Christ Is The Perfect Sacrifice (Hebrews 9:1-15) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship here on earth. 

2    There were two rooms in that Tabernacle. In the first room were a lampstand, a table, and sacred loaves of bread on the table. This room was called the Holy Place. 

3    Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place. 

4    In that room were a gold incense altar and a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing manna, Aaron’s staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 

5    Above the Ark were the cherubim of divine glory, whose wings stretched out over the Ark’s cover, the place of atonement. But we cannot explain these things in detail now.

6    When these things were all in place, the priests regularly entered the first room as they performed their religious duties. 

7    But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 

8    By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use.

9    This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them. 

10  For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established. 

11  So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. 

12  With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.

13  Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. 

14  Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. 

15  That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    The first covenant had rules for worship and a place made for worship as well. 

2    A tent was put up, the outer one, which was called the Holy Place. In it were the lampstand and the table with the bread offered to God. 

3    Behind the second curtain was the tent called the Most Holy Place. 

4    In it were the gold altar for the burning of incense and the Covenant Box all covered with gold and containing the gold jar with the manna in it, Aaron's stick that had sprouted leaves, and the two stone tablets with the commandments written on them. 

5    Above the Box were the winged creatures representing God's presence, with their wings spread over the place where sins were forgiven. But now is not the time to explain everything in detail.

6    This is how those things have been arranged. The priests go into the outer tent every day to perform their duties, 

7    but only the high priest goes into the inner tent, and he does so only once a year. He takes with him blood which he offers to God on behalf of himself and for the sins which the people have committed without knowing they were sinning. 

8    The Holy Spirit clearly teaches from all these arrangements that the way into the Most Holy Place has not yet been opened as long as the outer tent still stands. 

9    This is a symbol which points to the present time. It means that the offerings and animal sacrifices presented to God cannot make the worshiper's heart perfect, 

10  since they have to do only with food, drink, and various purification ceremonies. These are all outward rules, which apply only until the time when God will establish the new order.

11  But Christ has already come as the High Priest of the good things that are already here. The tent in which he serves is greater and more perfect; it is not a tent made by human hands, that is, it is not a part of this created world. 

12  When Christ went through the tent and entered once and for all into the Most Holy Place, he did not take the blood of goats and bulls to offer as a sacrifice; rather, he took his own blood and obtained eternal salvation for us. 

13  The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a burnt calf are sprinkled on the people who are ritually unclean, and this purifies them by taking away their ritual impurity. 

14  Since this is true, how much more is accomplished by the blood of Christ! Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will purify our consciences from useless rituals, so that we may serve the living God.

15  For this reason Christ is the one who arranges a new covenant, so that those who have been called by God may receive the eternal blessings that God has promised. This can be done because there has been a death which sets people free from the wrongs they did while the first covenant was in effect.

Christ Is Our High Priest (Hebrews 8:1-13) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven.

2    There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.

3    And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too. 

4    If he were here on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there already are priests who offer the gifts required by the law. 

5    They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.”

6    But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.

7    If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. 

8    But when God found fault with the people, he said:  “The day is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.

9    This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt.  They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the Lord.

10  But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord:  I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts.  I will be their God, and they will be my people.

11  And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’  For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already.

12  And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

13  When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1   The whole point of what we are saying is that we have such a High Priest, who sits at the right of the throne of the Divine Majesty in heaven. 

2    He serves as high priest in the Most Holy Place, that is, in the real tent which was put up by the Lord, not by human hands.

3    Every high priest is appointed to present offerings and animal sacrifices to God, and so our High Priest must also have something to offer. 

4    If he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer the gifts required by the Jewish Law. 

5    The work they do as priests is really only a copy and a shadow of what is in heaven. It is the same as it was with Moses. When he was about to build the Sacred Tent, God told him, “Be sure to make everything according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain.”

6    But now, Jesus has been given priestly work which is superior to theirs, just as the covenant which he arranged between God and his people is a better one, because it is based on promises of better things.

7    If there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would have been no need for a second one. 

8    But God finds fault with his people when he says, “The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will draw up a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.

9    It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt.  They were not faithful to the covenant I made with them, and so I paid no attention to them.

10  Now, this is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel in the days to come, says the Lord:  I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.  I will be their God, and they will be my people.

11  None of them will have to teach their friends or tell their neighbors, 'Know the Lord.’  For they will all know me, from the least to the greatest.

12  I will forgive their sins and will no longer remember their wrongs.”

13  By speaking of a new covenant, God has made the first one old; and anything that becomes old and worn out will soon disappear.

Jesus Is Like Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:15-28) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

15  This change has been made very clear since a different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has appeared.

16  Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. 

17  And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

18  Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless. 

19  For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

20  This new system was established with a solemn oath. Aaron’s descendants became priests without such an oath, 

21  but there was an oath regarding Jesus. For God said to him, “The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow:  ‘You are a priest forever.’”

22  Because of this oath, Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God.

23  There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. 

24  But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. 

25  Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

26  He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven.

27  Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins. 

28  The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
15  The matter becomes even plainer; a different priest has appeared, who is like Melchizedek. 
16  He was made a priest, not by human rules and regulations, but through the power of a life which has no end. 
17  For the scripture says, “You will be a priest forever, in the priestly order of Melchizedek.” 
18  The old rule, then, is set aside, because it was weak and useless. ¹⁹ For the Law of Moses could not make anything perfect. And now a better hope has been provided through which we come near to God.
²⁰ In addition, there is also God's vow. There was no such vow when the others were made priests. 
21  But Jesus became a priest by means of a vow when God said to him, “The Lord has made a solemn promise and will not take it back:  ‘You will be a priest forever.’”
22  This difference, then, also makes Jesus the guarantee of a better covenant.
23  There is another difference: there were many of those other priests, because they died and could not continue their work. 
24  But Jesus lives on forever, and his work as priest does not pass on to someone else. 
25  And so he is able, now and always, to save those who come to God through him, because he lives forever to plead with God for them.
26  Jesus, then, is the High Priest that meets our needs. He is holy; he has no fault or sin in him; he has been set apart from sinners and raised above the heavens. 
27  He is not like other high priests; he does not need to offer sacrifices every day for his own sins first and then for the sins of the people. He offered one sacrifice, once and for all, when he offered himself. 
28  The Law of Moses appoints men who are imperfect to be high priests; but God's promise made with the vow, which came later than the Law, appoints the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Melchizedek Is Greater Than Abraham (Hebrews 7:1-14) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him. 

2  Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means “king of justice,” and king of Salem means “king of peace.” 

3   There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors—no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God.

4   Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle. 

5    Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Israel, who are also descendants of Abraham. 

6    But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God. 

7    And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.

8    The priests who collect tithes are men who die, so Melchizedek is greater than they are, because we are told that he lives on. 

9    In addition, we might even say that these Levites—the ones who collect the tithe—paid a tithe to Melchizedek when their ancestor Abraham paid a tithe to him. 

10  For although Levi wasn’t born yet, the seed from which he came was in Abraham’s body when Melchizedek collected the tithe from him.

11  So if the priesthood of Levi, on which the law was based, could have achieved the perfection God intended, why did God need to establish a different priesthood, with a priest in the order of Melchizedek instead of the order of Levi and Aaron?

12  And if the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it. 

13  For the priest we are talking about belongs to a different tribe, whose members have never served at the altar as priests. 

14  What I mean is, our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never mentioned priests coming from that tribe.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    This Melchizedek was king of Salem and a priest of the Most High God. As Abraham was coming back from the battle in which he defeated the four kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him, 

2    and Abraham gave him one tenth of all he had taken. (The first meaning of Melchizedek's name is “King of Righteousness”; and because he was king of Salem, his name also means “King of Peace.”) 

3    There is no record of Melchizedek's father or mother or of any of his ancestors; no record of his birth or of his death. He is like the Son of God; he remains a priest forever.

4    You see, then, how great he was. Abraham, our famous ancestor, gave him one tenth of all he got in the battle. 

5    And those descendants of Levi who are priests are commanded by the Law to collect one tenth from the people of Israel, that is, from their own people, even though they are also descendants of Abraham.

6    Melchizedek was not descended from Levi, but he collected one tenth from Abraham and blessed him, the man who received God's promises. 

7    There is no doubt that the one who blesses is greater than the one who is blessed. 

8    In the case of the priests the tenth is collected by men who die; but as for Melchizedek the tenth was collected by one who lives, as the scripture says. 

9    And, so to speak, when Abraham paid the tenth, Levi (whose descendants collect the tenth) also paid it.

10  For Levi had not yet been born, but was, so to speak, in the body of his ancestor Abraham when Melchizedek met him.

11  It was on the basis of the levitical priesthood that the Law was given to the people of Israel. Now, if the work of the levitical priests had been perfect, there would have been no need for a different kind of priest to appear, one who is in the priestly order of Melchizedek, not of Aaron. 

12  For when the priesthood is changed, there also has to be a change in the law. 

13  And our Lord, of whom these things are said, belonged to a different tribe, and no member of his tribe ever served as a priest. 

14  It is well known that he was born a member of the tribe of Judah; and Moses did not mention this tribe when he spoke of priests.

God's Promises Bring Hope (Hebrews 6:13-20) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

13  For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

14  “I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”

15  Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

16  Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. 

17  God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. 

18  So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 

19  This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. 

20  Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

13  When God made his promise to Abraham, he made a vow to do what he had promised. Since there was no one greater than himself, he used his own name when he made his vow. 

14  He said, “I promise you that I will bless you and give you many descendants.” 

15  Abraham was patient, and so he received what God had promised. 

16  When we make a vow, we use the name of someone greater than ourselves, and the vow settles all arguments. 

17  To those who were to receive what he promised, God wanted to make it very clear that he would never change his purpose; so he added his vow to the promise. 

18  There are these two things, then, that cannot change and about which God cannot lie. So we who have found safety with him are greatly encouraged to hold firmly to the hope placed before us. 

19  We have this hope as an anchor for our lives. It is safe and sure, and goes through the curtain of the heavenly temple into the inner sanctuary. 

20  On our behalf Jesus has gone in there before us and has become a high priest forever, in the priestly order of Melchizedek.

God Is Not Unfair (Hebrews 6:1-12) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. 

2    You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 

3    And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.

4    For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 

5    who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— 

6    and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.

7    When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing.

8    But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.

9    Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. 

10  For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. 

11  Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. 

12  Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
1    Let us go forward, then, to mature teaching and leave behind us the first lessons of the Christian message. We should not lay again the foundation of turning away from useless works and believing in God;
2    of the teaching about baptisms and the laying on of hands; of the resurrection of the dead and the eternal judgment. 
3    Let us go forward! And this is what we will do, if God allows.
4    For how can those who abandon their faith be brought back to repent again? They were once in God's light; they tasted heaven's gift and received their share of the Holy Spirit; 
5    they knew from experience that God's word is good, and they had felt the powers of the coming age.
6    And then they abandoned their faith! It is impossible to bring them back to repent again, because they are again crucifying the Son of God and exposing him to public shame.
7    God blesses the soil which drinks in the rain that often falls on it and which grows plants that are useful to those for whom it is cultivated. 
8    But if it grows thorns and weeds, it is worth nothing; it is in danger of being cursed by God and will be destroyed by fire.
9    But even if we speak like this, dear friends, we feel sure about you. We know that you have the better blessings that belong to your salvation. 
10  God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians. 
11  Our great desire is that each of you keep up your eagerness to the end, so that the things you hope for will come true. 
12  We do not want you to become lazy, but to be like those who believe and are patient, and so receive what God has promised.

Warning against Abandoning The Faith (Hebrews 5:11-14) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

11  There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 

12  You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 

13  For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 

14  Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

11  There is much we have to say about this matter, but it is hard to explain to you, because you are so slow to understand. 

12  There has been enough time for you to be teachers—yet you still need someone to teach you the first lessons of God's message. Instead of eating solid food, you still have to drink milk. 

13  Anyone who has to drink milk is still a child, without any experience in the matter of right and wrong.

14  Solid food, on the other hand, is for adults, who through practice are able to distinguish between good and evil.

Christ Is Our High Priest (Hebrews 5:1-10) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1   Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins. 

2   And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses. 

3   That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs.

4   And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was. 

5   That is why Christ did not honor himself by assuming he could become High Priest. No, he was chosen by God, who said to him, “You are my Son.  Today I have become your Father.”

6   And in another passage God said to him, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

7   While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. 

8   Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. 

9   In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. 

10  And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1   Every high priest is chosen from his fellow-men and appointed to serve God on their behalf, to offer sacrifices and offerings for sins. 

2   Since he himself is weak in many ways, he is able to be gentle with those who are ignorant and make mistakes. 

3   And because he is himself weak, he must offer sacrifices not only for the sins of the people but also for his own sins. 

4   No one chooses for himself the honor of being a high priest. It is only by God's call that a man is made a high priest—just as Aaron was.

5   In the same way, Christ did not take upon himself the honor of being a high priest. Instead, God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”

6   He also said in another place,  “You will be a priest forever, in the priestly order of Melchizedek.” 

7   In his life on earth Jesus made his prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God, who could save him from death. Because he was humble and devoted, God heard him. 

8   But even though he was God's Son, he learned through his sufferings to be obedient. 

9   When he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him, 

10  and God declared him to be high priest, in the priestly order of Melchizedek.

Jesus The Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
14  So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.
15  This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
16  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
14  Let us, then, hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we have a great High Priest who has gone into the very presence of God—Jesus, the Son of God. 
15  Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. 
16  Let us have confidence, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.

The Word Of God Is Alive (Hebrews 4:1-13) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. 

2    For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. 

3    For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, “In my anger I took an oath:

They will never enter my place of rest,’” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world.

4    We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: “On the seventh day God rested from all his work.” 

5    But in the other passage God said, “They will never enter my place of rest.”

6    So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. 

7    So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted:  “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.”

8    Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. 

9    So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. 

10  For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 

11  So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

12  For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 

13  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    Now, God has offered us the promise that we may receive that rest he spoke about. Let us take care, then, that none of you will be found to have failed to receive that promised rest. 

2    For we have heard the Good News, just as they did. They heard the message, but it did them no good, because when they heard it, they did not accept it with faith. 

3    We who believe, then, do receive that rest which God promised. It is just as he said, “I was angry and made a solemn promise:  ‘They will never enter the land where I would have given them rest!’”  He said this even though his work had been finished from the time he created the world.

4    For somewhere in the Scriptures this is said about the seventh day: “God rested on the seventh day from all his work.” 

5    This same matter is spoken of again: “They will never enter that land where I would have given them rest.” 

6    Those who first heard the Good News did not receive that rest, because they did not believe. There are, then, others who are allowed to receive it. 

7    This is shown by the fact that God sets another day, which is called “Today.” Many years later he spoke of it through David in the scripture already quoted:  “If you hear God's voice today, do not be stubborn.”

8    If Joshua had given the people the rest that God had promised, God would not have spoken later about another day. 

9    As it is, however, there still remains for God's people a rest like God's resting on the seventh day. 

10  For those who receive that rest which God promised will rest from their own work, just as God rested from his. 

11  Let us, then, do our best to receive that rest, so that no one of us will fail as they did because of their lack of faith.

12  The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart. 

13  There is nothing that can be hid from God; everything in all creation is exposed and lies open before his eyes. And it is to him that we must all give an account of ourselves.

The Rest For God's People (Hebrews 3:7-19) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
7   That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice,
8   don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness.
9   There your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years.
10  So I was angry with them, and I said, ‘Their hearts always turn away from me.  They refuse to do what I tell them.’
11  So in my anger I took an oath:  ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”  
12  Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters.  Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.
13  You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.
14  For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
15  Remember what it says:  “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.”
16  And who was it who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Wasn’t it the people Moses led out of Egypt?
17  And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness?
18  And to whom was God speaking when he took an oath that they would never enter his rest? Wasn’t it the people who disobeyed him?
19  So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
7    So then, as the Holy Spirit says, “If you hear God's voice today,
8    do not be stubborn, as your ancestors were when they rebelled against God, as they were that day in the desert when they put him to the test.
9    There they put me to the test and tried me, says God, although they had seen what I did for forty years.
10  And so I was angry with those people and said, ‘They are always disloyal and refuse to obey my commands.’
11  I was angry and made a solemn promise:  They will never enter the land where I would have given them rest!’”
12  My friends, be careful that none of you have a heart so evil and unbelieving that you will turn away from the living God. 
13  Instead, in order that none of you be deceived by sin and become stubborn, you must help one another every day, as long as the word “Today” in the scripture applies to us. 
14  For we are all partners with Christ if we hold firmly to the end the confidence we had at the beginning.
15  This is what the scripture says:  “If you hear God's voice today, do not be stubborn, as your ancestors were when they rebelled against God.”
16  Who were the people who heard God's voice and rebelled against him? All those who were led out of Egypt by Moses. 
17  With whom was God angry for forty years? With the people who sinned, who fell down dead in the desert. 
18  When God made his solemn promise, “They will never enter the land where I would have given them rest”—of whom was he speaking? Of those who rebelled. 
19  We see, then, that they were not able to enter the land, because they did not believe.

Jesus Is Greater Than Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1  And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest. 

2  For he was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully when he was entrusted with God’s entire house.

3  But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. 

4  For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.

5  Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later. 

6  But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1  My Christian friends, who also have been called by God! Think of Jesus, whom God sent to be the High Priest of the faith we profess. 

2  He was faithful to God, who chose him to do this work, just as Moses was faithful in his work in God's house. 

3  A man who builds a house receives more honor than the house itself. In the same way Jesus is worthy of much greater honor than Moses. 

4  Every house, of course, is built by someone—and God is the one who has built all things. 

5  Moses was faithful in God's house as a servant, and he spoke of the things that God would say in the future. 

6  But Christ is faithful as the Son in charge of God's house. We are his house if we keep up our courage and our confidence in what we hope for.

Jesus The Man (Hebrews 2:5-18) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

5    And furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about. 

6    For in one place the Scriptures say, “What are mere mortals that you should think about them, or a son of man that you should care for him?

7    Yet you made them only a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.

8    You gave them authority over all things.”  Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. 

9    What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. 

10  God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.

11  So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. 

12  For he said to God, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.  I will praise you among your assembled people.”

13  He also said, “I will put my trust in him,” that is, “I and the children God has given me.”

14  Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 

15  Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

16  We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham.

17  Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. 

18  Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

5    God has not placed the angels as rulers over the new world to come—the world of which we speak.
6    Instead, as it is said somewhere in the Scriptures:  “What are human beings, O God, that you should think of them; mere human beings, that you should care for them?
7    You made them for a little while lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor,
8    and made them rulers over all things.”  It says that God made them “rulers over all things”; this clearly includes everything. We do not, however, see human beings ruling over all things now. 
9    But we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, so that through God's grace he should die for everyone. We see him now crowned with glory and honor because of the death he suffered. 
10  It was only right that God, who creates and preserves all things, should make Jesus perfect through suffering, in order to bring many children to share his glory. For Jesus is the one who leads them to salvation.
11  He purifies people from their sins, and both he and those who are made pure all have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his family. 
12  He says to God, “I will tell my people what you have done; I will praise you in their meeting.”
13  He also says, “I will put my trust in God.” And he also says, “Here I am with the children that God has given me.”
14  Since the children, as he calls them, are people of flesh and blood, Jesus himself became like them and shared their human nature. He did this so that through his death he might destroy the Devil, who has the power over death, 
15  and in this way set free those who were slaves all their lives because of their fear of death. 
16  For it is clear that it is not the angels that he helps. Instead, he helps the descendants of Abraham. 
17  This means that he had to become like his people in every way, in order to be their faithful and merciful High Priest in his service to God, so that the people's sins would be forgiven. 
18  And now he can help those who are tempted, because he himself was tempted and suffered.

A Warning Against Drifting Away (Hebrews 2:1-4) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
1  So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
2  For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished.
3  So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?
4  And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
1  That is why we must hold on all the more firmly to the truths we have heard, so that we will not be carried away. 
2  The message given to our ancestors by the angels was shown to be true, and those who did not follow it or obey it received the punishment they deserved. 
3  How, then, shall we escape if we pay no attention to such a great salvation? The Lord himself first announced this salvation, and those who heard him proved to us that it is true. 
4  At the same time God added his witness to theirs by performing all kinds of miracles and wonders and by distributing the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his will.

The Son Is Greater Than The Angels (Hebrews 1:4-14) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
4    This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names. 
5    For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus:  “You are my Son.  Today I have become your Father.”  God also said, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.”
6    And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, “Let all of God’s angels worship him.”
7    Regarding the angels, he says, “He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire.”
8    But to the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.  You rule with a scepter of justice.
9    You love justice and hate evil.  Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”
10  He also says to the Son, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.
11  They will perish, but you remain forever.  They will wear out like old clothing.
12  You will fold them up like a cloak and discard them like old clothing.  But you are always the same; you will live forever.”

13  And God never said to any of the angels, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”

14  Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

4   The Son was made greater than the angels, just as the name that God gave him is greater than theirs.
5    For God never said to any of his angels, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”  Nor did God say about any angel, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.”
6    But when God was about to send his first-born Son into the world, he said, “All of God's angels must worship him.”
7    But about the angels God said, “God makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire.”
8    About the Son, however, God said:  “Your kingdom, O God, will last forever and ever!  You rule over your people with justice.
9    You love what is right and hate what is wrong.  That is why God, your God, has chosen you and has given you the joy of an honor far greater than he gave to your companions.”
10  He also said, “You, Lord, in the beginning created the earth, and with your own hands you made the heavens.
11  They will disappear, but you will remain; they will all wear out like clothes.
12  You will fold them up like a coat, and they will be changed like clothes.  But you are always the same, and your life never ends.”
13  God never said to any of his angels:  “Sit here at my right side until I put your enemies as a footstool under your feet.”
14  What are the angels, then? They are spirits who serve God and are sent by him to help those who are to receive salvation.

Jesus Christ Is God’s Son (Hebrews 1:1-3) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1  Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 

2  And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 

3  The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1  In the past God spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets, 

2  but in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one through whom God created the universe, the one whom God has chosen to possess all things at the end. 

3  He reflects the brightness of God's glory and is the exact likeness of God's own being, sustaining the universe with his powerful word. After achieving forgiveness for the sins of all human beings, he sat down in heaven at the right side of God, the Supreme Power.

Christian Conduct (Titus 3:1-11) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
1    Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.
2    They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.
3    Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.
4    But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love,
5    he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.
6    He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
7    Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”
8    This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.
9    Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time.
10  If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them.
11  For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    Remind your people to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey them, and to be ready to do good in every way. 

2    Tell them not to speak evil of anyone, but to be peaceful and friendly, and always to show a gentle attitude toward everyone. 

3    For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and wrong. We were slaves to passions and pleasures of all kinds. We spent our lives in malice and envy; others hated us and we hated them. 

4    But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was revealed, 

5    he saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us. 

6    God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 

7    so that by his grace we might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for. 

8    This is a true saying.  I want you to give special emphasis to these matters, so that those who believe in God may be concerned with giving their time to doing good deeds, which are good and useful for everyone.

9    But avoid stupid arguments, long lists of ancestors, quarrels, and fights about the Law. They are useless and worthless. 

10  Give at least two warnings to those who cause divisions, and then have nothing more to do with them.

11  You know that such people are corrupt, and their sins prove that they are wrong.

Promote Right Teaching (Titus 2) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. 

2    Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.

3    Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. 

4    These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, 

5    to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.

6    In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. 

7    And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 

8    Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

9    Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back 

10  or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.

11  For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 

12  And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 

13  while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 

14  He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

15  You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don’t let anyone disregard what you say.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    But you must teach what agrees with sound doctrine. 

2    Instruct the older men to be sober, sensible, and self-controlled; to be sound in their faith, love, and endurance. 

3    In the same way instruct the older women to behave as women should who live a holy life. They must not be slanderers or slaves to wine. They must teach what is good, 

4    in order to train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 

5    to be self-controlled and pure, and to be good housewives who submit themselves to their husbands, so that no one will speak evil of the message that comes from God.

6    In the same way urge the young men to be self-controlled. 

7    In all things you yourself must be an example of good behavior. Be sincere and serious in your teaching.

8    Use sound words that cannot be criticized, so that your enemies may be put to shame by not having anything bad to say about us.

9    Slaves are to submit themselves to their masters and please them in all things. They must not talk back to them 

10  or steal from them. Instead, they must show that they are always good and faithful, so as to bring credit to the teaching about God our Savior in all they do.

11  For God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all people. 

12  That grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world, 

13  as we wait for the blessed Day we hope for, when the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ will appear. 

14  He gave himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to him alone and are eager to do good.

15  Teach these things and use your full authority as you encourage and rebuke your hearers. Let none of them look down on you.

God's Promise (Titus 1:1-4) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

 1  This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. 

2  This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began. 

3  And now at just the right time he has revealed this message, which we announce to everyone. It is by the command of God our Savior that I have been entrusted with this work for him.

4  I am writing to Titus, my true son in the faith that we share.

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1  From Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.  I was chosen and sent to help the faith of God's chosen people and to lead them to the truth taught by our religion, 

2  which is based on the hope for eternal life. God, who does not lie, promised us this life before the beginning of time, 

3  and at the right time he revealed it in his message. This was entrusted to me, and I proclaim it by order of God our Savior.

4  I write to Titus, my true son in the faith that we have in common.  May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace.

Perform Your Duty As A Servant Of God (II Timothy 4:1-8) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1  I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: 

2  Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

3  For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 

4  They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

5  But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

6  As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. 

7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 

8  And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1  In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and because he is coming to rule as King, I solemnly urge you 

2  to preach the message, to insist upon proclaiming it (whether the time is right or not), to convince, reproach, and encourage, as you teach with all patience. 

3  The time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but will follow their own desires and will collect for themselves more and more teachers who will tell them what they are itching to hear. 

4  They will turn away from listening to the truth and give their attention to legends. 

5  But you must keep control of yourself in all circumstances; endure suffering, do the work of a preacher of the Good News, and perform your whole duty as a servant of God.

6  As for me, the hour has come for me to be sacrificed; the time is here for me to leave this life. 

7  I have done my best in the race, I have run the full distance, and I have kept the faith.

8  And now there is waiting for me the victory prize of being put right with God, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day—and not only to me, but to all those who wait with love for him to appear.

All Scripture Is Inspired By God (II Timothy 3:10-17) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

10  But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. 

11  You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. 

12  Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 

13  But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

14  But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 

15  You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 

16  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

17  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
10  But you have followed my teaching, my conduct, and my purpose in life; you have observed my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance, 
11  my persecutions, and my sufferings. You know all that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, the terrible persecutions I endured! But the Lord rescued me from them all. 
12  Everyone who wants to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted; 
13  and evil persons and impostors will keep on going from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves. 
14  But as for you, continue in the truths that you were taught and firmly believe. You know who your teachers were, 
15  and you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 
16  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, 
17  so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.