The authority of CHAPTER V. HEBREWS. 1 The authority and honour of our Saviour's priesthood. 11 Negligence in the knowledge thereof is reproved. FOR OR every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: 2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. 3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Christ's priesthood. uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil, CHAPTER VI 1 He exhorteth not to fall back from the faith, 11 but to be steadfast, 12 diligent, and patient to wait upon God, 13 because God is most sure in his promise. THEREFORE leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 10 Called of God a high priest 6 If they shall fall away, to after the order of Melchisedec. renew them again unto re11 of whom we have many pentance; seeing they crucify things to say, and hard to be to themselves the Son of God CHAPTER VII. God is sure in his promise. afresh, and put him to an to an 18 That by two immutable open shame. things, in which it was impos 7 For the earth which drink-sible for God to lie, we might eth in the rain that cometh have a strong consolation, oft upon it, and bringeth forth who have fled for refuge to herbs meet for them by whom lay hold upon the hope set it is dressed, receiveth bless- before us: ing from God: 19 Which hope we have as an 8 But that which beareth anchor of the soul, both sure thorns and briers is rejected, and steadfast, and which enand is nigh unto cursing; tereth into that within the whose end is to be burned. vail; 9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous, to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. CHAPTER VII. 1 Christ Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchisedec, 11 and so, far more excellent than the priests of Aaron's order. that ye have ministered to the FOR this Melchisedec, king saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 12 That ye be not slothful, 2 To whom also Abraham but followers of them who gave a tenth part of all; first through faith and patience being by interpretation King inherit the promises. of righteousness, and after 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 13 For when God made prom-that also King of Salem, ise to Abraham, because he which is, King of peace; could swear by no greater, he 3 Without father, without sware by himself, mother, without descent, hay-. ing neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come 16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: Christ a priest HEBREWS. of a higher order out of the loins of Abra- 17 For he testifieth, Thou art ham: 6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchise dec met him. 11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: 21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the or der of Melchisedec:) 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of 24 But this man, because he necessity a change also of continueth ever, hath an unthe law. changeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our 26 For such a high priest beLord sprang out of Juda; of came us, who is holy, harmwhich tribe Moses spake noth-less, undefiled, separate from ing concerning priesthood. sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commardment, but after the power of an endless life. 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he of fered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men than that of Aaron. CHAPTER IX. The gospel covenant. high priests which have in- he saith, Behold, the days firmity; but the word of the come, saith the Lord, when I oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. CHAPTER VIII. 1 By the eternal priesthood of Christ the Levitical priesthood of Aaron is abol ished. 7 And the temporal covenant with the fathers, by the eternal covenant of the gospel. OW of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such a high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; will make a new covenant 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the 2 A minister of the sanctu- house of Israel after those ary, and of the true taber- days, saith the Lord; I will nacle, which the Lord pitch-put my laws into their mind, ed, and not man. 3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that of fer gifts according to the law: 5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. 6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the me-1 diator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8 For finding fault with them, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. CHAPTER IX. The description of the rites and bloody sacrifices of the law, 11 far inferior to the dignity and perfection of the blood and sacrifice of Christ. THEN verily the first cove nant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle inade; the first, wherein was The superiority HEBREWS. the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3 And after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all; 4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant, 5 And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. 6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: of Christ's sacrifice. perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the the way into the 16 For where a testament is, holiest of all was not yet made there must also of necessity manifest, while as the first tab-be the death of the testator. ernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 18 Whereupon 18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people, 20 Saying, This is the blood |