Hebrews

13 chapters

Chapter summaries

The Douay-Rheims’ own argument for each chapter. Tap a number above to read.

1. 1God spake to their fathers by the Prophets: but to themselves by his own Son, 14. who incomparably passeth all the Angels.
2. 2He inferreth of the foresaid, that it shall be incomparably more damnable for them to neglect the new Testament than the old, 3 considering the irrefragable authority of the Apostles also. 5 Then he prosecuteth the excellency of Christ above the Angels, 9 who nevertheless, was made lesser than Angels, to suffer and die for men, to destroy the dominion of the Devil, 15 to deliver men from fear of death, 17 and to be a fit Priest for men.
3. 3By example of Christ (who is incomparably more excellent than Moyses also) he exhorteth them to be faithful unto God. 7 Their reward shall be to enter into everlasting rest, if they persevere, as contrariwise to be excluded (as was shadowed in their forefathers in the wilderness) if they sin and become incredulous.
4. 4That they must fear to be excluded out of the foresaid rest (which he proveth out of the psalm) 12 considering that Christ seeth their most inward secrets. 14 And that he (as their Priest who also himself suffered) is able and ready to strengthen them in confession of their faith.
5. 5That Christ being a man and infirm, was therein but as all Priests, and that he also was called of God to that office: offering as the others: 8 and suffered obediently for our example. 11 Of whose Priesthood he hath much to say, but that the Hebrews have need rather to hear their Catechism again.
6. 6He exhorteth them to be perfect scholars, and not to need to be Catechumens again, 4 considering they cannot be baptized again: and remembering their former good works, for the which God will not fail to perform them his promise, if they fail not to imitate Abraham by perseverance in the faith with patience. 10 And so endeth his digression, and returneth to the matter of Christ's Priesthood.
7. 7To prove the Priesthood of Christ incomparably to excel the priesthood of Aaron (and therefore, that Levitical priesthood now to cease, and that law also to vanish) he scanneth every word of the verse alleged out of the Psalm, Our Lord hath sworn: thou art a Priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech.
8. 8Out of the same Psalm 109 he urgeth this also, Sit thou on my right hand, shewing that the Levitical tabernacle on earth, was but a shadow of his true Tabernacle in heaven: without which he should not be a Priest at all: 6 Whereas he is of a better Priesthood then they, as also he proveth by the excellence of the new Testament above the old.
9. 9In the old Testament, that secular Sanctuary had two parts: the one signifying that time, with the ceremonies thereof for the emundation of the flesh: the other signifying heaven, which then was shut, until our High priest Christ entered into it, and that with his own blood, shed for the emundation of our consciences. Whereupon he concludeth the excellence of his tabernacle and host above the old. 25 Noting also the difference, that he entered but once (so effectual was that one bloody offering of himself, for ever) whereas the Levitical High priest entered every year once.
10. 10Because in the yearly feast of Expiation was only a commemoration of sins, therefore in place of all those old sacrifices the Psalm telleth us of the oblation of Christ's body. 10 which he offered bloodily but once (the Levitical Priests offering so every day) because that once was sufficient for ever, 15 in that it purchased (as the prophet also witnesseth) remission of sins. 19 After all this he prosecuteth and exhorteth them unto perseverance partly with the opening of Heaven by our high-priest, 26 partly with the terror of damnation if they fall again: 32 bidding them remember how much they had suffered already, and not lose their reward.
11. 11He exhorteth them by the definition of faith, to stick unto God, though they see not yet his reward: showing that all the Saints aforetime did the like, being all constant in faith, though not one of them received the promise, that is, the inheritance in heaven: but they and we now after the coming of Christ receive it together.
12. 12By the foresaid examples he exhorteth them to patience, 2 and by example of Christ him self crucified, 5 and because this discipline is an argument that they be God's children, 9 with whose rod they should be much more content then with that of their carnal fathers: and because it bringeth justification. 12 Exhorting them therefore to pluck up their hearts, and to take faster footing: 18 considering that all being now so sweet, and not terrible, as in the old Testament, their damnation, if they refuse to hear, will be so much the greater.
13. 13He commandeth unto them mutual love, 2 hospitality, 3 compassion, 4 chastity, 5 contentation, 7 imitation of the faith of their Catholic Prelates and Martyrs (not hearkening to the doctrines of Heretics, nor fearing the casting out of the Jews' synagogue) 17 and obedience to their present pastors. 18 And so with requesting their prayers, and praying for them, he endeth the Epistle.