Amplified Bible (AMP)

A Better Ministry

1 Now the main point of what we have to sayis this:we have such a High Priest, [the Christ] who is seated [in the place of honor] at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty (God) in heaven,

2 a Minister (Officiating Priest) in the holy places and in the true tabernacle, which is erected not by man, but by the Lord.

3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is essential for this One also to have something to offer.

4 Now if He were [still living] on earth, He would not be a priest at all, for there are priests who offer the gifts [to God] in accordance with the Law.

5 They serve as a pattern and foreshadowing of [what has its true existence and reality in] the heavenly things (sanctuary). For when Moses was about to erect the tabernacle, he was warnedby God,saying, “See that you makeit all [exactly]according to the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain.”

6 But as it is, Christ has acquired a [priestly] ministry which is more excellent [than the old Levitical priestly ministry], for He is the Mediator (Arbiter) of a better covenant [uniting God and man], which has been enactedandrests on better promises.

A New Covenant

7 For if that firstcovenanthad been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second oneoran attempt to institute another one [the new covenant].

8 However, God finds fault with them [showing its inadequacy] when He says,

“Behold,the days will come,says theLord,

WhenIwill makeandratifya new covenant

With the house ofIsrael and with the house ofJudah;

9 Not like the covenant thatImade with their fathers

On the day whenItook them by the hand

To lead them out of the land ofEgypt;

For they did not abide inMy covenant,

And soIwithdrewMy favoranddisregarded them,says theLord.

10 “For this is the covenant thatIwill make with the house ofIsrael

After those days,says theLord:

Iwill imprintMy laws upon their minds[even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding],

And engrave themupon their hearts[effecting their regeneration].

AndIwill be theirGod,

And they shall beMy people.

11 “And it will not be[necessary]for each one to teach his fellow citizen,

Or each one his brother,saying, ‘Know[by experience, have knowledge of]theLord,’

Forall will know[Me by experience and have knowledge of] Me,

From the least to the greatest of them.

12 “ForIwill be mercifulandgracious toward their wickedness,

AndIwill remember their sins no more.”

13 When God speaks of “A newcovenant,” He makes the first one obsolete. And whatever is becoming obsolete (out of use, annulled) and growing old is ready to disappear.

The Old and the New

1 Now even the firstcovenanthad regulations for divine worship and for the earthly sanctuary.

2 A tabernacle (sacred tent) was put up, the outer oneorfirst section, in which were the lampstand and the table with [its loaves of] the sacred showbread; this is called the Holy Place.

3 Behind the second veil there was another tabernacle [the inner one or second section] known as the Holy of Holies,

4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. This contained a golden jar which held the manna, and the rod of Aaron that sprouted, and the [two stone] tablets of the covenant [inscribed with the Ten Commandments];

5 and above the ark were the [golden] cherubim of glory overshadowingthe mercy seat; but we cannot now go into detail about these things.

6 Now when these things have been prepared in this way, the priests continually enter the outer [or first section of the] tabernacle [that is, the Holy Place] performing [their ritual acts of] the divine worship,

7 but into the second [inner tabernacle, the Holy of Holies], only the high priestenters[and then only] once a year, and never without [bringing a sacrifice of] blood, which he offers [as a substitutionary atonement] for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.

8 By this the Holy Spirit signifies that the way into the Holy Place [the true Holy of Holies and the presence of God] has not yet been disclosed as long as thefirstorouter tabernacle is still standing [that is, as long as the Levitical system of worship remains a recognized institution],

9 for this [first or outer tabernacle] is a symbol [that is, an archetype or paradigm] for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which are incapable of perfecting the conscienceandrenewing the [inner self of the] worshiper.

10 For they [the gifts, sacrifices, and ceremonies] deal only with [clean and unclean] food and drink and various ritual washings, [mere] external regulations for the body imposed [to help the worshipers] until the time of reformation [that is, the time of the new order when Christ will establish the reality of what these things foreshadow–a better covenant].

11 But when Christ appeared as a High Priest of the good things to come [that is, true spiritual worship],He enteredthrough the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not a part of this [material] creation.

12 He went once for all into the Holy Place [the Holy of Holies of heaven, into the presence of God], and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, having obtainedandsecured eternal redemption [that is, the salvation of all who personally believe in Him as Savior].

13 For if the sprinkling of [ceremonially] defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a [burnt] heifer is sufficient for the cleansing of the body,

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal [Holy] Spiritwillinglyoffered Himself unblemished [that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice] to God, cleanse your conscience from dead worksandlifeless observances to serve the ever living God?

15 For this reason He is the MediatorandNegotiator of a new covenant [that is, an entirely new agreement uniting God and man], so that those who have been called [by God] may receive [the fulfillment of] the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has taken place [as the payment] which redeems them from the sinscommittedunder theobsoletefirst covenant.

16 For where there is a willandtestament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established,

17 for a willandtestament takes effect [only] at death, since it is never in force as long as the one who made it is alive.

18 So even the firstcovenantwas not put in force without [the shedding of] blood.

19 For when every commandment in the Law had been read by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of the calves and goats [which had been sacrificed], together with water and scarlet wool and with a bunch of hyssop, and he sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people,

20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant[that seals and ratifies the agreement]whichGod ordainedandcommanded[me to deliver to]you.”

21 And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the containersandsacred utensils of worship with the blood.

22 In fact under the Law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness [neither release from sin and its guilt, nor cancellation of the merited punishment].

23 Therefore it was necessary for the [earthly] copies of the heavenly things to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves required far better sacrifices than these.

24 For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but [He entered] into heaven itself, now to appear in the very presence of God on our behalf;

25 nor did He [enter into the heavenly sanctuary to] offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.

26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer over and over since the foundation of the world; but now once for all at the consummation of the ages He has appearedandbeen publicly manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

27 And just as it is appointedanddestined for all men to die once and after this [comes certain] judgment,

28 so Christ, having been offered onceandonce for all to bear [as a burden]the sins of many, will appear a second time [when he returns to earth], not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who are eagerlyandconfidently waiting for Him.

One Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient

1 For since the Law has only a shadow [just a pale representation] of the good things to come–not the very image of those things–it can never, by offering the same sacrifices continually year after year, makeperfect those who approach [its altars].

2 For if it were otherwise, would not these sacrifices have stopped being offered? For the worshipers, having once [for all time] been cleansed, would no longer have a consciousness of sin.

3 But [as it is] these [continual]sacrificesbring a fresh reminder of sins [to be atoned for] year after year,

4 for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 Therefore, when Christ enters into the world, He says,

“Sacrifice and offeringYou have not desired,

But[instead] You have prepareda body forMe[to offer];

6 In burnt offerings andsacrificesfor sinYou have taken no delight.

7 “ThenIsaid, ‘Behold, Ihave come

To doYour will, O God–

[To fulfill]what is written ofMe inthe scroll of the book.’”

8 After saying [in the citation] above, “You have neither desired,nor haveYou taken delight insacrifices and offerings andwhole burnt offerings andsacrificesforsin” (which are offered according to the Law)

9 then He said, “Behold, Ihave come to doYour will.” [And so] He does away with the first [covenant as a means of atoning for sin based on animal sacrifices] so that He may inaugurateandestablish the second [covenant by means of obedience].

10 And in accordance with this will [of God] we [who believe in the message of salvation] have been sanctified [that is, set apart as holy for God and His purposes] through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) once for all.

11 Every priest stands [at his altar of service] ministering daily, offering the same sacrifices over and over, which are never ableto strip away sins [that envelop and cover us];

12 whereas Christ, having offered the one sacrifice [the all-sufficient sacrifice of Himself] for sins for all time,sat down[signifying the completion of atonement for sin]at the right hand ofGod[the position of honor],

13 waiting from that time onwarduntil his enemies are made a footstool forHis feet.

14 For by the one offering He has perfected foreverandcompletely cleansed those who are being sanctified [bringing each believer to spiritual completion and maturity].

15 And the Holy Spirit also adds His testimony to us [in confirmation of this]; for after having said,

16 “This is the covenant thatIwill make with them

After those days,says theLord:

Iwill imprintMy laws upon their heart,

And on their mindIwill inscribe them[producing an inward change],”

He then says,

17 “And their sins and their lawless acts

Iwill remember no more[no longer holding their sins against them].”

18 Now where there is [absolute] forgivenessandcomplete cancellation of the penalty of these things, there is no longer any offering [to be made to atone] for sin.

A New and Living Way

19 Therefore,believers, since we have confidenceandfull freedom to enter the Holy Place [the place where God dwells] by [means of] the blood of Jesus,

20 by this new and living way which He initiatedandopened for us through the veil [as in the Holy of Holies], that is, through His flesh,

21 and since we have a greatandwonderful Priest [Who rules] over the house of God,

22 let us approach [God] with a trueandsincere heart in unqualified assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkledcleanfrom an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us seizeandhold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliableandtrustworthyandfaithful [to His word];

24 and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds,

25 not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouragingone another;and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.

Christ or Judgment

26 For if we go on willfullyanddeliberately sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice [to atone] for our sins [that is, no further offering to anticipate],

27 but a kind of awfulandterrifying expectation of [divine] judgment andthe fury of a fireandburning wrath which will consume the adversaries[those who put themselves in opposition to God].

28 Anyone who has ignoredandset aside the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy onthe testimony oftwo or three witnesses.

29 How much greater punishment do you think he will deserve who has rejectedandtrampled under foot the Son of God, and has considered uncleanandcommon the blood of the covenant thatsanctified him, and has insulted the Spirit of grace [who imparts the unmerited favor and blessing of God]?

30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance isMine[retribution and the deliverance of justice rest with Me], Iwill repay[the wrongdoer].” And again, “TheLord will judgeHis people.”

31 It is a fearfulandterrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God [incurring His judgment and wrath].

32 But remember the earlier days, when, after being [spiritually] enlightened, you [patiently] endured a great conflict of sufferings,

33 sometimes by being made a spectacle, publicly exposed to insults and distress, and sometimes by becoming companions with those who were so treated.

34 For you showed sympathyanddeep concern for those who were imprisoned, and you joyfully accepted the [unjust] seizure of your belongingsandthe confiscation of your property, conscious of the fact that you have a better possession and a lasting one [prepared for you in heaven].

35 Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it has a gloriousandgreat reward.

36 For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receiveandenjoy to the full what is promised.

37 For yet in a very little while,

He who is coming will come,and will not delay.

38 ButMy righteous one[the one justified by faith]shall live by faith[respecting man’s relationship to God and trusting Him];

And if he draws back[shrinking in fear], My soul has no delight in him.

39 Butour way is not that of those who shrink back to destruction, but [we are] of those who believe [relying on God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah]andby this confident faith preserve the soul.

The Triumphs of Faith

1 Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality–faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].

2 For by this [kind of] faith themen of old gained [divine] approval.

3 By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framedandcreated [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which it was testified of him that he was righteous (upright, in right standing with God), and God testified by accepting his gifts. And though he died, yet through [this act of] faith he still speaks.

5 By faith [that pleased God] Enoch was caught upandtaken to heaven so that he would not have a glimpse of death;and he was not found becauseGod had taken him; for even before he was taken [to heaven], he received the testimony [still on record] that he had walked with Godandpleased Him.

6 But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.

7 By faith [with confidence in God and His word] Noah, being warnedby Godabout events not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his family. By this [act of obedience] he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called [by God], obeyed by going to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went, not knowing where he was going.

9 By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land, as in a strangeland,living in tents [as nomads] with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise.

10 For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has foundations, [an eternal, heavenly city] whose architect and builder is God.

11 By faith even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive [a child], even [when she was long] past the normal age for it, because she considered Him who had given her the promise to be reliableandtrue [to His word].

12 So from one man, though he was [physically] as good as dead, were bornas many descendantsas the stars of heaven in number,and innumerable as the sand on the seashore.

13 All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it], without receiving the [tangible fulfillment of God’s] promises, only having seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

14 Now those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own.

15 And if they had been thinking of thatcountryfrom which they departed [as their true home], they would have had [a continuing] opportunity to return.

16 But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. For that reason God is not ashamed [of them or] to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God–the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]; for He has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested [that is, as the testing of his faith was still in progress],offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises [of God] was ready to sacrifice his only son [of promise];

18 to whom it was said, “ThroughIsaac your descendants shall be called.”

19 For he considered [it reasonable to believe] that God was able to raiseIsaaceven from among the dead. [Indeed, in the sense that he was prepared to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God] Abraham did receive him back [from the dead] figuratively speaking.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau [believing what God revealed to him], even regarding things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and bowed in worship,leaningon the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, referred to [the promise of God for] the exodus of the sons of Israel [from Egypt], and gave instructions concerning [the burial of] his bones [in the land of the promise].

23 By faith Moses, after his birth, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautifulanddivinely favored child; and they were not afraid of the king’s (Pharaoh’s) decree.

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

25 because he preferred to endure the hardship of the people of God rather than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.

26 He considered the reproach of theChrist [that is, the rebuke he would suffer for his faithful obedience to God] to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt; for he looked ahead to the reward [promised by God].

27 By faith he left Egypt, being unafraid of the wrath of the king; for he endured [steadfastly], as seeing Him who is unseen.

28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood [on the doorposts], so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them (the firstborn of Israel).

29 By faith the people [of Israel] crossed the Red Sea as thoughthey were passingthrough dry land; but when the Egyptians attempted it they were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days [by Joshua and the sons of Israel].

31 By faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies [sent by the sons of Israel] in peace.

32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,

33 who by faith [that is, with an enduring trust in God and His promises] subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions,

34 extinguished the power of [raging] fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mightyandunbeatable in battle, putting enemy forces to flight.

35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured [to death], refusing to accept release [offered on the condition of denying their faith], so that they would be resurrected to a better life;

36 and others experienced the trial of mocking and scourging [amid torture], and even chains and imprisonment.

37 They were stoned [to death], they were sawn in two, they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith], they were put to death by the sword; they went about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated

38 (people of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and [living in] caves and holes in the ground.

39 And all of these, though they gained [divine] approval through their faith, did not receive [the fulfillment of] what was promised,

40 because God had us in mindandhad something better for us, so that they [these men and women of authentic faith] would not be made perfect [that is, completed in Him] apart from us.

Jesus, the Example

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud ofwitnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easilyandcleverly entangles us, let us run with enduranceandactive persistence the race that is set before us,

2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross,disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].

3 Just considerandmeditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

A Father’s Discipline

4 You have not yet struggled to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

5 and you haveforgotten the divine word of encouragement which is addressed to you as sons,

“My son,do not make light of the discipline of theLord,

And do notlose heartandgive up when you are corrected byHim;

6 For theLord disciplinesandcorrectsthosewhomHe loves,

AndHe punishes every son whomHe receivesandwelcomes[toHis heart].”

7 You must submit to [correction for the purpose of] discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons; forwhat son is there whom his father does not discipline?

8 Now if you are exempt from correctionandwithout discipline, in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate children and not sons [at all].

9 Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we submittedandrespected them [for training us]; shall we not much more willingly submit to the Father ofspirits, and live [by learning from His discipline]?

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for only a short time as seemed best to them; but Hedisciplines usfor our good, so that we may share His holiness.

11 For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sadandpainful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose].

12 So then, strengthen hands that are weak and knees that tremble.

13 Cut throughandmake smooth, straight paths for your feet [that are safe and go in the right direction], so thatthe legwhich is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather may be healed.

14 Continuallypursue peace with everyone, and the sanctification without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.

15 See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

16 and [see to it] that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who sold his own birthright for asinglemeal.

17 For you know that later on, when he wanted [to regain title to] his inheritance of the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance [there was no way to repair what he had done, no chance to recall the choice he had made], even though he sought for it with [bitter] tears.

Contrast of Sinai and Zion

18 For you have not come [as did the Israelites in the wilderness] toa mountainthat can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to gloom and darkness and a raging windstorm,

19 and to the blast of a trumpet and a sound of words [such that] those who heard it begged that nothing more be said to them.

20 For they could not bear the command, “If even a wild animal touches the mountain,it will be stoned[to death].”

21 In fact, so terrifying was the sight, that Moses said, “Iam filled with fearand trembling.”

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels [in festive gathering],

23 and to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to God, who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect [bringing them to their final glory],

24 and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant [uniting God and man], and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks [of mercy], a betterandnoblerandmore gracious message thanthe bloodof Abel [which cried out for vengeance].

The Unshaken Kingdom

25 See to it that you do not refuse [to listen to] Him who is speaking [to you now]. For if those [sons of Israel] did not escape when they refused [to listen to] him who warned them on earth [revealing God’s will], how much less will weescapeif we turn our backs on Him who warns from heaven?

26 His voice shook the earth [at Mount Sinai] then, but now He has given a promise, saying, “Yet once moreIwill shake not only the earth,but also the[starry]heaven.”

27 Now this [expression], “Yet once more,” indicates the removalandfinal transformation of all those things which can be shaken–that is, of that which has been created–so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing serviceandacceptable worship with reverence and awe;

29 for our God is [indeed] a consuming fire.

The Changeless Christ

1 Let love of your fellow believers continue.

2 Do not neglect to extend hospitality to strangers [especially among the family of believers–being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

3 Remember those who are in prison, as if you were their fellow prisoner, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body [and subject to physical suffering].

4 Marriageis to be heldin honor among all [that is, regarded as something of great value], and themarriagebed undefiled [by immorality or by any sexual sin]; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

5 Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed–be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “Iwill never[under any circumstances]desert you[nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless],nor willIforsakeorlet you downorrelaxMy hold on you[assuredly not]!”

6 So we take comfortandare encouragedandconfidently say,

“TheLord is myHelper[in time of need], Iwill not be afraid.

What will man do to me?”

7 Remember your leaders [for it was they] who brought you the word of God; and consider the result of their conduct [the outcome of their godly lives], and imitate their faith [their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider of eternal salvation through Christ, and imitate their reliance on God with absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].

8 Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever.

9 Do not be carried away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be establishedandstrengthened by grace and not by foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no benefitorspiritual growth to those who observe them.

10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle (sacred tent) have no right to eat.

11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priestas an offeringfor sin, are burned outside the camp.

12 Therefore Jesus also sufferedanddied outside the [city] gate so that He might sanctifyandset apart for God as holy the people [who believe] through [the shedding of] His own blood.

13 So, let us go out to Him outside thecamp, bearing His contempt [the disgrace and shame that He had to suffer].

14 For here we have no lasting city, but we are seekingthe citywhich is to come.

God-pleasing Sacrifices

15 Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledgeandconfessandglorify His name.

16 Do not neglect to do good, to contribute [to the needy of the church as an expression of fellowship], for such sacrifices are always pleasing to God.

17 Obey your [spiritual] leaders and submit to them [recognizing their authority over you], for they are keeping watch over your soulsandcontinually guarding your spiritual welfare as those who will give an account [of their stewardship of you]. Let them do this with joy and not with griefandgroans, for this would be of no benefit to you.

18 Keep praying for us, for we are convinced that we have a good conscience, seeking to conduct ourselves honorably [that is, with moral courage and personal integrity] in all things.

19 And I urge all of you to pray earnestly, so that I may be restored to you soon.

Benediction

20 Now may the God of peace [the source of serenity and spiritual well-being] who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the bloodthat sealed and ratifiedthe eternal covenant,

21 equip you with every good thing to carry out His willandstrengthen you [making you complete and perfect as you ought to be], accomplishing in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

22 I call on you, brothers and sisters, listen [patiently] to this message of exhortationandencouragement, for I have written to you briefly.

23 Notice that our brother Timothy has been released [from prison]. If he comes soon, I will see you [along with him].

24 Give our greetings to all of your [spiritual] leaders and to all of the saints (God’s people). Those [Christians] from Italy send you their greetings.

25 Grace be with you all.