For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right,

Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

who, for some time, has been unprofitable to you, but now is very profitable to you and to me:

whom I was desirous of keeping with myself, that for thee he might minister to me in the bonds of the glad tidings;

but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.

For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

If he has done you any wrong or is in debt to you for anything, put it to my account.

I, Paul, writing this myself, say, I will make payment to you: and I do not say to you that you are in debt to me even for your life.

Yes, brother, do me this favour for the Lord's sake. Refresh my heart in Christ.

I write to you in the full confidence that you will meet my wishes, for I know you will do even more than I say.

But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

Greetings to you, my brother, from Epaphras my fellow prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus;

along with [John] Mark [Note: This shows that Mark was now back in the good graces of Paul. See Acts 15:36-40], Aristarchus, Demas [Note: This man later deserted Paul. See II Tim. 4:10] and Luke, who are [also] my fellow-workers. [Note: These men, unlike Epaphras who was imprisoned with Paul, were free to minister for Christ there in Rome].

But now, at the end of these days, it has come to us through his Son, to whom he has given all things for a heritage, and through whom he made the order of the generations;

who is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, sustaining all [things] by the word of power. [When he] had made purification for sins through him, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

having become as far superior to the angels as the Name He possesses by inheritance is more excellent than theirs.

For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated lawlessness, - For this cause, hath God, thy God, anointed thee with the oil of exultation, beyond thy partners;

They will come to their end; but you are for ever; they will become old as a robe;

But to which of the angels has the Father ever said,

“Sit at My right hand [together with me in royal dignity],
Until I make your enemies
A footstool for your feet [in triumphant conquest]”?

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

For this reason we should give heed more abundantly to the things we have heard, lest in any way we should slip away.

For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

how will we escape [the penalty] if we ignore such a great salvation [the gospel, the new covenant]? For it was spoken at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us and proved authentic by those who personally heard [Him speak],

For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

But one has [solemnly] testified somewhere [in Scripture], saying,

“What is man, that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man, that You graciously care for him?

“You have made him for a little while lower [in status] than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
And set him over the works of Your hands;

Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

saying,

“I will declare Your (the Father’s) name to My brethren (believers),
In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.”

and again, "As for Me, I will be one whose trust reposes in God;" and again, "Here am I, and here are the children God has given Me."

Forasmuch, then, as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part with them, for to put down through death him that had lordship over death: that is to say, the devil.

And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, [thoughtfully and attentively] consider the Apostle and High Priest whom we confessed [as ours when we accepted Him as Savior], namely, Jesus;

he is faithful to Him who appointed him. For while Moses also was faithful in every department of God's house,

For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

but Christ as a Son over his own house; whose house we are, if we maintain the free profession and exultation of hope firm unto the end.

For this reason--as the Holy Spirit warns us, "To-day, if you hear His voice,

Where your fathers tried Me by testing [My forbearance and tolerance],
And saw My works for forty years
[And found I stood their test].

[for] forty years. Therefore I was angry with this generation, and I said, 'They always go astray in their heart, and they do not know my ways.'

But beseech one another according to each day, as far as the day is called; lest any of you be hardened by deceit of sin.

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies were scattered in the desert?

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

and again in this, “They shall not enter My rest.”

since then, it remaineth for certain to enter into it, and those who did first hear good news entered not in because of unbelief --

For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

There remaineth therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God.

For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience [as those who died in the wilderness].

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Neither is there any creature invisible in the sight of it. For all things are naked and bare unto the eyes of him, of whom we speak.

who is passed into the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast our profession. for we have

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us approach therefore with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and find grace for seasonable help.

For 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:

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.

And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

And besides, one does not appropriate for himself the honor [of being high priest], but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

So Christ also did not claim for Himself the honour of being made High Priest, but was appointed to it by Him who said to Him, "My Son art Thou: I have to-day become Thy Father;"

As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,

for tho' he was the son of God, yet he found by his own sufferings what it was to obey,

and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,

For God Himself addresses Him as a High Priest for ever, belonging to the order of Melchizedek.

On this point I have a great deal to say, which it is hard to make intelligible to you. For you have grown dull of hearing.

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.

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

For this reason let us go on from the first things about Christ to full growth; not building again that on which it is based, that is, the turning of the heart from dead works, and faith in God,

And we will do so [i.e., go on to more advanced teaching] if God allows us to. For it is impossible to get people who have [completely] fallen away [from God] to repent again, because they [continue to] crucify for themselves God's Son all over again, and hold Him up to contempt.

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,

and have fallen away, crucifying for themselves as they do the Son of God, and making a show of him.

For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

and that which is bearing thorns and briers is disapproved of, and nigh to cursing, whose end is for burning;

But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we speak like this.

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

And we desire for each one of you to show the same diligence [all the way through] so as to realize and enjoy the full assurance of hope until the end,

For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

And so, when he had been waiting calmly for a long time, God's word to him was put into effect.

For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

for which cause, God wishing more abundantly to show to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his purpose, interposed with an oath,

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

And this hope is like a strong band for our souls, fixed and certain, and going in to that which is inside the veil;

Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;