Bible Reading December 17 
Hebrews 11:1--13:25
Context11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see. 11:2 For by it the people of old 1 received God’s commendation. 2 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds 3 were set in order at God’s command, 4 so that the visible has its origin in the invisible. 5 11:4 By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith 6 he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith 7 he still speaks, though he is dead. 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God. 11:6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 11:7 By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard 8 constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out without understanding where he was going. 11:9 By faith he lived as a foreigner 9 in the promised land as though it were a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs 10 of the same promise. 11:10 For he was looking forward to the city with firm foundations, 11 whose architect and builder is God. 11:11 By faith, even though Sarah herself was barren and he was too old, 12 he received the ability to procreate, 13 because he regarded the one who had given the promise to be trustworthy. 11:12 So in fact children 14 were fathered by one man – and this one as good as dead – like the number of stars in the sky and like the innumerable grains of sand 15 on the seashore. 16 11:13 These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, 17 but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners 18 on the earth. 11:14 For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 11:15 In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 11:16 But as it is, 19 they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He had received the promises, 20 yet he was ready to offer up 21 his only son. 11:18 God had told him, “Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name,” 22 11:19 and he reasoned 23 that God could even raise him from the dead, and in a sense 24 he received him back from there. 11:20 By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future. 11:21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped as he leaned on his staff. 25 11:22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, 26 mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel 27 and gave instructions about his burial. 28
11:23 By faith, when Moses was born, his parents hid him 29 for three months, because they saw the child was beautiful and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 11:24 By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 11:25 choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin’s fleeting pleasure. 11:26 He regarded abuse suffered for Christ 30 to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on 31 the reward. 11:27 By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king’s anger, for he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible. 11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, 32 so that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. 11:29 By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if on dry ground, but when the Egyptians tried it, they were swallowed up. 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho 33 fell after the people marched around them 34 for seven days. 11:31 By faith Rahab the prostitute escaped the destruction of 35 the disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace.
11:32 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. 11:33 Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, 36 gained what was promised, 37 shut the mouths of lions, 11:34 quenched raging fire, 38 escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, 39 became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight, 11:35 and women received back their dead raised to life. 40 But others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life. 41 11:36 And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 11:37 They were stoned, sawed apart, 42 murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 11:38 (the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth. 11:39 And these all were commended 43 for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. 44 11:40 For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us. 45
12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 46 we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, 12:2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 47 12:3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up. 12:4 You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed 48 in your struggle against sin. 12:5 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons?
“My son, do not scorn 49 the Lord’s discipline
or give up when he corrects 50 you.
12:6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.” 51
12:7 Endure your suffering 52 as discipline; 53 God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 12:8 But if you do not experience discipline, 54 something all sons 55 have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. 12:9 Besides, we have experienced discipline from 56 our earthly fathers 57 and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life? 58 12:10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. 12:11 Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. 59 But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness 60 for those trained by it. 12:12 Therefore, strengthen 61 your listless hands and your weak knees, 62 12:13 and make straight paths for your feet, 63 so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed.
12:14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, 64 for without it no one will see the Lord. 12:15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up 65 and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled. 12:16 And see to it that no one becomes 66 an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 67 12:17 For you know that 68 later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing 69 with tears. 12:18 For you have not come to something that can be touched, 70 to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind 12:19 and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words 71 such that those who heard begged to hear no more. 72 12:20 For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” 73 12:21 In fact, the scene 74 was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.” 75 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion, the city 76 of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly 12:23 and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect, 12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator 77 of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does. 78
12:25 Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven? 12:26 Then his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too.” 79 12:27 Now this phrase “once more” indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain. 12:28 So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe. 12:29 For our God is indeed a devouring fire. 80
13:1 Brotherly love must continue. 13:2 Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it. 81 13:3 Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them, 82 and those ill-treated as though you too felt their torment. 83 13:4 Marriage must be honored among all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers. 13:5 Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.” 84 13:6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, and 85 I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” 86 13:7 Remember your leaders, who spoke God’s message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith. 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever! 13:9 Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings. 87 For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals, 88 which have never benefited those who participated in them. 13:10 We have an altar that those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat from. 13:11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest brings 89 into the sanctuary as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp. 13:12 Therefore, to sanctify the people by his own blood, Jesus also suffered outside the camp. 13:13 We must go out to him, then, outside the camp, bearing the abuse he experienced. 90 13:14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 13:15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name. 13:16 And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, 91 for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. 92 Let them do this 93 with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you. 13:18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to conduct ourselves rightly in every respect. 13:19 I especially ask you to pray 94 that I may be restored to you very soon.
13:20 Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, 13:21 equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us 95 what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. 96 Amen.
13:22 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, 97 bear with my message of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you briefly. 13:23 You should know that 98 our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon, he will be with me when I see you. 99 13:24 Greetings to all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings. 13:25 Grace be with you all. 100
[11:2] 1 tn Or “the elders,” “the ancients.”
[11:2] 2 tn Grk “were attested,” “received commendation”; and Heb 11:4-6 shows this to be from God.
[11:3] 3 tn Grk “ages.” The temporal (ages) came to be used of the spatial (what exists in those time periods). See Heb 1:2 for same usage.
[11:3] 4 tn Grk “by God’s word.”
[11:3] 5 sn The Greek phrasing emphasizes this point by negating the opposite: “so that what is seen did not come into being from things that are visible.”
[11:4] 6 tn Or “through his sacrifice”; Grk “through which.”
[11:4] 7 tn Or “through his sacrifice”; Grk “through it.”
[11:7] 8 tn Cf. BDAG 407 s.v. εὐλαβέομαι 2, “out of reverent regard (for God’s command).”
[11:9] 9 tn Or “settled as a resident alien.”
[11:9] 10 tn Or “heirs with him.”
[11:10] 11 tn Grk “that has foundations.”
[11:11] 12 tn Grk “past the time of maturity.”
[11:11] 13 tn Grk “power to deposit seed.” Though it is not as likely, some construe this phrase to mean “power to conceive seed,” making the whole verse about Sarah: “by faith, even though Sarah herself was barren and too old, she received ability to conceive, because she regarded the one who had given the promise to be trustworthy.”
[11:12] 14 tn Grk “these”; in the translation the referent (children) has been specified for clarity.
[11:12] 15 tn Grk a collective “the sand.”
[11:12] 16 sn An allusion to Gen 22:17 (which itself goes back to Gen 15:5).
[11:13] 17 tn Grk “the promises,” referring to the things God promised, not to the pledges themselves.
[11:13] 18 tn Or “sojourners.”
[11:17] 20 tn Here “received the promises” refers to the pledges themselves, not to the things God promised.
[11:17] 21 tn Grk “he was offering up.” The tense of this verb indicates the attempt or readiness to sacrifice Isaac without the actual completion of the deed.
[11:18] 22 tn Grk “in Isaac seed will be named for you.”
[11:19] 23 tn Grk “having reasoned,” continuing the ideas of v. 17.
[11:19] 24 tn Grk “in/by a symbol.”
[11:21] 25 tn Grk “worshiped on the top of his staff,” a quotation from Gen 47:31 (LXX).
[11:22] 26 tn Grk “coming to an end,” “dying.”
[11:22] 27 sn Joseph’s prophecy about the exodus of the sons of Israel is found in Gen 50:24.
[11:22] 28 tn Grk “about his bones,” which refers by metonymy to the disposition of his bones, i.e., his burial.
[11:23] 29 tn Grk “Moses, when he was born, was hidden by his parents.”
[11:26] 30 tn Grk “the abuse [or ‘reproach’] of Christ.”
[11:26] 31 tn Grk “he was looking away to.”
[11:28] 32 tn Grk “the pouring out of the blood.”
[11:30] 33 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
[11:30] 34 tn Grk “after they had been encircled.”
[11:31] 35 tn Grk “did not perish together with.”
[11:33] 36 tn This probably refers to the righteous rule of David and others. But it could be more general and mean “did what was righteous.”
[11:33] 37 tn Grk “obtained promises,” referring to the things God promised, not to the pledges themselves.
[11:34] 38 tn Grk “quenched the power of fire.”
[11:34] 39 tn Or “recovered from sickness.”
[11:35] 40 tn Grk “received back their dead from resurrection.”
[11:35] 41 tn Grk “to obtain a better resurrection.”
[11:37] 42 tc The reading ἐπρίσθησαν (ejprisqhsan, “they were sawed apart”) is found in some important witnesses (Ì46 [D* twice reads ἐπίρσθησαν, “they were burned”?] pc syp sa Orpt Eus). Other
[11:39] 43 sn The expression these all were commended forms an inclusio with Heb 11:2: The chapter begins and ends with references to commendation for faith.
[11:39] 44 tn Grk “the promise,” referring to the thing God promised, not to the pledge itself.
[11:40] 45 tn The Greek phrasing emphasizes this point by negating the opposite: “so that they would not be made perfect without us.”
[12:1] 46 tn Grk “having such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us.”
[12:2] 47 sn An allusion to Ps 110:1.
[12:4] 48 tn Grk “until blood.”
[12:5] 49 tn Or “disregard,” “think little of.”
[12:5] 50 tn Or “reproves,” “rebukes.” The Greek verb ἐλέγχω (elencw) implies exposing someone’s sin in order to bring correction.
[12:6] 51 sn A quotation from Prov 3:11-12.
[12:7] 52 tn Grk “endure,” with the object (“your suffering”) understood from the context.
[12:7] 53 tn Or “in order to become disciplined.”
[12:8] 54 tn Grk “you are without discipline.”
[12:8] 55 tn Grk “all”; “sons” is implied by the context.
[12:9] 56 tn Grk “we had our earthly fathers as discipliners.”
[12:9] 57 tn Grk “the fathers of our flesh.” In Hebrews, “flesh” is a characteristic way of speaking about outward, physical, earthly life (cf. Heb 5:7; 9:10, 13), as opposed to the inward or spiritual dimensions of life.
[12:11] 59 tn Grk “all discipline at the time does not seem to be of joy, but of sorrow.”
[12:11] 60 tn Grk “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”
[12:12] 61 tn Or “straighten.”
[12:12] 62 sn A quotation from Isa 35:3. Strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees refers to the readers’ need for renewed resolve and fresh strength in their struggles (cf. Heb 10:36-39; 12:1-3).
[12:13] 63 sn A quotation from Prov 4:26. The phrase make straight paths for your feet is figurative for “stay on God’s paths.”
[12:14] 64 sn The references to peace and holiness show the close connection between this paragraph and the previous one. The pathway toward “holiness” and the need for it is cited in Heb 12:10 and 14. More importantly Prov 4:26-27 sets up the transition from one paragraph to the next: It urges people to stay on godly paths (Prov 4:26, quoted here in v. 13) and promises that God will lead them in peace if they do so (Prov 4:27 [LXX], quoted in v. 14).
[12:15] 65 tn Grk “that there not be any root of bitterness,” but referring figuratively to a person who causes trouble (as in Deut 29:17 [LXX] from which this is quoted).
[12:16] 66 tn Grk “that there not be any,” continuing from v. 15.
[12:16] 67 sn An allusion to Gen 27:34-41.
[12:17] 68 tn Or a command: “for understand that.”
[12:17] 69 tn Grk “it,” referring either to the repentance or the blessing. But the account in Gen 27:34-41 (which the author appeals to here) makes it clear that the blessing is what Esau sought. Thus in the translation the referent (the blessing) is specified for clarity.
[12:18] 70 tn This describes the nation of Israel approaching God on Mt. Sinai (Exod 19). There is a clear contrast with the reference to Mount Zion in v. 22, so this could be translated “a mountain that can be touched.” But the word “mountain” does not occur here and the more vague description seems to be deliberate.
[12:19] 71 tn Grk “a voice of words.”
[12:19] 72 tn Grk “a voice…from which those who heard begged that a word not be added to them.”
[12:20] 73 sn A quotation from Exod 19:12-13.
[12:21] 74 tn Grk “that which appeared.”
[12:21] 75 tn Grk “I am terrified and trembling.”
[12:22] 76 tn Grk “and the city”; the conjunction is omitted in translation since it seems to be functioning epexegetically – that is, explaining further what is meant by “Mount Zion.”
[12:24] 77 tn The Greek word μεσίτης (mesith", “mediator”) in this context does not imply that Jesus was a mediator in the contemporary sense of the word, i.e., he worked for compromise between opposing parties. Here the term describes his function as the one who was used by God to enact a new covenant which established a new relationship between God and his people, but entirely on God’s terms.
[12:24] 78 sn Abel’s shed blood cried out to the Lord for justice and judgment, but Jesus’ blood speaks of redemption and forgiveness, something better than Abel’s does (Gen 4:10; Heb 9:11-14; 11:4).
[12:26] 79 sn A quotation from Hag 2:6.
[12:29] 80 sn A quotation from Deut 4:24; 9:3.
[13:2] 81 sn This is a vague allusion to people described in scripture and extra-biblical literature and may include Abraham and Sarah (Gen 18:2-15), Lot (Gen 19:1-14), Gideon (Judg 6:11-18), Manoah (Judg 13:3-22), and possibly Tobit (Tob 12:1-20).
[13:3] 82 tn Grk “as being imprisoned together.”
[13:3] 83 tn Or “since you too are vulnerable”; Grk “you also being in the body.”
[13:5] 84 sn A quotation from Deut 31:6, 8.
[13:6] 85 tc Some important
[13:6] 86 sn A quotation from Ps 118:6.
[13:9] 87 tn Grk “by diverse and strange teachings.”
[13:9] 88 tn Grk “foods,” referring to the meals associated with the OT sacrifices (see the contrast with the next verse; also 9:9-10; 10:1, 4, 11).
[13:11] 89 tn Grk “whose blood is brought by the high priest.”
[13:13] 90 tn Grk “his abuse.”
[13:16] 91 tn Grk “neglect doing good and fellowship.”
[13:17] 92 tn Or “as ones who will give an account”; Grk “as giving an account.”
[13:17] 93 tn Grk “that they may do this.”
[13:19] 94 tn Grk “I urge you to do this all the more.”
[13:21] 95 tc Some
[13:21] 96 tc ‡ Most
[13:22] 97 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 2:11.
[13:23] 98 tn Grk “Know that” (an imperative).
[13:23] 99 tn Grk “has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you.”
[13:25] 100 tc Most witnesses, including several important ones (א2 A C D H Ψ 0243 1739 1881 Ï lat sy bo), conclude the letter with ἀμήν (amhn, “amen”). Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. Further, there is sufficient testimony (Ì46 א* Ivid 6 33 sa) for the lack of the particle, rendering its omission the preferred reading.
