The first then also had ordinances of service, and its sanctuary worldly.
For a tabernacle was constituted, the first, in which [were] both the candlestick and the table and the setting forth of the loaves, which is called Holy;
but after the second veil a tabernacle that is called Holy of holies,
having a golden censer and the ark of the covenant covered round everywhere with gold, in which [were] a golden pot having the manna, and the rod of Aaron that sprouted, and the tables of the covenant,
and above over it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat, concerning which things it is not now [opportune] to speak in detail.
Now these things having been thus constituted, into the first tabernacle indeed the priests enter at all times accomplishing the services,
but into the second the high priest alone once the year, not apart from blood, which he offereth for himself and for the errors of the people:
the Holy Spirit showing this that the way of the holies hath not yet been manifested, while yet the first tabernacle hath a standing:
the which [is] a parable for the time present, according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices, unable as to conscience to perfect the worshipper,
only with meats and drinks and different washings, ordinances of flesh imposed until a season of rectification.
But Christ having come high priest of the good things to come by the better and more perfect tabernacle, not handmade (that is, not of this creation),
neither by blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, entered once for all into the holies, having found an everlasting redemption.
For if the blood of goats and bulls and a heifer’s ashes sprinkling the defiled sanctifieth for the purity of the flesh,
by how much rather shall the blood of the Christ, who by [the] eternal Spirit offered himself spotless to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve a living God?
And for this reason he is mediator of a new covenant, so that, death having taken place for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, those that are called might receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance.
For where a testament [is], the death of the testator must be brought in;
for a testament [is] valid after men [are] dead: since it in no wise hath force while the testator liveth.
Whence neither the first hath been inaugurated without blood.
For when every commandment was spoken according to law by Moses to all the people, having taken the blood of calves and of goats with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, he sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
saying, This [is] the blood of the covenant which God enjoined on you.
And the tabernacle too, and all the vessels of service he sprinkled alike with the blood;
and almost all things are purified with blood according to the law, and apart from blood-shedding cometh no remission.
Necessity therefore [was] that the examples of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
For the Christ entered not into handmade holies, figures of the true, but into the heaven itself now to appear to the face of God for us;
neither that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holies yearly with blood not his own,
since he were bound often to suffer from [the] world’s foundation. But now once on consummation of the ages he hath been manifested for putting away of sin by his sacrifice.
And forasmuch as it is appointed to men once to die, and, after this, judgment;
so also the Christ, having been once offered to bear sins of many, shall appear a second time apart from sin to those that look for him unto salvation.