< Προς Εβραιους 7 >
1 ουτος γαρ ο μελχισεδεκ βασιλευς σαλημ ιερευς του θεου του υψιστου ο συναντησας αβρααμ υποστρεφοντι απο της κοπης των βασιλεων και ευλογησας αυτον
Now this Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning from the slaughter of the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him,
2 ω και δεκατην απο παντων εμερισεν αβρααμ πρωτον μεν ερμηνευομενος βασιλευς δικαιοσυνης επειτα δε και βασιλευς σαλημ ο εστιν βασιλευς ειρηνης
and Abraham gave him a tenth of all the spoils. His name means “king of righteousness,” but he is also “king of Salem,” which means, “king of peace.”
3 απατωρ αμητωρ αγενεαλογητος μητε αρχην ημερων μητε ζωης τελος εχων αφωμοιωμενος δε τω υιω του θεου μενει ιερευς εις το διηνεκες
He is without father, without mother, and without genealogy; there is no beginning to his days or end to his life. But resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
4 θεωρειτε δε πηλικος ουτος ω και δεκατην αβρααμ εδωκεν εκ των ακροθινιων ο πατριαρχης
Consider how great this man must be, that even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils.
5 και οι μεν εκ των υιων λευι την ιερατειαν λαμβανοντες εντολην εχουσιν αποδεκατουν τον λαον κατα τον νομον τουτεστιν τους αδελφους αυτων καιπερ εξεληλυθοτας εκ της οσφυος αβρααμ
Now the law commands the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office to collect tithes from the people, that is, their brothers, even though their brothers are also descended from Abraham.
6 ο δε μη γενεαλογουμενος εξ αυτων δεδεκατωκεν τον αβρααμ και τον εχοντα τας επαγγελιας ευλογηκεν
But Melchizedek, who was not among the descendants of Levi, received a tithe from Abraham. He also blessed Abraham, who had received the promises.
7 χωρις δε πασης αντιλογιας το ελαττον υπο του κρειττονος ευλογειται
It is beyond all dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
8 και ωδε μεν δεκατας αποθνησκοντες ανθρωποι λαμβανουσιν εκει δε μαρτυρουμενος οτι ζη
In the one case, tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, they are received by one who is attested to be living.
9 και ως επος ειπειν δια αβρααμ και λευι ο δεκατας λαμβανων δεδεκατωται
One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham.
10 ετι γαρ εν τη οσφυι του πατρος ην οτε συνηντησεν αυτω ο μελχισεδεκ
For Levi was still in the loins of his ancestor Abraham when Melchizedek met him.
11 ει μεν ουν τελειωσις δια της λευιτικης ιερωσυνης ην ο λαος γαρ επ αυτη νενομοθετητο τις ετι χρεια κατα την ταξιν μελχισεδεκ ετερον ανιστασθαι ιερεα και ου κατα την ταξιν ααρων λεγεσθαι
Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under this priesthood the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek rather than the order of Aaron?
12 μετατιθεμενης γαρ της ιερωσυνης εξ αναγκης και νομου μεταθεσις γινεται
For when the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed.
13 εφ ον γαρ λεγεται ταυτα φυλης ετερας μετεσχηκεν αφ ης ουδεις προσεσχηκεν τω θυσιαστηριω
Now he of whom these things are spoken belongs to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
14 προδηλον γαρ οτι εξ ιουδα ανατεταλκεν ο κυριος ημων εις ην φυλην ουδεν περι ιερωσυνης μωσης ελαλησεν
For it is clear that our Lord arose from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priesthood.
15 και περισσοτερον ετι καταδηλον εστιν ει κατα την ομοιοτητα μελχισεδεκ ανισταται ιερευς ετερος
Now this point becomes even more clear when there arises another priest like Melchizedek,
16 ος ου κατα νομον εντολης σαρκικης γεγονεν αλλα κατα δυναμιν ζωης ακαταλυτου
one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an endless life.
17 μαρτυρει γαρ οτι συ ιερευς εις τον αιωνα κατα την ταξιν μελχισεδεκ (aiōn )
For God testifies, “Yoʋ are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (aiōn )
18 αθετησις μεν γαρ γινεται προαγουσης εντολης δια το αυτης ασθενες και ανωφελες
The former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and ineffectiveness
19 ουδεν γαρ ετελειωσεν ο νομος επεισαγωγη δε κρειττονος ελπιδος δι ης εγγιζομεν τω θεω
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20 και καθ οσον ου χωρις ορκωμοσιας οι μεν γαρ χωρις ορκωμοσιας εισιν ιερεις γεγονοτες
And none of this happened without an oath. Aaron's descendants become priests without an oath,
21 ο δε μετα ορκωμοσιας δια του λεγοντος προς αυτον ωμοσεν κυριος και ου μεταμεληθησεται συ ιερευς εις τον αιωνα κατα την ταξιν μελχισεδεκ (aiōn )
but Jesus was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘Yoʋ are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’” (aiōn )
22 κατα τοσουτον κρειττονος διαθηκης γεγονεν εγγυος ιησους
Accordingly, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 και οι μεν πλειονες εισιν γεγονοτες ιερεις δια το θανατω κωλυεσθαι παραμενειν
Now the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office;
24 ο δε δια το μενειν αυτον εις τον αιωνα απαραβατον εχει την ιερωσυνην (aiōn )
but because Jesus continues forever, he has a permanent priesthood. (aiōn )
25 οθεν και σωζειν εις το παντελες δυναται τους προσερχομενους δι αυτου τω θεω παντοτε ζων εις το εντυγχανειν υπερ αυτων
Therefore he is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 τοιουτος γαρ ημιν επρεπεν αρχιερευς οσιος ακακος αμιαντος κεχωρισμενος απο των αμαρτωλων και υψηλοτερος των ουρανων γενομενος
It was fitting for us to have such a high priest, one who is holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27 ος ουκ εχει καθ ημεραν αναγκην ωσπερ οι αρχιερεις προτερον υπερ των ιδιων αμαρτιων θυσιας αναφερειν επειτα των του λαου τουτο γαρ εποιησεν εφαπαξ εαυτον ανενεγκας
He has no need, like the other high priests, to offer up daily sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
28 ο νομος γαρ ανθρωπους καθιστησιν αρχιερεις εχοντας ασθενειαν ο λογος δε της ορκωμοσιας της μετα τον νομον υιον εις τον αιωνα τετελειωμενον (aiōn )
For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son, who has been made perfect forever. (aiōn )