CHAPTER II.

CHRIST A CHIEF PRIEST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC.

1 ^4:14HAVING therefore a great chief priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast the profession. ^4:15For we have not a chief priest who cannot sympathise with our infirmities, but one tried in all respects as we are, without sin. ^4:16Let us therefore approach with boldness the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace for timely aid.

2 ^5:1For every chief priest taken from men is appointed in behalf of men over things relating to God, that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sins, ^5:2being able to deal gently with the ignorant and erring, since he is himself encompassed with infirmity, ^5:3and as for the people, so also for himself, he is obliged to present offerings for sins. ^5:4And no one takes the honor on himself but he that is called by God, even as Aaron also was. ^5:5So also Christ did not put on himself the honor of being made a chief priest, but he that said to him, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee; ^5:6as also in another place he says, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. ^5:7Who in the days of his flesh having offered both prayers and supplications to him that was able to save him from death, with loud cries and tears, [and being heard and delivered] from fear,— ^5:8although he was a Son, learned obedience from what he suffered, ^5:9and being made perfect became to all who obey him an author of eternal salvation, ^5:10being called by God a chief priest after the order of Melchisedec.

3 ^5:11Concerning whom we have much to say, and that which is difficult to explain, because you have become dull of hearing. ^5:12For you who ought on account of the time to be teachers, have need that one should teach you again what are the first rudiments of the oracles of God, and have need of milk and not solid food. ^5:13For every one that partakes of milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe; ^5:14but solid food is for the perfect, having their perceptive faculties exercised by practice to distinguish both good and evil.

4 ^6:1Wherefore leaving the account of the beginning of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of a change of mind from dead works, and of faith in God, ^6:2of baptisms taught, and the imposition of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of the eternal judgment. ^6:3And this we will do if God permits. ^6:4For those once enlightened and having tasted of the heavenly gift and been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, ^6:5and having tasted of the good word of God and the powers of the life to come, ^6:6and having fallen away, it is impossible again to renew to a change of mind, they having crucified again and exposed to shame the Son of God. ^6:7But the land which drinks in the rain that often falls on it, and produces plants beneficial to those by whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God; ^6:8but that which produces thorns and thistles is disapproved, and is nigh to a curse, the end of which is to be burned.

5 ^6:9But we are persuaded better things of you, beloved, and things pertaining to salvation, though we thus speak. ^6:10For God is not unjust, to forget your work, and the love which you showed for his name, having served the saints and [still] serving them. ^6:11But we desire each of you to show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end, ^6:12that you be not stupid, but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. ^6:13For God haying promised Abraham, when he could not swear by a greater, swore by himself, ^6:14saying, Surely, blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you; ^6:15and so having waited long he obtained the promise. ^6:16For men indeed swear by a greater, and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all dispute; ^6:17for which cause, God wishing more abundantly to show to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his purpose, interposed with an oath, ^6:18that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who fled to lay hold on the hope set before us, ^6:19which we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, and entering within the vail, ^6:20where our forerunner Jesus entered, made after the order of Melchisedec a chief priest forever.

6 ^7:1For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ^7:2to whom also Abraham gave a tenth of all, first being interpreted king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace, ^7:3without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither a beginning of days nor end of life, but being made like the Son of God, continues a priest forever.

7 ^7:4And behold, how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils. ^7:5And the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to tithe the people according to the law, that is their brothers, although descended from Abraham; ^7:6but he whose descent is not reckoned from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him who has the promises. ^7:7But beyond all contradiction, the less is blessed by the greater. ^7:8And here, men who die receive tithes, but there, one of whom it is testified that he lives. ^7:9And so to speak, Levi also who receives tithes paid tithes through Abraham; ^7:10for he was yet in his father when Melchisedec met him.

8 ^7:11If therefore there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood,—for the people received the law under it,—what need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec and not to be called after the order of Aaron? ^7:12For the priesthood being changed, of necessity also there is made a change of the law. ^7:13For he of whom these things are said belonged to another tribe, of which no one attended to the altar; ^7:14for it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, in respect to which tribe Moses said nothing concerning priests. ^7:15And moreover, [this] is still further evident, if another priest is raised up according to the likeness of Melchisedec, ^7:16who was not a priest after the law of an external commandment, but after the power of imperishable life. ^7:17For it is testified, Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchisedec. ^7:18For there is an abrogation of the commandment which goes before, on account of its weakness and unprofitableness; ^7:19for the law made nothing perfect, but was the introduction of a better hope through which we draw nigh to God. ^7:20And as he was not [constituted] without swearing,— ^7:21for they were made priests without swearing, but he with swearing by him who says to him, The Lord swore, and he will not change, You are a priest forever;— ^7:22by so much is Jesus the pledge of a better covenant. ^7:23And they indeed were made many priests, on account of being forbidden by death to continue; ^7:24but he, on account of his continuing for ever, has a priesthood which passes not away, ^7:25whence also he is able to save forever those who come to God through him, always living to intercede for them.

9 ^7:26For such a chief priest also was suitable for us, holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens, ^7:27who has no need daily as the chief priests first to present sacrifices for their sins, then for those of the people; for this he did once for all, having offered himself. ^7:28For the law constitutes men chief priests having infirmity, but the word of the oath which is after the law the Son made perfect forever.