Hebrews 6 - 9

6:1 Therefore, being released from the first words of Christ upon completion [of the fullness of Christ, we should bring forth and carry on; not laying again the foundation of turning our minds away from dead works, and [not laying again the foundation] of faith upon God, 2 of immersions, instruction, of laying on of hands, of the resurrection from the dead, and of the unfolding season of judgment. 3 And this we will do as God entrusts us to do.

4 For it is impossible for those who once were enlightened, having tasted of the heavenly gift and having become partakers of Spirit Holy, 5 and having tasted the beauty of God’s speaking, and the power of the coming age, 6 having turned away, to restore again into changing their mind, themselves crucifying the Son of God, and setting Him forth as a disgrace. {This translator was restored by the Lord Jesus Christ through this very word, since it caused him to turn entirely away from himself and place himself utterly upon Jesus as Savior and salvation.}

7 Indeed, the earth, having soaked up the rain coming often, and bringing forth vegetation useful for those for whom it is tilled, partakes of the blessing of good speaking from God. 8 Ground that brings forth thorns and thistles, however, has failed the test and is near to a curse, of which the completion is into burning.

9 We are confident, however, concerning you, beloved, of better and of possessing salvation, even if we speak like this. 10 For God is not unjust to overlook your work and the love that you demonstrate into His name, having served the holy ones and are serving.

11 We desire, moreover, that each of you demonstrate the same enthusiasm towards connecting with the full assurance and conviction of hope all the way through to completion, 12 that you might not be lazy, but imitators of those who through faith and patience are actively and presently inheriting the promises.

13 For God, having made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater by which to swear, swore by Himself, 14 saying, “If assuredly good-speaking, then I will bless and speak good words into you, and if assuredly increase, then I will increase you” (Genesis 22:16-17). 15 And thus, having waited patiently, Abraham obtained the promise. 16 For men swear by what is greater, and all their contradictions are limited by the establishment of the oath. In the same way, but more abundantly, 17 God, intending with full determination to demonstrate to the heirs of promise His unchangeable purpose, He interposed it by an oath, 18 so that through two unchangeable deeds [spoken word and sworn oath], in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might possess STRONG encouragement, having already fled for refuge to seize hold of hope found already there.

19 This strong encouragement we possess as an anchor of the soul [of the story we tell ourselves about ourselves], both certain and firm, which is presently entering into that Holy of Holies within the veil, 20 where Jesus as forerunner for our sakes has entered, having already become High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek into the [present] season.


7:1 For this Melchizedek, King of Salem, priest of God most high, having encountered Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and having spoken good words into him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all, being translated, king of righteousness, then also, king of Salem, which is king of peace; 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy; having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; having been made, moreover, like the Son of God, he remains a priest through continuous and unbroken time.

4 Now consider how great this one was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth out of the best spoils. 5 For those who are out from the sons of Levi, who receive the priestly office, have a commandment to take a tenth from the people, according to the law, that is, from their brothers and sisters, though they also come out of the loins of Abraham. 6 This one, however, who does not trace his genealogy from those priests, has collected a tenth from Abraham, and has spoken good words into the one possessing the promises. 7 Apart from all contradiction, the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 For presently, dying men receive tithes; but in that place, it is testified that Melchizedek lives. 9 And so, in a manner of speaking, Levi, the one who receives tithes, also tithed through Abraham, 10 since he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek encountered him.

11 Indeed, IF completion were though the Levitical priesthood, by which the people received the law, what need would there be for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron? 12 Because the priesthood was changed, it is required that a change of law also take place. 13 Indeed, the One [Jesus] concerning whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has served at the altar.

14 It is evident, then, that that our Lord comes out from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. 15 And it is even more abundantly evident, if another priest arises according to the same as Melchizedek, 16 who has not come into being according to the law of a fleshly commandment [the entire law of Moses], but has come into being according to the power of an indissoluble or endless life. 17 Indeed, it is testified, “You are a priest into the age, according to the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4).

18 Truly, there is a setting aside, an annulment, a full cancellation of the preceding commandment {the entire law and old covenant through Moses} because of its weakness and uselessness – 19 indeed the law brought nothing to completion. In complete contrast, the bringing in of a better hope [does perfect and complete], through which we actively draw near to God, that is, connect with God in full immanence.

20 And not apart from an oath (those others are becoming priests without any oath from God), 21 but with an oath, through the One saying, “Towards him the Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest into the age.’” 22 By so much also, Jesus has become the surety, the security of a better and stronger covenant.

23 And truly those many who are become priests are prevented from continuing by death. 24 But because of Jesus abides and continues actively and completely into the age, He holds an unchangeable and permanent priesthood. 25 Wherefore also, Jesus is able to save into all salvation those approaching God through Him, always living into hitting the mark [fulfilling all that God requires] for them, for their sakes {that is, living as them in all that they are}.

26 For He became for us just such a High Priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, having been separated from all forfeit of missing the mark, of any disconnection from God. Having become higher than the heavens, 27 He does not need, as the former high priests did, to offer up sacrifices for their own sins and then for those of the people; for this He did once for all, by offering up Himself. 28 For the law appoints men of weakness as high priests; in complete contrast, the word of the oath, coming after that law, appoints the Son who has been perfected as High Priest into the [present] age.

 
8:1 Now, the main point of the things being spoken is that we possess just such a High Priest who sat down inside of the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the Holy and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord has pitched, not man.

3 For every high priest, going in to offer both gifts and sacrifices, is appointed and must also have something he might offer. 4 If He were on earth, Jesus would not be a priest, there being those already offering gifts according to the law, 5 who serve as a model or outline of the heavenly realms, as Moses was instructed by God as he was completing the Tabernacle, saying, “You will make all things according to the pattern that was shown you in the mountain.” 6 Now, however, He has obtained a more excellent ministry, as much as He is also the mediator or go-between of a better covenant which has been enacted upon better promises.

7 If indeed the first covenant had been without fault [not lacking, not insufficient], then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 But in finding fault [blaming for lack, rejected because it was disgraceful] – with the first covenant {that is, the covenant with Israel through Moses}, God says, “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will establish [ratify, fulfill, bring to completion] a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day I took them by their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not remain in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days says the Lord, I will place My laws in their minds [dianoia – through mind] and upon their hearts I will inscribe them; and I will be God inside of them, and they will be people inside of me. 11 And no one will teach each their neighbor and each their brother saying, ‘Know the Lord’; because all will be aware of Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, 12 because I will propitiate [eliminate by atonement] their acts of injustice and their falling short [failing to hit the target with an arrow] will not be in My thoughts anymore (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

13 In saying “New,” God has made the first covenant [the entire covenant God had established with Israel] obsolete and what is made obsolete is ready to vanish [from appearance].


9:1 The first covenant also had regulations of service and earthly holy places. 2 A tabernacle was constructed; the first room was called the Holy Place, in which were both the lampstand and the table and the bread of purpose [pro-thesis – God’s set forth purpose from the beginning]. 3 Then, behind the veil of the tabernacle was a second [room] called the Holy of Holies 4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant that was covered all around every part with gold, in which was the golden pot having the manna, and Aaron’s staff which budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 Moreover, above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the propitiation [the mercy seat, the place where sin is eliminated by blood], concerning which we cannot now speak in detail.

6 Now, having prepared these things, the priests entered through the first tabernacle to complete their services. 7 But the high priest entered into the second [the Holy of Holies] only once a year, not without blood which he offered for himself and for the people for offenses committed in ignorance. 8 The Spirit of the Holy thus indicating that the way into the Holiest had not been made visible while the first tabernacle was standing. 9 Which is a symbol and parable for the present time, in that both the gifts and sacrifices being offered are not able to perfect the consciousness of the ones worshipping, 10 consisting only in foods and drinks and various washings, ordinances of the flesh imposed until the time of restoration.

11 Christ, however, having arrived now with us as High Priest of the good things [of Christ] that have come, through the greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 And not with the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered once for all into the Holiest having obtained age-unfolding redemption and release. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling that which is unclean, makes holy for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more, rather, the blood of Christ, who through the age-unfolding Spirit offered Himself unblemished and faultless to God, purify our consciousness from dead works into serving the living God. 15 And for this reason, He is the Mediator of a new covenant, by means of death having already taken place, into redemption of the stepping aside that took place under the first covenant, that those who have been called might receive the promise of the inheritance unfolding through the ages.

16 For where there is a will of inheritance, the death of the one who made the will is necessary for it to come into effect.  17 For a will is not in force while the one who made it is still alive, indeed it is affirmed only after the will-writer dies. 18 Neither was the first [covenant] established apart from blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every injunction according to the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and he sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” 21 Moreover, the tabernacle and all the vessels of ministry he sprinkled with blood in the same way; 22 and almost all things are purified with blood according to the law, and apart from the shedding of blood there is no release or setting free.

23 It was necessary, then, that the representations of the things in the heavens be purified with the items used by Moses, but the heavens must have better sacrifices than those things. 24 For Christ has not entered into the holy places made by hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear and to declare in the face and countenance of God for us, for our sakes. 25 Not that he should offer Himself repeatedly, even as the high priest enters into the Holiest every year with the blood of another; 26 otherwise it would have been necessary for him to have suffered repeatedly from the conception of the cosmos. Now, however, once, in the completion together of the ages, he has appeared for the putting away or cancellation of sin, all disconnection from God, through the sacrifice of Himself.

27 And just as it is appointed to men to die once with judgment; 28 so also Christ, having been offered once to bear, to up-carry, the sins of many, out of a second time He will be perceived without sin by those eagerly expecting Him into salvation.