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.
1所以我們要離開有關基督的初級道理，努力邁向成熟，而不是再次打基礎：教導為致死的行為悔改、信靠上帝、 2各種洗禮、按手禮、死人復活、永遠的審判等道理。 3上帝若許可，我們會這樣做。
4有些人曾蒙上帝光照，嘗過天賜恩典的滋味，有份於聖靈， 5嘗過上帝之道的甘美，領悟到永世的權能， 6卻背棄了真道，讓他們重新悔改是不可能的。因為他們是把上帝的兒子重新釘在十字架上，使祂公開受辱，結果自招損害。 7一塊經常受到雨水滋潤的田地若為耕種的人長出莊稼來，就蒙上帝賜福； 8若長出來的盡是荊棘和蒺藜，就毫無價值，會面臨被咒詛的危險，最後必遭焚燒。
9親愛的弟兄姊妹，雖然我們這樣說，卻深信你們的光景比這強，有得救的表現。 10因為上帝並非不公義，以致忘記你們為祂所做的工作，以及你們過去和現在服侍聖徒所表現的愛心。 11願你們各人從始至終表現出同樣的殷勤，以便對所盼望的有完全的把握。 12這樣，你們就不致懶散，可以效法那些憑信心和忍耐承受應許的人。
上帝的應許可靠
13當初，上帝賜給亞伯拉罕應許的時候，因為沒有比自己更大的可以憑著起誓，就憑自己起誓說： 14「我必賜福給你，使你子孫繁盛。」6·14 創世記22·17。 15亞伯拉罕經過耐心的等待，得到了上帝的應許。
16人總是指著比自己更大的起誓，並用誓言作保證來了結各種爭論。 17同樣，上帝為要向承受應許的人顯明祂的旨意絕不更改，就用誓言向他們保證。 18上帝絕不說謊，祂賜下永不改變的應許和誓言，使我們這些尋找避難所的人大得鼓勵，持定擺在前面的盼望。 19我們有這盼望作我們靈魂的錨，既安穩又可靠，一直通往幔子後面的至聖所。 20耶穌照麥基洗德的模式成了永遠的大祭司，祂是先行者，已經替我們進入了至聖所。
