The Alexandrians are Hebrews. Once they had accepted the word of truth, they persisted in the faith. These the apostle also praises, writing to them from the city of Rome, from prison, through Tertius the deacon.
CHAPTER ONE
Greetings and Love Expressed
1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household.
11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
22 I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
CHAPTER TWO
God’s Final Word in His Son
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
4 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?
5 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
6 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
7 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
8 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
CHAPTER THREE
Give Heed
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Earth Subject to Man
4 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
5 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?
Jesus Briefly Humbled
6 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.
7 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.
8 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,
9 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
10 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
11 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
12 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took upon him our nature, of flesh and blood.
13 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.
CHAPTER FOUR
Jesus Our High Priest
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
3 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.
4 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
5 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
6 Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
7 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
8 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
9 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
10 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.
The Peril of Unbelief
11 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
12 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
13 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.
CHAPTER FIVE
The Believer’s Rest
1 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
2 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
3 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
4 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.
5 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
6 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
7 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.
CHAPTER SIX
The Perfect High Priest
1 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:
2 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
3 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
4 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
5 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
6 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
7 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
8 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.
9 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
10 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Peril of Falling Away
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 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,
4 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
5 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
6 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:
7 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Better Things for You
8 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
9 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
10 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
11 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
12 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
13 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
14 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
15 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:
16 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
17 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Melchizedec’s Priesthood Like Christ’s
1 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;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
5 For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:
6 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.
CHAPTER NINE
A Better Ministry
1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
3 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
A New Covenant
4 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
5 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
6 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
7 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
8 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
9 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
CHAPTER TEN
The Old and the New
1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
3 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
4 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
5 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
6 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
7 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
8 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
9 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
10 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
11 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
12 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
13 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
One Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
3 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
4 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
5 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
A New and Living Way
6 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised;
7 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
8 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Christ or Judgment
9 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
10 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
11 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
12 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
13 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
14 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
15 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
16 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
17 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
18 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
19 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
20 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The Triumphs of Faith
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
9 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
10 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
11 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
12 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
13 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
14 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
15 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
16 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
17 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
18 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
19 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
20 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
21 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
22 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
23 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
24 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
25 Of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
26 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
27 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Jesus, the Example
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
A Father’s Discipline
3 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
4 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
5 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
6 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
7 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
8 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
9 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Contrast of Sinai and Zion
10 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:
11 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
12 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
13 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
The Unshaken Kingdom
14 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
15 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
16 For our God is a consuming fire.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The Changeless Christ
1 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
2 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
3 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
4 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
5 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
6 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
7 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
8 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
9 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
10 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
11 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
12 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
13 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
14 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
15 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
16 Grace be with you all. Amen.
