Letters to the Churches

that ye may not become slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patient endurance are inheriting the promises.

For to Abraham God, having made promise, seeing He was able to swear by no greater, did swear by Himself,

saying, `Blessing indeed I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee;'

and so, having patiently endured, he did obtain the promise;

for men indeed do swear by the greater, and an end of all controversy to them for confirmation is the oath,

in which God, more abundantly willing to shew to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, did interpose by an oath,

that through two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, a strong comfort we may have who did flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us ,

which we have, as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and entering into that within the vail,

whither a forerunner for us did enter--Jesus, after the order of Melchisedek chief priest having become--to the age.

For this Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who did meet Abraham turning back from the smiting of the kings, and did bless him,

to whom also a tenth of all did Abraham divide, (first, indeed, being interpreted, `King of righteousness,' and then also, King of Salem, which is, King of Peace,)

without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, and being made like to the Son of God, doth remain a priest continually.

And see how great this one is , to whom also a tenth Abraham the patriarch did give out of the best of the spoils,

and those, indeed, out of the sons of Levi receiving the priesthood, a command have to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, their brethren, even though they came forth out of the loins of Abraham;

and he who was not reckoned by genealogy of them, received tithes from Abraham, and him having the promises he hath blessed,

and apart from all controversy, the less by the better is blessed--

and here, indeed, men who die do receive tithes, and there he , who is testified to that he was living,

and so to speak, through Abraham even Levi who is receiving tithes, hath paid tithes,

for he was yet in the loins of the father when Melchisedek met him.

If indeed, then, perfection were through the Levitical priesthood--for the people under it had received law--what further need, according to the order of Melchisedek, for another priest to arise, and not to be called according to the order of Aaron?

for the priesthood being changed, of necessity also, of the law a change doth come,

for he of whom these things are said in another tribe hath had part, of whom no one gave attendance at the altar,

for it is evident that out of Judah hath arisen our Lord, in regard to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

And it is yet more abundantly most evident, if according to the similitude of Melchisedek there doth arise another priest,

who came not according to the law of a fleshly command, but according to the power of an endless life,