1所以我们要离开有关基督的初级道理，努力迈向成熟，而不是再次打基础：教导为致死的行为悔改、信靠上帝、 2各种洗礼、按手礼、死人复活、永远的审判等道理。 3上帝若许可，我们会这样做。
4有些人曾蒙上帝光照，尝过天赐恩典的滋味，有份于圣灵， 5尝过上帝之道的甘美，领悟到永世的权能， 6却背弃了真道，让他们重新悔改是不可能的。因为他们等于把上帝的儿子重新钉在十字架上，使祂再度公开受辱。 7一块经常受到雨水滋润的田地若为耕种的人长出庄稼来，就蒙上帝赐福； 8若长出来的尽是荆棘和蒺藜，就毫无价值，它会面临被咒诅的危险，最后必遭焚烧。
9亲爱的弟兄姊妹，虽然我们这样说，却深信你们的光景比这强，有得救的表现。 10因为上帝并非不公义，以致忘记你们为祂所做的工作以及你们过去和现在服侍圣徒所表现的爱心。 11愿你们各人从始至终表现出同样的殷勤，以便对所盼望的有完全的把握。 12这样，你们就不致懒散，可以效法那些凭信心和忍耐承受应许的人。
上帝的应许可靠
13当初，上帝向亚伯拉罕许下诺言的时候，因为没有比自己更大的可以凭着起誓，就凭自己起誓说： 14“我必赐福给你，使你子孙众多。” 15亚伯拉罕经过耐心的等待，得到了上帝的应许。
16人总是指着比自己更大的起誓，并用誓言作保证，了结各样的争论。 17同样，上帝为要向承受应许的人显明祂的旨意绝不更改，就用誓言向他们保证。 18上帝绝不说谎，祂将永不改变的应许和誓言给了我们，使我们这些寻找避难所、持定摆在前面之盼望的人可以大得鼓励。 19我们有这盼望作我们灵魂的锚，既安稳又可靠，一直通往圣幕里面的至圣所。 20耶稣照麦基洗德的模式成了永远的大祭司，祂替我们先进入了圣幕内。
1Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,6:1 Or from useless rituals and of faith in God, 2instruction about cleansing rites,6:2 Or about baptisms the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And God permitting, we will do so.
4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6and who have fallen6:6 Or age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
9Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
The Certainty of God’s Promise
13When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”6:14 Gen. 22:17 15And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
16People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18God did this 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 may be greatly encouraged. 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
