Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible





the oath which he swore to our father Abraham: Verse ConceptsAbraham, New Testament ReferencesGod Swearing Blessings

The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that he would be heir of the world, was not through the law but through the righteousness of faith. Verse ConceptsImputed RighteousnessGod's Promise To AbrahamRighteous By FaithPromisesTrust In Relationships

For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised to show God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs, Verse ConceptsCertaintyPatriarchsGod's Promise To AbrahamSalvation For Israelvindication

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and multiply you."

Even so Abraham "believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you will all the nations be blessed." read more.
So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the man of faith. For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to do them." Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "The righteous man shall live by faith." But the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "He who does them shall live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for usfor it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree" in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. To give a human example, brethren: even though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ. What I mean is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.


For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave and one by the free woman. But the son by the slave was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. read more.
Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; for the children of the desolate are more numerous than the children of her who has a husband." Now you, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now. But what does the scripture say? "Cast out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave shall not inherit with the son of the free woman." So then, brethren, we are not children of the slave, but of the free woman.

the oath which he swore to our father Abraham: Verse ConceptsAbraham, New Testament ReferencesGod Swearing Blessings


So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.





For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, Verse ConceptsGod HimselfSwearing

About this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of God's word. You need milk, not solid food; for every one who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. read more.
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their sense trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, with instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. read more.
For it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put him to an open shame. For land which drinks the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned. Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that accompany salvation. For God is not so unjust as to forget your work and the love which you have shown for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same diligence in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and multiply you." And so Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men swear by one greater than themselves, and in all their disputes the oath is final for confirmation.




when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. But he who received the seed on rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. And when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. read more.
Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.




For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. Then if any one says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it. read more.
For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.

And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And the ones that fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

We ought to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, as is fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you are enduring. This is evidence of God's righteous judgment, so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

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For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and multiply you." And so Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise.

About this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of God's word. You need milk, not solid food; for every one who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. read more.
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their sense trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, with instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. read more.
For it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put him to an open shame. For land which drinks the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned. Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that accompany salvation. For God is not so unjust as to forget your work and the love which you have shown for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same diligence in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and multiply you." And so Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men swear by one greater than themselves, and in all their disputes the oath is final for confirmation.

the oath which he swore to our father Abraham: Verse ConceptsAbraham, New Testament ReferencesGod Swearing Blessings

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and multiply you."



And to whom did he swear that they would never enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? Verse ConceptsGod Swearing Harmdisobedience




For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. Verse ConceptsJesus Christ, Eternity OfGod, Perfection OfPriesthood, In NtConsecrationUnblemishmentChrist Made PerfectRivers


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For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall never enter my rest,'" although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. Verse ConceptsCompletionHeaven,  Redeemed CommunityOpportunities, And SalvationPerfection, DivineEntering LifeSaved By FaithGod Swearing HarmFrom The BeginningGod Giving RestNew Testament Claiming Old Testament Is InspiredRestFinishing Strongfinishing


As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" Verse ConceptsSleeplessnessEntering LifeGod Swearing Harm

and swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will be no more delay, Verse ConceptsEarth, Creation OfGod, Living And Self sustainingHeaven, Nature OfNatureCreation Of The Physical HeavensImminenceCreation Of The SeasGod Not DelayingSwearing ByRainbow



Those who formerly became priests took their office without an oath, but he became a priest with an oath through the One who said to him, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'" Verse ConceptsGod, Human Descriptions OfConsistencyAssurance, basis ofJesus Christ, Eternity OfGod Is UnchangeableGod Swearing BlessingsNot Swearing OathsGod ReturningNew Testament Claiming Old Testament Is Inspired

About this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of God's word. You need milk, not solid food; for every one who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. read more.
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their sense trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, with instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. read more.
For it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put him to an open shame. For land which drinks the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned. Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that accompany salvation. For God is not so unjust as to forget your work and the love which you have shown for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same diligence in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and multiply you." And so Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men swear by one greater than themselves, and in all their disputes the oath is final for confirmation.