of the ever-living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to countless
hosts of angels,
012:023 to the great festal gathering and Church of the first-born,
whose names are recorded in Heaven, and to a Judge who is God
of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,
012:024 and to Jesus the negotiator of a new Covenant, and to the sprinkled
blood which speaks in more gracious tones than that of Abel.
012:025 Be careful not to refuse to listen to Him who is speaking to you.
For if they of old did not escape unpunished when they refused
to listen to him who spoke on earth, much less shall we escape
who turn a deaf ear to Him who now speaks from Heaven.
012:026 His voice then shook the earth, but now we have His promise,
"Yet again I will, once for all, cause not only the earth
to tremble, but Heaven also."
012:027 Here the words "Yet again, once for all" denote the removal
of the things which can be shaken--created things--in order
that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
012:028 Therefore, receiving, as we now do, a kingdom which cannot
be shaken, let us cherish thankfulness so that we may ever offer
to God an acceptable service, with godly reverence and awe.
012:029 For our God is also a consuming fire.
013:001 Let brotherly love always continue.
013:002 Do not neglect to show kindness to strangers; for, in this way,
some, without knowing it, have had angels as their guests.
013:003 Remember prisoners, as if you were in prison with them;
and remember those suffering ill-treatment, for you yourselves
also are still in the body.
013:004 Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed
be unpolluted; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
013:005 Your lives should be untainted by love for money. Be content