6:1. Wherefore, leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us go on to things more perfect: not laying again the foundation of penance from dead works and of faith towards God,
6:2. Of the doctrine of baptisms and imposition of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
6:3. And this will we do, if God permit.
6:4. For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, have tasted also the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
6:5. Have moreover tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come,
6:6. And are fallen away: to be renewed again to penance, crucifying again to themselves the Son of God and making him a mockery.
6:7. For the earth, that drinketh in the rain which cometh often upon it and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is tilled, receiveth blessing from God.
6:8. But that which bringeth forth thorns and briers is reprobate and very near unto a curse: whose end is to be burnt.
6:9. But, my dearly beloved, we trust better things of you, and nearer to salvation; though we speak thus.
6:10. For God is not unjust, that he should forget your work and the love which you have shewn in his name, you who have ministered and do minister to the saints.
6:11. And we desire that every one of you shew forth the same carefulness to the accomplishing of hope unto the end:
6:12. That you become not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience shall inherit the promises.
6:13. For God making promises to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom he might swear, swore by himself,
6:14. Saying: Unless blessing I shall bless thee and multiplying I shall multiply thee.
6:15. And so patiently enduring he obtained the promise.
6:16. For men swear by one greater than themselves: and an oath for confirmation is the end of all their controversy.
6:17. Wherein God, meaning more abundantly to shew to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed an oath:
6:18. That by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have the strongest comfort, we who have fled for refuge to hold fast the hope set before us.
6:19. Which we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, and which entereth in even within the veil:
6:20. Where the forerunner Jesus is entered for us, made a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.
Hebrews Chapter 7
7:1. For this Melchisedech was king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him:
7:2. To whom also Abraham divided the tithes of all: who first indeed by interpretation is king of justice: and then also king of Salem, that is, king of peace:
7:3. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but likened unto the Son of God, continueth a priest for ever.
7:4. Now consider how great this man is, to whom also Abraham the patriarch gave tithes out of the principal things.
7:5. And indeed they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is to say, of their brethren: though they themselves also came out of the loins of Abraham.
7:6. But he, whose pedigree is not numbered among them, received tithes of Abraham and blessed him that had the promises.
7:7. And without all contradiction, that which is less is blessed by the better.
7:8. And here indeed, men that die receive tithes: but there, he hath witness that he liveth.
7:9. And (as it may be said) even Levi who received tithes paid tithes in Abraham:
7:10. For he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchisedech met him.
7:11. If then perfection was by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchisedech: and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
7:12. For the priesthood being translated, it is necessary that a translation also be made of the law,
7:13. For he of whom these things are spoken is of another tribe, of which no one attended on the altar.
7:14. For it is evident that our Lord sprung out of Juda: in which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
7:15. And it is yet far more evident: if according to the similitude of Melchisedech there ariseth another priest,
7:16. Who is made, not according to the law of a law of a carnal commandment, but according to the power of an indissoluble life.
7:17. For he testifieth: Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.
7:18. There is indeed a setting aside of the former commandment, because of the weakness and unprofitableness thereof:
7:19. For the law brought nothing to perfection: but a bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh to God.
7:20. And inasmuch as it is not without an oath (for the others indeed were made priests without an oath:
7:21. But this with an oath, by him that said unto him: The Lord hath sworn and he will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever).
7:22. By so much is Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
7:23. And the others indeed were made many priests, because by reason of death they were not suffered to continue:
7:24. But this, for that he continueth for ever, hath an everlasting priesthood:
7:25. Whereby he is able also to save for ever them that come to God by him; always living to make intercession for us.
7:26. For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens:
7:27. Who needeth not daily (as the other priests) to offer sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, in offering himself.
7:28. For the law maketh men priests, who have infirmity: but the word of the oath (which was since the law) the Son who is perfected for evermore.
Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the eternal high priest of which Melchisedech is a type.
Below is St. Justin Martyr on the question of Christ's suffering in relation to His glory.
Dialogue of Justin
Philosopher and Martyr, with Trypho, a Jew
Chapter XXXII.-Trypho Objecting that Christ is Described as Glorious by Daniel, Justin Distinguishes Two Advents.
And when I had ceased, Trypho said, "These and such like Scriptures, sir, compel us to wait for Him who, as Son of man, receives from the Ancient of days the everlasting kingdom. But this so-called Christ of yours was dishonourable and inglorious, so much so that the last curse contained in the law of God fell on him, for he was crucified."
Then I replied to him, "If, sirs, it were not said by the Scriptures which I have already quoted, that His form was inglorious, and His generation not declared, and that for His death the rich would suffer death, and with His stripes we should be healed, and that He would be led away like a sheep; and if I had not explained that there would be two advents of His,-one in which He was pierced by you; a second, when you shall know Him whom you have pierced, and your tribes shall mourn, each tribe by itself, the women apart, and the men apart,-then I must have been speaking dubious and obscure things. But now, by means of the contents of those Scriptures esteemed holy and prophetic amongst you, I attempt to prove all [that I have adduced], in the hope that some one of you may be found to be of that remnant which has been left by the grace of the Lord of Sabaoth for the eternal salvation. In order, therefore, that the matter inquired into may be plainer to you, I will mention to you other words also spoken by the blessed David, from which you will perceive that the Lord is called the Christ by the Holy Spirit of prophecy; and that the Lord, the Father of all, has brought Him again from the earth, setting Him at His own right hand, until He makes His enemies His footstool; which indeed happens from the time that our Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, after He rose again from the dead, the times now running on to their consummation; and he whom Daniel foretells would have dominion for a time, and times, and an half, is even already at the door, about to speak blasphemous and daring things against the Most High. But you, being ignorant of how long he will have dominion, hold another opinion. For you interpret the `time' as being a hundred years. But if this is so, the man of sin must, at the shortest, reign three hundred and fifty years, in order that we may compute that which is said by the holy Daniel-`and times'-to be two times only. All this I have said to you in digression, in order that you at length may be persuaded of what has been declared against you by God, that you are foolish sons; and of this, `Therefore, behold, I will proceed to take away this people, and shall take them away; and I will strip the wise of their wisdom, and will hide the understanding of their prudent men; '82 and may cease to deceive yourselves and those who hear you, and may learn of us, who have been taught wisdom by the grace of Christ. The words, then, which were spoken by David, are these:83 `The Lord said unto My Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Sion: rule Thou also in the midst of Thine enemies. With Thee shall be, in the day, the chief of Thy power, in the beauties of Thy saints. From the womb, before the morning star, have I begotten Thee. The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. The Lord is at Thy right hand: He has crushed kings in the day of His wrath: He shall judge among the heathen, He shall fill [with] the dead bodies.84 He shall drink of the brook in the way; therefore shall He lift up the head.'
