To be honest Hebrews 12:14 does not say "make every effort to be holy"...that is someone else's version of that scripture.
Hebrews 12:14 (NASB)
[SUP]14 [/SUP] Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
The truth is we are holy now because He is holy. He alone is our sanctification . 1 Cor. 1:30. We are to work out what already is in us in Christ.
This version makes it look like we can make ourselves holy by ourselves. This is mis-leading if not filtered through the finished work of Christ.
But Grace777 that's what the passage says...
Here is every version of the passage, along with the Greek at the very end, with the definitions for the keywords in use.
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New International Version
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
New Living Translation
Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
English Standard Version
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Berean Study Bible
Pursue peace with all men, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
Berean Literal Bible
Pursue peace with all, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord,
New American Standard Bible
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
King James Bible
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness--without it no one will see the Lord.
International Standard Version
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
NET Bible
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.
New Heart English Bible
Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Run after peace with every man, and after holiness, without which no one shall see Our Lord.
GOD'S WORD® Translation
Try to live peacefully with everyone, and try to live holy lives, because if you don't, you will not see the Lord.
New American Standard 1977
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
Jubilee Bible 2000
Follow peace with everyone and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord:
King James 2000 Bible
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
American King James Version
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
American Standard Version
Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:
Douay-Rheims Bible
Follow peace with all men, and holiness: without which no man shall see God.
Darby Bible Translation
Pursue peace with all, and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord:
English Revised Version
Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:
Webster's Bible Translation
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Weymouth New Testament
but may rather be restored. Persistently strive for peace with all men, and for that growth in holiness apart from which no one will see the Lord.
World English Bible
Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,
Young's Literal Translation
peace pursue with all, and the separation, apart from which no one shall see the Lord,
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Greek
Εἰρήνην
διώκετε [pursue] μετὰ πάντων, καὶ τὸν
ἁγιασμόν [Holiness], οὗ
χωρὶς [without] οὐδεὶς ὄψεται τὸν Κύριον,
1377
diṓkō – properly,
aggressively chase, like a hunter pursuing a catch (prize). 1377 (diṓkō) is used positively ("earnestly pursue") and negatively ("zealously persecute, hunt down"). In each case, 1377 (diṓkō) means pursue with all haste ("chasing" after), earnestly desiring to overtake (apprehend).
Cognate: 38
hagiasmós (a masculine noun derived from 40 /hágios, "
holy") – sanctification (
the process of advancing in holiness); use of the believer being progressively transformed by the Lord into His likeness (similarity of nature). See 40 /hagios ("holy").
5565
xōrís (a preposition, also used as an adverb which is probably derived from 5561 /xṓra, "an open or detached space") – properly,
apart from, separated ("without"); (figuratively) detached, rendering something invalid or valid.