyment of sin for a time, [11:26]judging the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he had respect to the reward. [11:27]By faith he left Egypt, not having feared the displeasure of the king; for he endured as seeing him that is invisible. [11:28] By faith he observed the pa.s.sover and the pouring out of blood, that the destroyer of the first-born might not touch them. [11:29]By faith they pa.s.sed through the Red Sea as through dry land, which the Egyptians attempting were swallowed up. [11:30]By faith the walls of Jericho fell down when they had been surrounded seven days. [11:31]By faith Rahab the harlot escaped destruction with the disobedient, having received the spies in peace.

10 [11:32]And why should I say more? For time would fail me to relate of Gideon and Barak, and Sampson and Jepthah, and David and Samuel and the prophets, [11:33]who by faith subdued kingdoms, performed righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, [11:34]extinguished the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put to flight encampments of foreigners; [11:35]women received their dead from a resurrection, others were tortured having not accepted redemption, that they might obtain a better resurrection; [11:36]and others had trial of mockings and scourges, and besides of bonds and imprisonment; [11:37]they were stoned, they were cut to pieces with saws, they were tried, they died with the death of the sword, they wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, dest.i.tute, afflicted, injuriously treated, [11:38]of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts and mountains, and in caves and openings of the earth. [11:39]And none of these who became martyrs through faith received the promise, [11:40]G.o.d having provided something better for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

11 [12:1]Therefore also we, having so great a cloud of witnesses lying around us, laying aside every impediment and sin which entirely surrounds us, let us run with patience the race set before us, [12:2]looking to the chief guide and perfecter of the faith, Jesus, who for the joy set before him despised the shame and endured the cross, and sat down on the right hand of G.o.d. [12:3]For consider him that has endured such a contradiction from sinners, that you may not become faint and weary in your minds.

CHAPTER V.

DIVINE CHASTENING, MOUNT SINAI AND MOUNT ZION, MORAL DUTIES, ETC.

1 [12:4]You have not yet resisted to blood contending against sin.

[12:5]And you have forgotten the exhortation which says to you as to sons, My son, despise not the correction of the Lord and faint not when rebuked by him, [12:6]for the Lord corrects those whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. [12:7]If you endure correction, G.o.d deals with you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not correct? [12:8]But if you are without correction of which all are partakers, then you are of foreign birth, and not sons. [12:9]

Moreover, we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? [12:10]For they for a few days corrected us as seemed good to them, but he for the best, that we may partake of his holiness.

[12:11]And no correction seems to be joyful for the present but painful, but afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those exercised by it.

2 [12:12]Wherefore hold up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees, [12:13]and make straight courses for your feet, that the lame may not be turned out of the way, but may rather be healed.

[12:14]Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord, [12:15]taking care that no one may come short of the grace of G.o.d, that no root of bitterness springing up may make trouble and by it many be defiled, [12:16]that no one may be a fornicator or unholy person like Esau, who for one meal sold his birthright. [12:17]For you know that afterwards, wishing also to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind, though he sought it with tears. [12:18]For you have not come to a mountain that may be touched, and to a burning fire, and blackness and darkness and a tempest [12:19]and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, which those who heard desired that the word might not be spoken to them any more,-- [12:20]for they could not bear what was commanded, And if a beast touches the mountain it shall be stoned; [12:21]and so fearful was the sight, that Moses said, I fear and tremble,-- [12:22]but you have come to Zion, the mountain and city of the living G.o.d, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels in general a.s.sembly, [12:23]and to the church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge the G.o.d of all, and to spirits of the righteous made perfect, [12:24]and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to a sprinkled blood which speaks better than Abel.

3 [12:25]See that you refuse not him that speaks; for if they did not escape who refused him that gave answers on earth, much more shall we [not escape] who turn ourselves away from him in heaven; [12:26]whose voice then shook the earth, but now it has been promised, saying, Hereafter once for all I will shake not only the earth, but also heaven. [12:27]And this, Hereafter once for all, signifies the removal of the things shaken as of things made, that those not shaken may continue. [12:28]Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace through which we may serve G.o.d acceptably, with piety and fear; [12:29]for our G.o.d is also a consuming fire.