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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Hebrews 7 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/hebrews/7.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcc/hebrews/7-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com/catholic">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NRSVCE</a> > Hebrews 7</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../hebrews/6.htm" title="Hebrews 6">◄</a> Hebrews 7 <a href="../hebrews/8.htm" title="Hebrews 8">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition</td><td width="1%" valign="top"></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><div class="text-html"> <h3><span id="en" class="text">The Priestly Order of Melchizedek</span></h3><p class="chapter-1"><span class="text"><span class="versenum">1</span>This “King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him”; </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">2</span>and to him Abraham apportioned “one-tenth of everything.” His name, in the first place, means “king of righteousness”; next he is also king of Salem, that is, “king of peace.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">3</span>Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">4</span>See how great he is! Even<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-34324a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote a">a</a>]</span> Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">5</span>And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to collect tithes<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-34325b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote b">b</a>]</span> from the people, that is, from their kindred,<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-34325c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote c">c</a>]</span> though these also are descended from Abraham. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">6</span>But this man, who does not belong to their ancestry, collected tithes<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-34326d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote d">d</a>]</span> from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">7</span>It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">8</span>In the one case, tithes are received by those who are mortal; in the other, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">9</span>One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">10</span>for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.</span></p> <h3><span id="en" class="text">Another Priest, Like Melchizedek</span></h3><p><span class="text"><span class="versenum">11</span>Now if perfection had been attainable through the levitical priesthood—for the people received the law under this priesthood—what further need would there have been to speak of another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than one according to the order of Aaron? </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">12</span>For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">13</span>Now the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">14</span>For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">15</span>It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek, </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">16</span>one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">17</span>For it is attested of him,</span></p><div class="poetry"><p class="line"><span class="text">“You are a priest forever,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks">    </span><span class="text">according to the order of Melchizedek.”</span></span></p></div> <p class="first-line-none"><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">18</span>There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">19</span>(for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">20</span>This was confirmed with an oath; for others who became priests took their office without an oath, </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">21</span>but this one became a priest with an oath, because of the one who said to him,</span></p><div class="poetry"><p class="line"><span class="text">“The Lord has sworn</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks">    </span><span class="text">and will not change his mind,</span></span><br /><span class="text">‘You are a priest forever’”—</span></p></div> <p class="first-line-none"><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">22</span>accordingly Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">23</span>Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">24</span>but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">25</span>Consequently he is able for all time to save<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-34345e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote e">e</a>]</span> those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">26</span>For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">27</span>Unlike the other<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-34347f" title="See footnote f">f</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote f">f</a>]</span> high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">28</span>For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.</span></p> <A name="fen"></a><div class="footnotes"><h4>Footnotes</h4><ol><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Hebrews 7:4">Hebrews 7:4</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Other ancient authorities lack <i>Even</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Hebrews 7:5">Hebrews 7:5</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Or <i>a tenth</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Hebrews 7:5">Hebrews 7:5</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk <i>brothers</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Hebrews 7:6">Hebrews 7:6</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Or <i>a tenth</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Hebrews 7:25">Hebrews 7:25</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Or <i>able to save completely</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Hebrews 7:27">Hebrews 7:27</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk lacks <i>other</i></span></li></ol></div> </div></div></div></div></div> </div> </div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 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