No Road Back

So let us leave behind the elementary teaching about Christ and move on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God,

Διὸwherefore ἀφέντεςI send away, release, remit, forgive, permit τὸνthe τῆςthe ἀρχῆςruler, beginning τοῦthe Χριστοῦanointed, the Messiah, the Christ λόγονa word, speech, divine utterance, analogy ἐπὶupon, concerning τὴνthe τελειότηταperfectness, perfection φερώμεθα,I carry, bear, bring, lead μὴnot πάλινagain, further, on the other hand θεμέλιονbelonging to the foundation καταβαλλόμενοιI cast, lay down μετανοίαςrepentance, a change of mind ἀπὸfrom, away from νεκρῶνdead, a corpse ἔργων,work, labor, action, deed καὶand, also πίστεωςfaith, trust ἐπὶupon, concerning θεόν,God

of instruction about washings and the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

βαπτισμῶνdipping, washing διδαχὴνteaching, doctrine ἐπιθέσεώςlaying on τεand, both χειρῶν,a hand ἀναστάσεώςa rising again, resurrection τεand, both νεκρῶνdead, a corpse καὶand, also κρίματοςa judgment, verdict, lawsuit αἰωνίου.eternal, unending

And this is what we will do, if God permits.

καὶand, also τοῦτοthis ποιήσομενI do, make ἐάνπερ  ἐπιτρέπῃI allow, permit ὁthe θεός.God

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,

Ἀδύνατονimpossible γὰρfor τοὺςthe ἅπαξonce, once for all φωτισθένταςI illuminate, bring to light γευσαμένουςI taste, experience τεand, both τῆςthe δωρεᾶςa free gift τῆςthe ἐπουρανίουheavenly, celestial καὶand, also μετόχουςa sharer, partner γενηθένταςto come to be, be made πνεύματοςwind, breath, spirit ἁγίουset apart, holy, sacred

who have tasted the goodness of God's word and the powers of the age to come,

καὶand, also καλὸνbeautiful, good, worthy γευσαμένουςI taste, experience θεοῦGod ῥῆμαspoken word δυνάμειςmight, power, marvelous works τεand, both μέλλοντοςI am about to αἰῶνος,age; the ages, the universe

and who have then fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying the Son of God all over again for themselves and holding him up to public contempt.

καὶand, also παραπεσόντας,I fall away πάλινagain, further, on the other hand ἀνακαινίζεινI renew, restore εἰςinto, so that μετάνοιαν,repentance, a change of mind ἀνασταυροῦνταςI crucify again ἑαυτοῖςhimself, herself, itself τὸνthe υἱὸνa son, descendent τοῦthe θεοῦGod καὶand, also παραδειγματίζοντας.I put to open shame

Land that drinks in the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed, receives a blessing from God.

γῆthe earth, soil, land γὰρfor ἡthe πιοῦσαI drink, imbibe τὸνthe ἐπ’upon, concerning αὐτῆςhe, his, it ἐρχόμενονI come, go πολλάκιςmany times, often ὑετόν,rain καὶand, also τίκτουσαI bear, bring forth, produce βοτάνηνfodder, food εὔθετονsuitable, fit, useful ἐκείνοιςthat, that one there, yonder δι’through οὓςwho, which καὶand, also γεωργεῖται,I work the soil, cultivate the earth μεταλαμβάνειI share in, partake of εὐλογίαςadulation, praise, blessing ἀπὸfrom, away from τοῦthe θεοῦ·God

But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and in the end it will be burned.

ἐκφέρουσαI bring out, carry out δὲnow, but ἀκάνθαςa thorn-bush καὶand, also τριβόλουςa thistle ἀδόκιμοςfailing to pass the test καὶand, also κατάραςa curse, cursing ἐγγύς,near ἧςwho, which τὸthe τέλοςan end, purpose, tax εἰςinto, so that καῦσιν.a burning up

But even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case, things that go with salvation.

ΠεπείσμεθαI persuade, urge δὲnow, but περὶabout, concerning, around ὑμῶν,you ἀγαπητοί,loved, beloved τὰthe κρείσσοναstronger, more excellent καὶand, also ἐχόμεναI have, hold, possess σωτηρίας,deliverance, salvation εἰif καὶand, also οὕτως  λαλοῦμεν·to speak

For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

οὐnot γὰρfor ἄδικοςunjust, unrighteous ὁthe θεὸςGod ἐπιλαθέσθαιI forget, neglect τοῦthe ἔργουwork, labor, action, deed ὑμῶνyou καὶand, also τῆςthe ἀγάπηςlove ἧςwho, which ἐνεδείξασθεI show forth εἰςinto, so that τὸthe ὄνομαname, character, reputation αὐτοῦ,he, his, it διακονήσαντεςI wait at table, serve τοῖςthe ἁγίοιςset apart, holy, sacred καὶand, also διακονοῦντες.I wait at table, serve

And we want each one of you to show the same earnestness, so that your hope may be fully realized to the very end,

ἐπιθυμοῦμενI long for, covet, lust after δὲnow, but ἕκαστονeach, every one ὑμῶνyou τὴνthe αὐτὴνhe, his, it ἐνδείκνυσθαιI show forth σπουδὴνhaste, diligence πρὸςto, towards, with τὴνthe πληροφορίανfull assurance τῆςthe ἐλπίδοςhope, expectation ἄχριas far as, up to, until τέλους,an end, purpose, tax

so that you will not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

ἵναin order that, so that μὴnot νωθροὶdull, sluggish γένησθε,to come to be, be made μιμηταὶan imitator δὲnow, but τῶνthe διὰthrough πίστεωςfaith, trust καὶand, also μακροθυμίαςpatience, forbearance κληρονομούντωνI inherit, obtain τὰςthe ἐπαγγελίας.a promise

When God made his promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself,

Τῷthe γὰρfor ἈβραὰμAbraham ἐπαγγειλάμενοςI promise, profess ὁthe θεός,God ἐπεὶafter, for, since, otherwise κατ’down from, against, according to, throughout, during οὐδενὸςno one, none, nothing εἶχενI have, hold, possess μείζονοςlarge, great ὀμόσαι,I swear, take an oath ὤμοσενI swear, take an oath καθ’down from, against, according to, throughout, during ἑαυτοῦ,himself, herself, itself

saying, 'I will surely bless you and surely multiply you.'

λέγων·I say, speak Εἰif μὴνcertainly εὐλογῶνI bless εὐλογήσωI bless σεyou καὶand, also πληθύνωνI increase, multiply πληθυνῶI increase, multiply σε·you

And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained what was promised.

καὶand, also οὕτως  μακροθυμήσαςI suffer long, have patience, am forbearing ἐπέτυχενI attain, obtain, acquire τῆςthe ἐπαγγελίας.a promise

People swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to every dispute.

ἄνθρωποιa man, one of the human race γὰρfor κατὰdown from, against, according to, throughout, during τοῦthe μείζονοςlarge, great ὀμνύουσιν,I swear, take an oath καὶand, also πάσηςall, the whole, every kind of αὐτοῖςhe, his, it ἀντιλογίαςcontradiction, contention, rebellion πέραςa boundary, limit, an end εἰςinto, so that βεβαίωσινconfirmation, ratification, establishment ὁthe ὅρκος·an oath

So when God wanted to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose could not change, he guaranteed it with an oath,

ἐνin, by ᾧwho, which περισσότερονgreater, more βουλόμενοςI will, intend, desire ὁthe θεὸςGod ἐπιδεῖξαιI show, prove τοῖςthe κληρονόμοιςan heir, inheritor τῆςthe ἐπαγγελίαςa promise τὸthe ἀμετάθετονunchanged, unchangeable τῆςthe βουλῆςcounsel, deliberate wisdom αὐτοῦhe, his, it ἐμεσίτευσενI mediate, interpose ὅρκῳ,an oath

so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us might be strongly encouraged.

ἵναin order that, so that διὰthrough δύοtwo πραγμάτωνthing, matter ἀμεταθέτων,unchanged, unchangeable ἐνin, by οἷςwho, which ἀδύνατονimpossible ψεύσασθαιI lie θεόν,God ἰσχυρὰνstrong, mighty, powerful παράκλησινexhortation, entreaty, encouragement, comfort ἔχωμενI have, hold, possess οἱthe καταφυγόντεςI flee for refuge κρατῆσαιI lay hold of, obtain τῆςthe προκειμένηςI am set before ἐλπίδος·hope, expectation

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

ἣνwho, which ὡςas, like as, how, while, so that ἄγκυρανan anchor ἔχομενI have, hold, possess τῆςthe ψυχῆς,the soul, life, self ἀσφαλῆsafe, reliable, trustworthy τεand, both καὶand, also βεβαίανfirm, steadfast, enduring καὶand, also εἰσερχομένηνI go in, come in, enter εἰςinto, so that τὸthe ἐσώτερονinner τοῦthe καταπετάσματος,a veil, curtain

where Jesus has entered on our behalf as our forerunner, having become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

ὅπουwhere, whither πρόδρομοςa precursor, forerunner ὑπὲρin behalf of, above ἡμῶνI εἰσῆλθενI go in, come in, enter Ἰησοῦς,Jesus κατὰdown from, against, according to, throughout, during τὴνthe τάξινorder, position, rank ΜελχισέδεκMelchizedek ἀρχιερεὺςhigh priest, chief priest γενόμενοςto come to be, be made εἰςinto, so that τὸνthe αἰῶνα.age; the ages, the universe