Dual Panel1Therefore <1352> we must progress <5342> beyond the elementary <746> instructions <3056> about Christ <5547> and move on <863> to <1909> maturity <5047>, not <3361> laying <2598> this foundation <2310> again <3825>: repentance <3341> from <575> dead <3498> works <2041> and <2532> faith <4102> in <1909> God <2316>,
2teaching <1322> about baptisms <909>, laying on <1936> of hands <5495>, resurrection <386> of the dead <3498>, and <2532> eternal <166> judgment <2917>.
3And <2532> this <5124> is what we intend to do <4160>, if <1437> God <2316> permits <2010>.
4For <1063> it is impossible <102> in the case of those who have <5461> once <530> been enlightened <5461>, tasted <1089> the heavenly <2032> gift <1431>, become <1096> partakers <3353> of the Holy <40> Spirit <4151>,
5tasted <1089> the good <2570> word <4487> of God <2316> and <5037> the miracles <1411> of the coming <3195> age <165>,
6and then <2532> have committed apostasy <3895>, to renew <340> them again <3825> to <1519> repentance <3341>, since they are crucifying <388> the Son <5207> of God <2316> for themselves <1438> all over again and <2532> holding <3856> him up to contempt <3856>.
7For <1063> the ground <1093> that has soaked up <4095> the rain <5205> that frequently <4178> falls <2064> on <1909> it <846> and <2532> yields <5088> useful <2111> vegetation <1008> for those <1565> who <3739> tend <1090> it receives a <3335> blessing <2129> from <575> God <2316>.
8But <1161> if it produces <1627> thorns <173> and <2532> thistles <5146>, it is useless <96> and <2532> about <1451> to be cursed <2671>; its fate <5056> is to be burned <2740>.
9But <1161> in <4012> your <5216> case, dear friends <27>, even though <1487> <2532> we speak <2980> like this <3779>, we are convinced <3982> of better things <2908> relating <2192> to salvation <4991>.
10For <1063> God <2316> is not <3756> unjust <94> so as to forget <1950> your <5216> work <2041> and <2532> the love <26> you have demonstrated <1731> for <1519> his <846> name <3686>, in having served <1247> and <2532> continuing to serve <1247> the saints <40>.
11But <1161> we passionately want <1937> each <1538> of you <5216> to demonstrate <1731> the same <846> eagerness <4710> for <4314> the fulfillment <4136> of your hope <1680> until <891> the end <5056>,
12so that <2443> you may <1096> not <3361> be <1096> sluggish <3576>, but <1161> imitators <3402> of those who through <1223> faith <4102> and <2532> perseverance <3115> inherit <2816> the promises <1860>.
13Now when <1861> God <2316> made <1861> his promise <1861> to Abraham <11>, since <1893> he could swear <3660> by <2596> no one <3762> greater <3173>, he swore <3660> by <2596> himself <1438>,
14saying <3004>, “Surely <3375> I will bless <2127> you <4571> greatly and <2532> multiply <4129> your descendants <4571> abundantly <4129>.”
15And <2532> so <3779> by persevering <3114>, Abraham inherited <2013> the promise <1860>.
16For <1063> people <444> swear <3660> by <2596> something greater than <3173> themselves, and <2532> the oath <3727> serves as a confirmation <951> to end <4009> all <3956> dispute <485>.
17In <1722> the same way God <2316> wanted <1014> to demonstrate <1925> more clearly <4054> to the heirs <2818> of the promise <1860> that his <846> purpose <1012> was unchangeable <276>, and so he intervened <3315> with an oath <3727>,
18so that <2443> we who have <2192> found refuge <2703> in him may find strong <2478> encouragement <3874> to hold fast <2902> to the hope <1680> set before us <4295> through <1223> two <1417> unchangeable <276> things <4229>, since it is impossible <102> for God <2316> to lie <5574>.
19We have <2192> this hope as <5613> an anchor <45> for the soul <5590>, sure <804> and <5037> <2532> steadfast <949>, which reaches <1525> inside behind <2082> the curtain <2665>,
20where <3699> Jesus <2424> our forerunner <4274> entered <1525> on <5228> our <2257> behalf <5228>, since <1096> he became <1096> a priest <749> forever <165> in <2596> the order <5010> of Melchizedek <3198>.