Net English TranslationHebrews 13 =
Final Exhortations
13

1 Brotherly love must continue. 2 Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.1 3 Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them,2 and those ill-treated as though you too felt their torment.3 4 Marriage must be honored among all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers. 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.”4 6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, and5 I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”6 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke God’s message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever! 9 Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings.7 For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals,8 which have never benefited those who participated in them. 10 We have an altar that those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat from. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest brings9 into the sanctuary as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore, to sanctify the people by his own blood, Jesus also suffered outside the camp. 13 We must go out to him, then, outside the camp, bearing the abuse he experienced.10 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 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. 16 And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have,11 for God is pleased with such sacrifices.

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work.12 Let them do this13 with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you. 18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to conduct ourselves rightly in every respect. 19 I especially ask you to pray14 that I may be restored to you very soon.

Benediction and Conclusion

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, 21 equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us15 what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever.16 Amen.

22 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters,17 bear with my message of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you briefly. 23 You should know that18 our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon, he will be with me when I see you.19 24 Greetings to all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with you all.20

113:2sn 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). 213:3tn Grk “as being imprisoned together.” 313:3tn Or “since you too are vulnerable”; Grk “you also being in the body.” 413:5sn A quotation from Deut 31:6, 8. 513:6tc Some important mss (א* C* P 0285vid 33 1175 1739 pc lat) lack καί (kai), but because the omission conforms to the wording of Ps 118:6 (117:6 LXX), it is suspect. 613:6sn A quotation from Ps 118:6. 713:9tn Grk “by diverse and strange teachings.” 813:9tn 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). 913:11tn Grk “whose blood is brought by the high priest.” 1013:13tn Grk “his abuse.” 1113:16tn Grk “neglect doing good and fellowship.” 1213:17tn Or “as ones who will give an account”; Grk “as giving an account.” 1313:17tn Grk “that they may do this.” 1413:19tn Grk “I urge you to do this all the more.” 1513:21tc Some mss (C P Ψ 6 629* 630 1505 pm latt syh) read ὑμῖν (Jumin, “in you”) here, but ἡμῖν (Jhmin) has stronger external support (Ì46 א A Dvid K 0243 0285 33 81 104 326 365 629c 1175 1739 1881 pm syp co). It is also more likely that ἡμῖν would have been changed to ὑμῖν in light of the “you” which occurs at the beginning of the verse than vice versa. 1613:21tc ‡ Most mss (א A [C*] 0243 0285 33 1739 1881 Ï latt) include the words “and ever” here, but the shorter reading (supported by Ì46 C3 D Ψ 6 104 365 1505 al) is preferred on internal grounds. It seemed more likely that scribes would assimilate the wording to the common NT doxological expression “for ever and ever,” found especially in the Apocalypse (cf., e.g., 1 Tim 1:17; 2 Tim 4:18; Rev 4:9; 22:5) than to the “forever” of Heb 13:8. Nevertheless, a decision is difficult here. NA27 places the phrase in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity. 1713:22tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 2:11. 1813:23tn Grk “Know that” (an imperative). 1913:23tn Grk “has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you.” 2013:25tc 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.
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