Letters to the Churches

For every chief priest--out of men taken--in behalf of men is set in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins,

able to be gentle to those ignorant and going astray, since himself also is compassed with infirmity;

and because of this infirmity he ought, as for the people, so also for himself to offer for sins;

and no one to himself doth take the honour, but he who is called by God, as also Aaron:

so also the Christ did not glorify himself to become chief priest, but He who spake unto him: `My Son thou art, I to-day have begotten thee;'

as also in another place He saith, `Thou art a priest--to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;'

who in the days of his flesh both prayers and supplications unto Him who was able to save him from death--with strong crying and tears--having offered up, and having been heard in respect to that which he feared,

through being a Son, did learn by the things which he suffered--the obedience,

and having been made perfect, he did become to all those obeying him a cause of salvation age-during,

having been addressed by God a chief priest, according to the order of Melchisedek,

concerning whom we have much discourse and of hard explanation to say, since ye have become dull of hearing,

for even owing to be teachers, because of the time, again ye have need that one teach you what are the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God, and ye have become having need of milk, and not of strong food,

for every one who is partaking of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness--for he is an infant,

and of perfect men is the strong food, who because of the use are having the senses exercised, unto the discernment both of good and of evil.

Wherefore, having left the word of the beginning of the Christ, unto the perfection we may advance, not again a foundation laying of reformation from dead works, and of faith on God,

of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on also of hands, of rising again also of the dead, and of judgment age-during,

and this we will do, if God may permit,

for it is impossible for those once enlightened, having tasted also of the heavenly gift, and partakers having became of the Holy Spirit,

and did taste the good saying of God, the powers also of the coming age,

and having fallen away, again to renew them to reformation, having crucified again to themselves the Son of God, and exposed to public shame.

For earth, that is drinking in the rain many times coming upon it, and is bringing forth herbs fit for those because of whom also it is dressed, doth partake of blessing from God,

and that which is bearing thorns and briers is disapproved of, and nigh to cursing, whose end is for burning;

and we are persuaded, concerning you, beloved, the things that are better, and accompanying salvation, though even thus we speak,

for God is not unrighteous to forget your work, and the labour of the love, that ye shewed to His name, having ministered to the saints and ministering;

and we desire each one of you the same diligence to shew, unto the full assurance of the hope unto the end,