The Skeptics Annotated Bible (965 page)

5
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

6
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3 And this will we do, if God permit.

(6.4-6) It is impossible for fallen-away Christians to be saved. (Didn’t the author know about confession or the finality of being saved?)
442 Is it possible to fall from grace?

4 For
it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

(6.4)
“It is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,”

5
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

(6.5)
“And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,”

6
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance
; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

(6.6)
“If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance.”

7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

8 But
that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned
.

(6.8) “That which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.” Apostates will burn in hell with the other non-believers.

9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when
God
made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he
sware by himself,

(6.13)
“God … sware by himself.”
God swears by himself to himself.
63 Is it OK to swear?

14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

18 That by two immutable things, in which
it was impossible for God to lie
, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

(6.18) “It was impossible for God to lie.”
59 Can God do anything?
139 Does God lie?

19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

(7.1-4)
“Melchisedec … to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all … Consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.”
Abraham gave Melchisedec one-tenth of all of the booty from “the slaughter of the kings,” setting a fine example for religious hucksters everywhere.