1 Therefore we must progress beyondtn Grk “Therefore leaving behind.” The implication is not of abandoning this elementary information, but of building on it. the elementarytn Or “basic.” instructions about Christtn Grk “the message of the beginning of Christ.” and move ontn Grk “leaving behind…let us move on.” to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works and faith in God,

2 teaching about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

3 And this is what we intend to do,tn Grk “and we will do this.” if God permits.

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

5 tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age,

6 and then have committed apostasy,tn Or “have fallen away.” to renew them again to repentance, sincetn Or “while”; Grk “crucifying…and holding.” The Greek participles here (“crucifying…and holding”) can be understood as either causal (“since”) or temporal (“while”). they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over againtn Grk “recrucifying the son of God for themselves.” and holding him up to contempt.

7 For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls ontn Grk “comes upon.” it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God.

8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed;tn Grk “near to a curse.” its fate is to be burned.

9 But in your case, dear friends, even though we speak like this, we are convinced of better things relating to salvation.

10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints.

11 But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end,

12 so that you may not be sluggish,tn Or “dull.” but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.

13 Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,

14 saying, “Surely I will bless you greatly and multiply your descendants abundantly.”tn Grk “in blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply you,” the Greek form of a Hebrew idiom showing intensity.sn A quotation from Gen 22:17.

15 And so by persevering, Abrahamtn Grk “he”; in the translation the referent (Abraham) has been specified for clarity. inherited the promise.

16 For peopletn The plural Greek term ἄνθρωποι (anqrwpoi) is used here in a generic sense, referring to both men and women, and is thus translated “people.” swear by something greater than themselves,tn Grk “by something greater”; the rest of the comparison (“than themselves”) is implied. and the oath serves as a confirmation to end all dispute.tn Grk “the oath for confirmation is an end of all dispute.”

17 In the same waytn Grk “in which.” God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable,tn Or “immutable” (here and in v. 18); Grk “the unchangeableness of his purpose.” and so he intervened with an oath,

18 so that we who have found refuge in himtn Grk “have taken refuge”; the basis of that refuge is implied in the preceding verse. may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie.

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain,sn The curtain refers to the veil or drape in the temple that separated the holy place from the holy of holies.

20 where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.sn A quotation from Ps 110:4, picked up again from Heb 5:6, 10.