Basi sasa tutoke katika yale mafundisho ya msingi kuhusu Kristo, tupige hatua kufikia ukamilifu katika kuelewa kwetu. Hatupaswi tena kuwaeleza ninyi yale mafundisho ya msingi kuhusu kutubu na kuacha matendo yaletayo kifo, na kuhusu kumwamini Mungu pamoja na maagizo kuhusu ubatizo, kuwekea watu mikono, kufufuka kwa wafu na hukumu ya milele. Mungu akitujalia tutaendelea mbele.

Kwa maana haiwezekani tena kuwarejesha katika toba watu ambao waliwahi kuongoka, ambao wameonja uzuri wa mbinguni, wakashiriki Roho Mtakatifu, ambao wameonja wema wa neno la Mungu na nguvu za nyakati zijazo, kama wakikufuru. Kwa sababu wanamsulubisha tena Mwana wa Mungu mioyoni mwao na kumwaibisha hadharani. Ardhi ambayo baada ya kupata mvua ya mara kwa mara, hutoa mazao yanayowanufaisha wale ambao wanailima na kupokea bar aka kutoka kwa Mungu. Lakini kama ardhi hiyo itaotesha magugu na miiba, haina thamani, na inakaribia kulaaniwa. Mwisho wake ni kuchomwa moto.

Wanaopokea Ahadi Za Mungu

Ingawa tunasema hivi, ndugu zangu, kwa upande wenu tuna hakika ya mambo mazuri zaidi, yanayoandamana na wokovu. 10 Mungu si dhalimu hata asahau kazi yenu na upendo mliomwonyesha mlipowa saidia watu wake na mnavyoendelea kuwasaidia. 11 Tunapenda kila mmoja wenu aonyeshe bidii hiyo hiyo mpaka mwisho ili mpate kupo kea tumaini lenu. 12 Hatutaki muwe wavivu bali muige wale ambao kwa imani na subira hupokea yale yaliyoahidiwa na Mungu.

Uhakika Wa Ahadi Ya Mungu

13 Mungu alipompa Ibrahimu ahadi, aliapa kwa jina lake mwe nyewe kwa kuwa hapakuwa na mkuu kuliko yeye ambaye angeweza kuapa kwa jina lake. 14 Alisema, “Hakika nitakubariki na kukupatia watoto wengi.” 15 Na hivyo baada ya kungoja kwa subira, Abra hamu alipata ahadi hiyo.

16 Watu huapa kwa mtu aliye mkuu kuliko wao, na kiapo hicho huthibitisha kinachosemwa na humaliza ubishi wote. 17 Kwa hiyo Mungu alipotaka kuwahakikishia warithi wa ahadi yake kuhusu maku sudi yake yasiyobadilika, aliwathibitishia kwa kiapo. 18 Mungu alifanya hivyo ili, kwa kutumia mambo haya mawili yasiyobadilika, na ambayo Mungu hawezi kusema uongo, sisi tuliokimbilia usalama kwake tutiwe moyo, tushikilie kwa uthabiti tumaini lililowekwa mbele yetu.

19 Tunalo tumaini hili kama nanga ya roho zetu yenye nguvu na imara. Tumaini hili linaingia hadi ndani ya pazia 20 ambamo Yesu ameingia akitutangulia; ameingia huko kwa niaba yetu. Yeye amekuwa kuhani mkuu milele, kama Melkizedeki.

Therefore let us move beyond(A) the elementary teachings(B) about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a](C) and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites,[b](D) the laying on of hands,(E) the resurrection of the dead,(F) and eternal judgment. And God permitting,(G) we will do so.

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,(H) who have tasted the heavenly gift,(I) who have shared in the Holy Spirit,(J) who have tasted the goodness(K) of the word of God(L) and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen[c] away, to be brought back to repentance.(M) To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God(N) all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.(O) In the end it will be burned.

Even though we speak like this, dear friends,(P) we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.(Q) 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope(R) for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate(S) those who through faith and patience(T) inherit what has been promised.(U)

The Certainty of God’s Promise

13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,(V) 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[d](W) 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.(X)

16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.(Y) 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging(Z) nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised,(AA) he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,(AB) we who have fled to take hold of the hope(AC) set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,(AD) 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.(AE) He has become a high priest(AF) forever, in the order of Melchizedek.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 6:1 Or from useless rituals
  2. Hebrews 6:2 Or about baptisms
  3. Hebrews 6:6 Or age, if they fall
  4. Hebrews 6:14 Gen. 22:17