# verses

text:
as the High Priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. I also got letters from them to the brethren and left for Damascus to bring those who were there back to Jerusalem chained to be punished.


text:
"Now it happened that as I went on my journey I was getting close to Damascus about noon time. Suddenly a bright light shone from heaven all around me.


text:
"I answered, «Who are you Lord?' Then he said to me, «I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.»


text:
"Those who were me really did see the light and were afraid, but they didn't understand the voice of him who spoke to me.


text:
"I said, «What shall I do, Lord?» The Lord said to me, Get up and go into Damascus, and there everything that is appointed for you to do will be told to you.»


text:
"Since I couldn't see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and I came into Damascus.


text:
"One, Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who has a good testimony from all the Jews who lived there,


text:
came to me, stood there, and said to me, «Brother Saul, receive you sight.» That very hour I saw him.


text:
"He said, «The God of our fathers has chosen you, so that you should know His will, to see the Just One, and that you should hear the voice of his mouth.


text:
«Now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, wash away your sin, calling on the name of the Lord.»


text:
"And it came about that when I had returned to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the Temple, I was in a semiconscious state,


text:
and saw him saying to me, «Go fast and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not accept your testimony about me.»


text:
"I said, «Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat up in every synagogue every one of them who believed in you,


text:
and the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I was standing alongside also, consenting for his death, and kept the clothes of those who killed him.»


text:
They paid attention to him until he said this word, then raised their voices and said, "Away with such a [person] from the earth, for it is not fit for him to live."


text:
the chief captain commanded that he be brought into the barracks and said that he should be examined by flogging so that he might know why they shouted at him like this.


text:
As they were tying him up with leather straps, Paul said to the centurion that stood there, "Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman and uncondemned even?"


text:
When the centurion heard this, he went and told the chief captain saying, "Be careful what you do, for this man is a Roman."


text:
The chief captain replied, "I obtained this freedom by paying a lot of money." Paul said, "But I was freeborn."


text:
Then they immediately left him alone who was to be examined, and the chief captain also was afraid, after he found out that he was a Roman and because he had tied him up.


text:
Because he wanted to know for certain what he was accused of by the Jews, he loosened him from his shackles and ordered the chief priests and the whole council to come [before him], then he brought Paul down and set him before them.


text:
Paul, looking intently at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived with a good conscience before God even to this day."


text:
Then Paul said to him, "God is about to hit you, you whitewashed wall, for you sit to judge me according to the Law and yet give an order against me to be hit even though it is against the Law."


text:
Then Paul said, "I didn't know, brethren, that he was the high priest, for it is written, «You must not speak evil of the ruler of your people.»


text:
Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted to the council, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. Because of the hope and the resurrection from the dead, I am judged."


text:
After he had said this, a disagreement arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The assembly was divided,


text:
because the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees confess both.


text:
Then loud shouting started, and the scribes who were Pharisees got up and said sternly, "We find nothing evil in this man, now maybe a spirit or an angel did speak to him, so let us not fight against God."


text:
Then after a loud disagreement, the chief captain fearing that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from them and bring him into the barracks.


text:
That next night the Lord stood near him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul, as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome."


text:
When it was day, certain Jews bound themselves together and under a curse saying that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul.


text:
They came to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have placed ourselves under a severe curse that we will not eat nothing until we have killed Paul.


text:
"Now therefore you along with the council inform the chief captain, so that he will bring him down to you tomorrow, as if you wanted to understand some things about him more perfectly, and we--before he comes close--are ready to kill him."


text:
But when Paul's sister's son heard about their ambush, he went, entered the barracks, and told Paul.


text:
Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Bring this young man to the chief captain, for he has something to tell him."


text:
So he took him, brought him to the chief captain, and said, "Paul, the prisoner, called for me and asked me to bring this young man to you, and he has something to tell you."


text:
Then the chief captain took him by the hand and went with him to a private place and asked, "What do you have to tell me?"


text:
He said, "The Jews have agreed together to ask you if you would bring Paul down to the council tomorrow as if they wanted to learn more exactly about him,


text:
but don't give in to them, for lying in ambush are more than forty men who have bound themselves to an oath that they will not eat or drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for a promise from you."


text:
So the chief captain then let the young man leave and commanded him, "Do not tell any one that you have revealed these things to me."


text:
Then he called for two centurions, saying, "Get two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea along with 70 horsemen and 200 spearmen at nine PM,


text:
"This man was seized by the Jews and would have been killed by them, but I came with an army and rescued him, because I understood that he was a Roman.


text:
whom I perceived to be accused about questions about their law, but I have nothing to charge him for deserving death or of prison.


text:
"After it was told me how the Jews were laying ambush for the man, I immediately sent him to you and gave orders to his accusers also to speak to you what they had against him. Farewell."


text:
After [the horsemen] came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.


text:
After the governor had read [the letter], he asked from which province he came from and finding that he was from Cilicia.


text:
"I will hear you," he said, "when your accusers arrive." He then commanded him to be kept in Herod's praetorium.


text:
Five days later Ananias, the high priest, came down with the elders and a certain orator by the name of Tertullus, who told him things against Paul.


text:
After being summoned, Tertullus began to accuse [him], saying, "Seeing it is by you that we enjoy great peace and that wonderful things are done to this nation by your caring concern.


text:
"Nevertheless so that I won't be taking up your time, I desire that you would hear a few words in your fairness.


text:
"For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up sedition among all the Jews through out the world and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.


text:
"He has also tried to profane the Temple, whom we seized and would have judged according to our law,


text:
commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you can see for yourself about these things that we are accusing him."


text:
Then after the governor had motioned for him to speak, Paul answered, "Knowing that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I do more cheerfully answer for myself,


text:
"Neither have they found me in the Temple arguing with any one nor stirring up the people in the synagogues or the city.


text:
"But I do confess to you that I worship the God of my fathers according to the way which they call heresy. I believe everything that is written in the Law and the Prophets,


text:
and having hope in God which they, themselves, also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and the unjust.


text:
or else let these same [people] say if they have found any wicked acts in me while I stood before the Council,


text:
except for this one thing I shouted out when standing among them: [It is] because of the resurrection from the dead that I am on trial by you today."


text:
After Felix heard these things, having a better understanding of the Way, he put them off and said, "When Lysias, the chief captain, comes down, I will know more and decide your case."


text:
Then he commanded a centurion to guard Paul, but to let him have some liberty and not forbid any of his friends to come to him and provide for his needs.


text:
A number of days later when Felix along with Drusilla, who was a Jewess, his wife, came, sent for Paul, and listened to him about faith in Christ.


text:
As he reasoned with him about righteousness, self control, and the judgment to come, Felix trembled and said, "You can leave now; when I have a convenient time, I will call for you."


text:
He also hoped that some money would be given to him by Paul, so that he could free him, for that reason he sent for him often and talked with him.


text:
After two years Porcius succeeded Felix's office, Felix wanting to show the Jews a favor, left Paul in prison.


text:
and begged him [to do] a favor against [Paul}</n> that he [Festus] would send him to Jerusalem--for they had an ambush to kill him on the way.


text:
But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea and that he, himself, would be leaving [for there] shortly.


text:
"Therefore let them who are able among you," he said, "come down with me and accuse this man, if there is any wickedness in him."


text:
After he stayed among them for more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea and on the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought in.


text:
After he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges against Paul, which they could not prove.


text:
But Paul made his own defense, "Nothing against the Law of the Jews, against the Temple, or even against Caesar have I committed any thing wrong."


text:
But Festus wanting to do a favor for the Jews answered Paul, "Will you go up with me to Jerusalem and be tried of these charges before me?"


text:
Then Paul answered, "I ought to be tried at Caesar's judgment seat. I have done no wrong to the Jews as you know very well.


text:
"For if I am an wrongdoer or have committed anything worthy of death, I don't refuse to die, but if there are none of these things that they accuse me of, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar."


text:
Then Festus after talking it over with the council, answered, "Have you appealed to Caesar? Then to Caesar you will go."


text:
After they had been there a few days, Festus informed Paul's situation to the king, saying, "There is a certain man left a prisoner here by Felix,


text:
and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the Jewish elders told me about him, requesting that I would condemn him.


text:
"I answered them, «It is not the Roman's way to hand over any one to die before he who is accused have the accusers face to face [with him] and have permission to defend himself about the crime laid against him.»


text:
"Therefore when they came here, I sat the next day on the judgment seat without delay and commanded that the man be brought in.


text:
but had certain arguments against him about their own superstitions and one about a Jesus who was dead, but Paul claimed to be alive.


text:
"Because I was at a loss of such questions, I asked him if he would go to Jerusalem and be tried there about these things.


text:
"But after Paul had appealed to be kept under guard for the decision of the Emperor, I commanded him to be kept under guard until I could sent him to Caesar."


text:
Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like also hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you will hear him."


text:
On the next day after Agrippa and Bernice had come with pomp and entered in the audience hall along with the chief captains and the prominent men of the city, Paul was brought out at Festus' commandment.


text:
Festus said, "King Agrippa and all men who are here with us, you are seeing the man about whom all the multitude of the Jews have been dealing with me both at Jerusalem and here shouting that he should not live any longer.


text:
"But after I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death and that he had appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.


text:
"I have nothing definite to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him out to you and especially to you King Agrippa, so that after your examination, I might have something to write.


text:
Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand, and so he began his defense,


text:
"I consider myself happy, King Agrippa, because I will be answering for myself this day before you concerning everything that I am accused of by the Jews.


text:
"Especially so because I know that you are an expert in all the customs and controversies among the Jews. Therefore I ask you to patiently hear me.


text:
"[They] who knew me from the beginning--if they would testify--have known that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.


text:
[It is] for that promise our twelve tribes--earnestly serving God day and night--hope to attain that I am accused of by the Jews.


text:
"I, my self, truly thought that I needed to do many things antagonistic to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.


text:
"I did the same in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison having been given authority from the chief priests, and when they were killed, I gave my vote against them.


text:
"I punished them frequently in every synagogue and tried to force them to blaspheme. Being extremely angry against them, I persecuted them even into foreign cities.


text:
"And for that as I went to Damascus with authority and appointed for this purpose by the chief priests,


text:
I saw O king at midday, on the road a light from heaven, greater than the brightness of the sun, shining around me and those who were traveling with me.


text:
"After we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, talking to me in the Hebrew language, «Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? Is it hard for you to kick against the goads?»


text:
«Now get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to be a minister and witness both of these things which you have seen and of those things which I will show to you,


text:
to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they might receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'


text:
but first told them in Damascus, then Jerusalem and through out all Judea, then to the Gentiles, that they must repent and turn to God, and to do deeds appropriate for repentance.


text:
"Surely I have got help from God; I continue to this day witnessing both to small and great saying nothing but those things that the prophets and Moses said would happen,


text:
that Christ would suffer and that he should be the first who would rise from the dead and show light to the People and to the Gentiles."


text:
As he was making his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are a raving idiot; too much study is making you crazy."


text:
"For the king knows all these things, before whom I speak so freely, for I am persuaded that none of these things escape your notice, for this was not done in a corner.


text:
Then Paul said, "I wish to God that not only you but also all who hear me today that whether with little or with much were just as I am, except for these bonds."


text:
After he had so this, the king got up along with the governor, Bernice, and those who sat with them,


text:
and after going out they talked among themselves saying, "This man is doing nothing worthy of death or bonds."


text:
After it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they handed Paul and certain other prisoner over to Julius, a centurion of the Emperor's Regiment.


text:
Entering a ship of Adramyttium, we set sail with intention to sail near the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, Macedonian from Thessalonica was with us.


text:
The next day we landed at Sidon. Julius treated Paul humanely and gave him freedom to go to his friends so he could have what he needed.


text:
After launching from there we sailed under the sheltered side of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary [to us].


text:
After we had sailed slowly for many days and with difficulty had arrived of Cnidus, the wind was not allowing us [to go on], so we sailed under the sheltered side of Crete passing by Salmone.


text:
With difficulty we passed it and came to a place which is called Safe Havens. Close by there was the city of Lasea.


text:
Since it had taken a long time and now that sailing was dangerous--since the fast had already past--Paul advised them,


text:
and said, "Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be hazardous and with much damage, not only to the cargo and ship but also to our lives."


text:
Nevertheless the centurion believed the captain and ship's owner more than the things that Paul said.


text:
Also the harbor was not suitable to winter in so the majority decided to leave as well, if by any means they might reach Phoenix, which is a Cretin harbor that faces south west and north west, to winter there.


text:
When the south wind blew softly, they thought they had obtained their purpose, lifted the anchor and sailed close to Crete.


text:
Running under the sheltered side of a certain island named Clauda, we had a lot of work to secure the boat.


text:
After lifting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship, and fearing that they would end up on sandbanks of the Syrtis, they lowered the sail, and thus they let the ship be carried along [by the wind].


text:
After sun nor stars were seen for many days and no small storm laid on us, all hope was gone that we should be saved.


text:
After a long time without food Paul stood in front of them and said, "Sirs you should have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete and to have been spared this injury and loss.


text:
"Now let me encourage you to be cheerful, for there will be no loss of anyone's life among you only [the loss] of the ship.


text:
saying «Don't be afraid, Paul, you must be brought before Caesar, and look, God has given all those who sail with you.»


text:
When the fourteenth day arrived, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea around midnight, the sailors suspected that they were getting close to some land.


text:
They measured the depth and found it [to be] twenty fathoms [about 120 feet], and after going a little farther, they measured it again and found [it was] 15 fathoms [90 feet].


text:
Then fearing that the ship would run aground on some rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and wished for daylight.


text:
As the sailors were about to abandon ship--after letting down the life boat into the sea under the pretense of letting down anchors from the prow.


text:
While day was getting closer, Paul urged all of them to take some food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have waited and continued fasting, having taken nothing.


text:
"Therefore I urge you to take some food, for you need it for your health, for not one hair of your head will fall off of any of you."


text:
After he had said this, he took bread, gave thanks to God in view of them all, and when he had broken [it], he began to eat.


text:
When it was daylight, they didn't recognize the land but noticed a certain bay with a beach into which they intended, if possible, to drive the ship.


text:
After taking up the anchors, left them in the sea, loosed the rudder ropes, hoisted up the main sail to the wind, and made for the shore.


text:
Falling into a place where two currents met, they ran the ship aground. The front part was unmovable, and the back part was broken up from the violence of the waves.


text:
The soldier's advice was to kill the prisoners, fearing that any of them would swim away and escape,


text:
but the centurion wanting to save Paul kept them from doing that, and commanded that those who could swim should jump out first and get to land


text:
and the rest [to use] boards or other pieces of the ship. So it happened that all escaped safely to the land.


text:
The natives showed us the type of kindness not seen every day, for they lit a fire and welcomed everyone of us, because it was raining and cold.


text:
Paul had gathered a bunch of sticks and laid them on the fire, then a poisonous snake came out because of the heat and clamped down on his hand.


text:
When the natives saw the poisonous snake hanging on his hand, they said among themselves, "No doubt, this man is a murderer, and even though he has escaped the sea, justice will not allow him to live."


text:
Nevertheless they were waiting when he should swell up or suddenly fall down dead, but after they had watched for a long time and saw no harm happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.


text:
In that same area were the lands of Publius, the chief of the island, who welcomed us and kindly lodged us for three days.


text:
It then happened that Publius' father was lying sick from a fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed, laid hands on him, and healed him.


text:
After three months, we left in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered at the island, whose sign was "The Twin Gods,"


text:
From there we sailed along and came to Rhegium, and after one day the south wind blew, and we arrived the day following at Puteoli.


text:
Where we found brethren and were invited to stay with them for seven days. After that we moved toward Rome.


text:
From there when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as the market of Appii and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and was encouraged.


text:
When we came to Rome, the centurion handed the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to live by himself with a soldier that guarded him.


text:
Then it came about that three days later Paul called for the chief of the Jews to come together, and when they were together, he said to them, "Men and brethren, though I have done nothing wrong against the People or the customs of our forefathers, yet I was handed over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.


text:
"Who when they had examined me would have let me go, because there was no crime in me [deserving] the death penalty.


text:
"But when the Jews spoke against it, it was necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had nothing for which to accuse my nation.


text:
"For this reason, therefore, I have called for you, to see you and to speak with you, because for the hope of Israel, I am bound with these chains."


text:
They said to him, "We have not received letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brethren that came reported or told us of any evil about you.


text:
"But we want to hear from you, what you think, for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere."


text:
When they had appointed a time for him, many came to him where he was staying. He talked in detail to them and testified about the Kingdom of God, persuading them about Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and the Prophets from morning to night.


text:
When they could not agree among themselves, they left after Paul spoke one more thing, "The Holy Spirit said it well through Isaiah the prophet to our forefathers,


text:
saying, «Go to this people and say, "You will hear it and hear it but not understand, and you will look at it and look at it but not comprehend it.


text:
«For the heart of this people is calloused, and their ears are dull of hearing. They have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart, and then be converted, and I would heal them.»


text:
"Be it known, therefore, by you that the salvation of God is sent out to the Gentiles, and they will hear it."


text:
preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching things about the Lord Jesus Christ boldly, no one stopping him.


text:
[The gospel] that he had promised by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures Rom 1:3 concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who came from the offspring of David (according to the flesh),


text:
but declared in power to be the Son of God (according to the spirit of holiness) by [his] resurrection from the dead.


text:
[It is] through him we received grace and apostleship [to bring others] into obedience to the faith among all nations in behalf of his name.


text:
Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ [be] to all of you who are in Rome, beloved by God, [and] called [to be] God's people.


text:
First, I am grateful to my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is spoken about throughout the whole world.


text:
God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that I make mention of you unceasingly in my prayers.


text:
Always in my prayers I ask if somehow I might now by the will of God have a successful journey to come to you.


text:
Now brethren I don't want you to be uninformed that many times I determined to come to you (but I have been hindered up to now), so that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.


text:
For I am not ashamed of Christ's gospel, because it is God's power into salvation for anyone who believes, first to the Jew, and then to the Greek also.


text:
For in it God's righteousness is revealed beginning with faith [and] ending with faith, as it is written, "The just will live by faith."


text:
For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by unrighteousness.


text:
For the invisible things about him since the creation of the world are unmistakably seen. They are understood by the things that are made, both his eternal power and the essential characteristics of God, [making] these [people] without excuse.


text:
And so, when they knew God, they didn't glorify him as God, neither were they thankful. They became foolish in their theories, so their foolish heart was darkened.


text:
They replaced the glory of the God, who can't decay, into an image resembling man, who will decay, as well as birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.


text:
For this reason God also gave them over to impurity in the lusts of their own hearts to dishonor their bodies among themselves.


text:
They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and they worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever blessed. Amen.


text:
For this reason God gave them over to appalling passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use into what is unnatural.


text:
Likewise the men also laying aside natural sexual relations with women were inflamed in their lust to other men. Men with men doing what is indecent and so receiving in themselves the reward for their deviate behavior which is appropriate.


text:
And just as they didn't think it was worthwhile to keep God in what they wanted to remember, God gave them over to a depraved mind to do those things that are not right to do.


text:
Being full of all unrighteousness, immoral sexual activity, wickedness, covetousness, desire to hurt others, full of envy, murder, loud arguments, deceit, evil cunning, someone who spreads rumors,


text:
backbiters, God haters, spiteful, proud, braggarts, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,


text:
Who knowing full well about the judgment of God--that those who do such things are worthy of death--not only do the same things but have pleasure [seeing others] practicing them.


text:
Because of this O man, you have no excuse whoever you are who judges, because whenever you pass judgment on another, you condemn yourself, because you do the same things that you pass judgment on.


text:
And do you think, O man, who passes judgment on those who do such things yet does the same, that you will escape God's judgment?


text:
Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and long suffering, not understanding that God's goodness leads you to repentance?


text:
But according to your hard, impenitent heart you are storing up for yourself wrath for the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,


text:
To those who patiently continue in right actions are seeking for glory, honor, and immortality--eternal life.


text:
But to those who are contentious, disobeying the truth, and obeying unrighteousness--fierce anger and wrath,


text:
But also glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does good to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.


text:
For as many as sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as sinned under the law will be judged by the law [13] (For the hearers of the law are not just before God, but the doers of the law will be justified.


text:
For when the Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively do the things of the law, these, not having law, are a law in themselves.


text:
Who show the work of the law written on their hearts. Their conscience also bears witness, and their line of reasoning accuses or else excuses one another)


text:
an instructor of the ignorant--a teacher of new converts--you having the appearance of knowledge and truth [found] in the law.


text:
Therefore you, who teaches another, don't you teach yourself? You who preach that one should not steal, do you steal?


text:
You say, "Don't commit adultery," [but] do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you desecrate what is sacred?


text:
Circumcision truly is useful, if you keep the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.


text:
Therefore if the uncircumcised keep the righteousness [required] by the law, won't his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?


text:
And won't the uncircumcision, which is the natural condition, if they fulfill the law, condemn you, who have sacred letter and circumcision, [to be] a transgressor of the law?


text:
but one [is] a Jew who is one inwardly, even circumcision of the heart in spirit, not letter, whose praise [comes] not from men but from God.


text:
Absolutely not! Let God be found true but every person a liar, as it is written, "That you might be shown to be right in what you said and might prevail when you are condemned."


text:
For if our iniquity commends God's righteousness, what can we say? [Is] God unrighteous to mete out vengeance? (I speak as a man).


text:
And not as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say, "Let us do evil, so good can come?" (Their damnation is just!)


text:
What then, are we any better? No, not in any way, for we have proved before that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin.


text:
They all turn aside together; all of them became useless. There is no one who does good, no, not one.


text:
Their throat [is] an open sepulcher; they have used their own tongues to deceive. The poison of asps [is] under their lips.


text:
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth will be shut and the entire world become guilty before God.


text:
Again, there will be no flesh justified in his sight by the deeds of the law, for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.


text:
But now the righteousness of God without the law is made clear being confirmed by the law and the prophets.


text:
Even the righteousness of God, [which is] by faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe, for there is no difference,


text:
whom God has placed in public view [to be] the mercy seat through faith in his blood. [This is] conclusive proof of his righteousness for the passing over (through God's forbearance) of sins committed previously.


text:
[This is] conclusive proof at this present time showing his righteousness, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus.


text:
Since [it is] one God who will justify the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision through faith.


text:
But for the one who doesn't work but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.


text:
Even as David also describes the blessedness of one to whom God considers as righteousness without works.


text:
Does this blessedness then come on the circumcision [only] or on the uncircumcision also? Indeed, we say that faith was credited as righteousness to Abraham.


text:
So then when was it credited, when he was circumcised or uncircumcised? Not [when he was] circumcised but uncircumcised.


text:
He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of righteousness, by faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all those who believe, even though they are not circumcised, so that righteousness would be put on their account, too.


text:
And he is the father of the circumcised, to those who are not just circumcised but who also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham that [he had] when uncircumcised.


text:
For the promise that he should be the heir of the world [was] not to Abraham or his descendants through the law but though the righteousness [which comes] by faith.


text:
because the law brings about wrath. [This is] because where there is no law, there is no law breaking.


text:
Therefore, [it is] from faith, in order that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be certain to all the descendants, not just to those who are from the law but also to those who have faith like Abraham's, who is the father of us all.


text:
Just as it is written, "I have appointed you a father of many nations." [While he stood] in front of him whom he believed, that is God, who gives life to the dead and speaks of things that don't exist yet as if they did.


text:
Who though hopeless, still believed in hope that he would become the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "In this way will your descendants be."


text:
Not being weak in faith, he didn't consider his own body (now as good as dead, being about a hundred years old), or the deadness of Sarah's womb.


text:
but also for us to whom it is intended to be credited if we believe on him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead


text:
through whom we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope for God's praise.


text:
Hope does not disappoint, because God's love is poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given to us.


text:
Why, hardly would anyone die for a man of integrity, yet possibly for a really good person would someone even dare to die.


text:
And much more than that being now justified because of his blood, we will be saved from wrath through him.


text:
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by his Son's death, much more, having been reconciled, we will be saved by his life.


text:
And not only [this] but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.


text:
For this reason, just as sin entered into the world through one man and death because of sin, so death came into all mankind, because all have sinned.


text:
(For until the law, sin was in the world, but sin is not credited to one's account where there is no law.


text:
Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who didn't sin in the same way as the transgression of Adam, who is a symbol of him who would come.


text:
So also the free gift is not like the wrongdoing [of Adam]. For if through this wrongdoing of one many died, in a greater sense God's grace and the gift by grace (also by one man, Jesus Christ), is more than enough for many.


text:
[There is] also a contrast between one sinning man and the gift, for judgment from one [sin] resulted in condemnation. but the free gift resulted in acquittal for many sins.


text:
For if, through one man's wrongdoing, death ruled because of one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will rule in life because of one, Jesus Christ.)


text:
Therefore since by one [man's] wrongdoing, [condemnation came] upon all, even so by one [man's] righteousness [the free gift came] upon all people resulting in the justification of life.


text:
For since through one man's disobedience many became sinners, so through the obedience of one many will become righteous.


text:
Moreover the law showed up so that wrongdoing would increase, but where sin abounded, grace abounded more,


text:
that just as sin has ruled in death, even so might grace rule through righteousness resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


text:
Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father's glory, even so we should also walk in newness of life.


text:
For if we have been united in the likeness of his death, even more so we will be [in the likeness] of his resurrection.


text:
We know that our old nature is crucified with him, so that the body of sin would be destroyed, this [happened] so we would no longer serve sin.


text:
We know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death doesn't rule over him any more


text:
So in this way regard yourselves to be truly dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.


text:
And do not present all the your body parts [to be] unrighteous tools for sin, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and all your body parts [to be] righteous tools for God.


text:
Don't you realize that to whom you present yourselves [to be] servants for obedience that you are his servants? You can obey either sin, which results in death, or obedience, which results in righteousness.


text:
Thanks be to God that you were servants of sin but now you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that was given to you.


text:
I am describing this in human terms because of your physical weakness, for as you have presented all your body parts to be servants for uncleanness and iniquity upon iniquity, so now present all your body parts to be servants of righteousness [leading] to purity.


text:
What result did you have then with those things you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death.


text:
Now being freed from sin and becoming servants of God, you have your harvest of purity, and its end is eternal life.


text:
Don't you know brothers (I'm speaking to those who know the law) how the law has authority over people as long as they are alive?


text:
Consider, the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives, but if the husband is dead, she is free from the law of her husband.


text:
So then, if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be pronounced as an adulteress, but if her husband is dead, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress even if she is married to another man.


text:
Therefore my brothers, you also were made dead to the law by the body of Christ, so you could be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, and may bring forth fruit for God.


text:
When we were in the flesh, sinful passions, [brought out] by the law, worked in every part of our bodies to produce death.


text:
But now we are severed from the law being dead to what we were restrained by, so that we would serve by a renewed spirit not by an obsolete writing.


text:
So what will we say, that the law [is] sin? Absolutely not! Indeed, I hadn't known sin, except by the law, for I wouldn't be aware of lust, if the law hadn't said, "You must not covet."


text:
But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, worked all kinds of covetousness in me. For sin is inactive without the law.


text:
So then, that which is good made death in me? Absolutely not! Sin, in order for it to appear as sin, produced death in me by that which is good, so that sin through the commandment might become extremely sinful.


text:
For I know that nothing good lives in me (that is my flesh), because the intent to do good is present with me but [how] to do what is good I can't find [it].


text:
For the good that I want to do, I don't do, but the evil that I don't want to do, that [is what] I do.


text:
But I observe another law in my body warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin that is in my body.


text:
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I, even I, serve God's law, but the flesh [serves] sin's law.


text:
There is not any condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, [those] who don't walk after the flesh but after the spirit.


text:
For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and, as for sin, condemned sin in the flesh,


text:
so that the righteousness of the law could be fulfilled in us who don't walk after the flesh but after the spirit.


text:
Those following the flesh are interested in the things of the flesh, but those following the spirit [are interested in] the things of the spirit.


text:
Because the carnal mind [is] hostile to God, because it does not submit to God's law, nor indeed can it.


text:
But you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if it is so that God's Spirit lives in you, and if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.


text:
And if Christ [lives] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin, but the spirit [has] life because of righteousness.


text:
And if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead lives in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies by his Spirit who lives in you.


text:
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if with the Spirit's help you put to death the sinful actions of the body, you will live.


text:
For you have not received the spirit of slavery again [which produces] fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption which causes us to shout, "Abba, Father!"


text:
And if children then heirs, heirs and joint-heirs with Christ, if perhaps we suffer together, it's so that we may be glorified together.


text:
For I've come to the conclusion that the sufferings of this present time aren't worth [comparing] with the glory that will be revealed to us.


text:
Because creation itself also will be delivered from slavery to decay to enter the glorious liberty of God's children.


text:
And not only [them] but we ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit. Even we ourselves groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.


text:
For we are kept safe by hope, but hope that is seen isn't hope, because why should a person still hope for something that he already sees?


text:
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we do not know what we should pray for, what is precisely necessary; however the Spirit himself make intercession for us with inexpressible sighings.


text:
And he who searches the hearts knows what the Spirit's intention [is], because he makes intercession for the God's people according to God's [will].


text:
We know that all things are working together for good to those who love God, being the called according to [his] purpose.


text:
Because whom he foreknew he also decided about in advance to conform to the image of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.


text:
Moreover whom he decided about in advance he also called, and whom he called he also justified, and whom he justified he also glorified.


text:
He didn't spare his own Son but handed him over for all of us. How much more will he not also freely give us all things as well as him?


text:
Who will give them a sentence of guilt? Christ died, even more importantly was raised up, and who is even at the right hand of God and makes intercession for us.


text:
Who will separate us from Christ's love? Will tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword?


text:
As it is written, "For your sake we are killed all day long; we are considered to be nothing but sheep for slaughter."


text:
For I am persuaded that neither death, life, angels, principalities, powers, present things, things to come, [39] height, depth, or any other creature will be able to separate us from God's love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


text:
who are Israelites, to whom [belongs] the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service [in the temple to God], and the promises.


text:
Whose are the fathers and from whom, concerning the flesh, Christ [came] who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.


text:
Not just because they are offspring of Abraham [does it mean that they are] all children, but, "In Isaac will your offspring be named."


text:
That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are considered as offspring.


text:
and although they were not yet born nor done anything good or evil but that God's purpose according to [His] choice might stand firm, not by works but by him who calls,


text:
For he tells Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."


text:
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very reason I raised you up, so that I could show my power in you and that my name might be publicized throughout the whole earth."


text:
No, on the contrary, O man, who are YOU to contradict God? Will what is molded say to the one who molded it, "Why have you made me this way?"


text:
Doesn't the potter have authority over the clay to make pottery for honorable use as well as for common use from the same lump?


text:
And [what] if God, wishing to show his wrath and make his authority known, endured with much long suffering the objects of wrath ready for destruction,


text:
and that He might make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy, which he prepared ahead of time for glory?


text:
As He says also in Hosea, "I will call them "My People" who were not my people and "My Beloved" who were not beloved.


text:
And it will be [that] in the place where it was said to them, «You are not my people,» there they will be called the children of the living God."


text:
Isaiah also speaks out concerning Israel, "Though the number of Israel's children are as the sand of the sea, [only] a remnant will be saved.


text:
For He by righteousness will complete and quickly do the word, because the Lord will expedite [His] word on the earth."


text:
And just as Isaiah predicted, "If the Lord of armies had not left us a remnant, we would have been like Sodom and resembled Gomorrah."


text:
What will we say then? [We will say] that the Gentiles who didn't pursue [God's standard of] righteousness have gotten hold of righteousness, even the righteousness that is by faith.


text:
But Israel, which pursued the law of righteousness, has not reached [the goal] of the law of righteousness.


text:
Why? Because [they didn't seek it] by faith but as if it were by the works of the law, for they stumbled at the stumbling stone.


text:
As it is written, "Look, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense, and whosoever believes on him will not be ashamed."


text:
For without knowledge of God's [plan for] righteousness and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted themselves to God's righteousness.


text:
For Moses describes the righteousness that comes from the law, "The person who does these things will live by them."


text:
But the righteousness which comes from faith puts it this way, "Don't say in your heart, «Who will go up into heaven» (that is, to bring Christ down),


text:
Well what does it say? The word is near you, [even] in your mouth and heart, that is, the word of the faith, which we preach:


text:
that if you will publicly confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and will believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will saved.


text:
For with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth publicly confessing that one is saved.


text:
There is no difference between the Jews and the Gentiles, for the same sovereign Lord is abounding with riches to all who call on him.


text:
So how then will they call on him whom they have not believed? Or, how will they believe in him whom they have not heard about, how will they hear [about him] without someone telling them?


text:
How will someone [be there] to tell them unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who tell others the gospel of peace and bring the happy news of good things!"


text:
And didn't Israel know? First of all Moses says, "I will provoke you to jealous by [those] not a nation, and by a stupid nation I will make you angry.


text:
Isaiah is very bold when he says, "I was found by those who didn't seek me; I appeared to those who didn't ask about me."


text:
But to Israel he says, "All day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people."


text:
So I say, "Has God rejected his people?" Absolutely not! I also am an Israelite of the offspring of Abraham, the tribe of Benjamin.


text:
God has not rejected his people whom he knows about beforehand. Don't you know what the Scripture says about Elijah, when he interceded to God for Israel?


text:
"Lord, they have killed your prophets and destroyed your altars. I am left alone, and they seek my life."


text:
But what does God answer him? "I have left behind seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."


text:
If [it is] by grace, then [it is] not any longer by works, or else grace is no longer grace. But if [it is] by works, then it is no longer grace, or else work is no longer work.


text:
What then? Israel hasn't discovered what he was looking for, but those chosen did discover it, and the rest were blinded.


text:
Just as it is written, "God has given them spiritual insensitivity; eyes to see [that] don't [see] and ears to hear [that] don't [hear].


text:
Even David says, "Let their table become a snare, a trap, a stumbling-block (a just payback to them).


text:
So I say, "Have they stumbled only to fall?" Absolutely not! On the contrary, through their misstep, salvation [has come] to the Gentiles to provoke [the Jews] to envy.


text:
Now if their misstep [is] the [spiritual] riches for the world and their loss the [spiritual] riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness?


text:
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I hold my ministry in honor.


text:
For if their rejection [means] the reconciliation for the world, what their acceptance be if not life from the dead?


text:
For if the first-fruits [are] holy, the whole lump [is] also, and if the root [is] holy, so [are] the branches.


text:
And if some of the branches are broken off (and you, being a wild olive tree, are grafted in among them and partake of the root and richness of the cultivated olive tree with them),


text:
do not brag that you are better than the branches. Now if you do brag, [consider this] you do not sustain the root but the root you.


text:
Well, they were broken off because of unbelief, and you continue by faith. Don't be arrogant but fear.


text:
Consider therefore the kindness and severity of God: on those who fell--severity but towards you--kindness, if you continue in [his] kindness, otherwise you also will be cut off.


text:
And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.


text:
For if you were cut off from the natural, wild olive tree and were grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these which are the natural [branches] be grafted into their own olive tree?


text:
Brethren, I don't want you to be ignorant of this mystery, lest you would become conceited, that a callous indifference has happened to a part of Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes about.


text:
Then in this way all Israel will be saved, just as it is written, "The Deliverer will come out of Zion and remove ungodliness from Jacob."


text:
Concerning the gospel [they are] enemies for your sake, but as concerning the chosen ones, [they are] beloved for the sake of their forefathers.


text:
For just as in times past you didn't believe God, yet now you have received mercy through their disobedience.


text:
O the depth of the riches of both God's wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable [are] his judgments and his paths untraceable!


text:
I implore you, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present yourselves as a holy, living sacrifice [which is] acceptable to God [and] your spiritual service [to Him].


text:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may discern what [is] the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.


text:
For I say to everyone among you, through the grace given to me, don't cherish the thought that you are more important than what you should think [about yourself] but have sober thoughts, since God has dispensed to everyone a measure of faith.


text:
So we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If [it is] prophecy, [then prophesy] according to the proportion of faith.


text:
If motivating, then motivate. If giving, then [do it] with sincerity. If giving leadership, then [do it] with diligence. If showing compassion, then [do it] with cheerfulness.


text:
Respect one another. Do not be inclined towards the upper class but condescend to those of lower status. Don't be conceited in yourselves.


text:
Dearly beloved, don't seek revenge for yourself, but rather give room for the wrath [of God], for it is written, «Vengeance is mine; I will repay,» says the Lord."


text:
Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink, for in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head.


text:
Let every soul obey the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God. The authorities, which are present, have been put there by God.


text:
Therefore whoever resists this authority defies what God has appointed, and those who do defy will receive judgment against themselves.


text:
For rulers are not a cause of fear for good actions but for evil [actions]. Do you want to be unafraid of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.


text:
He is God's servant to you for good, but if you do what is evil, be afraid, for he doesn't wear the sword in vain, because he is God's servant, an avenger to [execute] punishment on those who do evil.


text:
Therefore you must be obedient, not just because of the fear of punishment but also for the sake of your conscience.


text:
For this reason pay taxes also, for they are God's public servants being diligent with this very thing.


text:
So pay everyone whatever you owe them--taxes to whom taxes [are due], tariffs to whom tariffs, respect for whom respect [is due], honor to whom honor [is due].


text:
For these [laws]: you must not commit adultery, you must not kill, you must not steal, you must not bear false witness, you must not covet, and whatever other commandment, it is briefly summarized in this saying, "You must love your neighbor as you do yourself."


text:
Also this, knowing the time, that now [is] the time to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer that when we believed.


text:
The night is almost gone; the day is at hand. Therefore let us put away the deeds of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.


text:
Let us live honorably as in the day time, not in carousing, drunkenness, orgies, uncontrolled lust, heated arguments, or envying.


text:
Instead put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not make any preparations for the flesh to [fulfill] its sinful desires.


text:
Don't let him who [feels free] to eat [anything] despise him who doesn't, and don't let him who doesn't [feel free] to eat [some things], judge the other, for God has welcomed him.


text:
Who are you to judge another man's servant? He is approved or condemned by his own master. Yes, he will stand approved, for God is able to make him stand.


text:
Someone decides that one day is more important than another; someone else decides that every day [is alike]. Each one must be fully convinced in his mind.


text:
The one who considers one day [more important] considers [it] for the Lord's [honor], and the one who doesn't consider one day [more important] considers [that] for the Lord. He who [feels free] to eat [all foods], eats for the Lord's [honor], because he gives thanks to God. He who doesn't [feel free] to eat [some things] does that for the Lord's [honor] and gives God thanks.


text:
For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's,


text:
for this reason Christ died, regained life, and rose again, so that he would rule over both the dead and living.


text:
So why do you judge your brother, or why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.


text:
For it is written, "As I live," says the Lord, "every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will confess to God."


text:
Therefore we can't condemn one another anymore, instead condemn this: let no one put a stumbling block or offending thing in [his] brother's way.


text:
I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing [is] unclean in itself, but to him who considers something unclean, then to him, [it is] unclean.


text:
If your brother's feelings are hurt because of your food, you are not walking in love. Do not destroy him, for whom Christ died, with your food.


text:
Don't tear down the work of God on account of food. It's true that everything is pure but even so [it is] wrong for that man who eats, who feels he is doing wrong.


text:
It would be better not to eat flesh or drink wine or [anything] that would cause your brother to stumble, be offended, or be weakened [in the faith].


text:
Do you have faith? Have it for yourself in God's sight. Happy is the one who doesn't condemn himself in what he has approved.


text:
The one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because [it is] not with faith, for whatever [is] not of faith is sin.


text:
We who are strong [in faith] must bear with the weaknesses of those weak [in faith] and [must] not seek to please ourselves.


text:
For even Christ didn't seek to please himself, but as it is written, "The criticisms of those who criticized you fell on me."


text:
For whatever was written before was written for our learning, so that through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope.


text:
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded towards one another according to Christ Jesus,


text:
I say [to you] that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises to the fathers,


text:
and that the Gentiles might glorify God for [his] mercy, as it is written, "For this reason I will give thanks to you among the Gentiles and sing praises to your name."


text:
In addition Isaiah says, "There will be a root of Jesse, and he will rise to reign over the Gentiles. In him will the Gentiles trust."


text:
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you can abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.


text:
I, myself, am also persuaded about you, my brethren, that you are also full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, also able to caution one another.


text:
Brethren, I have written quite boldly to you, in part to remind you, because of the gift given to me by God,


text:
that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, in priestly service of the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being made holy by the Holy Spirit.


text:
For I will not boldly speak about any of those things, except what Christ accomplished through me (to make the Gentiles obedient in word and deed)


text:
by mighty signs and wonders [done] by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and all the way to Illyricum I have fully preached Christ's gospel.


text:
In this way I have earnestly preached the gospel where Christ was unknown, lest I should build on another's foundation.


text:
Nonetheless as it is written, "Those who were never told about him, they will look at with wonder, and they who haven't heard will understand."


text:
But now having no more opportunity in these parts and having great desire for many years to come to you,


text:
whenever I take my journey to Spain, I will come to you, for I hope to see you on my journey and to be assisted there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.


text:
For it has pleased those of Macedonia and Achaia to contribute something for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.


text:
It has truly pleased them, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they owe it to them to serve them in material things.


text:
Therefore after I have finished this and safely delivered this fruit to them, I will come by way of you to Spain.


text:
Now I plead with you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and love for the Spirit, that you join me in earnest prayer to God for my behalf,


text:
that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe and that my service which [I have] for Jerusalem may be accepted by the saints,


text:
so you may welcome her in the Lord in a worthy manner as saints and assist her in whatever matter she has need of you, for she has been a helper to many including me.


text:
who have risked their lives for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but also all the churches of the Gentiles.


text:
Likewise [greet] the congregation that is in their house. Say, "Hi," to my dear friend Epenetus, who is the first convert to Christ from Achaia.


text:
Say, "Hi," to Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and fellow prisoners, who are highly regarded by the apostles.


text:
Say, "Hello," to Tryphena and Tryphose, who work hard for the Lord. Greet Persis, who worked very hard for the Lord.


text:
Say, "Hello," to Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, Olympas, and all the saints with them.


text:
Now I beg you, brethren, keep your eye on those who create dissensions and opportunities for sin, contrary to the teaching you have learned. Avoid them.


text:
For these are those who do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ but their own self-interests. By convincing words and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple.


text:
For [the news of] your obedience has spread to all. I am glad therefore on your behalf, yet I want you to be wise about all that is good and innocent about what is evil.


text:
The God of peace will completely crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.


text:
Gaius, my host, and the whole congregation greet you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you as well as Quartus, our brother.


text:
Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of what was hidden and kept secret since the world began,


text:
but now is clearly seen and through the prophetic Scriptures (according to the commandment of the everlasting God) made know to all nations for the obedience of faith.


text:
Paul, called upon to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, through the will of God, with Sosthenes, our brother,


text:
To the congregation of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been made holy in Christ Jesus, invited to be saints, along with all those everywhere who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord--both theirs and ours.


text:
Now I beg of you brethren through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you to agree in what you say and that there would be no schisms among you, instead that you be joining together with the same understanding and opinion.


text:
It has been plainly told to me about you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's family, that there are serious arguments among you.


text:
This is what I mean, that everyone of you are saying, "I follow Paul," and "I follow Apollos," and "I follow Cephas," and "I follow Christ."


text:
Also I baptized the household of Stephanus. Besides [these] I don't know if I baptized anybody else,


text:
for Christ didn't send me to baptize but to preach the gospel--not with wisdom in words lest the cross of Christ should become ineffective.


text:
For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.


text:
For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the experts and will bring to nothing the understanding of the keen thinkers.


text:
Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where are the sophisticated reasoners of this world? Hasn't God made the wisdom of the world foolish?


text:
For since, in God's wisdom, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God to save those who believe through the foolishness of preaching.


text:
but we preach Christ crucified. To the Jews [this is] a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,


text:
For you see your invitation, brethren, that [there are] not many wise men according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble,


text:
but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the mighty.


text:
God has also chosen the low-class, despised, and those who are nothing of this world to bring to nothing the things that are,


text:
But you are in Christ Jesus because of him, whom God has made to us wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and redemption,


text:
And brethren, when I came to you, I didn't come with outstanding eloquence or wisdom when I declared to you the testimony of God.


text:
My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom but in a demonstrating proof of the Spirit and power,


text:
Nevertheless we speak wisdom to those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age nor of the rulers of this age that comes to nothing,


text:
but we talk about God's wisdom, [which was] kept secret in a mystery, which God predetermined before the world for our glory,


text:
[and] which none of the leaders of this age knew, because if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.


text:
But as it is written, "Eye has not seen, not ear heard, neither has entered the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love him.


text:
But God has revealed [them] to us by his Spirit, because the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God.


text:
For what person understands the things of man, except the spirit of man, which is in him? Even so things of God are not understood by any one, except the Spirit of God.


text:
Now we haven» t received the world» s spirit but have received the Spirit which is from God, so that we might know the things which have been freely given to us by God.


text:
We talk about these things also, not in the words which human wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, combining spiritual ideas with spiritual words.


text:
But the natural man doesn't accept the things of the Spirit of God, because they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually examined.


text:
On the other hand the one who is spiritual, examines everything, yet he himself is examined by no one.


text:
I have fed you with milk, not solid food, for up to this point you were not able to bear it, nor are you able yet.


text:
For you are still carnal, since there is envying, strife, and divisions among you. Aren't you carnal and living by human standards?


text:
So who is Paul and who is Apollos but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to each.


text:
Now he who plants, and he who waters are one, and everyone will receive his own reward according to his own labor.


text:
According to the grace of God, which was given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation and another builds on it, but let every man beware how he builds on it.


text:
then every one's work will be clearly seen, for the day will expose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test every one's work what quality it is.


text:
If any man's work will be burned down, he will suffer loss, yet he will be saved but as if through fire.


text:
If any one defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him, because the temple of God is holy, which you are.


text:
Let no man deceive himself. If any one among you seems to be wise in this world's way, let him become a fool, so that he may be [truly] wise.


text:
For this world's wisdom is foolishness with God, as is it written, "He takes the wise in their own craftiness."


text:
Therefore let no man glory in men, for everything is yours, [22] whether Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, things to present, or things to come--all are yours.


text:
But with me it is a very little thing that I should be judged by you or with man's judgment; I don't even judge myself.


text:
For I'm not aware of anything against me, but that doesn't mean I am innocent; he who judges me is the Lord.


text:
Therefore don't make a final decision on anyone before the time, until the Lord comes, who will bring to light both the hidden things of darkness and make clear the motives of the hearts. Then everyone will have praise from God.


text:
These things, brethren, I have by way of illustration applied to Apollos and myself for your sakes, that you might learn from us not to have opinions greater than that which is written, so that no one of you be puffed up one against another.


text:
And who made you so superior and what do you have that you didn't receive [from God]? Now if you did receive it [from God], why do you brag about it as if you didn't receive it [from God]?


text:
Now you are full, now you are rich. You have reigned as kings without us, and oh, that you did reign, so that we could reign with you.


text:
For I think that God has placed us, apostles, lowest, as doomed for death, for we are made a spectacle to the world, angels, and men.


text:
We are fools for the cause of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honorable, but we are despised.


text:
Even at this present hour we both hunger and thirst, are dressed in rags, knocked around, and have no certain place to stay.


text:
We work hard, laboring with our own hands. When vilified, we bless. When persecuted, we put up with it.


text:
When publicly slandered, we gently reply. We are made out to be the filth of the world and the scum of everything up to this very day.


text:
For even though you have ten thousand teachers in Christ, yet you don't have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel.


text:
For this reason I sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved son, faithful in the Lord who will help you remember my ways which are in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every congregation.


text:
But I will come to you shortly--if the Lord will--and will check out not the speech of these puffed up people but the power.


text:
It is commonly reported that there is fornication among you and such fornication as is not even mentioned among the Gentiles that one should have his father's wife.


text:
And you are proud of this and should have mourned instead, so that he who has done this deed might be removed from you.


text:
For truly I--while absent in the body but present in spirit--have already judged, as if I were present, he who has done this thing.


text:
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together along with my spirit and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ


text:
to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.


text:
Your rejoicing [in this] is not good. Don't you know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?


text:
Therefore cleanse out this old leaven that you may be a fresh lump of dough since you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed for us.


text:
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven or with the leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.


text:
yet not in every way with the fornicators of this world, or with covetous, extortioners, or idolaters, for then you would need to go out of the world.


text:
But now I have written to you not to associate with any, if any man who is called a brother is a fornicator, covetous, idolater, abusive, drunkard, or extortioner. Do not even eat with such a one.


text:
Do any of you having something against another boldly go to the court facing the unjust and not before God's people?


text:
Don't you know that God's people will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?


text:
Then when you need judicial decisions regarding things pertaining to this life, do you set them before those who have no standing in the church?


text:
I say this to your shame. Is it so that there is not a wise man among you, not even one who will be able to judge between his brethren?


text:
Now isn't there already a failure among you, because you have lawsuits against one another? Why don't you take the wrong instead? Why don't you put up with being cheated?


text:
Don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, sodomites,


text:
And such were some of you, but now you are washed, but now you are purified, but now you are declared righteous in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.


text:
All things may be lawful for me, but all things are not helpful; all things may be lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the control of any.


text:
Foods are for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication but for the Lord and the Lord for the body.


text:
Don't you know that your bodies are members of Christ? Will I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Absolutely not!


text:
What, don't you know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body? ..."for two," he says, "will be one flesh."


text:
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits fornication sins against his own body.


text:
What, don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, which you have from God, and you are not your own?


text:
For you are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in you body and in your spirit, which are God's.


text:
Nevertheless because of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.


text:
The wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but the husband does, and likewise the husband also doesn't have authority over his own body, but the wife does.


text:
Don't deprive one another except with mutual consent for a short time, so that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and come together again so that Satan doesn't tempt you for your lack of self-control.


text:
For I wish that all men were even as I am myself, but every man has his 1Co 7:proper gift from God, one in this way and another in that way.


text:
But if they cannot hold their desires in check, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn.


text:
But if she does leave, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And don't let the husband leave his wife.


text:
Now concerning the rest I speak, not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is pleased to live with him, let him not send her away.


text:
And if a woman has an unbelieving husband, and if he is pleased to live with her, she should not leave him.


text:
For the unbelieving husband is considered holy because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife is considered holy because of the husband, otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are considered holy.


text:
But if the unbelieving one departs, let him depart. A brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases, moreover God has called us to peace.


text:
For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband, or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?


text:
Is any man called already circumcised? He shouldn't become uncircumcised. Is any called while uncircumcised? He shouldn't become circumcised.


text:
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. The keeping of God's commands [are everything].


text:
For he who is called in the Lord, while a servant, is the Lord's freeman, in the same way he, who is called, while free, is Christ's servant.


text:
Now concerning virgins, I have no command from the Lord; yet I give my opinion as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful.


text:
But and if you marry, you have not sinned, and if a virgin woman marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have distress in the flesh, and I want to spare you.


text:
But I say this brethren, the time is short so from now on those that have wives be though they had none,


text:
and those that weep as though they didn't weep, those rejoice as though they didn't rejoice, and those who that buy as though they didn't possess nothing, 1Co 7:31 and those that make use of this world as not misusing it, for the present form of this world passes away.


text:
I want you to be without worry. He who is unmarried worries about the Lord's things, how he can please the Lord,


text:
There is difference also concerning a wife and unmarried virgin. The unmarried woman worries about the Lord's things, so that she can be holy both in body and in spirit, but she that is married worries about the things the world, how she can please her husband.


text:
Now I say this for your own profit, not so that I can put a noose on you, instead [it is] for that which is appropriate for the circumstances and so that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.


text:
But if any man thinks that he might misbehave towards his virgin, if she might pass her prime, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin. Let them marry.


text:
Nevertheless he who continues resolved in his heart, having no need, having control over his will, and having firmly decided in his heart that he will keep his virgin [as she is] does well.


text:
So then he who gives [her] in marriage does well, but he who doesn't give [her] in marriage does better.


text:
The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives, but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wants but only in the Lord.


text:
But she is happier if she remains [unmarried], in my opinion, and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.


text:
Now concerning things offered to idols. We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes one proud, but love builds up.


text:
Therefore concerning the eating of those things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in this world and that there is no other God but one.


text:
For though there are so called gods, whether in heaven or in earth (as there are many gods and lords),


text:
but to us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we in him and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom is everything and we by him.


text:
Nevertheless that knowledge is not in everyone, and some with consciousness of the idol, to this hour eat it as a thing offered to an idol, and their weak conscience being weak is defiled.


text:
But food does not make us more acceptable to God; we are not better off if we eat, nor are we worse off if we don't eat.


text:
For if anyone sees you, who has this knowledge, sitting to eat in the idol's temple, won't the one who has the sensitive conscience have his courage built up to eat those things which are offered to idols?


text:
But when you sin this way against the brethren and wound their sensitive conscience, you sin against Christ.


text:
Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh while the world stands, for fear that I will cause my brother to stumble.


text:
I'm an apostle aren't I? Am I not free? Haven't I seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Aren't you my work in the Lord?


text:
If I am not an apostle to others, yet surely I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship by the Lord.


text:
Don't we have the right to lead around a sister, a wife, even as the other apostles and the brethren of the Lord and like Cephas?


text:
Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and doesn't eat of its fruit? Or who feeds the flock and doesn't drink of the flock's milk?


text:
For it is written in the Law of Moses: "You shall not muzzle the ox's mouth that treads out the grain." Doesn't God have concern for oxen?


text:
Or is He saying this for our sake? For our sake, no doubt, it is written: "He who plows should plow in hope," and "He who threshes in hope should be a partaker of his own hope."


text:
If we have sown in you spiritual things, is it any great thing if we reap from you nonspiritual things?


text:
If others partake of this right over you, shouldn't we have a greater right? Nevertheless, we haven't used this right, but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.


text:
Don't you know that those who work around the holy things live [from the things] from the temple? And that those who serve at the altar, jointly share from the altar?


text:
Even so the Lord has made arrangements that those who preach the gospel should make their living from the gospel.


text:
But I haven't used any of these things, neither have I written these things that it should be done this way for me. For it would be better for me to die than for any one to void my rejoicing.


text:
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to brag about, for I am compelled, yes woe is me if I don't preach the gospel.


text:
For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if against my will, this responsibility is committed to me.


text:
What is my reward then? [It is] that when I preach the gospel I can lay out the gospel of Christ without charge, so that I don't misuse my rights in the gospel.


text:
For even though I am free from all, yet I have made myself a servant to all, so that I may win all the more.


text:
To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win the Jews; to those who under the Law, as under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law.


text:
To those who are without the Law, as one without the Law--not actually without God's law, but under the Christ's law--so that I might win those who don't have the Law.


text:
To the weak I become as if I was weak, that I might win the weak. I become all things to all, so that I might by any means save some.


text:
Don't you know that those who run in a race all run but only one receives the prize? So run, that you may get it.


text:
Every man contending for the victory is temperate in everything. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown but we an incorruptible.


text:
But I discipline my body and bring it under subjection, lest in any way after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.


text:
Moreover, brethren, I don't want you to be ignorant how that all of our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea.


text:
All drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from that spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ.


text:
Now these became our examples, for the purpose that we should not lust after evil things, as they lusted.


text:
Neither be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to play sinfully.


text:
Neither let us see how far we can push Christ as some of them also did and were destroyed by snakes.


text:
Now all these things happened to them for an example, and they are written for a warning to us to whom the ends of the age have come.


text:
No temptation has taken you but what is common to man, but God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, and with the temptation he will also make a way to escape, so that you can endure it.


text:
The cup of blessing which we bless, isn't it fellowship in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn't it fellowship in the body of Christ?


text:
Look at Israel--after the flesh--aren't those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar [sacrifices]?


text:
Just the opposite, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, not to God. And I don't want you to have fellowship with devils.


text:
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils; you cannot be sharers in the Lord's Table and the table of devils.


text:
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are beneficial; all things are lawful for me, but all things do not build up.


text:
If any of those who do not believe invite you [to a feast], and you want to go, eat whatever is set before you. Eat without asking questions for sake of conscience.


text:
But if any one says to you, "This has been offered to idols." Don't eat for the sake of him who told you and for conscience sake, for the earth is the Lord's and the abundance of it.


text:
I say conscience, not of your own but of the other, for why is my freedom judged by another's conscience.


text:
Even as I try to please all in every way not seeking my own selfish good but for the good of many that they may be saved.


text:
Now I praise you, brethren that you remember me in all things and keep the teachings as I handed them down to you.


text:
I want you to know that Christ is the head of all men, and man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ.


text:
But all women who pray or prophesy with her head unveiled dishonor her head [authority], for it would be the same as if she were shaved.


text:
For if the woman is not veiled, let her be shorn also, but if it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be veiled.


text:
For indeed a man ought not to veil his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man.


text:
For as the woman was [formed] from the man, even so the man is also by the woman, but all things are from God.


text:
Now in this what I'm going to tell you, I don't praise you, for you don't come together for the best but for the worst.


text:
For first of all when you come together in the congregation, I hear that there are divisions among you, and I partly believe it.


text:
For there must be also heresies among you, so that they who are genuine may be clearly seen among you.


text:
For in eating every one takes his own supper before [the others], so one is hungry and another is drunk.


text:
What, don't you have houses to eat and drink in, or do you despise the congregation of God and embarrass those who don't have [anything]? What will I say to you? Will I praise you for this? I do not praise you.


text:
For I have received from the Lord that which I also passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus on the very same night while he was being betrayed took bread, 1Co 11:24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "Take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me."


text:
In the same way he also [took] the cup after supper saying, "This cup is the new testament in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me."


text:
Therefore whosoever will eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.


text:
For he who eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks condemnation on himself, not differentiating the Lord's body.


text:
But when we are judged, we are being chastened by the Lord, so that we won't be condemned with the world.


text:
And if any one is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you don't come together into condemnation. The rest I will set in order when I come.


text:
You fully know that you were Gentiles, carried away with these voiceless idols, even as you were lead.


text:
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus cursed, and no one can say that Jesus is the Lord except by the Holy Spirit.


text:
For the word of wisdom is given by the Spirit to one; to another the word of knowledge by that same Spirit.


text:
to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another variety of languages; to another the interpretation of languages.


text:
For as the body is one and has many members and all the members of that one body, even though many, are one body, even so is Christ.


text:
For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slave or free, and we all have drank from one Spirit.


text:
If the foot should say, "Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body"; is it therefore not of the body?


text:
And if the ear should say, "Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body"; is it therefore not of the body?


text:
If the whole body were an eye, where's the ear. If the whole were hearing, where's the sense of smelling.


text:
But the eye can't say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor furthermore the head to the feet, I have no need of you.


text:
and those parts of the body, which we think, are less honorable we bestow special value on them, so our less beautiful parts end up having greater beauty,


text:
for our beautiful parts have no need and so God has put together our body having given greater honor to that part, which didn't have it,


text:
so that there would be no discord in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other.


text:
If one part suffers, all parts suffer with it, or if one part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it.


text:
And so God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teaches, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, moderators, [and] different languages.


text:
Do all have the gifts of healing? Not all speak [other] languages, do they? Not all interpret, do they?


text:
Though I speak in the languages of men and angels, yet don't have love, I am become like resonating gong or clashing cymbal.


text:
And though I can predict the future and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains but don't have love, I am nothing.


text:
And though I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and though I give up my body to be burned, and don't have love, it doesn't profit me any.


text:
doesn't behave improperly, doesn't insist on her own way; love isn't easily aggravated, doesn't consider the evil,


text:
Love never ends, but whether prophecies, they will cease; whether languages, they will come to an end; whether knowledge, it will vanish.


text:
When I was a child, I talked like a child; I understood like a child; I thought like a child, but when I became a man, I put away these childish ways.


text:
For now we see in a mirror a blurred image but then face-to-face; now I know in part but then I will know even as I am known also.


text:
For he who speaks in an unknown language is not speaking to men but to God, for no one understands him, because he speaks by the Spirit things not known before.


text:
He who speaks in an unknown language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the congregation.


text:
Would that you all spoke in tongues but better yet that you prophesied, for greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks with tongues unless he interprets so that the congregation would receive edifying.


text:
Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in an unknown language, how can I help you unless I will speak to you some revelation, knowledge, prophesy, or doctrine.


text:
And even lifeless things produce sound whether flute or harp, but unless they give different tones, how will it be recognized what is played by flute or harp?


text:
So in the same way, unless you talk through language easily understood words, how will anyone understand what is spoken? You might as well speak into the air.


text:
Therefore if I don't know what the sound means, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.


text:
And so you (since you are so desirous for spiritual gifts) seek, so that you may use it to the fullest for edifying the congregation.


text:
So what is best? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding, too. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding, too.


text:
So when you give the blessing with your spirit, how will he who is in the position of being unlearned say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn't understand what you are saying?


text:
Yet in the congregation I would rather speak five words with my understanding that I can teach others, too, than ten thousand words in an unknown language.


text:
Brothers, don't be childish in understanding. Concerning evil be children; concerning understanding be adults.


text:
It is written in the law, "With [people] of other languages and lips of strangers will I speak to this people, and yet for all that they will not listen to me, says the Lord."


text:
So then unknown languages are a sign to those who don't believe, not to those who believe, but prophesying is for those who believe, not for those who don't believe.


text:
Therefore if the whole congregation is gathered in one place and all speak in unknown languages, and some come in who are unlearned or unbelievers won't they say you are insane?


text:
But if all prophesy and one who doesn't believe comes in or one unlearned, he is convicted by all and is judged by all.


text:
And so in this way the secrets of his heart are revealed, and as a result kneeling face down he will worship God and tell others that God is truly among you.


text:
So how is it, brethren, when you come together everyone has a psalm, teaching, unknown language, or interpretation [of it]. Let everything be for edifying.


text:
If any one speaks in an unknown language, let it be by two or at the most three and then in order, also someone must interpret.


text:
But if there is no interpreter, then he must be quiet in the meeting; let him speak to himself and God.


text:
The spirits of the prophets are under the control of the prophets, [33] for God is not the [instigator] of confusion but of peace, as in all congregations of God's people.


text:
Let your women remain silent in the congregations, for it is not allowed for them to speak but to be submissive as even The Law states.


text:
If they want to learn any thing let them ask their husbands at home, for it is shameful for women to speak in the congregation.


text:
If any man thinks of himself as a prophet or spiritual man, then let him acknowledge that what I write you are the Lord's commandments.


text:
Moreover, brothers, I made the gospel known to you which I preached to you, which you also received and in which you stand,


text:
by which you are saved also, if you firmly hold on to what I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.


text:
For the first thing I passed on to you was what I also received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures,


text:
After that, he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at one time, of whom the greater part remain to this present hour, but some have fallen asleep,


text:
For I am the least of the apostles and am not good enough to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.


text:
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace, which [was given], to me was not in vain. I have labored more abundantly than all of them, yet not I but [it was] the grace of God, which was with me.


text:
Now if Christ is preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection from the dead?


text:
Yes and we are found [to be] false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that he raised Christ whom he didn't raise, if it is so that the dead don't rise.


text:
But every one in their order, Christ the first fruit, afterwards those who are Christ's at his coming.


text:
Then the end comes when he will have delivered the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have suppressed all rule, authority, and power.


text:
for he has put all things under his feet. But when he says everything is put under his feet, it is clear that he is excepted which did put everything under him.


text:
And when everything will be under his authority, then the Son will be also under the authority of him who put everything under him, so that God may be completely over all.


text:
Else what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why are they baptized for the dead then?


text:
If, after the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is for me if the dead do not rise? Let's just eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.


text:
Awake to righteousness and don't sin. Some do not have the knowledge of God; I speak this to your shame.


text:
And what you sow, you don't sow that body that it will be but a bare kernel perchance wheat or some other.


text:
All flesh is not the same, for one is the human flesh, another animal flesh, another of fishes, and another of birds.


text:
Furthermore [there are] heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one kind and the earthly is another.


text:
The sun has one glory, the moon another, the stars another, even one star differs from another in glory.


text:
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.


text:
And so it is written, "The first man, Adam, was made a living soul, the last Adam as a life-giving spirit."


text:
Nevertheless that, which was first, was not spiritual but the natural, afterward that, which is spiritual.


text:
As is the earthy, of this are those who are earthy, and as is the heavenly, of this are those who are heavenly.


text:
Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit incorruption.


text:
In an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.


text:
For this [which is] corruptible must put on incorruption and this what will die will put on immortality.


text:
So when this [which is] corruptible will have put on incorruption, and what will die will have put on immortality, then the saying will be brought to pass which is written, "Death is destroyed in victory."


text:
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch, as you know that your labor in the Lord is not futile.


text:
Now concerning the collection for God's people, as I have given orders to the congregations in Galatia, even so you do.


text:
On the first of the week let every one of you lay aside some funds as [God] has prospered him, so that there is no collections when I come.


text:
And when I come whomever you approve by your letters, I will send to bring your freely offered gift to Jerusalem.


text:
And it may be that I will stay, yes, even winter with you, so that you may further me on my journey wherever I will be going.


text:
Now if Timothy comes, see to it that he may be with you without fear, for he is engaged in the Lord's work just as I am.


text:
Therefore let no one despise him, but send him on with peace, so that he may come to me, for I look for him along with the brethren.


text:
Concerning our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come to you along with the brethren, but it was not his will to come at this time, but he will come when he has the opportunity.


text:
I plead with you, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas is the first fruits of Achaia, and they are completely devoted to the ministry to God's people.


text:
I am glad for the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part, they have supplied.


text:
The congregations of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla warmly greet you and also the congregation that is in their house.


text:
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy, our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth together with God's people who are in Achaia.


text:
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,


text:
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble by the comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God.


text:
Just as the sufferings of Christ are plentiful in us, so our comfort also is plentiful through Christ.


text:
If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer, or if we are comforted, it is also for your comfort and salvation.


text:
Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that just as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will be of the comforting.


text:
Brethren, we don't want you to be ignorant of our trouble that happened to us in Asia, for we were under pressure beyond endurance, so much so that we even thought we might die.


text:
We had the death sentence on us, so that we shouldn't trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,


text:
who delivered us from such a great death and still delivers; in whom we trust will continue to deliver [us].


text:
Also you are helping us by praying for us, so that the gift for us from many people [will cause] many people to give thanks on our behalf.


text:
For our rejoicing is this (the witness of our conscience), because with openness and godly sincerity, not human wisdom, but by the grace of God, we've lived in this world and especially towards you.


text:
We are not writing anything else to you than what you read and understand, and I trust you will understand even to the end,


text:
just as you have partly understood us, because we are your reason to rejoice even as you are ours on the Day of the Lord Jesus.


text:
I am so confident about this that I made plans to come to you previously, so that you might have another blessing,


text:
and to visit you on my way to Macedonia, then to return from Macedonia to you, and from you to be assisted on my journey towards Judea.


text:
Therefore when I had made up my mind, was I fickle, or in the things did I plan with selfish motives, or that yes may be yes and no may be no?


text:
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached to you by us--Silas, Timothy, and me--was not "yes" and "no" but in him was "yes."


text:
We are not trying to lord it over your faith, but we are co-workers for your joy, for by faith you stand.


text:
 for if I make you sad, who is the one who will make me happy, but those very ones who were made sad by me?


text:
So I wrote the same to you, fearing that when I came, I would be sad because of those whom I should have been rejoicing in, for I had confidence in you all that my joy is your joy.


text:
For out of a great burden and anguish of heart, I wrote to you with many tears, not that you would be made very sad, but that you might know the great love which I have for you.


text:
But if anyone has caused somebody to be very sad, he hasn't made me sad, only this, so that I may not be overly severe with you all.


text:
so that now you should forgive and comfort instead, lest this one would be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.


text:
Anyone whom you forgive, I forgive also, for if I forgive anything--to the one whom I forgave--it has been for your sake in the presence of Christ,


text:
I had no rest in my spirit, because I didn't find Titus, my brother, so saying goodbye to them, I went to Macedonia.


text:
[I give] thanks to God who always causes us to give the victor's shout in Christ and makes clear the fragrance of his knowledge through us everywhere.


text:
To the one [we are] the fragrance of death to death and to the other the fragrance of life to life. Who is competent for such things?


text:
We are not like many who corrupt the Word of God but of purity as from God; in God's sight we speak about Christ.


text:
Are we starting to speak well of ourselves, or do we need, as some others do, letters of recommendation to you or from you?


text:
[You are] clearly seen to be the letter by Christ delivered by us, not written with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, the heart.


text:
who has also enabled us to be servants of the New Covenant, not of the letter but of the spirit, for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.


text:
So if what ministers death--written and engraved on stones--was so glorious that the children of Israel could not look for long at Moses' face, because of the glory of his face (a glory which was going to leave),


text:
For if the ministry of condemnation is glorious, so much more the ministry of righteousness surpasses it in glory.


text:
For even that which was made glorious really had no glory in this respect because of the glory that surpasses it.


text:
Not like Moses who put a veil over his face, so the children of Israel wouldn't stare at that which was going to end.


text:
Their minds were blinded, for even to this day that same veil remains in place in the reading of the Old Testament. This veil is done away by Christ.


text:
All of us, with an open face seeing the Lord's glory as in a mirror are changed into the same likeness from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord.


text:
but have thrown off the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in deceptive practices, nor corrupting the Word of God deceitfully, but by showing the truth plainly, showing ourselves [to be alongside the truth] to every one's conscience in the sight of God.


text:
in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who don't believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ--who is the image of God--should shine on them.


text:
We don't preach ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves [are] your servants for Jesus' sake.


text:
 For God, who commanded light to shine out of darkness, has shinned in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of God's glory on the face of Jesus Christ.


text:
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the superiority of this power may be of God not from us.


text:
We are always carrying around the death of the Lord Jesus in the body, in order that the life of Jesus might also be easily seen in our body.


text:
For we, who live, are always being handed over to death for Jesus' sake in order that the life of Jesus might be clearly seen in our mortal flesh.


text:
Having the same spirit of faith just as it is written, "I believed and so I have spoken;" we also believe and so speak,


text:
knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up by Jesus and will present us along with you.


text:
For everything is for your sake, in order that abundant grace might greatly increase through thanksgiving to the glory of God.


text:
For this is the reason we don't give up even though our outward man perishes yet the inward is renewed day after day.


text:
Our light weight troubles, which are short lived, accomplish for us exceedingly greater and eternal weight of glory.


text:
For we aren't looking at the things which are seen but the things not seen, for what is seen is temporary but the things not seen are eternal.


text:
For we know that if our earthly house, our tent, is destroyed, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.


text:
For we who are still in this tent, groan, being burdened, not because we prefer to be unclothed but rather clothed, so that what's dying may be swallowed up by life.


text:
Now he who has worked on us for that very thing is God, who has also given to us the surety of the Spirit.


text:
Therefore we can always be confident that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord


text:
For all of us must appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, in order that every one may get the things [they've done] through their body according to what they did whether good or bad.


text:
Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are transparent to God, and I trust are also transparent to your conscientiousness.


text:
We don't promote ourselves again to you but give you a opportunity to be proud of us so that you may have something to respond to those who place importance on appearance instead of the heart.


text:
For Christ's love compels us, because we have concluded that if one died for all then all have died.


text:
And he died for all, so that those who live wouldn't live for themselves but for him who died for them and rose again.


text:
So then now we acknowledge no man according to the flesh. Yes, even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we don't know [Him this way] any more.


text:
Therefore in anyone is in Christ, [he is] a new creation; the old things are gone, [and] look, the new things have come.


text:
All this is from God, who has reconciled us, through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.


text:
That is because God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning their sins to them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.


text:
So then we are ambassadors for Christ, in this sense God making an appeal through us; we beg of you on the behalf of Christ, "Be reconciled to God."


text:
For he has made him, who knew no sin, "sin" for us, so that we might become God's righteousness in Him.


text:
For he says, "I heard you in an acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I helped you." Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation.


text:
Instead, in everything showing ourselves as God's ministers--in much patience, afflictions, necessities, distresses


text:
as being depressed, yet always rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich, as having nothing, and yet having it all.


text:
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what friendly association does righteousness have with unrighteousness, and what fellowship is there between light and darkness.


text:
What harmony does Christ have with Satan, or what is there in common between a believer and unbeliever?


text:
What does the Temple of God have in agreement with idols? For you are the Temple of the Living God, just as God has said, "I will live in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.


text:
"So then come out from among them; be separate," says the Lord, "and do not touch [what is] unclean, and I will accept you,


text:
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.


text:
I'm not saying this to condemn you, for I have said this before, that you are in our hearts to die and live with you.


text:
[I've spoken] frankly about you, boasting about you. I am filled with comfort; I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.


text:
For when we had come to Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, and we were troubled on every side: outwardly confrontations, inwards fears.


text:
Not only by his coming but by the comfort he had from you when he told us your earnest desire, your sorrow, your fervent mind toward me, so that I really rejoiced.


text:
For even though I made you sad with the letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret, for I perceive that the same letter has made you sad--though only for a short time.


text:
Now I rejoice, not that I made you sad, but that you were sad which lead to your repentance, for you were sad in a godly way, so that you might receive no loss from us in anything.


text:
For godly sadness leads to repentance to a deliverance not to be regretted, but the sadness of the world leads to death.


text:
For, look, concerning this very thing, you were sad in the godly sense [and] what earnestness it worked in you, indeed, it caused you to clear yourselves, indeed, what disgust, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what handing out of justice. In all this you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.


text:
Therefore, even though I wrote to you, not on account of the wrongdoer, nor on account of wronged, but instead that our care for you in God's sight might be obvious to you.


text:
So then we were comforted at your comfort, yes and we rejoiced exceedingly at Titus' joy, because his spirit was refreshed by all of you.


text:
For if I have bragged about anything to him, I am not ashamed, but like we talked to you about everything in truth, even so our bragging which I did to Titus is also true.


text:
His deep care for you is very great as he reflects on your obedience; how with great respect and trembling did you welcome him.


text:
[Despite having] a great test of affliction, the great amount of joy and their deep poverty abounded into the riches of their generosity,


text:
for according to their ability, I bear witness, yes even beyond their ability, they were freely voluntary


text:
pleading us with great urgency that we would take the gift and fellowship of sharing with God's people.


text:
[They did this] not just we hoped for but first gave themselves to the Lord then to us through God's will.


text:
So since you abound in all faith, speech, knowledge, diligence, and love for us, [see to it] that you abound in this grace, too.


text:
I'm not giving an order, but because of the eagerness of others and to prove the sincerity of your love.


text:
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for you he--being rich--became poor, in order that you through his poverty might become rich.


text:
So this is the advice I give because it is best for you who have started already a year ago, not only to do this but to also want to do it.


text:
Therefore now get going and do it, so that just as there was a willingness to do it, now there can be a doing of it out of what you have.


text:
For if at first there is a willingness, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not to what he doesn't have.


text:
in order that your abundance may meet their need and their abundance may meet your need, so there will be fairness.


text:
Just as it is written, "He who had gathered much had nothing left over, and he who had gathered little had no lack."


text:
for truly he accepted our urgent appeal, but being even more earnest, he came to you of his own free will.


text:
We have sent with him, the brother whose admiration in the Gospel [is known] throughout the churches.


text:
Not only that but he was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord himself and your eagerness,


text:
With them we are sending our brother, whom we have tested many times in many things and even now being very earnest because of his great confidence he has in you.


text:
As for Titus, [he is] my partner and fellow helper whether towards you or our brethren, the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.


text:
I know the eagerness of your mind, about which I brag about you to those of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago, and your zeal has motivated many.


text:
Yet I have sent the brethren, fearing our boasting about you should be a waste of time in this sense, that, as I have said, that you are ready.


text:
Otherwise if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we along with you would be ashamed at this same confident boasting.


text:
Therefore I thought it necessary to encourage the brothers that they would go on ahead of you and prepare in advance your gift you promised, so that it might be ready as a gift not as greed.


text:
But I [do say] this, "He who sows sparingly will harvest sparingly also," and "he who sows bountifully will harvest bountifully also."


text:
Every one [needs to give] according as he decides in his heart, not grudgingly or because he has to, because God loves a cheerful giver.


text:
God is also able to make every grace overflow to you, in order that you, always having everything sufficiently, may abound to every good work.


text:
Now may He who supplies seed to the sower both give bread for [your] food and multiply your sown seed and increase the fruits of your righteousness


text:
 being enriched in every thing for every generosity, in that it brings about through us thanksgiving to God.


text:
For the ministry of this service not only meets the need of God's people but also is abundant for many thanksgivings to God.


text:
Through the approval of this ministry, they glorify God for your openly declared submission to Christ's gospel and for your generous sharing with them and to all.


text:
Now I, Paul myself, who am insignificant in person, but when absent am assertive towards you, plead with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.


text:
I plead with you, so that when I am present, I won't have to be bold by the kind of confidence by which I plan to use against those who think we are walking according to the flesh.


text:
For the weapons we use for war are not of the flesh but mighty through to even pulling down strong holds.


text:
We destroy arguments and every high, self-exalted opinion against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.


text:
Are you looking at the outward appearance? If any one is confident that he is Christ's, then let him remind himself that as he is Christ's so are we.


text:
For even if I brag a little too much about our authority, which the Lord has given to us for edification and not for your destruction, I am not ashamed,


text:
"For his letters," he says, "are impressive and forceful, but his physical presence is weak and speech despicable."


text:
Let this person think about this: that as we are in the words of our letter when we are absent, so we will be in what we do when we are present.


text:
We don't dare judge ourselves to be that way or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves, but they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves to themselves. They are not wise.


text:
We will not brag beyond limits but according to the measure of the rule that God has distributed to us--a measure that reaches even you,


text:
for we are not overextending ourselves as if we didn't reach you, for we did come all the way to you also in [preaching] the Gospel of Christ.


text:
We are not bragging excessively about other men's hard work but having--as your faith increases--hope to greatly increase our sphere of influence among you,


text:
to preach the Gospel in areas beyond you, but not to brag about another man's already accomplished work.


text:
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy, for I have betrothed you to one husband, so that I can present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.


text:
I fear lest in some way, like the serpent deceived Eve, through his trickery, so your minds might be corrupted away from the single-heartedness to Christ.


text:
For if another comes preaching another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or different gospel which you have not accepted, you might well enough put up with him.


text:
For though I may be unrefined in speaking, but I am not in knowledge. We have made this very clear to you in everything.


text:
Have I committed some offense by abasing myself, so you could be exalted, just because I have preached the Gospel of God freely to you?


text:
When I was with you and in need, I was not burdensome to any one, for what was lacking, the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied. In every thing I have kept my self from being a burden to you, and so I will continue to keep myself.


text:
But what I do, that I will do, so that I may cut off any opportunity from those who are looking for an opportunity, so that they can go on bragging, so they could be thought of as we are.


text:
Therefore it is not surprising if his servants are disguised as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.


text:
Let me repeat Let no one take me as a fool; and if otherwise, still receive me as a fool, so that I can boast a little.


text:
What I'm talking about now, I'm not talking by the Lord; instead as if foolishly, in this confident boasting.


text:
For you put up with a man if he enslaves you, eats you alive, takes from you, exalts himself, or slugs you on the face.


text:
I am ashamed to admit that we were too weak, but in what someone is bold (I am speaking foolishly), I am bold, too.


text:
Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like a fool); I am even more in hard work--greater; receiving stripes [from whippings]--excessively; in imprisonments--more frequently; even more frequently near death.


text:
Three times I was beaten with clubs; once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck; I spent a day and night in the deep.


text:
[Also I have had] more frequents trips, dangers in water, from robbers, from my own countrymen, from the heathen, in the city, in the wilderness, in the sea, and from fake brethren.


text:
in physical fatigue, in pain, deprived of sleep, hungry, thirsty, frequent fasting, cold and lacking clothes.


text:
Does someone feel weak, and I don't feel weak [with them]? Does someone cause another to stumble, and I don't burn [with anger].


text:
In Damascus, the governor under Aretas, the king, was keeping a constant watch around the city of Damascus so he could seize me.


text:
There is no advantage for me to now brag, so I will move on to visions and revelations from the Lord.


text:
I know a man in Christ 14 years ago (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or out of the body, I cannot tell. God knows). This one was taken up to the third heaven.


text:
How that he was taken into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which are not lawful for a man to talk about.


text:
For even if I would like to brag, I'm not going to be a fool, but I will speak the truth, but now I will not, fearing somebody would think more of me then what he sees me to be or what he hears about me.


text:
So that I wouldn't be lifted up by pride--because of the many revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to repeatedly punch me, lest I would be arrogant.


text:
He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made complete in weakness." Therefore I would rather gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ might rest on me.


text:
Therefore I find pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in distress, in persecutions, in calamities because of Christ, for when I am weak, then am I strong.


text:
I have become a fool in boasting; you have forced me, when I should have been commended by you, for I am not one speck less then those super apostles, though I am a nobody.


text:
Truly the signs of an apostle were fully done among you in full patience, in signs, wonders, and mighty works.


text:
How is it that you were inferior to other congregations, except in that I, myself, was not a burden to you; would you forgive me for that?


text:
Look, I am ready to come to you this third time, and I will not be a burden to you, for I am not seeking your [stuff] but you. For the children shouldn't have to provide for the parents but parents for the children.


text:
I will very gladly wear myself out for you and be exhausted for you even though the more I love you, the less you love me.


text:
But so be it. I did not make myself a burden to you, nevertheless being crafty, "I caught you with deception."


text:
I requested Titus, and I sent a brother with him. Did Titus make a profit off you? Didn't we walk in the same spirit? Didn't we follow the same steps.


text:
So again, do you think that we making excuses to you? We are speaking in God's sight, in Christ, and dearly beloved we do everything for your edification.


text:
For I am afraid that when I come, I will not find you as I would want, and that I will be found by you as you wouldn't want with debates, envyings, strong anger, fighting, mouthing off, talking behind somebody's back, bragging, [and] chaos.


text:
And fearing when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I will grieve over many who have already sinned and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and uncontrollable lust which they have done.


text:
This is the third time that I am coming to you. Any dispute must be verbally established by two or three witnesses.


text:
I have told you before and warn you beforehand, as if I were there already the second time. Now even though I am absent I write to those who have sinned and to the others, that if I come again, I will not spare.


text:
Since you are looking for proof of Christ speaking in me, (He is not weak with you but powerful among you


text:
for even though it was in weakness that he was crucified, yet he lives by God's power. For we also are weak with him, but we will live with him by God's power toward you.)


text:
examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith; test yourselves. Don't you, yourselves, know that Jesus Christ is in you--unless you are castaways?


text:
Now I pray to God that you won't do any evil, not in order that we may appear to be approved but that you should do what is right though we might seem as castaways.


text:
Therefore since I am absent, I write these things, lest when present I might be too sharp, according to the authority which the Lord has given to me for edification but not for destruction.


text:
Finally brethren, good bye. Be restored, be comforted, be unified, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.


text:
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.


text:
Paul, an apostle, ([an office not given to me] by men or a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead),


text:
May grace and peace be yours from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, Gal 1:4 who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world according to the will of God and our Father,


text:
I'm amazed that you have switched over so soon from him who called you into the grace of Christ to another gospel,


text:
which is not another [Gospel], unless there be some who would trouble you and pervert the gospel of Christ.


text:
But even if we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you other than what we preach, let him be guaranteed for God's curse.


text:
As we said before, I now say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than the one you have received, let that person be guaranteed for God's curse.


text:
For am I now trying to please men or God? Does this sound like I'm trying to get human approval? For if I'm trying to get human approval, I wouldn't be the slave of Christ.


text:
I want it made known to you, brethren that the gospel, which was preached by me, is not of human origin.


text:
Because I did not receive it from man, nor was taught it, but I [received it] by revelation from Jesus Christ.


text:
For you have heard of my earlier way of life in Judaism, how violently I persecuted God's church and tried to liquidate it,


text:
and outdistanced many of my peers in the Jew's religion as I was much more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.


text:
to reveal his son to me, so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, immediately, I did not ask advice of any human,


text:
neither did I go to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus.


text:
They only had heard that he who used to persecute us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.


text:
I went up according to revelation and fully explained the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles, but [it was] in private to those who were regarded as leaders, lest somehow I exhausted myself for nothing.


text:
And on account of this, false brethren secretly came in, who secretly came in to spy on our freedom, which we have in Christ Jesus, so they might bring us into slavery.


text:
We did not yield by submitting to them, no not for an instant, so that the truth of the gospel might stay [with you] permanently.


text:
But those who seemed to be someone [important]--whatever they were, it makes no difference to me, God does not regard anybody's person--those added nothing to my [message].


text:
On the contrary, they saw that the gospel to the uncircumcision was committed to me as [the gospel] to the circumcision was committed to Peter.


text:
For he who worked the apostleship mightily through Peter to the circumcision was the same who worked mightily through me to the Gentiles.


text:
Also when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, recognized the grace that was given to me. They gave Barnabas and me the right hands of fellowship, so that we [should go] to the Gentiles and they to the circumcision.


text:
The only thing [they asked was] that we would remember the poor, which was the same thing I also was eager to do.


text:
Before some men came from James, he ate with the Gentiles, but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, being afraid of those who were of the circumcision.


text:
But when I became aware that they were not acting uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "If you, a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, why do you force the Gentiles to live like the Jews?


text:
know that person is not justified by the works of the law, [it is] only through faith in Jesus Christ. Even we have put our faith in Jesus Christ, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, not by the works of the law, because no flesh can be justified by the works of the law.


text:
 But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we are also found to be sinners, does that mean that Christ is the promoter of sin? Absolutely not!


text:
"I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Yet, it is not I but Christ living in me, and the life I now am living in the flesh, I live through the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.


text:
"I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes by The Law, then Christ died for no reason."


text:
O foolish Galatians, who has cast a spell on you that you wouldn't obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ's crucifixion was vividly described to you.


text:
I only want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit from the Law or from the message of faith?


text:
Therefore does he who is supplying the Spirit and working miracles in you [do it] by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith?


text:
The Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham: "In you all nations will be blessed."


text:
For as many as are by works of The Law are under a curse, for it is written, "Cursed is every one who doesn't continue to do everything that is written in the book of The Law."


text:
Now that no man is justified in God's sight by The Law is clearly evident, for, "The just shall live by faith."


text:
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of The Law, when he was made a curse for us, for it is written, "Cursed is every one who hangs on a tree,"


text:
so that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, [and] that we might receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.


text:
Brothers, humanly speaking even if it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no man can set it aside or add to it.


text:
Now the promises were made to Abraham and his seed. He didn't say "To seeds" meaning many, but only of one "To your seed" which is Christ.


text:
Now I say this that the covenant, which was confirmed by God in Christ, cannot be invalidated by The Law, which was four hundred and thirty years later; [The Law] cannot abolish the promise.


text:
For if the inheritance is by The Law, it is no longer by promise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise.


text:
So then what is the purpose of The Law? It was added, because of the transgressions until The Seed would come to whom the promise was made. It was officially established through angels by the hand of a mediator.


text:
Is the Law then against God's promises? Absolutely not! For if there could have been a law given which could have given life, then truly righteousness could have been by The Law.


text:
But the Scripture has enclosed all under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.


text:
But before faith came, we were kept under The Law, shut away from the faith, which would later be revealed.


text:
There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; there is neither male nor female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.


text:
Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a servant even though he is lord of all.


text:
Because you are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of His Son into your hearts calling, "Abba, Father."


text:
But now, after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how can you return to those weak and destitute principles to which you desire to be in bondage?


text:
And as for my adversity, which was in my flesh, you didn't despise or reject [me] but took me in as an angel of God, even as [you would] Christ Jesus.


text:
What great happiness you had then! For I testify that if possible you would have pulled your eyes out and given them to me.


text:
They can really stir your emotions, but not in a good sense. Yes, they would even exclude you, if it would make you zealous for them.


text:
But the one from the slave was born by natural means, but the one from the freeborn woman was born by a promise.


text:
These things are an allegory, for these are two legal agreements. One corresponds to Mount Sinai, which leads to slavery; this is Hagar.


text:
For Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the Jerusalem that is now, and who is in slavery with her children.


text:
For it is written, "Rejoice you barren who doesn't bear [children], release your emotions and shout, you who never felt childbirth, for the deserted woman has many more children than she who has a husband."


text:
Nevertheless, what does the Scripture say? "Throw out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not be heir with the son of the freeborn woman."


text:
Therefore stand firm in that freedom in which Christ has made us free and don't be entangled again with the yoke of slavery.


text:
Look, I Paul say to you that if you going to be circumcised, then Christ will not be of any profit to you.


text:
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision means anything or uncircumcision, only faith working through love.


text:
I have confidence in you through the Lord, that you will think no other way, but he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.


text:
And I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? For then the offense of the cross has ceased.


text:
For brothers you have been called into freedom, but freedom not for an opportunity for the flesh, instead serve one another through love.


text:
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another, so that you cannot do the things that you want to.


text:
Now the works of the flesh are obvious; they are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, unrestrained desires,


text:
idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, provoking jealousy, hot anger, pushing to be first, selfish scheming, dissensions, heresy,


text:
envyings, murders, drunkenness, wild partying, and so on, about which I have told you before, and as I have also told you in the past that those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.


text:
Brothers, if someone has been blind sided by a certain wrongdoing, then you who are spiritual restore this one with an attitude of meekness. Consider yourself, lest you also be tempted.


text:
Instead let everyone put his own work to the test, then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, not in someone else.


text:
For he who sows in his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but he who sows in the Spirit will reap everlasting life from the Spirit.


text:
Therefore when we have the opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those of the family of faith.


text:
As many as want to put on a pleasing appearance in the flesh, these insist that you be circumcised, only for fear of suffering persecution because of the cross of Christ.


text:
For they who are circumcised don't keep The Law, but they want you to be circumcised, so that they can glory in your flesh.


text:
But may it never happen to me that I would glory in anything except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me and I to the world.


text:
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by God's will to God's people at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.


text:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ,


text:
just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy and blameless before him in love,


text:
having decided beforehand about us for adoption through Jesus Christ to himself according to the kind pleasure of his will.


text:
in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace,


text:
He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he decided in himself,


text:
a plan for the "fullness of times" to gather all things in Christ, both the things in heaven and the things on earth in him.


text:
In him we were made a heritage, decided in advance, according to the plan of him who does everything according to the intent of his will,


text:
In whom you also trusted, after you had heard the Word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation. In whom after you believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,


text:
who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of [God's] purchased possession, to the praise of his glory.


text:
so that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him,


text:
that the eyes of your understanding would be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of his calling and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in God's people,


text:
and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us who believe according to the working of his mighty power,


text:
which he did through Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.


text:
[He is] far above all top authorities, strong authorities, powers, and lords, and [he is far above] every name that is mentioned, not only in this world but also in that which is to come.


text:
in which you lived in the past according this world's way, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.


text:
Among whom we also lived our life in the past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, by nature we were children of wrath even as others.


text:
even when we were dead because of sins, he has made us alive with Christ, for you are saved by grace.


text:
so that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.


text:
For you are saved by grace through faith, and that thing is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,


text:
For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has planned that we should live our lives doing them.


text:
Therefore remember that you in the past, Gentiles by nature, who are labeled uncircumcision by those who are called the Circumcision (by man's hands) by nature.


text:
For at that time you were without Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and without a share in the Covenants of Promise, having no hope and without God in the world,


text:
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, the Law of Commandments, containing rules, for this purpose to make by himself one from two, making peace, Eph 2:16 that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross, killing the enmity by it.


text:
Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with God's people and God's household.


text:
You are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the cornerstone,


text:
For surely you have heard of giving of managerial responsibility regarding God's grace, which is given to me for you.


text:
Which in other ages was not made know to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.


text:
That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.


text:
For which I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace given to me by the mighty working of his power.


text:
To me who am less than the least of all of God's people, is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.


text:
Also to give to all light what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hidden by God who created everything through Jesus Christ.


text:
For the purpose that now the top authorities and powers in heavenly places might learn through the congregation the manifold wisdom of God.


text:
That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthen with might by his Spirit in the inner man.


text:
And to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.


text:
Now to him who is able to do way above all that we do or think according to the power that works in us.


text:
Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord, plead with you that you live a life worthy of the calling by which you are called.


text:
until we all come into the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God into a full, complete man, into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,


text:
so that we would no more be children tossed back and forth and carried off by every wind of doctrine by the cunning deception and sneaky craftiness of men.


text:
Instead be speaking the truth in love. We must grow up into Him in everything who is the Head, that is, Christ.


text:
From whom the whole body is harmoniously joined together and united by every joint's contribution according to what is required for efficiency from each part; this causes growth of the body into building itself up in love.


text:
Therefore I speak this and bear witness in the Lord, that from now on you walk not like other Gentiles walk in the emptiness of their mind.


text:
Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.


text:
Who being callous gave themselves over to lustful pleasure to do every kind of impurity with insatiable desire.


text:
Put on the new man, which according to God's [likeness] is created in righteousness and true holiness.


text:
For this reason do away with lying; every one speaking truth to his neighbor, for we are members of one another.


text:
Let him who stole, steal no more, but let him work, laboring with his hands what is good, so that he may have something to give to him who is in need.


text:
Don't let any rotten language come out of your mouth, instead that which is good to use for building up, so that it may administer grace to the hearers.


text:
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, angry shouting, verbal abuse be put far away from you along with all spite.


text:
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.


text:
Walk in love like Christ also loved us and gave himself as an offering for us and a sacrifice to God to be a fragrant odor.


text:
Fornication, all impurity, and greed should ever be even once named among you since you are conspicuously God's people.


text:
Nor yet obscenity, silly talk, or ribald humor, which are not proper, instead having thankful speech, is far better.


text:
You know this: that no male prostitute, impure, or covetous (who is an idolater) person has any type of inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.


text:
Don't let anyone deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God's hot anger comes on the children of disobedience.


text:
Speaking among yourselves in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing and making music in your heart to the Lord,


text:
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the congregation; he is the savior of the body.


text:
Therefore since the congregation is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.


text:
That he might present it to himself a glorious congregation not having a spot or a wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without a blemish.


text:
For no man has ever hated his own flesh but takes care of it and cherishes it, as the Lord [does for] the congregation.


text:
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two of them will be one flesh.


text:
Nevertheless let every one of you so love his wife even as himself, and the wife see that she respects her husband.


text:
Fathers do not provoke your children to anger, instead bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.


text:
Servants be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh with deep respect and trembling in single loyalty of your heart as to Christ.


text:
Not pleasing them only when they are watching, instead be servants of Christ doing God's will from the heart,


text:
Knowing that whatever good thing any one does, he will receive from the Lord, whether he is a freeman or slave.


text:
Masters you must do the same to them, stay away from threatening, knowing that your Master is also in heaven, neither is there any partiality with him.


text:
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the highest spiritual forces, powers, rulers of darkness of the world, and spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies.


text:
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to resist on that evil day, and after doing everything possible to still stand.


text:
Therefore stand having truth fasten around your loins and having the breastplate of righteousness on.


text:
Most importantly taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts from the wicked.


text:
Always be praying in spirit with all prayer and requests, and be alert in the same with full perseverance and request for all God's people


text:
and for me, so that a message may be given to me, so that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel.


text:
So that you may know what is going on with me and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make known to you all things.


text:
Whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, so that you may know what is going on, and that he might comfort your hearts.


text:
Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all God's people in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi along with the overseers and deacons.


text:
having been confident of this very thing that he who began a good work in you will complete it at the Day of Jesus Christ.


text:
Even as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart. You all are partakers of my gift of grace, both in my shackles and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.


text:
so that you may test and know what is good, in order that you may be pure and blameless on the Day of Christ.


text:
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ to the glory, and praise of God.


text:
But I want you to understand brothers that the things, which happened to me, have worked out for the furtherance of the gospel,


text:
Many of the brothers in the Lord, growing confident by my shackles are much bolder to speak the word without fear.


text:
The one preaches Christ from self-serving interests, not sincerely, supposing it will add affliction to my imprisonment.


text:
What does it matter? Only that in every way whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached, and in that I rejoice, yes and will rejoice.


text:
For I know that this will become my deliverance through your prayer and supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.


text:
As is my earnest expectation and hope, so that I will not be ashamed in anything, but in full confidence, as always, so now Christ will be greatly honored in my body whether by life or by death.


text:
But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my hard work, yet which I should choose, I don't know.


text:
For I am in a narrow place between two, having a desire to leave and be with Christ, which is far better,


text:
Having this confidence, I know that I will remain here and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,


text:
Only let your behavior be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one mind working toward the faith of the gospel.


text:
Don't be terrified by your adversaries by anything, which is to them clear proof of perdition but to you of salvation and that from God.


text:
For it is given to you in the behalf of Christ not only to believe in him but to also suffer for his sake.


text:
Therefore if there is any motivation in Christ, if any comfort from love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affections and mercies,


text:
then fulfill my joy that you be like-minded, having the same love, joined together in soul and mind.


text:
Let nothing be done through strife or self-seeking praise but in a humble attitude let each consider the other better than themselves.


text:
Being found outwardly as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the cross.


text:
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but now much more in my absence work out you own salvation with fear and trembling.


text:
So that you may be blameless and innocent, the children of God, without need for rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.


text:
Offering the word of life, so that I can rejoice on the Day of Christ, so that I have not worked so hard in vain, nor exhausted myself in vain.


text:
Yes, and if I am offered in sacrifice and service for your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.


text:
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be cheerful when I know how you're doing.


text:
But you know his proven character that like a son with his father; he has served with me in the Gospel.


text:
However, I think it necessary to send Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier, to you,


text:
Truly he was sick, near to death, but God had mercy on him and not on him only but also on me, lest I would have sorrow on sorrow.


text:
Therefore I sent him even sooner, so that when you see him again, you may rejoice and that I have less grief.


text:
Because for the work of Christ, he was close to dying, disregarding his life in order to complete [what's] lacking in meeting my needs.


text:
Finally my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. Indeed to write the same things to you doesn't wear me out, and for you it is safety.


text:
For we are the circumcision who worships God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.


text:
Even though I could have confidence in the flesh. If any one thinks that he has something to be confident about in the flesh, then I more so.


text:
[I was] circumcised on the eighth day from Israeli descent, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew from Hebrews, concerning the law--a Pharisee.


text:
Yes indeed, I consider everything loss for the excellency of the knowledge about Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of everything and consider them but worthless filth, so that I may gain Christ.


text:
And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is from The Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness, which is from God on faith.


text:
So that I may know him, the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, so I may be conformed to his death.


text:
Not because I had already attained, or am already perfect, but I follow closely if also I may take hold of what I also am taken hold of by Christ Jesus.


text:
Brothers, I don't consider myself to have taken hold of it but this one thing [I do] forgetting those things, which are behind [me] and reach out for those things, which are before [me].


text:
Therefore let us, as many as are mature, be thinking this way, and if any think differently, God will make even this known to you.


text:
Nevertheless, to what we have already arrived at, let us live our life by the same rule; let us strive for the same thing.


text:
Brothers, be imitators of me and watch carefully those who live this way, just as you have us for an example.


text:
(For many live [their lives] about whom I have told you about often, and now tell you with weeping [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ.


text:
Whose end is destruction, whose God [is their] belly, [whose] glory is in their shame, who are concerned about earthly things,


text:
Who will change our humiliated body, that it may become like his glorious body, according to the power by which he is able to even subdue everything under himself.


text:
Therefore, my dearly loved brothers, [whom I] long [to see], my joy and crown, even so stand firmly in the Lord, dearly beloved.


text:
And I also ask you, true yokefellow; help these women who worked with me in the gospel with Clement, too, and with other of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.


text:
Don't worry about anything; instead in every thing with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God,


text:
and the peace of God, which is beyond all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.


text:
Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are well spoken of, if there is any moral excellence, if there is anything praiseworthy, think about these things.


text:
Those things, which you have learned, receive, heard, and seen in me, do, and the God of peace will be with you.


text:
I rejoiced greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again. Regarding this you were seeking to do, but you lacked an opportunity.


text:
I know how to go through humble circumstances, and I know how to have more than I need everywhere and in everything. I am instructed to be both satisfied and to be hungry, to both have more than I need and to have not enough to meet my needs.


text:
Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no congregation shared concerning giving and receiving except you.


text:
But I have all and more than enough; I am satisfied having received from Epaphroditus the things [which you sent], [19] and my God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.


text:
To God's people and faithful brethren in Christ, who are at Colossae. May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
because of the hope kept in heaven for you that you heard about previously in the Word of Truth--the Gospel,


text:
which has come to you just like it has to all the world. It bears fruit just like it does in you also, from the day you heard it and truly understood God's grace.


text:
You also learned [this] from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ for you.


text:
Also for this reason, since we heard, we don't stop praying for you and asking that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,


text:
so that you may walk in a worthy manner pleasing in every way for the Lord, being fruitful in every good deed, and increasing in the knowledge of God.


text:
May you be made stronger with all strength according to His glorious power for patience and long suffering with joy.


text:
Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance for God's people in light.


text:
[The Father] who has delivered us from the power of darkness and has moved us into the kingdom of His dear Son


text:
For through Him all things were created that are in heaven and on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, dominion, principalities, or powers. All things were created by Him and for Him.


text:
He is the head of the body--the church, He is the beginning, the first born from the dead, so that in everything He might have the pre-eminence.


text:
and having made peace through the blood of His cross, to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or in heaven.


text:
You at one time were alienated and enemies in your mind because of wicked deeds, yet he has now reconciled,


text:
in the body of His flesh through death to present you holy, unblamable, and above reproach in His sight.


text:
If you continue in the faith, fixed on the foundation, and steadfast, not drifting away from the hope of the Gospel, which you heard and was preached to all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.


text:
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you and filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church.


text:
I became a minister [of the church] according to the stewardship from God which is given to me for you to fulfill the Word of God,


text:
the mystery which has been hidden from ages past and generations [of people], but now is revealed to His people.


text:
God would make known to these what is the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you the hope of glory.


text:
We preach [Christ] warning every one and teaching every one in all wisdom, so that we may present every one complete in Christ Jesus.


text:
That's the reason I also work hard, struggling according to the energy which he works in me mightily.


text:
I want you to know what a great struggle I have for you, for those at Laodicea, and for those who have not seen my face in the flesh,


text:
that their hearts may be comforted by being knit together in love and into the all the riches of the full assurance of understanding of the full knowledge of the mystery of God, of the Father, and of Christ.


text:
For even though I am absent in body, I am with you in spirit, enjoying and observing your order and steadfastness of your faith in Christ.


text:
Be rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you have been taught, overflowing with thanksgiving in it.


text:
Beware, lest any one seduces you through philosophy or worthless delusions according to the traditions of men and the world's basic principles instead of Christ.


text:
In whom you are also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by getting rid of the mass of the flesh's sins by the circumcision by Christ.


text:
We were buried with him in baptism in which you were also risen with [Him] through the faith of God's strong power who has raised him from the dead.


text:
You, being dead because of your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has made alive together with Him having forgiven you all your sins,


text:
by blotting out the record of the laws that were against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross


text:
having stripped the principalities and powers clean, he openly paraded them, triumphing over them in it.


text:
So then don't let any one condemn you in food, drink, religious festivals, new moon, or the Sabbath.


text:
Don't let any one cheat you out of your reward in a willful humility and worshiping of angels being an initiate into things which he has not seen unreasonably puffed up with pride by his fleshly mind,


text:
not hanging on to the Head from which the whole body through joints and ligaments being nourished and knit together grows with the growth that is from God.


text:
Therefore if you are dead with Christ from the world's basic principles, why then, as if you belong to the world, do you submit to rules


text:
These truly sound reasonable in self imposed worship, humility, and asceticism, not for any honor except to satisfy the flesh.


text:
So then if you are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God.


text:
Therefore your earthly members need to be put to death: fornication, sexual impurity, evil passion, evil lust, and covetousness, which is idolatry.


text:
But now you also need to throw these aside: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and foul abusive speech coming from your mouth.


text:
Don't lie to one another, seeing that you have completely rid yourself of the old man with his deeds,


text:
and have put on the new [man], which is being renewed into knowledge according to the image of him who created him.


text:
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.


text:
Therefore put on--as the chosen of God, holy and dearly loved--a heart of mercies, kindness, a humble attitude, meekness, long suffering


text:
Putting up with one another and forgiving one another. If any one has a quarrel against any other, then even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.


text:
Let God's peace rule in your hearts; you are called to this very thing in one body, and be thankful.


text:
Let Christ's words live in you richly in all wisdom. Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.


text:
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father through Him.


text:
Servants obey your human masters in everything, not just when they are watching you, as someone who wants only to please men; instead [do this] in singleness of heart fearing God.


text:
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ.


text:
But the one who does wrong will receive in return for the wrong which he has done, and there is no favoritism.


text:
Pray also for us that God would open for us a door for [giving the] message, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds,


text:
My current condition will Tychicus make known to you. [He is] a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord.


text:
I have sent him to you for that very reason, so that he might know your current condition and comfort your hearts.


text:
[He is coming] with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is [one] of you. They will make known to you everything which is [done] here.


text:
Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, so also Mark, Barnabas' sister's son, (concerning whom you have received instructions; if he comes to you welcome him)


text:
and Jesus, who is called Justus, all of whom are of the circumcision. These only [are my] fellow workers for the Kingdom of God. They have been a comfort to me.


text:
Epaphras, who is [one] of you, a servant of Christ, greets you. He is always working hard for you in prayers, so that you may stand mature and complete in the full will of God.


text:
When this letter is read among you, see to it that it is also read it in the Laodicean church and you likewise read the [one] to Laodicea.


text:
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the congregation of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
Without ceasing we remember your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.


text:
For our gospel did not come to you only in word but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and in full assurance, just as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake,


text:
and you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction along with the joy of the Holy Spirit.


text:
For the word of the Lord resounds from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also your faith toward God is spread abroad everywhere, so that we don't need to say anything.


text:
For those things themselves tell about us, what kind of entering we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 1Th 1:10 and to wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come.


text:
but even after we had suffered previously and were shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold, because of our God, to tell you the gospel of God in the face of much contention.


text:
but just as we were allowed by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not in a way to please people but God, who tests our hearts.


text:
We didn't seek praise from people, from you, or from others, when we could have been a burden, as the apostles of Christ.


text:
So since we cared so much about you, we were willing to have given to you not only the gospel of God but our own souls as well, because you meant so much to us.


text:
For God and you are our witnesses, how pure from evil conduct, ethically, and blamelessly we behaved among you who believe.


text:
You know exactly how we exhorted, comforted, and earnestly appealed to every one of you, just as a father does his children,


text:
We also thank God, without ceasing, because when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you didn't receive it as the word of men but, as it truly is, the word of God, which actively works in you who believe.


text:
For brethren you became followers of the congregations of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus, for you have suffered similar things from your own countrymen, even as they have from the Jews.


text:
Who not only killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets but also have persecuted us. They don't please God and are antagonistic to all people.


text:
Forbidding us to tell the Gentiles that they can be saved, always maxing out their sins, for the wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.


text:
But we, brethren, having been taken from you for a short time--in presence, not in heart--are making greater effort with much desire to see your faces.


text:
For what is our hope, joy, or crown of rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? Isn't even you?


text:
and sent Timothy, our brother minister of God, and our fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and comfort you in your faith,


text:
so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions, for you yourselves know that we all are placed into this.


text:
For truly, when we were with you, we told you ahead of time that we would suffer afflictions, even as it happened and as you know.


text:
For this reason when I couldn't put it off any longer I sent so that I might know about your faith, lest somehow the tempter having tempted you and our labor turn out to be futile.


text:
But now Timothy came from you to us and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good memories of us, greatly desiring to see us, just as we do you.


text:
For what thanks can we again give to God for you, for all the joy that we enjoy before our God because of you.


text:
Day and night praying over and over that we might see your face and might perfect what is lacking in your faith.


text:
And may the Lord have you increase and be abundant in love towards one another and towards all just as we do toward you.


text:
For the purpose that he may strengthen you hearts to be unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his holy ones.


text:
Furthermore we plead with you, brothers, and urge you by the Lord Jesus that just as you received from us how you must live your life and please God, and that this would increase more and more.


text:
Each of you must know how to take control of his body in purity and honor, 1Th 4:5 not in the passionate lust, like the Gentiles, who don't know God, have.


text:
Let no one go beyond these limits and take advantage of his brother in any thing, because the Lord is an avenger of all these, as we also forewarned you and earnestly testified.


text:
But concerning brotherly love you don't need that I write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.


text:
Indeed, you do this toward all the brothers who are in Macedonia, but we plead with you, brothers, to increase more and more.


text:
And be eager to be quiet, mind your own business, and to work with your hands, just as we commanded you,


text:
so that you may live honestly towards outsiders and that you may be financially dependent on no one.


text:
Now I don't want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep [in death], in order that you don't grieve even as others who have no hope.


text:
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.


text:
For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain at the coming of the Lord will not go before those who are asleep.


text:
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet, then the dead in Christ will rise first, 1Th 4:17 then we who are alive and remain will be taken up together to be with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will ever be with the Lord.


text:
For when they will say, "Peace and safety", then sudden destruction will come on them, like the birth pains of a woman in labor, and they will not escape.


text:
You are all the children of light and the children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.


text:
but let us who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith, love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.


text:
who died for us, so that whether we are alive or sleep [in death], we should live together with him.


text:
We plead with you, brothers, to respect those who work among you, are over you in the Lord, and warn you.


text:
Now we strongly encourage you, brothers, warn those who are unruly, comfort the faint-hearted, don't let the weak fall, be patient towards all.


text:
See to it that no one pay back evil for evil to anybody, but always follow that which is good both among yourselves and to all.


text:
May the God of peace, himself, purify you completely, and may you whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless up to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the congregation of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is really growing, and the love of each one of you is increasing for one another.


text:
That is why we ourselves boast about you in the congregations of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 2Th 1:5 which is clear indication for God's righteous judgment, so that you may be considered worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which you suffer,


text:
And to you, who are troubled, rest with us in the coming of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his mighty angels,


text:
taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
These will be punished with everlasting punishment from the Lord's presence and from the glory of his power


text:
as soon as he comes to be glorified by his holy people and to be admired by all those who believe, on that day, because our testimony was believed among you.


text:
Therefore, we always pray for you also, so that our God would consider you worthy of the calling. May he fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power.


text:
In this way the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified by you and you by him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
Now we plead with you, brothers, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him.


text:
Don't be quickly upset in your mind or troubled, not by spirit, spoken word, or letter, as if from us, that the Day of Christ is at hand.


text:
Don't let anyone deceive you by any method, for [that day will not come] unless a falling away comes first and that man of sin, the son of perdition, is revealed.


text:
He opposes and exalts himself above everything that is called god or what is worshipped, so that he, as if God, sits in God's temple showing that he, himself, is god.


text:
For the mystery of lawlessness is already working only held back until he, who holds back, is taken out of the way.


text:
Then that Wicked will be revealed whom the Lord will completely destroy with the breath of his mouth and will reduce to nothing with the brightness of his coming.


text:
This one whose coming is according to the energy of Satan with all lying miracles, signs, and wonders.


text:
And [he comes] with all unrighteous power to deceive those who perish, because they didn't receive the love of the truth that they might be saved.


text:
and that they might all be damned, who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.


text:
However we have a duty to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you to salvation from the beginning.


text:
Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold on to the traditions that you were taught whether by our spoken word or our letter.


text:
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ, himself, and God, even our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and good hope through grace,


text:
Finally, brothers, pray for us so that the word of the Lord may run freely and be glorified even as it is with you,


text:
We have confidence in the Lord concerning you that you both do and will do the things that we tell you.


text:
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who lives disorderly, not according to the tradition that he received from us.


text:
Also we didn't eat any one's food free of charge but worked with pain and travail day and night, so that we might not burdensome on any of you,


text:
For even when we were with you, we commanded this to you, so that if any would not work neither should he eat.


text:
For we hear that there are some among you, who are disorderly, not working at all but are busybodies.


text:
Now to those who are this way we command and urge by our Lord Jesus Christ that they work quietly and eat their own food.


text:
If any one doesn't obey our word by this letter, take note of him and do not associate with him, in order that he may ashamed.


text:
I write this: "Greetings from Paul" with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter. This is the way I write.


text:
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,


text:
to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord [be yours].


text:
As I encouraged you to remain in Ephesus, when I was going to Macedonia, so that you would tell certain [individuals] not to teach any other doctrine,


text:
or pay attention to fables and endless genealogies, which leads to controversy rather than godly growth in faith.


text:
Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.


text:
Desiring to be teachers of the law they don't even understand what they are talking about or what they strongly assert.


text:
We understand that the law was not laid down for a righteous man but for the lawless, for disobedient, for ungodly, for sinners, for the unholy, for those with no reverence for what is sacred, for murderers of fathers, for murderers of mothers, for killers,


text:
for people who are sexually immoral, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,


text:
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, in that he considered me faithful, appointing me to [his] service.


text:
Previously I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and overbearing person, but obtained mercy because I did [these things] ignorantly in unbelief.


text:
But the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant along with faith and love that is in Christ Jesus.


text:
This is trustworthy saying and worthy of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief.


text:
Yet for this reason I obtained mercy, so that in me, the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ could show all long suffering, for an example to those who later on would believe in him for everlasting life.


text:
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.


text:
I commit this command to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, so that by them you may wage the good warfare,


text:
Hymenus and Alexander are among these, whom I have delivered to Satan, so they may learn not to blaspheme.


text:
Therefore, first of all, I strongly urge that humble requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people.


text:
For kings and all in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in total godliness and honesty.


text:
For this, I am appointed a preacher and apostle--I speak the truth in Christ; I do not lie--a teacher of the Gentiles for faith and knowledge of truth.


text:
In the same way also, that women dress themselves in modest clothes, inclined to avoid notice, and be in self-control, not with embroidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly clothes,


text:
Nevertheless she will be saved through the childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with self-control.


text:
This is a trustworthy saying: If a man desires the oversight [of the congregation], he desires a good work.


text:
The overseer then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, self-controlled, of good behavior, given to hospitality, able to teach,


text:
not given to wine, not quarrelsome, not greedy for money, but instead be patient, not contentious, not covetous,


text:
For if a man doesn't know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the congregation of God?


text:
He must not be a new convert, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.


text:
In addition he must have a good reputation of those outside [the congregation], lest he fall into disgrace and the trap of the devil.


text:
In the same way deacons must be dignified, not two-faced, not given to lots of wine, not greedy for filthy money,


text:
In the same way [their] wives must be dignified, not slanderers, free from the influence of wine, totally faithful.


text:
For those having served well get for themselves a good reputation and great boldness in the faith, which is in Christ Jesus.


text:
But if I am delayed you will know how you should conduct yourself in the family of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.


text:
It must be admitted that the mystery of godliness is great. God appeared in flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, shown to angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.


text:
Now the Spirit speaks explicitly that in latter times some will depart from the faith turning their attention to seducing spirits and teachings of demons,


text:
forbidding to marry, [and demanding] abstinence from foods, which God has created, to be partaken with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.


text:
For every creature of God is good and nothing is to be refused, if it is received with thanksgiving,


text:
If you remind the brethren of these things you will be a good servant of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and good teaching to which you have carefully followed.


text:
For bodily exercise profits little, but godliness is beneficial for everything having a promise of this present life and the one to come.


text:
It is for this that we labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.


text:
Let no one despise your young age, instead be an example to the believers in word, behavior, love, attitude, faith, and purity.


text:
Do not neglect the gift in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of hands by the elders.


text:
Carefully think about these things; give yourself wholly to them, so your progress may be obvious to all.


text:
Watch yourself and your teaching; continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those hearing you.


text:
But if any widow has children or descendants, then let them learn to show their religious responsibility to their own family and to repay their parents, for that is good and acceptable in God's sight.


text:
Now she, who is really a widow and left alone, trusts in God and continues with requests and prayers day and night,


text:
Now if any does not provide for his own and especially those of his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.


text:
having a good reputation for good deeds, and if she has raised children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the feet of God's people, if she has helped the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good deed.


text:
Refuse the younger widows, for when their strong sensual desires alienate them from Christ, they will marry,


text:
Along with this, they learn to be lazy wandering from house to house, and not only lazy but gossips and busybodies talking about things they shouldn't.


text:
Therefore I want the younger women to marry, bear children, manage the household, and give no opportunity to the adversary to bitterly denounce us.


text:
If any believing man or woman have widows, let them help them and don't let the congregation be burdened, so that it may help those who are really widows.


text:
Let the elders, who do a good job of being in charge, be deserving of double honor, especially those who labor in word and teaching.


text:
For the Scripture says, "You must not muzzle the ox who threshes the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his pay."


text:
I testify before God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that you obey these things without prejudice doing nothing by favoritism.


text:
Do not be a water drinker only, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent illnesses.


text:
In the same way the good deeds [of some] are obvious and those [done] in other ways cannot be hidden.


text:
Let all slaves, who are under a yoke, consider their own masters worthy of full honor, so that the name of God and his doctrine be not spoken evil of.


text:
Now those, who have believing masters, must not despise them, because they are brothers, but instead, they must obey them, because they are faithful and worthy of love, partakers of the gospel benefits. Teach and insist on these things.


text:
If any man teaches otherwise and doesn't consent with the wholesome sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching on godliness,


text:
he is proud, knowing nothing, and having a sick interest in questioning and trifles, from which comes envy, discord, abusive verbal attacks, [and] evil surmisings,


text:
the useless line of work from men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that financial gain is godliness. Withdraw yourself from this kind.


text:
Those who determine to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and into many foolish and harmful cravings, which drown men in destruction and eternal ruin.


text:
For the love of money is the root of all evil, which some, longing for, strayed from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.


text:
But you, O man of God, run away from these things and follow righteousness, godliness, faith, love, constancy, [and] meekness.


text:
Give vigorous effort in the good battle of faith, powerfully grip eternal life, to which you were invited and have made known openly [your] good confession [of faith] before many witnesses.


text:
I command you in the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and in the sight of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, 1Ti 6:14 that you obey this commandment spotlessly and blamelessly, until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,


text:
who will show at his own time who is the blessed and only authority, the King of kings and Lord of lords,


text:
who alone has immortality, living in the light, which no one can approach, whom no one has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.


text:
Command those, who are rich in this present world, that they be not arrogant or trust in undependable riches, but [to trust] in the living God who richly gives us everything to enjoy.


text:
storing for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may take hold of eternal life.


text:
O Timothy, carefully keep safe what was committed to your trust, avoiding ungodly and fruitless babblings and oppositions from, what is falsely called, science,


text:
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by God's will according to the promise of life, which is in Christ Jesus,


text:
to Timothy, my dearly beloved son. May grace, mercy, [and] peace [be yours] from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.


text:
I thank God--whom I serve from [my] forefathers with a pure conscience--that without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,


text:
when I remember the sincere faith that is in you, which first resided in your grandmother, Lois, and your mother, Eunice, and I am convinced is in you also.


text:
Therefore I want to remind you to rekindle the gift of God, which is in you by the laying on of my hands.


text:
Therefore don't be ashamed of our Lord's testimony or of me, a prisoner for him, instead share the afflictions with me for the gospel by the power of God,


text:
who has saved and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own plan and grace, which was given us by Christ Jesus before the world began.


text:
But now is clearly seen by the arrival of our Savior Jesus Christ who has deprived death of its influence and thrown the light on life and immortality through the gospel.


text:
It is for this reason that I suffer these things. Nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep safe what I have committed to him for that day.


text:
Hold on to this model of sound teaching, which you heard from me, with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus.


text:
The good thing, which was entrusted to you, keep safe by the [help] of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.


text:
May the Lord give the family of Onesiphorus mercy, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my bonds.


text:
May the Lord grant him that he may find mercy from the Lord on that day. You know very well how much he gave help to me at Ephesus.


text:
and what you heard from me--supported by many witnesses. Commit the same to trustworthy men who will be able to teach others also.


text:
No one on military duty involves himself in matters of livelihood, so that he may please him who enlisted him.


text:
Also if one competes in a tournament, he isn't crowned the victor unless he competes according to the rules.


text:
Remember that Jesus Christ, the descendant of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel.


text:
Therefore I endure all this for the sake of the elect, so that they may also receive the salvation--which is in Christ Jesus--with eternal glory.


text:
Help them to remember these things, emphasize [to them]--in the sight of the Lord--not to argue about words, which is totally unprofitable except to bring devastation to the listeners.


text:
Be earnest to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly handling the Word of Truth.


text:
Stay away from irreverent and fruitless discussions, for they will increase into greater ungodliness,


text:
who--concerning the truth--have erred, saying that the resurrection has already come and cause the downfall of some people's faith.


text:
Nevertheless the foundation [placed] by God stands sure having this official seal, "The Lord knows those who are his." And, "Let every one who identifies with the name of Christ depart from wrongdoing."


text:
Now in a mansion there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and earth, some for honorable uses and some for dishonorable uses.


text:
Therefore if anyone completely cleanses himself from these [dishonorable things], he will be a vessel for honor, made holy and useful for the master's use, and ready for every good work.


text:
Flee the evil desires of youth, instead follow righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call upon the Lord out of purified heart.


text:
Also the Lord's servant must not get into angry arguments but be gentle to all, ready to teach, forbearing,


text:
calmly explaining to those who are actively antagonistic, if perhaps God will give them repentance for acknowledging the truth,


text:
For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, braggers, arrogant, users of abusive language, disobedient to parents, unthankful, having ungodly attitudes,


text:
hardhearted, impossible to please, false accusers, unable to control themselves, fierce, despise those who are good,


text:
For this type are those who wheedle into houses and captivate gullible women loaded with sins carried away with various evil desires,


text:
Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so these also resist the truth. Men with corrupt minds, rejected as worthless in regards to the faith,


text:
but they will get no farther, because their foolishness will be clearly seen to all, just as theirs was.


text:
In contrast you have first hand knowledge of my doctrine, the way I live my life, [my] purpose, faith, long suffering, love, patience,


text:
persecutions, hardships which happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, [and] Lystra--what persecutions I had to put up with!--but the Lord delivered me out of all [of them].


text:
But you continue in the things, which you learned and know for certain, knowing from whom you learned [them],


text:
and because from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom you need for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.


text:
All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and for instruction in righteousness,


text:
I seriously urge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and kingdom,


text:
preach the word, be instantly ready [whether] the time [is] suitable or not, rebuke, scold, and urge them on with all long suffering and doctrine.


text:
For the time will come when they will not put up with sound doctrine but according to their own sinful desires--[and] having tickling ears--will multiply for themselves teachers,


text:
Instead you need to clear-headed in everything, endure troubles, do the work of an evangelist; make full proof of your ministry.


text:
And besides there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day and not only me but also all those who love his appearing.


text:
for Demas--loving this present world--has forsaken me and is gone to Thessalonica. Crescens [left] for Galatia [and] Titus to Dalmatia.


text:
The traveling coat that I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, bring [it] and the books, especially the parchments.


text:
At my first defense nobody came to help me, instead all forsook me; may it not be counted against them.


text:
Nevertheless the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message through me might be carried out to its fullest and that the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the mouth of the lion.


text:
And the Lord will rescue me from every wicked work and will keep me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.


text:
Do your very best to come before winter. Eubulus greets you as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.


text:
Paul a servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ in agreement with the faith of God's chosen and full knowledge of that truth which is according to godliness,


text:
At the right time he made his word unmistakably clear through preaching which was entrusted to me according to the commandment of God our Savior.


text:
To Titus, my true son in the common faith, may grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.


text:
I left you in Crete for this reason, that you should finish organizing what is left to do and appoint elders in every city as I directed you--


text:
so if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of a riotous or unruly life.


text:
For an overseer must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not consumed by money.


text:
Instead, [he needs to be] a lover of hospitality, of what is good, sober, just, holy, having self-control,


text:
being committed to the faithful word just as he has been taught, that he may be able with sound doctrine to plead and convince those who actively disagree with [the truth],


text:
whose mouths must be stopped, who sabotage whole families teaching things which they should not for the sake of shameful personal profit.


text:
One of themselves, a prophet of their own said, "Cretians are always liars, wicked beasts, and lazy bellies."


text:
To the pure everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure, and even their mind and conscience is defiled.


text:
They profess that they know God, but in actions they deny him being repulsive, disobedient, and useless for any good work.


text:
The senior men are to be sober, dignified, self-controlled, being sound in faith, love, and in patience.


text:
The senior women in the same way [are to be] in behavior what is consistent with holiness, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine, teachers of what is good, Tit 2:4 so that they teach the younger women to be clear headed, to love their husbands, to love their children,


text:
to be self-controlled, chaste, taking care of the family, good, obedient to their own husbands, so that the Word of God is not reviled.


text:
In everything showing yourself to be a model of good works, and in teaching [using] integrity, seriousness, incorruptibleness, [and]


text:
sound words that can't be condemned, so that one who is an antagonistic may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say about you.


text:
[Tell] servants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in everything, not talking back [to them],


text:
not stealing [from them], but demonstrating complete trustworthiness, so as to adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in everything,


text:
teaching us that refusing ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live in this present world with self-restraint, righteously, and pleasingly to God.


text:
who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all lawlessness and purify for himself a special people, zealous for good works.


text:
not to insult anyone, or be contentious, [but to be] gentle, showing a complete meekness to all people.


text:
We ourselves were also at one time foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various evil desires and pleasures, passing our time being spiteful, envious, obnoxious, and hating one another.


text:
he saved us, not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,


text:
that having been justified by means of his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.


text:
This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on them, so that those who believe in God might be conscientious to keep up good works. These things are good and beneficial to people.


text:
Avoid foolish questions, genealogies, big arguments and battles over The Law, for they are not beneficial and useless.


text:
When I send Artemas to you or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have determined to winter there.


text:
Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, and Timothy, our brother, to Philemon, our dearly beloved fellow worker.


text:
Also to our beloved Apphia and Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the congregation in your house.


text:
That the fellowship of your faith may be effective by acknowledging every good thing, which is in you because of Christ Jesus.


text:
For we have great joy and comfort by your love, because the hearts of God's people have been refreshed by you, brother.


text:
yet for love's sake, I would rather plead with you, I, Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for Jesus Christ.


text:
I would have kept him with me, so that in your place he could have helped me in [this] imprisonment for the gospel,


text:
but without your opinion I don't want to do anything, so that your help to me shouldn't be from duress but willingly.


text:
Perhaps he left you for a time, so that you would have him back forever, Phm 1:16 not as a servant but more than a servant, now a dearly loved brother especially to me but how much more to you both in the flesh and in the Lord?


text:
I, Paul, have written [this] with my own hand, "I will repay." Although I must say to you how much you own me, even your own life.


text:
God, who in times past spoke by the prophets to the fathers a little at a time and in a variety of ways,


text:
has in these last days spoken to us by [His] Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things and by whom he made the worlds.


text:
[The Son], being the brilliant shining of [His] glory and the exact likeness of His substance and maintaining all things by his powerful word, after--by himself--making purification of our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty of high,


text:
For to which of the angels did he ever say, "You are my son, this day I have begotten you?" And again, "I will be a Father to him, and he will be a Son to me?"


text:
And again, when he brings in the first begotten into the world, he says, "Let all the angels of God worship him."


text:
But to the Son [he says], "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of righteousness.


text:
"You have loved righteousness and hated breaking the law, therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness far above your peers."


text:
And "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands;


text:
like outer clothing you will fold them up, and they will be changed, but you are the same, and your years do not end."


text:
To which of the angels did He ever say, "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool?"


text:
For if the word spoken by angels was proven true and every violation and disobedience received a just repayment,


text:
how will we escape if we treat so great a salvation as unimportant, which first began to be proclaimed by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him.


text:
God also bore witness, both with signs and wonders, and with different types of power and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will.


text:
But someone somewhere gave his witness saying, "What is man, that you would remember him, or the son of man that you would come and help him.


text:
"You made him a little lower than the angels; you adorn him with glory and honor; you set him over the works of your hands.


text:
"You put everything under his feet." For to put all under his authority, [means] he left out nothing that is unable to be under his authority, but now we do not see everything under his authority.


text:
But we do see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, so that he by the grace of God might taste death for all, [now] crowned with glory and honor.


text:
In bringing many sons to glory, it was right for him--for whom are all things and by whom are all things--to perfect the leader of their salvation through sufferings.


text:
For both the one who purifies and those being purified are all from one, for this reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers.


text:
He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing praise to you."


text:
And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Look, I and the children which God has given me."


text:
So then as the children have flesh and blood in common, so he also likewise took of the same, so that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil


text:
Therefore it was necessary in all things to become like his brethren, so that he could be a merciful and faithful high priest before God, to make atonement for the sins of the people,


text:
As a result, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our common confession, Christ Jesus.


text:
For this one is entitled to greater honor than Moses, in the same way as one who builds the house has greater honor than the house.


text:
And truly Moses was faithful in all of God's house, as a servant, for a testimony for those things spoken about later


text:
But Christ as a son over his own house--we are his house, if we tightly hold on to our boldness and rejoicing of hope firmly to the end.


text:
"Therefore I was totally disgusted with that generation and said, «Their hearts always go astray, and they have not really known my ways.»


text:
Be careful, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.


text:
Urge one another every day while it is still "Today", lest any of you become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.


text:
For we have been made partakers of Christ, if we hold on to the beginning of our confidence firmly to the end.


text:
That's why it is said, "Today--if you will listen to his voice--do not harden your hearts as in «The Provocation»


text:
For some, after they had heard, did provoke to anger. Nevertheless not everyone who came out of Egypt with Moses.


text:
But with whom was he exasperated with for forty years? Wasn't it with those who had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?


text:
And to whom was it that he swore that they wouldn't enter into his rest? Wasn't it with those who didn't believe?


text:
Therefore, let us be very careful, lest, since the promise of entering into his rest still remains, any of you perhaps will fall short of it.


text:
For the good news was spoken to us as well as to them, but the message heard [by them] did not benefit them, [because it was] not united with faith in those who heard it,


text:
yet we who have believed enter rest, just like he said, "As I have sworn in my wrath, those people will never enter into my rest," even though the works were finished from the foundation of the world.


text:
For he spoke in a certain place about the seventh day this way, "And God rested the seventh day from all his works."


text:
So then it follows for some to enter into it, and those to whom it was first spoken do not enter because of obstinate unbelief.


text:
Moreover he designates a certain day, today--saying through David after such a long time--to quote it exactly, "Today--if you will listen to his voice--do not harden your hearts."


text:
Therefore let us be diligent to enter into that rest, in order that anyone would not fall in the same kind of unbelief.


text:
For the Word of God is living, powerful, and sharper that any two-edged sword, piercing even to separate the soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.


text:
Nor is there any creature that is not totally transparent in his sight, but all things are uncovered and opened to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account [of ourselves].


text:
Therefore since we have a great high priest who is gone into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold on tightly to what we believe,


text:
for we don't have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in every way tempted like us, yet without any sin.


text:
Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.


text:
All high priests taken from among men are appointed for men in things [pertaining] to God, so that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.


text:
[A high priest] who can have compassion on the ignorant and those who have wandered away, for he himself is also encompassed with weakness.


text:
So also Christ didn't glorify himself to be made high priest, instead [it was] he who said to him, "You are my Son; today, I have begotten you."


text:
[Christ] in the days of his flesh, when he had offered requests and urgent appeals for help with intense cries and tears to him who was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared.


text:
And also at the time you should be teachers, you have need that one reteach you the basics of the word of God and have become as those who need milk and not solid food.


text:
But solid food belongs to those who are mature having their spiritual senses exercised through use to discern both good and evil.


text:
So then leaving the discussion about the basic principles about Christ, let us go on to maturity, not laying the foundation again of repentance from dead works and of faith in God,


text:
of the doctrine about baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment.


text:
For those who were once enlightened, experienced the heavenly gift, were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,


text:
and have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them to repentance again, since they put the Son of God up on the cross again for themselves and expose him to public disgrace.


text:
For the earth, which soaks in the rain that frequently falls on it and produces herbs useful for those who work the soil, receives blessing from God.


text:
But that which produces thorns and briars is rejected and about to be doomed, whose final state is to be burned.


text:
And beloved we are convinced of better things of you and things that go along with salvation, even though we speak this way.


text:
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have shown in his name in that, you have served and do serve the saints.


text:
We desire that each one of you would show the same diligence to [obtain] the unshakeable assurance of hope all the way to the end,


text:
so that you will not be apathetic but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.


text:
For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he couldn't solemnly swear by anyone greater, he swore by himself,


text:
In which God wanting even more abundantly to show to the heirs of promise the unchangeableness of his counsel confirmed it with an oath,


text:
so that by two unchangeable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we, who have fled for refuge, could have strong encouragement to hang on to the hope set before us.


text:
That [hope] we have is a sure and steadfast anchor for the soul and enters into the other side of the veil,


text:
where our forerunner, Jesus, entered, having become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.


text:
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem [and] priest of the most high God, met Abraham returning from slaughtering the kings, and blessed him.


text:
Abraham also gave him a tenth of everything. [Melchizedek] by interpretation [means], first of all, King of righteousness and then also King of Salem, that is King of peace.


text:
[He is] without father, mother, or a genealogy, having neither [recorded] beginning of days, nor end of life, in this sense like the Son of God, he continually remains a priest.


text:
Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave ten percent of the spoils of war.


text:
And truly those who are from the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a command to take a tenth from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren even though they come out of the loins of Abraham.


text:
But he whose lineage is not from them received a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.


text:
Here men who die receive a tenth, but there he of whom it is witnessed that he lives [receives them].


text:
Therefore if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the Law) what further need [was there] that another priest should arise in the order of Melchizedek and not be mentioned in the order of Aaron?


text:
For the one of whom these things are spoken about belongs to another tribe about which no one attended at the altar.


text:
For [it is] obvious that our Lord arose from Judah, [and] about this tribe Moses said nothing pertaining to the priesthood.


text:
who was made [a priest] not according to the law about meeting human requirements but according to the power of an endless life.


text:
So there truly is a canceling of the former commandment, because of its weakness and ineffectiveness.


text:
For the law made nothing perfect, but bringing in a better hope [did], by which we draw near to God.


text:
for those were made priests without an oath, but this one with an oath by him who said to him, «The Lord swore and will not repent, «You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.»


text:
Therefore he is also able to save them, who come to God through him, to the uttermost, since he always lives to make intercession for them.


text:
For such a high priest is right for us; [he is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens,


text:
who doesn't need daily, like those high priests, to offer up a sacrifice first for his own sins, then for the people's. He did this [sacrifice for the people] once when he offered up himself.


text:
The Law appoints men high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, [appoints] forever the Son, who is completely perfect.


text:
Now this is the summary of what we have talked about: We have such a High Priest who sits at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.


text:
[He serves as] the minister of the most holy place and the true tent, which the Lord set up, not man.


text:
Every high priest is appointed to bring both gifts and sacrifices, and so [it is] necessary that this man have something to bring also.


text:
If he were on earth, then he would not be a priest, since there are priests, who bring gifts according the law,


text:
who serve as an example and shadow of heavenly things just as Moses was warned by God when he was ready to make The Tent, for he says, "See [that] you make everything according to the pattern shown to you in the mountain."


text:
But now he [Jesus] has gotten a more excellent ministry and is far superior, as he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.


text:
But finding fault with them, he says, "Look, the days are coming when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,


text:
not like the covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. Since they did not continue in my covenant, I had no interest in them," says the Lord.


text:
"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel in those days," says the Lord. "I will put my laws into their mind and write them in their heart. I will their God, and they will be my people.


text:
"Never again will each teach his neighbor saying, «Know the Lord,» for they all will know me from the least to the greatest.


text:
"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and I will no longer remember their sins and wickedness."


text:
By saying, "New," he has made the first [covenant] old. Now that which is worn out and grows old [is] soon to disappear.


text:
For there was a tent set up. The outer one [had] in it the candlestick, the table, and the showbread. This is the Holy Place.


text:
which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant, which was totally covered with gold [containing] the golden jar that held manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.


text:
Over it [were] the cherubim of glory whose shadow covered the mercy seat concerning, which we cannot now speak in detail.


text:
Now after these things were prepared, the priest always went into the outer tent doing the service [of God].


text:
But only the high priest [goes] into inner tent and then only once a year, and never without blood which he brought for himself and for the errors of the people.


text:
The Holy Spirit making it evident that the way into the Holy of Holies was not yet open, while the first tent was still standing.


text:
This was a symbol for the present time, in which both gifts and sacrifices that are offered cannot make the conscience of the worshiper perfect,


text:
since [they dealt with] only foods, drinks, various washings, and regulations [for the] body imposed [on them] until the time things would be straightened out.


text:
But now Christ has come as High Priest of the good things to come by going through a greater and more perfect tent, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.


text:
He entered into the Holy of Holies only one time, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, to obtain eternal redemption.


text:
For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on the ceremonially unclean [people], for [the purpose of] purifying the flesh, makes [them] ceremonially clean,


text:
then how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?


text:
For this reason, he is the mediator of the new covenant, so that by death for the redemption of violations of the first covenant, those who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.


text:
For after Moses had spoken every rule to all the people as the law commanded, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop and sprinkled both the book and all the people.


text:
In fact, nearly everything by law is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood, [there] is no forgiveness.


text:
Therefore, it was necessary that the copies of the heavenly things should be purified with these but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.


text:
For Christ did not enter into the Holy of Holies of human construction, [which is] a copy of the original, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us,


text:
not however that he should offer himself frequently, like the high priest enters into the Holy of Holies every year with blood not his own,


text:
for then he would have had to suffer many times from the foundation of the world. But now at the end of the world, he has appeared one time to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.


text:
so Christ was offered one time to bear the sins of many, and for those who look for him, he will appear the second time not for sin but for salvation.


text:
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, not the thing itself, can never with those sacrifices, which they continually offer year after year, make those who come perfect.


text:
For wouldn't they have stopped being offered? Because worshipers, once purified, should have no more conscientiousness of sins.


text:
For this reason when he came into the world, he said, "Sacrifice and offering is not what you want, but you have prepared a body for me.


text:
Then I said, "Look, I am here (in the roll of the book it is written about me) to do your will, O God".


text:
When he said above, "Sacrifice, offering, burnt offerings, and sin-offerings you didn't want, nor pleased [with them]" (those offered by the law).


text:
He then said, "See, I have come to do your will, O God." He abolishes the first, so that he may establish the second.


text:
By that determined choice we are freed from the guilt of sin through the one time offering of the body of Jesus Christ.


text:
Every priest stands day after day doing service and offering the same sacrifices over and over, which can never take away sins.


text:
He himself, however, after he had offered one permanent sacrifice for sins, sat down on the right hand of God,


text:
 This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days,' says the Lord, «I will put my laws into their heart, and I write them in their minds,


text:
let us come near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, [because] our hearts have been sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.


text:
Let us tightly hold on to the confession of hope without wavering, for the one who promised is faithful.


text:
Do not forsake the gathering of ourselves together as [is] the practice of some, but encourage [each other] and more so as you see the Day coming,


text:
because if we sin deliberately after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there doesn't remain any more sacrifice for sins,


text:
only a certain, fearful expectation of judgment and indignation of fire which will devour the adversaries.


text:
How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserving the one who has spurned the Son of God and has considered the blood of the covenant, with which he was purified, an unholy thing and has insulted the Spirit of grace?


text:
For we know him who has said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay," says the Lord. And in addition, "The Lord will judge his people."


text:
But remember the past days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle of hardship.


text:
At times, you were viewed with scorn, both with insults and persecutions, and at times, you were associated with those who were treated this way.


text:
For you had compassion on me in my imprisonment and with joy allowed the stealing of you possessions, knowing in yourselves that you have better and enduring possessions in heaven.


text:
But we are not those who turn back into eternal ruin but of those who have faith for preserving the soul.


text:
It is through faith that we understand that the universe was established into systematic order by the word of God, so that the things that we see did not come into existence from things that are visible.


text:
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he was given witness that he was righteous. God gave a good report of this offering. By it, even though he is dead, continues to speak.


text:
By faith Enoch was taken away without experiencing death and was not found, because God had taken him away, and before he was taken away, he had the testimony that he pleased God.


text:
But without faith, [it is] impossible to please [God], because the one who comes to God must believe that he exists and a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.


text:
By faith Noah was warned by God concerning things never seen yet, so fearing [God] he built an ark for saving of his family. By this he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness, which comes by faith.


text:
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place which he would later receive as an inheritance, obeyed and left even though he did not know where he was going.


text:
By faith he lived as a foreigner in the Promised Land living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise,


text:
By faith Sarah also received the miracle to conceive offspring and delivered a child when she was too old, because she considered him faithful who had promised.


text:
Therefore there was born from one, and him as good as dead, as many as the multitude of stars of the sky and like the innumerable sands of the seashore.


text:
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but anticipating them. They were convinced about them, welcomed [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.


text:
And truly, if they kept thinking about the [country] from where they came, they could have the chance to return.


text:
But now they desire a better [country], that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for indeed, he has prepared a city for them.


text:
By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,


text:
Reasoning that God was able to raise [him], even from the dead, from where, figuratively speaking, he did receive him.


text:
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both sons of Joseph and worshiped [leaning] on the top of his staff.


text:
By faith Joseph, when he died, mentioned the departure of the children of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones.


text:
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.


text:
having chosen to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a little while,


text:
considering being insulted for the sake of Christ to be greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, because he kept focusing on the future reward.


text:
By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king's wrath, because he was unshakable as if seeing him who is invisible.


text:
By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn would touch them.


text:
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as if on dry land, which when the Egyptians attempted to do drowned.


text:
By faith Rahab, the harlot, was not killed with those who did not believe, because she had received the spies with peace.


text:
What more can I say? There is not enough time for me to speak about Gideon, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets.


text:
Who, through faith, overcame kingdoms, did what was right, received the promises, shut lion's mouths,


text:
quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned back foreign armies.


text:
Women received their dead raised to life again; others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, so they might obtain a better resurrection.


text:
They were stoned; they were sawn in two, were cruelly tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered around in sheepskins and goat skins, destitute, afflicted, [and] tormented.


text:
(Of whom the world was not worthy), they wandered in deserts and mountains; [they lived] in caves and holes in the earth.


text:
God having provided something better for us, in order that they would not become perfect without us.


text:
And therefore, since we have such a great surrounding cloud of witnesses with us, let us get rid of every hindrance and the sin, which so easily entangles us, and let us run with cheerful endurance the race that lies before us.


text:
Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of [our] faith, who instead of the joy set before him endured the cross (despising the shame), and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne.


text:
Therefore, carefully think about him who endured such contradiction of sinners against him, lest you become weary and faint in your souls.


text:
And have you forgotten the encouragement which speaks to you like children? "My child, do not despise the Lord's discipline, nor despair when rebuked by him.


text:
If you endure correction, God treats you as children, because what child is [there] whom the father doesn't discipline?


text:
But if you are without any correction, of which all are partakers, then you are illegitimate, not children.


text:
Furthermore we have had human fathers who disciplined [us], and we gave [them] great respect. Will we not much more be under obedience to the Father of our spirits and live?


text:
Truly they disciplined us for only a few days according to what seemed best to them, but He for our benefit, so that we may be partakers of His holiness.


text:
Now no discipline at the time seems joyous but joyless, nevertheless, after it is all over, it produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.


text:
and make straight paths for your feet, lest what is lame become dislocated, instead let it be healed.


text:
Look carefully lest any fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you] and from it many become defiled,


text:
[and] lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for a single meal gave away his birthright.


text:
For you know that afterwards when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected, because he could find no opportunity to reverse [what had happened] even though he sought it carefully with tears.


text:
For you have not come to a physical mountain with its burning fire, blackness, gloom, violent winds,


text:
trumpet blast, and spoken words, which when they heard, the hearers begged that the message wouldn't be spoken to them any more.


text:
For they could not tolerate what was commanded, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be killed by stoning or spearing".


text:
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable group of angels,


text:
to the joyful gathering and assembly of the firstborn (whose names are written in heaven), to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just people made perfect,


text:
and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks better than Abel's.


text:
Beware, that you don't brush-off him who speaks, because if they didn't escape him who spoke on earth, how much more will we not escape if we turn away from him who [speaks] from heaven.


text:
His voice shook the world then, but now he has promised, "Yet once more, I [will] shake, not only the earth, but also heaven."


text:
Now this quote, "Yet once more," indicates the removing of those shakeable things that are made, so that those things which cannot be shaken will stay in place.


text:
Therefore receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have gratitude by which we can serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear,


text:
Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; [remember] those who are mistreated, as though your body is being [mistreated] also.


text:
Let marriage be honored by all, and let the bed be undefiled, but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.


text:
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be satisfied with what you have, because he has said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."


text:
So then we can boldly say, "The Lord is my helper," and "I will not be afraid of what anyone will do to me."


text:
Remember those leading you, who spoke the word of God to you. Imitate their faith. Carefully think on the outcome of their way of life.


text:
Do not be carried away with various and strange teachings. For [it is] a good thing that the heart be made stable by grace, not with foods that have not benefited those who follow [those rules].


text:
For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the Holy Place by the High Priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.


text:
For this reason Jesus also, so he might make holy the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate.


text:
Therefore through him let us offer continually the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.


text:
Let yourselves be persuaded by those who lead you and yield yourselves, because they watch over your souls as those who must give an answer [and] so that they may do it with joy and not with grief, because that would not be profitable for you.


text:
Pray for us, because we trust to have a good conscience and always determined to live doing what is right.


text:
Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,


text:
bring you to perfection in every good work to do his will, doing in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.


text:
Brothers, I urge you to allow this message of encouragement, for I have written to you a brief letter.


text:
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes, which are scattered abroad, greeting.


text:
Let patience have its full, complete work, so that you may be mature and complete (lacking nothing).


text:
If any of you lack wisdom, then ask God, who gives to all profusely and doesn't scold, and it will be given to him.


text:
But one must ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.


text:
And let the brother of humble circumstances rejoice in that he is exalted, Jas 1:10 but the rich in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass, he will perish.


text:
For the sun is no sooner risen with its burning heat, and it withers the grass, its flower falls, and its beauty perishes, so also will the rich man fade away.


text:
Blessed [is] the man who patiently endures temptation, for when he has passed the test, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him.


text:
Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does he tempt anyone.


text:
Every good act of giving and perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights with whom is no variation, neither shadow from turning.


text:
By his own will he gave birth to us by the Word of Truth, so that we should be a type of first fruits among his created things.


text:
Therefore get rid of all moral filthiness and all types of wickedness; receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.


text:
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at himself in a mirror.


text:
But whoever looks at the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, is not being a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work. This one will be blessed for his action.


text:
If anyone among you seems to be religious and does not control his tongue, he deceives his own heart. This man's religion [is] useless.


text:
Pure and undefiled religion before God, even the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself spotless from the world.


text:
For if a man with a gold ring and expensive clothes comes into your assembly, and then a poor man with dirty clothes comes in also.


text:
And you favor him who wears the impressive clothing and say to him, "Sit over in this place of honor," but you say to the poor, "Stand over there," or "Sit here under my feet."


text:
Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world [to be] rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?


text:
If, however, you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You must love your neighbor as yourself." You do well.


text:
For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you do not commit adultery, yet you kill, you have become a violator of the law.


text:
and one of you say to them, "Leave in peace, may you be warm and filled [with food]," yet you do not give them those things which they need for the body. What good [is it]?


text:
Yes, someone may say, "You have faith, and I have works. You show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."


text:
The Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness," and he was called the Friend of God.


text:
In the same way, wasn't Rahab, the harlot, justified by works when she had received the messengers and sent [them] out another way?


text:
My brothers, not many of you should become teachers, because we know that we will receive the greater condemnation.


text:
For all of us often trip up in many ways. If anyone doesn't slip up in speech, he [is] a matured man also [able] to control the whole body.


text:
Also look at the ships, which though so huge and driven by fierce winds, yet are steered with a very small rudder, wherever the pilot wishes,


text:
and so the tongue is a little thing, but brags about things. Behold, how great forest fire a little fire kindles!


text:
The tongue [is such] a fire, a world of evil, so the tongue is among the members of our body, in that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the revolving wheel of our existence. It is inflamed by hell.


text:
With it we bless God, even the Father, and with the same we curse men, who are made according to God's likeness.


text:
Can the fig tree, my brothers, bear olive berries or a vine figs? So no fountain can yield both salt and fresh water.


text:
Who is wise and understanding among you? By good behavior let him show his works with humility and wisdom.


text:
But the wisdom that is from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and without hypocrisy.


text:
Where do fights and quarrels among you [come] from? [Don't they come] from your sensual desires that at war in your bodies.


text:
You set your heart on something and do not get [it], so you commit murder. You zealously desire but cannot obtain it, so you quarrel and fight. You do not get things, because you do not ask.


text:
You ask, and do not receive, because you ask with wicked motives, in order to squander it on your sensual pleasures.


text:
You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that to be a friend of the world is to be an enemy of God?


text:
Or do you think that the Scripture says for no reason, "The spirit that lives in us lusts because of envy?"


text:
But He gives greater grace. That's why he says, "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble."


text:
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse [your] hands, sinners, and purify [your] hearts, double minded.


text:
Do not badmouth one another, brothers. He, who badmouths and condemns his brother, condemns the law, but if you condemn the law, you are not a doer, but its judge.


text:
Come on, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into this city, stay there a year, buy and sell, and make money."


text:
On the contrary, you don't even know what [will happen] tomorrow. For what [is] your life? It is just a puff of smoke that appears for a moment then disappears.


text:
Your gold and silver is corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat up your flesh like fire. You have amassed riches for these final days.


text:
Look! The pay of the workers who harvested your fields, from which you took a cut for yourself, calls out, and the workers' pleas for help has entered the ears of the Lord of Heavenly Armies.


text:
You have lived a soft life on this earth and [a life given to] pleasure. You have fattened your hearts as for the day of slaughter.


text:
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the Lord comes. Look how the farmer waits for the valuable yield from the land and waits for a long time for the early and later rains.


text:
Do not complain about one another, brothers, lest you be condemned. Look! The judge stands at the door.


text:
My brothers, let the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord be your example of suffering affliction and of patience.


text:
Look, we consider them happy who endure. You have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the Lord's conclusion, because the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.


text:
But above all, my brothers, do not take an oath, not by heaven, nor by the earth, or anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes and your "No" be no, lest you fall into hypocrisy.


text:
Is any among you sick? Then summon the congregation's elders, and let them pray for them, anointing them with oil in the Lord's name.


text:
The prayer of faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, they will be forgiven.


text:
Elijah was a man with emotions just like us, he earnestly prayed that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the ground for three years and six months.


text:
let him understand that whoever brings the sinner back again from the deceiving path he was on will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.


text:
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, [writing] to the dispersed, in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. [who are] elect and pilgrims


text:
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by sanctification of the Spirit for obedience and sprinkling by the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be yours abundantly.


text:
Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again into a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead


text:
You are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation [which is] ready to be revealed at the end of time.


text:
You greatly rejoice in this, even though now for a short time you have to be afflicted with sadness through various trials,


text:
so that the testing of you faith, which is more precious than perishable gold, will be found to be with praise, honor, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ,


text:
whom you love although you haven't seen him. Though you don't see him now, yet you believe and rejoice with indescribable and glorious joy,


text:
This salvation [is] what the prophets have diligently asked about and searched for, when they prophesied about the grace [that would come] to you.


text:
They were examining what time and conditions the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, did indicate when he predicted the suffering of Christ and the glory that would follow.


text:
It was revealed to them that it was not to them but to us they were ministering the things, which are now reported to you by those who by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven have preached the gospel to you.


text:
Therefore have your minds constantly ready for action, be alert, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revealing of Jesus Christ.


text:
[You need to be] obedient children, not conforming yourselves to your former sensual desires in your time of ignorance.


text:
And if you call on the Father, who without favoritism judges every ones' work, then live the time of your pilgrimage in reverent fear.


text:
You know that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver and gold from your futile way of life handed down to you


text:
Through him, you believe in God who raised him up from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.


text:
Because you have purified your souls by obeying the truth through the Spirit resulting in sincere love for the brothers, love one another with a pure heart fervently.


text:
You are born again not from a perishable seed but from an imperishable one by the word of God, which lives and remains forever.


text:
For all flesh [is] like grass, and all human glory [is] like the grass's flower. The grass withers, and its flower falls off,


text:
Therefore laying aside all desires to injure others, all types of deceit and hypocrisies, all types of envy, and all forms of evil speaking.


text:
You came to the Lord [as to] a living stone, truly rejected by people but chosen by God [and] precious.


text:
You also, as living stones, are built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.


text:
That is why it is contained in the scripture, "Behold, I set a chief cornerstone in Zion that is chosen and precious. He who believes in him will not be ashamed.


text:
Therefore to you who believe, [he is] precious, but to those who refuse to believe, the stone which the builders rejected is made the cornerstone,


text:
a stumbling stone, and a rock that offends, these stumble at the word refusing to believe, into which they were set.


text:
But you [are] a holy generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a special purchased people, so that you proclaim the praises of the one who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.


text:
At one time you were not [his] people, but now [are] God's people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.


text:
Dearly beloved, I beg [you] as sojourners and foreigners hold yourself back from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.


text:
Have your behavior virtuous among the heathen, so that in the course of slandering you as being evildoers, they may by the virtuous deeds, which they observe, glorify God on the day of visitation.


text:
or from governors, or those sent by him for the punishment of evildoers or for the praise of those who do well.


text:
For doing so is God's will, that by doing what is right you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.


text:
Servants, obey [your] masters with total respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the surly ones.


text:
For what honor is there when you are beaten up for your wrongdoings and take it patiently? But when you do something that is good and suffer, then take it patiently, that is acceptable with God.


text:
For you were called into this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example so that you should follow in his steps.


text:
When he was verbally abused, he did not verbally abuse in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten but committed it to him who judges righteously.


text:
[Christ] by himself [and] on his own body carried our sins on the wooden cross that we, now dead to sins, should live for righteousness. By his bruises, you were healed.


text:
For you were like sheep wandering away but now have come back to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.


text:
In the same way, you wives must submit to your own husbands, so that if any refuse to believe, they will be won over without a word by the conduct of their wives


text:
Do not let your beauty be in external things like the way you fix your hair, decorate yourself with gold, or clothes you put on


text:
but in internal things of the heart, which can not perish, like a meek and quiet spirit, which is worth much in God's sight.


text:
For in the past it was in this way that the holy women, who trusted in God, made themselves beautiful, being submitted to their own husbands.


text:
For example, Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are as long as you do well and are not afraid at every scary thing.


text:
Likewise, you husbands live with [your wives] with an understanding attitude, giving honor to the wife since [she is] more delicate [than you] and [you are] heirs together of the grace of life, [do this] so that your prayers are not hindered.


text:
Finally, be like minded, have compassion on one another, be loving as brothers, be tender hearted, be courteous.


text:
Do not pay back evil for evil, or verbal abuse for verbal abuse, but instead a blessing, because you are called for this, so that you should inherit a blessing,


text:
for he who desires to love life and see good days, must refrain his tongue from speaking evil and his lips from speaking deceit.


text:
For the eyes of the Lord [are] on the righteous, and his ears [listen to] their prayers, but the Lord's face [is] against those who do evil.


text:
But even if you suffer doing what is right, then you are blessed. Do not be afraid or troubled by their terror.


text:
Instead, deeply revere the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to answer with gentleness and respectfulness anyone who asks you about the reason for the hope that is in you.


text:
Having a clear conscious, so when they speak against you, as if you were evildoers, those who falsely accuse you may be ashamed by your good, Christ-like behavior.


text:
For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing what is right, then for doing what is evil.


text:
Christ also suffered just one time concerning sins, the just on the behalf of the unjust, that he might bring us to God, even put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit,


text:
They were disobedient back when the long suffering of God waited in Noah's time while the ark was being prepared into which a few, eight souls in all, were saved through water.


text:
This represents baptism, which now saves you--not by removing the filthiness of the flesh, but the answer of a clear conscience toward God--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,


text:
who has gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God. Angels, rulers, and powers being forced to submit to him.


text:
And so as Christ has suffered in the flesh for us, equip yourselves in the same way with the same attitude, for he who has suffered in the flesh wants nothing to do with sin,


text:
so that he should no longer live the rest of [his] life in the flesh [yielding] to the lusts of men but to the will of God.


text:
For in times gone by, it may have satisfied us to have done the will of the heathen, when we lead our life in sexual promiscuity, evil desires, drunkenness, carousings, drinking parties, and depraved idolatries.


text:
They think it strange in that you don't rush into the same excessive unrestrained actions, [and so] start cursing you.


text:
For it was for this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are dead, that they should be judged by men in the flesh but live by God in the spirit.


text:
As everyone has received the gift, so serve the same to one another as good stewards of the grace of God in its many forms.


text:
If any man speaks, then speak as the Word of God; if any one serves, then serve with the strength that God gives, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and supremacy forever and ever. Amen.


text:
Beloved, don't be surprised at that the fiery trial which is to test you, as if some strange thing is happening to you,


text:
but rejoice, seeing that you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, so that when his glory will be revealed, you may also rejoice with exceeding joy.


text:
If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, [be] happy, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. He is blasphemed by them, but glorified by you.


text:
For the time to begin the judgment on the house of God [is here], and if it begins at us, what will be the outcome of those who do not obey the gospel of God?


text:
Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God continue to do what is right and give their souls for safekeeping to their faithful Creator.


text:
I exhort the elders who are among you. I also am an elder, an eyewitness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory that will be revealed.


text:
Feed the flock of God, which is among you. Take the oversight voluntarily, not by being forced, not for money's sake but with a willingly heart.


text:
Likewise, you younger ones yield to the elder's counsel. Yes, all be yielding to one another and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.


text:
Be clear headed; be vigilant, because your enemy, the devil, like a roaring lion, walks around seeking whom he can devour.


text:
Resist him, [be] immovable in the faith, realizing that the same kind of afflictions are being faced by your brothers who are in the world.


text:
But the God of all grace, who has called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, will mend you, make you resolute, give you strength, and support you.


text:
I have written briefly to you with the help of Silvanus whom I regard as a faithful brother. [I have written] encouraging [you] and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you firmly stand.


text:
Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received the same precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.


text:
since his divine power has given to us everything [needful] for life and godliness through the thorough knowledge of him who has called us to glory and moral excellence.


text:
Through this he has given very great and precious promises, so that by them we may be partakers of the divine nature, [since] we have escaped the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.


text:
And beside this, be diligent to add to your faith moral excellence; to moral excellence add knowledge.


text:
For if these qualities are in you and are plentiful, they will make you not to be barren or unfruitful in the thorough knowledge concerning our Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
But he who lacks these qualities is blind, short sighted and become forgetful that he was totally cleansed from his past sins.


text:
So now be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, because if you do these things, you will never fall.


text:
For in this way an entry will be supplied to you into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.


text:
Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you about these things, though you know [about them], and are firmly established in the present truth.


text:
I know that I must shortly lay aside this tent of flesh, just as our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me.


text:
For we have not followed craftily made up stories when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eyewitnesses of his splendor.


text:
He received honor and glory from God the Father when so great a voice came from the majestic glory, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."


text:
yet we have [something] more substantiated--the prophetic word. You would do well to pay close attention to it as [you would] to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Daystar arises in you hearts.


text:
For prophecy never was prompted by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke while being prompted by the Holy Spirit.


text:
But false prophets were among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly and deceptively bring in destructive heresies, even rejecting the Lord that redeemed them. They will bring on themselves swift destruction.


text:
Through selfish desires, they will use you to get rich with [their] deceptive words. For a long time now their judgment is anticipated, and their destruction is not asleep.


text:
For God did not spare the angels that sinned, but threw [them] into hell and delivered [them] to chains of darkness to be reserved for judgment.


text:
He did not spare the original world, but saved Noah, the eight [person], a preacher of righteousness, [and] brought the flood on that ungodly world.


text:
And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, he sentenced them with destruction, making them an example of those who later would live ungodly,


text:
For that righteous man lived among them, and what he heard and saw vexed his righteous soul daily by their wicked actions.


text:
The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the sinful for punishment on the Day of Judgment,


text:
especially those who follow the flesh in the sensual desires of moral uncleanness and in despising authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed, and are not afraid to speak evil of those in authority.


text:
Whereas angels, who are greater in power and strength, do not bring insults against them before the Lord.


text:
But these like wild animals made to be captured and destroyed hurl insults about things that they don't understand and will utterly perish in their own corruption.


text:
And they will receive the wages of unrighteousness, since they consider it a pleasure to live a sensual life all day long. [They are] stains and blemishes taking delight in their delusion even while they feast with you.


text:
[Their] eyes are full of adultery, and they cannot get enough of sin. They seduce unstable souls; they train their heart for greed; they are cursed children.


text:
They have forsaken the true way and wandered following the ways of Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,


text:
but was rebuked for his sin. The donkey, which doesn't have human speech, speaking with a human voice kept the prophet from [his] irrational behavior.


text:
These [people] are like wells without water, clouds blown around with a storm, to which the mist of darkness is reserved forever.


text:
For they utter high-sounding nonsense [and] use sensual desires to seduce those who are truly escaped from filthy sins to live in error.


text:
Though they promise them freedom, they are slaves of moral decay, for what a person is overcome by he is made a slave.


text:
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through their knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and again get involved in it and overcome, their latter end is worse for them than before they started.


text:
For it would have been better for them to not have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn from the holy commandment [which] was delivered to them.


text:
What happened to them is according to the true proverb, "The dog returned to his own vomit," and "The pig that was washed to rolling in the mud."


text:
This second letter, beloved, I now write to you. In both, I try to stimulate your pure minds by reminding [you] of [these things].


text:
I want you to remember the words, which were spoken long ago by the holy prophets and the commandment of us apostles of the Lord and Savior.


text:
First of all, there will come in the last days mockers living according to their own sensual desires


text:
and saying, "What about the promise of his coming, for since the fathers died, everything continues just as from the beginning of the creation?"


text:
For they are willingly ignorant of this, that long ago by the word of God the heavens came into existence as well as the earth standing out of the water and in the water.


text:
But the present heavens and earth, by that same word [of God], are stored, reserved, for fire on the Day of Judgment and damnation of ungodly people.


text:
But, beloved don't be ignorant of this one thing, that with the Lord one day [is] as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.


text:
The Lord doesn't procrastinate in keeping his promise as some think, but is long suffering to us not willing that anyone should perish but that all should repent.


text:
The Day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. That [day] the heavens will pass away with a loud, high-pitched roar and the elements will be broken down by fervent heat, and the earth also and its works will totally burned.


text:
Now then, all these things will fall apart, so what kind of [people] should you be in holy behavior and godliness?


text:
[You need to be] looking forward to and eagerly desiring the coming of the Day of God, in which the heavens being on fire will be broken up, and the elements will be melted with fervent heat.


text:
Nevertheless, according to his promise, we look forward to the coming of the new heavens and a new earth where righteousness makes its home.


text:
As a result, beloved, seeing that you look forward to such things, be diligent to be found by him in peace, spotless and blameless.


text:
Realize that the Lord's long suffering [is for] salvation, even as our beloved brother Paul also has written to you with the wisdom given to him.


text:
So also in all his letters speaking in them about these things; some things in them are hard to understand which those who discard what they've learned and vacillate [in beliefs] wrest, just as they do to other scriptures (to their own destruction).


text:
Therefore, beloved, seeing that you know this ahead of time, be on guard lest you also get lead away with the error of the wicked and fall from your own steadfastness,


text:
instead grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory and honor both now and forever. Amen.


text:
What was from the beginning; what we have heard; what we have seen with our eyes; what we looked at and touched with our hands, referring to the Word of life.


text:
For this life was clearly seen, and we have seen, bear witness, and tell you about that eternal life, which was with the Father and was clearly seen by us.


text:
That which we have seen and heard, we announce to you so that you also may have fellowship with us, and our fellowship is with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.


text:
This, then, is the message, which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.


text:
If we say that we have fellowship with him, yet walk in darkness, we lie and are not putting the truth into practice.


text:
But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his son, cleanses us from every sin.


text:
If we keep on confessing our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from every wrongdoing.


text:
My little children, I write these things to you, so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have one an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.


text:
But whoever obeys his word, truly has the love for God been perfected in him. By this we know that we are in him.


text:
He who says he remains in him is under an obligation himself to also keep on living his life as he did.


text:
Brothers, I don't write a new command to you but a command that's been around a long time, which you had from the beginning. This longtime command is the message, which you have heard from the beginning.


text:
However, I write a new command to you, which is true in him and you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.


text:
But he who hates his brother is in darkness, walks in darkness, and doesn't know where he goes, because that darkness has blinded his eyes.


text:
I write to you, fathers, because you do know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father.


text:
I have written to you, fathers, because you do know him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, the word of God is present in you, and you do overcome the wicked one.


text:
Do not love the world, or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.


text:
For everything in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of this life is not from the Father but is from the world.


text:
But the world passes away and its lust. On the other hand the one who does the will of God stands firm forever.


text:
Little children, it is the final hour, and as you have heard the antichrist is coming, and now there are many antichrists, which is how we know that it is the final hour.


text:
They started out with us, but they were not part of us, for if they had been part of us, they would have continued with us, nevertheless they left us that it might be obvious that they were not really part of us.


text:
I have not written to you, because you don't understand the truth but because you do understand it, and no lie comes out of truth.


text:
Who is a liar but he who refuses to confess that Jesus is the Christ? The one who refuses to confess the Father and the Son is an antichrist.


text:
Whoever refuses to confess the Son doesn't have the Father either, but the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.


text:
Therefore, let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you will also remain in the Father and the Son.


text:
The anointing, which you have received from him, remains in you, and you don't need anyone to teach you. Since the same anointing teaches you about all things and is truth and is no lie--just as it taught you--you will remain in him.


text:
And now, little children, continue in him, that when he appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed at his coming.


text:
If you know that he is righteous, then know that everyone who is doing righteousness is born of him.


text:
Look what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called "The Children of God"! Because of this, the world cannot know us, because it didn't know him either.


text:
Beloved, we are now children of God, and it is not clear what we will be, but we know that when he appears, we will be like him, because we will see him as he is.


text:
Everyone remaining in him does not keep on sinning. Everyone who keeps on sinning has not seen or known him.


text:
Little children, let no one deceive you; he who does what is right is righteous just as he is righteous.


text:
The one who keeps on sinning is of the Devil, because the devil keeps on sinning from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this very reason that he might destroy the works of the Devil.


text:
Everyone who has been born of God doesn't keep on sinning, because his seed remains in him, and he cannot keep on sinning, because he is born of God.


text:
God's children and the Devil's children are plainly recognized by this: whoever does not do what is right is not of God, nor he who doesn't love his brother.


text:
We must not be like Cain; he was of the wicked one and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, while his brother's righteous.


text:
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. The one who doesn't love his brother continues in death.


text:
Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life living in him.


text:
By this we know [God's] love: he laid down his life for us, and we should lay our lives down for the brethren.


text:
Now, whoever has this world's goods, sees his brother have need, and closes his heart to him; how can God's love live in him?


text:
Whatever we ask for, we receive from him, because we obey his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.


text:
This is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as he commanded us.


text:
The one who obeys his commandments lives in him, and he in him. By the Spirit that he has given us, we know that he lives in us.


text:
My beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.


text:
This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God; every spirit that freely admits that Christ has come in flesh is from God.


text:
And every spirit that does not freely admit that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, and this is that spirit of antichrist, which you have heard would come, and even now is already in the world.


text:
Little children, you are of God and overcome them, because he who is in you is greater that he who is in the world.


text:
We are of God. He who knows God listens to us; he who is not of God does not listen to us. By this, we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.


text:
Beloved let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.


text:
God's love towards us is clearly seen by this, because God sent his only begotten Son into the world, so that we might live through him.


text:
Now this is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.


text:
No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is made complete in us.


text:
We have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who lives in love, lives in God and God in him.


text:
By this our love is made complete, so we can have confidence on Judgment Day, because just as He is, we [who are] in this world are also.


text:
There is no fear in love, on the contrary, perfected love throws out fear, because fear has torment, and the fearful is not perfected in love.


text:
If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, is a liar, for how can he say he loves God who he can't see and doesn't love his brother who he can see?


text:
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves him who fathers also loves him who is born of him.


text:
because all who are born of God overcome the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world--our faith.


text:
This is the one who came through water and blood--Jesus the Christ, not just in water only but in the water and the blood. The Spirit is bearing witness, because the Spirit is the truth.


text:
There are three bearing witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one.


text:
And there are three bearing witness in earth, the spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three agree in one.


text:
If we accept human testimony, God's testimony is stronger, because this is God's testimony that he testified about his son.


text:
The one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself. The one who doesn't believe God has made him a liar, because he doesn't believe the testimony that God gave about his Son.


text:
I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may believe in the name of the Son of God.


text:
This is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.


text:
If any sees his brother sin a sin that doesn't lead to death, he will ask, and [God] will give life to those who do not commit sins leading to death. There is sin [leading] to death. I do not say that he should pray for that.


text:
We know that whoever is born of God doesn't keep on sinning, but the one born of God watches himself, so that wicked one doesn't harm him.


text:
We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.


text:
The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I but also all those who have known the truth,


text:
May grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, in truth and love.


text:
I greatly rejoiced when I found your children following the truth, just as we received commandment from the Father.


text:
Lady, now I ask you, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we had from the beginning, that we show love to one another.


text:
This is love: that we follow his commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so you must live by it.


text:
For many deceivers have entered the world, who do not freely admit that Jesus Christ as coming in flesh. This is a deceiver and antichrist.


text:
Watch yourselves that you don't lose those things that we worked for but that we receive a full reward.


text:
Everyone who turns aside from and doesn't continue in Christ's teaching does not have God. The one who does continue in Christ's teaching has both the Father and the Son.


text:
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house, nor greet him.


text:
I have much to write to you, but I don't want to with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you and speak face to face that our joy may be full.


text:
Beloved, I wish for you that in everything you may flourish and be in health just as your soul flourishes.


text:
For I greatly rejoiced when the brethren came and gave a report of the truth that is in you, even as you walk in truth.


text:
They testified about your love before the congregation. You will do well to aid them in their journey in a manner worthy of God.


text:
For this reason, if I come, I will remember his actions, which he does, blabbering against us with wicked words, and not content with that he himself will not receive the brethren and forbids those who would and throws them out of the congregation.


text:
Beloved, don't mimic what is evil but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil is not acquainted with God.


text:
Demetrius has a good report from all, even from the truth itself. We also bear witness, and you know that our witness is true.


text:
I had many things to write, but I will not with pen and ink write to you, but I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace be with you. [Our] friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.


text:
Jude, servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to the called who have been sanctified by God the Father and have been preserved by Jesus Christ.


text:
Beloved, I was the process of promptly writing to you about our common salvation, when I had to write to you and exhort you that you must passionately defend the faith which was only for all [time] committed to the saints.


text:
For certain people slipped in unnoticed who were written about beforehand for this condemnation, ungodly people, turning the grace of our God into a lack of moral restraint and rejecting the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
Therefore I will quietly remind you, though you knew this at one time, how the Lord, after saving the people from the land of Egypt, destroyed those who didn't believe.


text:
The angels also who did not keep their original place but left their own residence, he has kept in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.


text:
Likewise, Sodom, Gomorrah, and the cities near them, which were similar, having given themselves totally to fornication and going after strange flesh serve as an example of the vengeance of eternal fire.


text:
Similarly, these who dream visions defile the flesh [of their body], despise authority, and speak evil of dignities.


text:
Yet when Michael, the archangel, in his confrontation with the devil, disputed about the body of Moses, he did not dare inflict a insulting accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."


text:
But these insult those things that they don't know anything about. Like wild animals, they are ruined by the very things they know by instinct.


text:
Woe to them! For they followed the way of Cain, ran greedily after the error of Balaam, and were destroyed in the wicked challenge of Korah.


text:
These are hidden dangers in your agape meal, when they feast with you, stuffing themselves fearlessly; they are waterless clouds blown around by winds and trees without leaves and without fruit, twice dead; pulled out by the roots.


text:
These are wild sea waves foaming from their own shame, drifting stars to whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever.


text:
Even Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these saying, "Look, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints


text:
to carry out judgment on all and to prove to all the ungodly among them that all their wicked deeds which they have wickedly done are wrong as well as all their terrible words which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.


text:
These are grumblers, malcontents, following after their own lusts. Their mouth spews out a lot of exaggeration, courting favor for their own advantage.


text:
how they told you that there will be scoffers in the last time who would follow their own ungodly lusts.


text:
Keep yourselves in God's love, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ [that brings] eternal life.


text:
With fear save others, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the clothes made filthy by the flesh.


text:
Now to him who is able to protect you from falling and to present [you] without blame before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.


text:
To the only wise God our Savior, [be] glory, majesty, supremacy, and complete authority, both now and forever. Amen


text:
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants things which shortly must come to pass, and he sent and made it known by his angel to his servant John,


text:
Blessed is the one who reads, and they who hear the words of this prophecy, and pay close attention to those things which are written in it, because the time is near.


text:
From John to the seven congregations in Asia. May grace and peace be yours from him who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the sevenfold Spirit, which is in front of his throne.


text:
Also from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth. He has loved us and washed us from our sin in his own blood.


text:
He has made us kings and priests for God his Father, to him [be] glory and supremacy forever and ever. Amen.


text:
Look! He comes with clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples on the earth will grieve intensely because of him. Even so, Amen.


text:
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending", says the Lord who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.


text:
I, John, who also am your brother and companion in afflictions and the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island called Patmos, because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus Christ.


text:
saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. What you see write in a book and send [it] to the seven congregations which are in Asia, to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea".


text:
In the center of the seven candlesticks [there was one] like the Son of Man, having on a robe reaching his feet, and a gold band around his chest.


text:
His feet [were] like the luster of polished metal, as if glowing in a furnace and his voice like a roaring waterfall.


text:
He had in his right hand seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword. His face [was] like the sun shining in his full strength.


text:
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I was dead, then he laid his right hand on me and said, "Do not fear, I am the first and the last.


text:
"I am he who lives, was dead, and look, I am alive for ever and ever! Amen. I have the keys of hell and death.


text:
"The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand and the seven golden candlesticks [is this]: the seven stars are the messengers of the seven congregations, and the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven congregations."


text:
To the messenger of the congregation of Ephesus write: He who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden candlesticks says,


text:
"I know your actions, your labor, your patience, and how you cannot tolerate those who are evil. You have examined those who say they are apostles but are not and found them to be fakes.


text:
"Now remember from where you have fallen from, repent, and do the first works now, or else I will come to you quickly and will remove your candlestick from its place, unless you repent.


text:
"Everyone having ears, listen now to what the Spirit is saying to the congregations. To him who overcomes I will allow to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of God's paradise.


text:
"To the messenger of the congregation in Smyrna write: These things says the first and the last which was dead and now is alive.


text:
"I am aware of your actions, hardships, and poverty (but you are rich), and the character assassination by those who say they are Jews (they are not), instead they are the synagogue of Satan.


text:
"Do not fear any of those things which you suffer. Be fully aware, the devil will throw [some] of you into prison so you can be tempted, and you will be cruelly treated ten days. Be faithful even to death, and I will give you a crown of life.


text:
"Everyone having ears, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the congregations. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death".


text:
"To the messenger of the congregation in Pergamos write: These things says he who has the sharp two-edged sword.


text:
"I know your actions and where you live (Satan's throne [is there]), and how you cling to my name and have not denied my faith, even in those days when Antipas, my faithful witness, was killed in your presence, where Satan lives.


text:
"But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who cling to the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to set a trap in front of the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.


text:
"Everyone having ears, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the congregations. To him who overcomes I will give the hidden manna to eat and a white stone, and on that stone a new name written which no one knows except the one who receives it".


text:
"To the messenger of the congregation of Thyatira write: These things says the Son of God, who has his eyes like flaming fire and his feet like brilliant brass.


text:
"I know your actions, love, service, faith, patience, and again, your latest works are greater than the first.


text:
"Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols.


text:
"Watch, I will throw her into a bed along with those who commit adultery with her into great suffering unless they repent of their works.


text:
"I will kill her children with death, then all the congregations will know that I am he who searches the innermost desires and innermost thoughts. I will give to everyone of you according to your works.


text:
"But I speak to you and to the rest in Thyatira who do not have this teaching and who have not learned the depths of Satan, as they put it. I will lay no other burden on you.


text:
"He will rule them with a rod of iron; like clay pots they will be shattered, just as I received from my Father.


text:
"To the messenger of the congregation in Sardis write: These things says he who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your actions that you have a reputation that you live, but you are dead.


text:
"Better wake up and strengthen the remaining things which are about to die, for I have not found your actions perfect in God's sight.


text:
"Now remember how you have received and heard? Pay serious attention to [these things] and repent. Now then, if you will not be vigilant [in this], I will come to you unexpectedly like a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come to you.


text:
"You have a few names, even in Sardis, who have not defiled their clothes, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy.


text:
"The overcomer will be dressed in white clothes, and I will not blot out his name from the book of life but will freely acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.


text:
"To the messenger of the congregation in Philadelphia write: These things says he who is holy and true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens.


text:
"I know your actions. Look, I have put before you an open door, and no one can shut it, because you have little strength, have followed my word, and have not denied my name.


text:
"Look, I will give those of Satan's synagogue, (they say they are Jews but are not, but lie); look, I will make them so they come, bow down at your feet, and know that I loved you.


text:
"Because you have obeyed the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which will come on all the world, to test those who live on the earth.


text:
"I will make the overcomer a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out no more. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God--New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God--and my new name.


text:
"To the messenger of the congregation of the Laodiceans write: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of the creation of God


text:
"Because you say, "I am rich and getting richer, and I don't need anything," and don't know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.


text:
"I counsel you to buy gold from me, refined by fire, so you can be rich, and white clothing from me so you can be dressed and the shame of your nakedness isn't seen; anoint your eyes with eye salve, so you can see.


text:
"Look! I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will eat with him and he with me.


text:
"I will give the overcomer the right to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.


text:
After this I looked and, behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, kind of like a trumpet, talking to me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must happen after this".


text:
And the one sitting there had an appearance similar to jasper and sardius, and a rainbow surrounded the throne, which had an appearance similar to emerald.


text:
And around the throne [were] twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting adorned in white clothes, and they had gold crowns on their heads.


text:
Flashes of light, thunders, and voices came from the throne, and [there were] seven flaming lamps of fire in front of the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.


text:
Also in front of the throne [there was] a sea of glass similar to crystal, and in the midst of the throne, around the throne [were] four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back.


text:
The first living creature looked like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature like a man, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle.


text:
The four living creatures each had six wings around [them] covered with eyes on the inner surface. They do not pause day or night saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, which is, which is to come".


text:
When these living creatures offer praise, honor, and thanksgiving to him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,


text:
the twenty-four elders drop down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns in front of the throne saying,


text:
"You are worthy, O Lord, to receive praise, honor, and power, because you have created everything, and they are and were created your pleasure."


text:
I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a book written on the inside and out and sealed with seven seals on the outside.


text:
I also saw a strong angel announcing with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open this book and to break its seals?"


text:
And I kept on sobbing, because no one was found worthy to open or read the book, nor even to look on it.


text:
One of the elders says to me, "Stop sobbing. Look, The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has won the victory to open the book and loosen its seals."


text:
So I looked and, lo, standing in the center of the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders [was] a Lamb, who appeared to have been violently killed. [This lamb] had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into the entire world.


text:
When he had taken the book, the four living creatures [and] twenty-four elders dropped down in front of the Lamb. Each had a harp and a gold, shallow cup full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people.


text:
They sang a new song, singing, "You are worthy to take the book and break its seals, because you were violently killed and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe, language, race, and nation.


text:
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders. The number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands,


text:
saying with loud voices, "Worthy is the Lamb who was violently killed, to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessings."


text:
Next I heard every creature in heaven, in earth, under the earth, and those on the sea, everyone, singing, "Blessing, honor, glory, and power be him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever."


text:
The four living creatures said, "Amen." The twenty-four elders dropped down and worshipped him who lives forever and ever.


text:
I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seals, and I heard, as if it were the sound of thunder, one of the four living creatures saying, "Come and see."


text:
I saw and look, a white horse. He who sat on him had a bow, and a crown was granted to him. He went forth conquering and to conquer.


text:
And another horse went out [that was] red. Its rider was granted to remove peace from the earth, and that they should violently kill one another. There was also given to him a great sword.


text:
When he had broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked and behold, a black horse. Its rider had a pair of balances in his hand.


text:
Then I heard a voice among the four living creatures say, "A day's supply of wheat for a day's wages and three day's supply of barley for a day's wages, and do not bother the olive oil or the wine."


text:
When he had broken the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come and see."


text:
I looked and lo, a pale colored horse, the rider's name was Death, and Hell accompanied him. Authority was granted to them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword, with hunger, with death, and with the savage beasts of the earth.


text:
When he had broken the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who were slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had.


text:
They shouted loudly with one voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge and punish those on earth who shed our blood?"


text:
White robes were given to every one of them, and it was said to them that they should rest for a little while longer until their fellow servants and also their brethren, who will be killed as they, will be completed.


text:
And I looked when he broke the sixth seal and lo, there was a great earthquake, the sun became black as sackcloth [made] from hair, and the moon became like blood.


text:
The stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig tree drops her unripe figs when shaken by a strong wind.


text:
Heaven vanished like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island moved out of their location.


text:
The kings of the earth, great men, rich men, military chiefs, the powerful, every slave and free man hid themselves in caves and under ledges in the mountains.


text:
They spoke to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the Lamb's fierce anger,


text:
After these things I saw four angels standing at the four quarters of the earth holding back the four winds, so that no wind would blow on the earth, sea, or any tree.


text:
I saw another angel ascending from the east having the seal of the living God. He called out loudly to the four angels to whom it given to hurt the earth and the sea,


text:
saying, "Do not hurt the earth, sea, or trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads".


text:
I heard the number of those who were sealed. [It was] one hundred forty four thousand from all the tribes of the children of Israel.


text:
After this I looked and, lo, a huge crowd, that no one could count the number, from all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages stood in front of the throne and before the Lamb; they were dressed in white robes and palms in their hands.


text:
All the angels, elders, and four living creatures stood surrounding the throne, dropped down in front of the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,


text:
saying, "Amen! Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and strength [belong] to our God forever and ever. Amen."


text:
One of the elders asked me, "Who are these who are clothed with white robes, and where did they come from?"


text:
I said to him, "Sir, you know." He then said to me, "These are those who came out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.


text:
"That is why they are in front of God's throne and serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will live with them.


text:
because the Lamb, who is in the center of the throne will feed them and lead them to living springs of waters, and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes."


text:
Then another angel came and stood at the altar having a gold censer. A lot of incense was given to him, so that he would offer it with the prayers of all God's people on the gold altar, which was in front of the throne.


text:
The smoke of the incense, along with the prayers of God's people, went up in front of God from the angel's hand.


text:
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth, then there were noises, rolling thunders, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.


text:
Then the first angel blew his trumpet; hail and fire mixed with blood bombarded the earth. One third of the trees burned down as well as all the green grass.


text:
The second angel blew his trumpet and something like a huge mountain flaming with fire was slammed into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.


text:
A third of the creatures, which were living in the sea, died, and one third of the ships were destroyed.


text:
The third angel blew his trumpet. A huge star, flaming like a torch, fell from heaven; it fell on a third of the rivers and springs of water.


text:
The name of that star is Wormwood, and a third of the waters became intensely bitter. Many people died from the waters, because they became intensely bitter.


text:
The fourth angel blew his trumpet. One third of the sun was affected, so also a third of the moon and stars, so that one third of them was darkened. The day had no light for a third of it as well as the night.


text:
Then I looked and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven saying with a loud voice, "How horrible, horrible, horrible for the earth's inhabitants because of the rest of the sounds of the trumpets which the angels have yet to blow."


text:
The fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fall from heaven to the earth, and the key to the bottomless pit was given to him.


text:
He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke came up out of the pit, like the smoke of an enormous furnace. Then the sun and the air were darkened from the smoke of the pit.


text:
Out of the smoke came locusts to the earth. Power was given to them, like the scorpions on the earth have power.


text:
It was said to them that they must not hurt the earth's grass, any green plant, or any tree, but only those people who don't have the seal of God on their foreheads.


text:
It was given to them that they shouldn't kill them, only that they should be tormented five months. Their torment [was] like a scorpion when it stings someone.


text:
In those days people will seek death and not find it; they will want to die, and death will flee from them.


text:
The locusts resembled horses prepared for battle. On their heads [were] what looked like gold crowns and their faces [looked] like human faces.


text:
They had vests resembling iron vests; the sounds of their wings [were] like the noise of many horse-drawn chariots running to battle.


text:
They had tails like scorpions, and there were stingers in their tails. Their power [was] to hurt men five months.


text:
They had a king over them, the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew [is] Abaddon but in Greek has the name, Apollyon.


text:
The sixth angel blew his trumpet, then I heard a voice from the four corners of the gold altar which is in front of God,


text:
saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Loosen the four angels who are tied up at the great river Euphrates."


text:
These four angels were made ready for this hour, day, month, and year to kill one third of humanity.


text:
And this is how I saw the horses in the vision and those who sat on them. [They] had vests of fire (red), jacinth (deep purple), and sulfur (yellow). The horse's heads [were] like lion's heads, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur.


text:
By these three things: the fire, smoke, and sulfur which came out of their mouths one third of humanity was killed,


text:
because their power is in their mouth and in their tails. Their tails [are] like snakes with heads, and with these they hurt people.


text:
The rest of the people which were not killed by these plagues, still would not repent of the works of their hands, so that they would not worship devils and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which cannot see, hear, or walk.


text:
Then I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven. He was wrapped with cloud and a rainbow [was] on his head. His face [was] as if it was the sun and his feet pillars of fire.


text:
He had in his hand a little open book, and he set his right foot on the sea and his left on the earth.


text:
Then he shouted with a loud voice, like a roaring lion. When he had shouted, seven thunders rumbled their voices.


text:
After they had spoken, I was about to write but heard a voice from heaven telling me, "Keep secret those things which the seven thunders said; do not write them."


text:
and swore an oath by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, earth and the things in it, and sea and the things in it, that there should be no more delay.


text:
In the time when the seventh angel blows his trumpet, the secret plan of God would be accomplished, just as he told his servants the prophets.


text:
Then the voice, which I heard from heaven, spoke to me again and said, "Go, take the little book which is open from the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and earth."


text:
So I went to the angel and said to him, "Give me the little book." He said to me, "Take and eat it; it will make your stomach sour, but it will be sweet as honey in your mouth."


text:
I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it; it was sweet as honey in my mouth, but as soon as I had eaten it, my stomach was sour.


text:
A reed, sort of like a measuring stick, was given to me, and the angel stood saying, "Get up and measure the temple of God, the altar, and the worshipers in it.


text:
"But leave out the courtyard outside the temple and do not measure it, because it is given to the Gentiles, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.


text:
"And I will give authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days dressed in sackcloth.


text:
"These are the two olive trees and two candlesticks standing in the presence of the God of the earth.


text:
"If anyone wants to trouble them, fire will come out of their mouth and eat up their enemies. If anyone wants to trouble them, he must in this way be killed.


text:
"These have authority to shut heaven, so that it does not rain during the time of their prophecy, and they have authority over water to turn it to blood and to smite the earth with all kinds of plagues as often as they want.


text:
"When they have completed their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.


text:
"Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called "Sodom" and "Egypt", where also our Lord was crucified.


text:
"Those of the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will see their dead bodies for three and a half days, and they will not allow their dead bodies to be put in graves.


text:
"Those who live on the earth will rejoice over [what happened to] them. They will be ecstatic and send gifts to one another, because those two prophets tormented those who lived on the earth.


text:
"After three and a half days, the Spirit of life from God entered them, then they stood upon their feet and great fear fell on those who saw them.


text:
"Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, «Come up here,» and they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them.


text:
"That very hour there was a great earthquake, and one tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people died, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.


text:
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, "The kingdoms of this world are now our Lord's and his Christ. He will reign forever and ever."


text:
saying, "We give thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who is and was and is to come, because you have taken your great authority and started to reign.


text:
"The nations were enraged, but your anger has come, and the time for the dead to be judged and to give reward to your servants, the prophets, God's people, and those who fear you name, both small and great, and to destroy those who are destroying the earth."


text:
Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and there in his temple was seen the ark of his covenant, and there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, earthquake, and great hail.


text:
Then in heaven an amazing thing appeared, a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head.


text:
And there appeared another amazing thing in heaven. Look! A great red dragon having seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads.


text:
His tail drew one third of heaven's stars and hurled them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her child as soon as it was born.


text:
She brought forth a male child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, and her child was taken up to God and his throne.


text:
The woman fled into the wilderness where she has a place prepared by God that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred sixty days.


text:
There was war in heaven, also. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought,


text:
And the great dragon was thrown out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was thrown out to the earth, and his angels were thrown out with him.


text:
I heard a loud voice speaking in heaven, "Now is come salvation, strength, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, for the accuser of our brethren is thrown out who accused them in God's presence day and night.


text:
"They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they didn't love their lives to [prevent] death.


text:
"Therefore rejoice, heavens and you who live in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and sea, because the devil is come down to you, being enraged, because he knows that he has only a short time."


text:
When the dragon saw that he was thrown out to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.


text:
Two wings of a great eagle were given to the woman, so that she might fly from the presence of the serpent into the wilderness to her place where she is provided for a time, times, and half a time.


text:
Then the serpent poured water out of his mouth like a flood behind the woman that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.


text:
But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood, which the dragon cast out of his mouth.


text:
So the dragon was furious with the woman and went to make war with the rest of her offspring who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.


text:
I stood on the sand of the sea and saw a savage beast rise up out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns [were] ten crowns and on his heads the name of blasphemy.


text:
This savage beast that I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like a bear's, and his mouth like a lion's, and the dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.


text:
Then I saw one of his heads looking like it had been violently slaughtered to death, and his deadly wound was healed. All the world was amazed and followed this beast,


text:
and they worshipped the dragon who gave authority to the beast. They worshipped the beast saying, "Who [is] comparable to the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"


text:
There was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; authority was given to him to continue forty-two months.


text:
He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name, his tabernacle, and those who live in heaven.


text:
It was allowed for him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. Power was given to him over all tribes, languages, and nations.


text:
All who live on the earth will worship him, those whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.


text:
He who leads to captivity will go to captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.


text:
Then I saw another savage beast ascending out of the earth; he had two horns like a lamb's, but he spoke like a dragon.


text:
He exercises all the authority of the first savage beast before him and causes all the earth and those who live in it to worship the first savage beast whose fatal wound was healed.


text:
He does great miracles, so that he even makes fire to come down from heaven to the earth in the presence of people.


text:
He deceives those who live on the earth by those miracles which he had power to do in the presence of the beast telling those who live on the earth that they must make a statue of the beast who had the wound by a sword and lived.


text:
He was allowed to give life to the statue of the beast, so that the statue should both speak and cause all who would not worship the statue of the beast to be killed.


text:
He also makes all whether small or great, rich or poor, free or slave to receive a mark on their right hand or on the forehead,


text:
Wisdom is needed here. Let him who has understanding compute the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred sixty six.


text:
Then I looked and lo, a Lamb stood on Mount Zion and with him a hundred forty-four thousand having his Father's name written on their foreheads.


text:
I heard a sound from heaven, like the sound of many waters and loud thunder. I also heard the sound of harpists playing their harps and singing


text:
as if it were a new song before of the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders. No one could learn that song except the hundred forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.


text:
These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, first fruits to God and to the Lamb.


text:
Then I saw another angel fly through mid sky having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, to every nation, tribe, language, and people,


text:
saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give honor to him, because the time of his judgment is come. Worship him who made heaven, the earth, the sea, and springs of water."


text:
Another angel followed saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her fornication."


text:
A third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If any one worships the beast and his statue and receives [his] mark on his forehead or his hand,


text:
that one will drink the wine of God's wrath, which is poured undiluted into his cup of fiery anger. He will also be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.


text:
The smoke of their torment rises forever and ever, and they who worship the beast and his statue and receive the mark of his name have no rest day or night."


text:
Here is the patience of God's people. Here are those who obey God's commandments and the faith of Jesus.


text:
Next I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their actions do follow them."


text:
I looked and lo, a white cloud and on this white cloud sat one similar to the Son of Man, having a gold crown on his head and a sharp scythe in his hand.


text:
Another angel came out of the temple, shouting with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in your scythe and reap, for the time has come for you to reap, because the harvest of the earth is ripe."


text:
Still another angel came from the altar, who had authority over the fire, and shouted loudly to him who had the sharp scythe saying, "Thrust in your sharp scythe and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe."


text:
So the angel thrust in his scythe to the earth and gathered the vine of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the furious anger of God.


text:
The winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress up to the horse's bridles for the length of one thousand six hundred stades (183 miles).


text:
I saw another great and astonishing sign in heaven, seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God's wrath was finished.


text:
Next, I saw a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had overcome the beast and his statue, mark, and number of his name stand on the sea of glass having the harps of God.


text:
They were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous [are] your works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are] your ways, you King of God's people.


text:
"Who will not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name, for only [you are] holy, for all nations will come and worship in your presence, because your judgments are plainly seen."


text:
and seven angels came out of the temple having the seven plagues. They were dressed in pure, white linen, having their chests wrapped with a golden sash.


text:
One of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven gold cups full of the fierce anger of God, who lives forever and ever.


text:
Then the temple was filled with smoke from God's glory and his power. No one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.


text:
Next I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go your ways and pour out the cups of God's fierce anger on the earth."


text:
The first went and poured out his cup on the earth, and it caused a pernicious and terrible ulcer on those having the mark of the beast and worshiping his statue.


text:
Then the second angel poured out his cup on the sea, and it became like the blood of a dead man. All living things in the sea died.


text:
Then I heard the angel of the waters say, "You are righteous, O Lord, who are, were, and will be, because you have judged these things,


text:
for they have poured out the blood of God's people and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink, because they deserve it."


text:
I heard another from the altar say, "Truly so, Lord God Almighty; true and righteous [are] your judgments."


text:
And people were scorched with intense heat and blasphemed the name of God, who has authority over these plagues, but they did not repent to give him glory.


text:
The fifth angel poured out his cup on to the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was total darkness. They gnawed their tongues because of pain,


text:
and blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their intense pain and ulcers, but they did not repent of their actions.


text:
The sixth angel poured out his cup on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way for the kings of the east might be prepared.


text:
Then I saw three unclean spirits resembling frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, the mouth of the beast, and the mouth of the false prophet.


text:
For indeed, they are the spirits of devils, doing miracles, which go out to the kings of the earth and whole world to unite them for the battle of that great day of God Almighty.


text:
"Pay attention, I come like a thief. Happy [is] he who is vigilant and keeps his clothes, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame."


text:
The seventh angel poured out his cup into the air, and there came a loud voice from the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It has happened."


text:
Then there were voices, thunders, and lightnings, and there was immense earthquake such as never happened before--since people were on the earth, such a strong and immense earthquake.


text:
The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. The great Babylon was remembered in the sight of God, to give to her the cup of the wine of his fierce anger.


text:
Next there fell huge hail from heaven on people, about the weight of a talent [about 100 pounds]. People blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, for this very plague was very great.


text:
One of the seven angels who had the seven cups came to me, saying to me, "Come here; I will show to you the judgment of the great whore who sits on many waters


text:
with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication".


text:
So he carried me away in spirit into the wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a blood-red beast full with names of blasphemy [and] having seven heads and ten horns.


text:
The woman was arrayed in purple and bright red and decked out with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She had a gold cup in her hand full with abominations and filthiness of her fornication.


text:
On her forehead a name was written: Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.


text:
I saw the woman drunk with the blood of God's people and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, and when I saw her, I was bewildered with great wonder.


text:
The angel said to me, "Why were you bewildered? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and the beast that carries her which had the seven heads and ten horns.


text:
"The Beast that you saw was and is not and will rise out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition. Those who live on the earth, those whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will be amazed when they see The Beast that was, is not, and yet is.


text:
"In this [is needed] the mind having wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits,


text:
and there are seven kings. Five have fallen, one is [now], [and] the other has yet to come. When he comes, he must continue for a short time.


text:
"The Beast that was and is not, is even the eighth, [who] is [one] of the seven, and goes into perdition.


text:
"The ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom but will be given authority as kings for one hour with The Beast.


text:
"These will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."


text:
Then he says to me, "The waters you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.


text:
"The ten horns you saw on the beast will hate the whore and will leave her desolated and naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her with fire,


text:
for God has put it in their hearts to fulfill his will, act together, and give their kingdom to the beast until God's words will be accomplished.


text:
After these things I saw another angel come down from heaven having great authority. The earth was lit up with his glory.


text:
He shouted loudly with a deafening voice saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and become the dwelling place of devils, the prison cell for every unclean spirit, and cage for every unclean and detestable bird.


text:
"All nations have drunk the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich through the abundance of her unrestrained lust."


text:
Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you are not partakers of her sins and don't receive her plagues,


text:
"Give to her even as she has given to you, even double for her double, according to her actions. In the cup, which she has filled, pour into hers twice as much.


text:
"She has glorified herself so much and lived in luxury; give her as much torment and sorrow, because she says in her heart, «I sit as queen, and not a widow. I will never know grief.»


text:
"Because of this her plagues will come in one day---death, mourning, and famine. She will be utterly burned with fire, because the Lord God who judges her is powerful.


text:
"The kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her, will wail and grieve for her when they see the smoke of her burning.


text:
"They stand far away, because they are afraid of the torment. They say, «How horrible, how horrible! This great and mighty city Babylon. In just one hour your judgment has come.»


text:
"The merchants of the earth will wail and grieve over her, because no one buys their merchandise any more.


text:
"[Their] merchandise [is] gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, and fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, and thya wood, all kinds of containers of ivory, precious wood, brass, iron, marble,


text:
also cinnamon, incenses, perfumed oils, frankincense, wine, olive oil, the finest wheat flour, and animals, sheep, and horses, chariots, slaves, even people's souls.


text:
"The fruits your soul lusted for have gone from you as well as everything dainty and gorgeous, and you will find them never again.


text:
"The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand far away through the fear of her torment, weeping, and wailing saying,


text:
«How horrible, how horrible! That great city which was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet clothe and decked out with gold, precious stones, and pearls.


text:
«For in just one hour such great riches is come to nothing.» Every ship's captain, all the passengers, sailors, and whosoever made their living from the sea stood far away.


text:
They threw dust on their heads and kept on crying, weeping, and wailing, saying, "How horrible, how horrible! That great city in which all who had ships at sea were made rich from her wealth, for in one hour she has come to nothing."


text:
A mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a huge millstone and threw it into the sea saying, "This is how that great city Babylon will be thrown down with violence and never be found again.


text:
"The sound of harpers, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters will never ever be heard in you again. No craftsman of whatever craft will ever be found in you, or the sound of a millstone ever be found in you.


text:
"The light of a candle will never ever shine in you, neither the voice of a bridegroom and bride ever be heard in you, because your merchants were the great men of the earth, and by your sorceries all nations were deceived.


text:
"Also the blood of prophets and God's people was found in her as well as all who were violently killed on the earth."


text:
After these things I heard the roar of a large crowd of people in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to the Lord our God,


text:
for his judgments are true and just. He has judged the great whore who continually corrupted the earth with her fornication and has avenged the blood of his servants [who were killed] by her hand."


text:
The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures dropped down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Hallelujah!"


text:
Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you his servants and those who fear him, both small and great."


text:
Next I heard as if it were the sound of a large crowd, the sound of crashing waters, and the sound of rolling thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigns.


text:
"Let us be glad, rejoice, and give honor to him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has prepared herself.


text:
"To her it was given that she should be dressed in fine linen, clean and radiant." The fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.


text:
Then he says to me, "Write this: How blessed are those who have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb." He also says to me, "These are the true words of God."


text:
I dropped down at his feet to worship him, and he said to me, "Look, don't do this! I am your fellow servant and of your brothers that have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."


text:
Next I saw heaven opened and look, a white horse. He who sat on him is called Faithful and True. He judges and makes war with righteousness.


text:
His eyes [were] like a blazing fire, and on his head [were] many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew but himself.


text:
A sharp sword goes out of his mouth, so that he can strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he will tread the winepress of the boiling anger and infuriation of the Almighty God.


text:
Then I saw an angel standing on the sun. He shouted with a loud voice, saying to the birds that fly overhead, "Come and gather yourselves together for the supper of the great God,


text:
so that you may eat the flesh of kings, captains, mighty men, horses, their riders, and all whether free or slave, great or insignificant."


text:
Next I saw The Beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse and his army.


text:
The Beast was captured as well as the False Prophet with him who did miracles in his presence by which he deceived those who have received the mark of The Beast and those who worshipped his statue. Both of these were thrown alive into the lake of fire, that burns with sulfur.


text:
The rest were slain with the sword that comes from the mouth of the one who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.


text:
Then I saw an angel come down from heaven having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.


text:
He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and tied him up for a thousand years,


text:
threw him into the bottomless pit, shut him in, and marked him so that he couldn't deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were completed after which he must be let loose for a short time.


text:
Then I saw thrones and those who sat on them. Authority to judge was given to them. I also saw the souls of those who were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, those who had not worshipped the beast or his statue, and had not received the mark on their foreheads or hands. They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.


text:
The rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years had finished. This is the first resurrection.


text:
How blessed and holy is he who a part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them. They will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.


text:
and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, so to gather them together for war as many as the sand grains of the seashore.


text:
They came up from the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people and the beloved city. Then fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.


text:
The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and false prophet are. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.


text:
Then I saw a great white throne and the one who sat on it from whose presence earth and heaven fled, and there was no room found for them.


text:
Next I saw the dead, both small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened. Another book was also opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged from what was written in the books according to their works.


text:
The sea handed over the dead, which were in it. Death and hell also handed over the dead, who were in them, and each one was judged according to their works.


text:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there was no more sea.


text:
I, John, saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.


text:
I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Look! The tabernacle of God is with people, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God, himself, will be with them and be their God.


text:
"God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor will there be any more pain, for the former things are over."


text:
The one who sat on the throne said, "Look! I make all things new." Then he said to me, "Write this, for these words are true and faithful."


text:
Next he said to me, "It is here! I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to anyone who is thirsty [a drink from] the spring of the water of life.


text:
but the faint-hearted, faithless, loathsome, murders, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will have their share in the lake which burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."


text:
One of the seven angels who had the seven cups full with the seven last plagues came and talked with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."


text:
He carried me away in spirit to a large, lofty mountain and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, coming down from heaven from God.


text:
It had the glory of God, and her brightness was like a very precious gem, kind of like jasper, clear as crystal.


text:
It had a large, towering wall and twelve gates. At the gates [were] twelve angels. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.


text:
There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.


text:
The city wall had twelve foundations, and on them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb [were written].


text:
The city is laid out in a square and the length is as large as the width. He measured the city with the measuring stick: [it was] twelve thousand stades [about 1300 miles], [and] its length, width, and height are equal.


text:
Next he measured its wall [which was] one hundred forty four cubits [about 216 feet] according to man's, that is the angel's, measure.


text:
The foundations of the city wall were decorated with all kinds of precious gems. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,


text:
the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh olivine, the eighth beryl, the ninth topa, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, [and] the twelfth amethyst.


text:
The twelve gates [were] twelve pearls. Every gate was one pearl. The city street [was] pure gold, transparent as glass.


text:
The city had no need for the sun or moon to shine in it, because God's glory illuminated it, and the Lamb [is] its light-source.


text:
The nations of those who are saved will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.


text:
In no way will there enter anything that defiles, does detestable things, or [makes] a lie. Only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.


text:
Then he showed me a pure river of water of life, as clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and the Lamb,


text:
flowing down the middle of its street. On each side of the river [was] the Tree of Life which produces twelve fruits [and] giving her fruit every month. The leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations.


text:
There will be no more curse. The throne of God and the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will serve him.


text:
There will be no night. They will have no need for lights or sunlight, for the Lord God gives them light, and they will reign forever and ever.


text:
Then he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true, and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show his servants the things which must happen shortly."


text:
I, John saw and heard these things. When I had heard and seen, I dropped down at the feet of the angel who showed me these things to worship [him].


text:
But he said to me, "See [that you] don't [do it], for I am your fellow servant and of your brothers, the prophets and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!"


text:
Then he said to me, "Don't keep the words of the prophecies of this book secret, for the time is near."


text:
"Whoever doesn't do what is right, let him continue not doing what is right. Whoever is filthy, let him remain filthy. Whoever is righteous, let him remain righteous, and whoever is holy, let him remain holy."


text:
"Look, I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to each according to what his actions will be.


text:
"How blessed are those who do his commandments, so that they will have the right to the Tree of Life and to enter through the gates into the city.


text:
"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things for the congregations. I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.


text:
"The Spirit and the Bride say, «Come.» And let the hearer say, «Come'. And let him who is thirsty come. And whoever wants to, let him take the water of life freely.


text:
«For I solemnly warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, «If anyone will add to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book,


text:
and if anyone will remove words from the book of this prophecy, God will remove his part from the Book of Life, the Holy City, and the things which are written in this book.»


