Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Abraham » God's covenant with
When Abram [was] ninety-nine years old Yahweh appeared to Abram. And he said to him, "I [am] El-Shaddai; walk before me and be blameless so that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you {exceedingly}." Then Abram fell upon his face and God spoke with him, saying, read more.
"[As for] me, behold, my covenant [shall be] with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. Your name shall no longer be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. And I will make you {exceedingly} fruitful. I will make you a nation, and kings shall go out from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you, and between your offspring after you, throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant to be as God for you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you {the land in which you are living as an alien}, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting property. And I will be to them as God." And God said to Abraham, "Now [as for] you, you must keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you, throughout their generations. This [is] my covenant which you shall keep, between me and you, and [also] with your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. And {at eight days of age} you shall yourselves circumcise every male [belonging] to your generations [and] {the servant born in your house and the one bought from any foreigner} who is not from your offspring. {You must certainly circumcise} {the servant born in your house and the one bought from any foreigner}. And my covenant shall be with your flesh as an everlasting covenant. And [as for any] uncircumcised male who has not circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant. And God said to Abraham, "[as for] Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, for Sarah [shall be] her name. And I will bless her; moreover, I give to you from her a son. And I will bless her, and {she shall give rise to nations}. Kings of peoples shall come from her." And Abraham fell upon his face and laughed. And he said in his heart, "{Can a child be born to a man a hundred years old}, or {can Sarah bear a child at ninety}?" And Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before you!" And God said, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear a son for you, and you shall call his name Isaac. And I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant to his offspring after him. And [as for] Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I will bless him and I will make him fruitful, and I will multiply him {exceedingly}. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this appointed time next year." When he finished speaking with him, God went up from Abraham.
"[As for] me, behold, my covenant [shall be] with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. Your name shall no longer be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. And I will make you {exceedingly} fruitful. I will make you a nation, and kings shall go out from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you, and between your offspring after you, throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant to be as God for you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you {the land in which you are living as an alien}, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting property. And I will be to them as God." And God said to Abraham, "Now [as for] you, you must keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you, throughout their generations. This [is] my covenant which you shall keep, between me and you, and [also] with your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. And {at eight days of age} you shall yourselves circumcise every male [belonging] to your generations [and] {the servant born in your house and the one bought from any foreigner} who is not from your offspring. {You must certainly circumcise} {the servant born in your house and the one bought from any foreigner}. And my covenant shall be with your flesh as an everlasting covenant. And [as for any] uncircumcised male who has not circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant. And God said to Abraham, "[as for] Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, for Sarah [shall be] her name. And I will bless her; moreover, I give to you from her a son. And I will bless her, and {she shall give rise to nations}. Kings of peoples shall come from her." And Abraham fell upon his face and laughed. And he said in his heart, "{Can a child be born to a man a hundred years old}, or {can Sarah bear a child at ninety}?" And Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before you!" And God said, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear a son for you, and you shall call his name Isaac. And I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant to his offspring after him. And [as for] Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I will bless him and I will make him fruitful, and I will multiply him {exceedingly}. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this appointed time next year." When he finished speaking with him, God went up from Abraham.
You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and loyal love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our ancestors from the days of old.
For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants, [that] he would be heir of the world, [was] not through the law, but through the righteousness by faith.
For I say, Christ has become a servant of the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God, in order to confirm the promises to the fathers,
For [when] God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "Surely {I will greatly bless} you, and {I will greatly multiply} you."
Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, then understand that the ones {who have faith}, these are sons of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the good news in advance to Abraham: "In you all the nations will be blessed." read more.
So then, the ones [who have] faith are blessed together with Abraham who believed. For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse, for it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who does not abide by all [the things] that are written in the book of the law to do them." Now [it is] clear that no one is justified in the sight of God by the law, because "the one who is righteous will live by faith." But the law is not from faith, but "the one who does these [things] will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law [by] becoming a curse for us, because it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who hangs on a tree," in order that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brothers, I am speaking according to a human perspective. Nevertheless, [when] the covenant of a man has been ratified, no one declares [it] invalid or adds additional provisions [to it]. Now to Abraham and to his descendant the promises were spoken. It does not say, "and to descendants," as concerning many, but as concerning one, "and to your descendant," who is Christ. Now I am saying this: the law, that came after four hundred and thirty years, does not revoke a covenant previously ratified by God, in order to nullify the promise. For if the inheritance [is] from the law, [it is] no longer from the promise, but God graciously gave [it] to Abraham through the promise.
So then, the ones [who have] faith are blessed together with Abraham who believed. For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse, for it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who does not abide by all [the things] that are written in the book of the law to do them." Now [it is] clear that no one is justified in the sight of God by the law, because "the one who is righteous will live by faith." But the law is not from faith, but "the one who does these [things] will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law [by] becoming a curse for us, because it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who hangs on a tree," in order that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brothers, I am speaking according to a human perspective. Nevertheless, [when] the covenant of a man has been ratified, no one declares [it] invalid or adds additional provisions [to it]. Now to Abraham and to his descendant the promises were spoken. It does not say, "and to descendants," as concerning many, but as concerning one, "and to your descendant," who is Christ. Now I am saying this: the law, that came after four hundred and thirty years, does not revoke a covenant previously ratified by God, in order to nullify the promise. For if the inheritance [is] from the law, [it is] no longer from the promise, but God graciously gave [it] to Abraham through the promise.
And if you [are] Christ's, then you are descendants of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the female slave and one by the free woman. But the one by the female slave was born according to human descent, and the one by the free woman through the promise, which [things] are spoken allegorically, for these [women] are two covenants, one from Mount Sinai, bearing [children] for slavery, who is Hagar. read more.
Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is a slave with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren woman, who does not give birth to [children]; burst out and shout, [you] who do not have birth pains, because many [are] the children of the desolate [woman], even more than [those of] the one who has a husband." But you, brothers, are children of the promise, just as Isaac. But just as at that time the [child] born according to human descent persecuted the [child born] according to the Spirit, so also now. But what does the scripture say? "Drive out the female slave and her son, for the son of the female slave will never inherit with the son" of the free woman. Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the female slave but of the free woman.
Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is a slave with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren woman, who does not give birth to [children]; burst out and shout, [you] who do not have birth pains, because many [are] the children of the desolate [woman], even more than [those of] the one who has a husband." But you, brothers, are children of the promise, just as Isaac. But just as at that time the [child] born according to human descent persecuted the [child born] according to the Spirit, so also now. But what does the scripture say? "Drive out the female slave and her son, for the son of the female slave will never inherit with the son" of the free woman. Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the female slave but of the free woman.
Covenant » Of God with men » Confirmed with an oath
Dwell as an alien in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you, for I will give all these lands to you and to your descendants, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham you father.
In the same way God, [because he] wanted to show even more to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his resolve, guaranteed [it] with an oath, in order that through two unchangeable things, in which [it is] impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge may have powerful encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before [us],
And he said, "I swear by myself, declares Yahweh, that because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only child,
And Joseph said to his brothers, "I [am about] to die, but God will certainly visit you and bring you up from this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob."
that he made with Abraham, and by his oath [swore] to Isaac.
For [when] God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself,
spiritual Development » Select reading, heb 511-14, 61-16
Concerning this {we have much to say and it is difficult to explain}, since you have become sluggish in hearing. For indeed, [although you] ought to be teachers {by this time}, you have need of someone to teach you again the beginning elements of the oracles of God, and {you have need of} milk, not solid food. For everyone who partakes of milk [is] unacquainted with the message of righteousness, because he is an infant. read more.
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have trained their faculties for the distinguishing of both good and evil.
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have trained their faculties for the distinguishing of both good and evil.
Therefore, leaving behind the elementary message about Christ, let us move on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God, teaching about baptisms and laying on of hands, and resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. read more.
For [it is] impossible [concerning] those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become sharers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the coming age, and having fallen away, to renew [them] again to repentance, [because they] have crucified again for themselves the Son of God and held him up to contempt. For ground that drinks the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth vegetation usable to those [people] {for whose sake} [it is] also cultivated, shares a blessing from God. But [if it] produces thorns and thistles, [it is] worthless and near to a curse, whose end [is] for burning. But even if we are speaking in this way, dear friends, we are convinced of better [things] concerning you, and belonging to salvation. For God [is] not unjust, [so as] to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for his name [by] having served the saints, and continuing to serve [them]. And we desire each one of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of [your] hope until the end, in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and patience. For [when] God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "Surely {I will greatly bless} you, and {I will greatly multiply} you." And so, [by] persevering, he obtained the promise. For people swear by what is greater [than themselves], and the oath for confirmation [is the] end of all dispute for them.
For [it is] impossible [concerning] those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become sharers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the coming age, and having fallen away, to renew [them] again to repentance, [because they] have crucified again for themselves the Son of God and held him up to contempt. For ground that drinks the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth vegetation usable to those [people] {for whose sake} [it is] also cultivated, shares a blessing from God. But [if it] produces thorns and thistles, [it is] worthless and near to a curse, whose end [is] for burning. But even if we are speaking in this way, dear friends, we are convinced of better [things] concerning you, and belonging to salvation. For God [is] not unjust, [so as] to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for his name [by] having served the saints, and continuing to serve [them]. And we desire each one of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of [your] hope until the end, in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and patience. For [when] God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "Surely {I will greatly bless} you, and {I will greatly multiply} you." And so, [by] persevering, he obtained the promise. For people swear by what is greater [than themselves], and the oath for confirmation [is the] end of all dispute for them.
Faith » Trial of
so that the genuineness of your faith, more valuable than gold that is passing away, but is tested by fire, may be found to [result in] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
Blessed [is] the person who endures testing, because [when he] is approved he will receive the crown of life that he has promised to those who love him.
Verse Concepts
BattlesBlessedCrowns Of ChristiansFate Of The GodlyFaith, Testing OfAssurance, basis ofCommendationeternal life, experience ofdiscipline, divineCharacterAthleticsLove, Nature OfPerseverancePrizesGod's PromisesPunishment, By GodSatan, Resistance ToSelf DisciplineTemptation, ResistingTestingTrialsTrust, Importance OfAfflictions, Consolation DuringLove For GodSuffering, Hardship
Endurance In DiscouragementCrowns For God's PeopleEnduringPeople Commended By GodBemaPromise Of HeavenUniversalismTemptationEnduranceLife StrugglesOvercoming Hard TimesHardshipPatience In Hard TimesResisting TemptationTestsOvercoming AdversityPersistenceHard Work And Perseveranceperserverancepatientsperseveringcrownsexamstrailspressure
[because you] know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
[When] anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand [it], the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown on the side of the path. And what was sown on the rocky ground--this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he does not have a root in himself, but {lasts only a little while}, and [when] affliction or persecution happens because of the word, immediately he falls away. read more.
And what was sown into the thorn plants--this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word and it becomes unproductive.
And what was sown into the thorn plants--this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word and it becomes unproductive.
And I know, my God, that you yourself test the heart and are pleased with uprightness. I, in the uprightness of my heart, have willingly offered all these [things], and now I have seen your people who are found here willingly offer to you.
Prove me, O Yahweh, and test me. Try my {innermost being} and my {mind}.
In this trouble you called, and I rescued you. Within [the] secret place of thunder I answered you; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
For at that time there will be great tribulation, such as has not happened from the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will happen. And unless those days had been shortened, {no human being would be saved}. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened. "At that time if anyone should say to you, 'Behold, here [is] the Christ,' or 'Here [he is],' do not believe [him]! read more.
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear, and will produce great signs and wonders in order to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you ahead of time!
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear, and will produce great signs and wonders in order to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you ahead of time!
And those on the rock [are those] who receive the word with joy when they hear [it], and these do not have [enough] root, who believe for a time and in a time of testing fall away. And the [seed] that fell into the thorn plants--these are the ones who hear and [as they] go along are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and they do not bear fruit to maturity.
We ought to give thanks to God always concerning you, brothers, just as it is fitting, because your faith is flourishing and the love of each one of you all toward one another is increasing so that we ourselves boast in you in the churches of God about your patient endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring, a proof of the righteous judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, on behalf of which also you are suffering,
For [when] God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "Surely {I will greatly bless} you, and {I will greatly multiply} you." And so, [by] persevering, he obtained the promise.
spiritual Growth » Encouraged » Select readings
Concerning this {we have much to say and it is difficult to explain}, since you have become sluggish in hearing. For indeed, [although you] ought to be teachers {by this time}, you have need of someone to teach you again the beginning elements of the oracles of God, and {you have need of} milk, not solid food. For everyone who partakes of milk [is] unacquainted with the message of righteousness, because he is an infant. read more.
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have trained their faculties for the distinguishing of both good and evil.
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have trained their faculties for the distinguishing of both good and evil.
Therefore, leaving behind the elementary message about Christ, let us move on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God, teaching about baptisms and laying on of hands, and resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. read more.
For [it is] impossible [concerning] those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become sharers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the coming age, and having fallen away, to renew [them] again to repentance, [because they] have crucified again for themselves the Son of God and held him up to contempt. For ground that drinks the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth vegetation usable to those [people] {for whose sake} [it is] also cultivated, shares a blessing from God. But [if it] produces thorns and thistles, [it is] worthless and near to a curse, whose end [is] for burning. But even if we are speaking in this way, dear friends, we are convinced of better [things] concerning you, and belonging to salvation. For God [is] not unjust, [so as] to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for his name [by] having served the saints, and continuing to serve [them]. And we desire each one of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of [your] hope until the end, in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and patience. For [when] God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "Surely {I will greatly bless} you, and {I will greatly multiply} you." And so, [by] persevering, he obtained the promise. For people swear by what is greater [than themselves], and the oath for confirmation [is the] end of all dispute for them.
For [it is] impossible [concerning] those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become sharers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the coming age, and having fallen away, to renew [them] again to repentance, [because they] have crucified again for themselves the Son of God and held him up to contempt. For ground that drinks the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth vegetation usable to those [people] {for whose sake} [it is] also cultivated, shares a blessing from God. But [if it] produces thorns and thistles, [it is] worthless and near to a curse, whose end [is] for burning. But even if we are speaking in this way, dear friends, we are convinced of better [things] concerning you, and belonging to salvation. For God [is] not unjust, [so as] to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for his name [by] having served the saints, and continuing to serve [them]. And we desire each one of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of [your] hope until the end, in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and patience. For [when] God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "Surely {I will greatly bless} you, and {I will greatly multiply} you." And so, [by] persevering, he obtained the promise. For people swear by what is greater [than themselves], and the oath for confirmation [is the] end of all dispute for them.
Oath » Attributed to God
For [when] God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "Surely {I will greatly bless} you, and {I will greatly multiply} you."
Yahweh of hosts has sworn by himself, "Surely I will fill you [with] troops like the creeping locusts, and they will sing over you a war cry."
And to whom did he swear [they would] not enter into his rest, except those who were disobedient?
Yahweh of hosts has sworn, saying, "{Surely} just as I have intended, so it shall be. And just as I have planned, it shall stand:
in order to keep the oath that I swore to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as [it is] this day." '" Then I answered and said, "{Let it be so}, O Yahweh."
For I have sworn by myself," {declares} Yahweh, "that Bozrah will become as a horror, as a disgrace, as a waste, and as a curse. And all her towns will be {everlasting sites of ruins}."
For the law appoints men [as] high priests who have weakness, but the statement of the oath, after the law, [appoints] a Son, who is made perfect {forever}.
In the same way God, [because he] wanted to show even more to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his resolve, guaranteed [it] with an oath,
And he said, "I swear by myself, declares Yahweh, that because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only child,
that he made with Abraham, and by his oath [swore] to Isaac.
For we who have believed enter into rest, just as he has said, "As I swore in my anger, '{They will never enter} into my rest.'" And yet these works have been accomplished from the foundation of the world.
Yahweh swore [in] truth to David; he will not turn back from it. "One from the fruit of your {body} I will set on your throne.
and swore by the one who lives {forever and ever}, who created heaven and the [things] in it, and the earth and the [things] in it, and the sea and the [things] in it, "There will be no more delay!
I have sworn by myself; a word that shall not return has gone forth from my mouth [in] righteousness: 'Every knee shall kneel down to me; every tongue shall swear.'
But if you do not obey these words, I swear by myself," {declares} Yahweh, "that this house will become a site of ruins." '"
but he with an oath by the one who said to him, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You [are] a priest {forever}'"),
Spiritual » Gifts spiritual, promised » Growth
Concerning this {we have much to say and it is difficult to explain}, since you have become sluggish in hearing. For indeed, [although you] ought to be teachers {by this time}, you have need of someone to teach you again the beginning elements of the oracles of God, and {you have need of} milk, not solid food. For everyone who partakes of milk [is] unacquainted with the message of righteousness, because he is an infant. read more.
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have trained their faculties for the distinguishing of both good and evil.
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have trained their faculties for the distinguishing of both good and evil.
Therefore, leaving behind the elementary message about Christ, let us move on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God, teaching about baptisms and laying on of hands, and resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. read more.
For [it is] impossible [concerning] those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become sharers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the coming age, and having fallen away, to renew [them] again to repentance, [because they] have crucified again for themselves the Son of God and held him up to contempt. For ground that drinks the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth vegetation usable to those [people] {for whose sake} [it is] also cultivated, shares a blessing from God. But [if it] produces thorns and thistles, [it is] worthless and near to a curse, whose end [is] for burning. But even if we are speaking in this way, dear friends, we are convinced of better [things] concerning you, and belonging to salvation. For God [is] not unjust, [so as] to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for his name [by] having served the saints, and continuing to serve [them]. And we desire each one of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of [your] hope until the end, in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and patience. For [when] God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "Surely {I will greatly bless} you, and {I will greatly multiply} you." And so, [by] persevering, he obtained the promise. For people swear by what is greater [than themselves], and the oath for confirmation [is the] end of all dispute for them.
For [it is] impossible [concerning] those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become sharers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the coming age, and having fallen away, to renew [them] again to repentance, [because they] have crucified again for themselves the Son of God and held him up to contempt. For ground that drinks the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth vegetation usable to those [people] {for whose sake} [it is] also cultivated, shares a blessing from God. But [if it] produces thorns and thistles, [it is] worthless and near to a curse, whose end [is] for burning. But even if we are speaking in this way, dear friends, we are convinced of better [things] concerning you, and belonging to salvation. For God [is] not unjust, [so as] to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for his name [by] having served the saints, and continuing to serve [them]. And we desire each one of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of [your] hope until the end, in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and patience. For [when] God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "Surely {I will greatly bless} you, and {I will greatly multiply} you." And so, [by] persevering, he obtained the promise. For people swear by what is greater [than themselves], and the oath for confirmation [is the] end of all dispute for them.