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Now if you are exempt from correction and without discipline, in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate children and not sons [at all]. Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we submitted and respected them [for training us]; shall we not much more willingly submit to the Father of [a]spirits, and live [by learning from His discipline]? 10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for only a short time as seemed best to them; but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 12:9 The meaning seems to be that God is the Father of that which is spiritual as well as that which is physical.

If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline(A)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits(B) and live!(C) 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.(D)

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