The Supremacy of God’s Son

1 Long ago, at many times and ^ain many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

9 ^uwho saved us and ^vcalled us to¹ a holy calling, ^wnot because of our works but because of ^vhis own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus ^xbefore the ages began,²

2 ^din hope of eternal life, which God, ^ewho never lies, ^fpromised ^gbefore the ages began¹

By Faith

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of ^ethings not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by ^fthe word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of ^gthings that are visible.

4 By faith ^hAbel offered to God ⁱa more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And ^jthrough his faith, though he died, he ^kstill speaks. 5 By faith ^lEnoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God ^mmust believe that he exists and ^mthat he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith ⁿNoah, being warned by God concerning ^oevents as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of ^pthe righteousness that comes by faith.

8 By faith ^qAbraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place ^rthat he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in ^sthe land of promise, as in a foreign land, ^tliving in tents ^uwith Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to ^vthe city that has ^wfoundations, ^xwhose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith ^ySarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered ^zhim faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and ^ahim as good as dead, were born descendants ^bas many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

13 These all died in faith, ^cnot having received the things promised, but ^dhaving seen them and greeted them from afar, and ^ehaving acknowledged that they were ^fstrangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, ^gthey would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed ^hto be called their God, for ⁱhe has prepared for them a city.

17 By faith ^jAbraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, ^k“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 ^lHe considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith ^mIsaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith ⁿJacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, ^obowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith ^pJoseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

23 By faith ^qMoses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of ^rthe king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, ^srefused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 ^tchoosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy ^uthe fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 ^vHe considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to ^wthe reward. 27 By faith he ^xleft Egypt, ^ynot being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured ^zas seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith ^ahe kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

29 By faith ^bthe people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith ^cthe walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith ^dRahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she ^ehad given a friendly welcome to the spies.

32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of ^fGideon, ^gBarak, ^hSamson, ⁱJephthah, of ^jDavid and ^kSamuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, ^lstopped the mouths of lions, 34 ^mquenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, ⁿbecame mighty in war, ⁿput foreign armies to flight. 35 ^oWomen received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even ^pchains and imprisonment. 37 ^qThey were stoned, they were sawn in two,^{1 r}they were killed with the sword. ^sThey went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—^twandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, ^uthough commended through their faith, ^udid not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, ^vthat apart from us they should not be made perfect.

1 Therefore ⁱlet us leave ^jthe elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance ^kfrom dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of ^linstruction about washings,^{1 m}the laying on of hands, ⁿthe resurrection of the dead, and ^oeternal judgment. 3 And this we will do ^pif God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those ^qwho have once been enlightened, who have tasted ^rthe heavenly gift, and ^shave shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and ^thave tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and ^uthen have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since ^vthey are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For ^wland that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But ^xif it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, ^yand its end is to be burned.

9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For ^zGod is not unjust so as to overlook ^ayour work and the love that you have shown for his name in ^bserving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance ^cof hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but ^dimitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The Certainty of God’s Promise

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, ^ehe swore by himself, 14 saying, ^f“Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham,^{2 g}having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes ^han oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to ⁱthe heirs of the promise ^jthe unchangeable character of his purpose, ^khe guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which ^lit is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope ^mset before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into ⁿthe inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone ^oas a forerunner on our behalf, ^phaving become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Sacrifices Pleasing to God

1 Let ^ubrotherly love continue. 2 ^vDo not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby ^wsome have entertained angels unawares. 3 ^xRemember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 ^yLet marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge ^zthe sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life ^afree from love of money, and ^bbe content with what you have, for he has said, ^c“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

7 Remember ^fyour leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and ^gimitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is ^hthe same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be ⁱled away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, ^jnot by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar ^kfrom which those who serve the tent¹ have no right to eat. 11 For ^lthe bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned ^moutside the camp. 12 So Jesus also ⁿsuffered ^ooutside the gate in order to sanctify the people ^pthrough his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear ^qthe reproach he endured. 14 For ^rhere we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 ^sThrough him then let us continually offer up ^ta sacrifice of praise to God, that is, ^uthe fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and ^vto share what you have, for such ^wsacrifices are pleasing to God.

17 Obey ^xyour leaders and submit to them, ^yfor they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to ^zgive an account. ^aLet them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

18 ^bPray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order ^cthat I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction

20 Now ^dmay the God of peace ^ewho brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, ^fthe great shepherd of the sheep, by ^gthe blood of the eternal covenant, 21 ^hequip you with everything good that you may do his will, ⁱworking in us² that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, ^jto whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

22 I appeal to you, brothers,³ bear with my word of exhortation, for ^kI have written to you briefly. 23 You should know that ^lour brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. 24 Greet all ^myour leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25 ⁿGrace be with all of you.

Abraham Justified by Faith

1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, ^tour forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but ^unot before God.

12 And there is ^asalvation ^bin no one else, for ^cthere is no other ^dname under heaven given among men¹ by which we must be saved.”

56 ^wYour father Abraham ^xrejoiced ^ythat he would see my day. ^zHe saw it and was glad.”