Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
Parallel translations
- WEB For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.
- KJV For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
- NKJV For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
- NASB For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.
- NLT For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Earthly fathers disciplined us briefly as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. God's correction aims at our highest benefit.
Overview
Comparing human and divine discipline, the author notes that parents acted for a short time and by fallible judgment, while God acts unerringly for our true profit. The goal of his discipline is that we may become "partakers of his holiness"—conformed to his own character. God's loving aim in hardship is our sanctification, not our harm.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 2 Pet 1:4Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
- Lev 11:44–45For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by any creature that crawls along the ground.
- Titus 2:14He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
- Ezek 36:25–27I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
- Eph 5:26–27to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
- Lev 19:2“Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.
- Eph 4:24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Col 1:22But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—
- Ps 17:15As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.
- 1 Pet 1:15–16But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
- 1 Pet 2:5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- 1 Pet 2:9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Heb 12:5–6And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.
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