# verses

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Therefore, let it be known to you that this saving work of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!"


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[After he said these things, the Jews departed, while engaging in a prolonged debate among themselves.]


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proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with full boldness and without hindrance.


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and was established as the powerful Son of God by the resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness.


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We have received grace and apostleship through Him to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations, on behalf of His name,


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To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world.


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For God, whom I serve with my spirit in [telling] the good news about His Son, is my witness that I constantly mention you,


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always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God's will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you.


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Now I want you to know, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry among you, just as among the rest of the Gentiles.


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For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.


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For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.


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For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,


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From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.


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For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened.


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and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.


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Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves.


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They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.


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This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. For even their females exchanged natural sexual intercourse for what is unnatural.


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The males in the same way also left natural sexual intercourse with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty for their perversion.


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And because they did not think it worthwhile to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong.


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They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, disputes, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,


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Although they know full well God's just sentence-- that those who practice such things deserve to die-- they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.


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Therefore, anyone of you who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things.


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Do you really think-- anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same-- that you will escape God's judgment?


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Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?


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But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment is revealed.


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but wrath and indignation to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth, but are obeying unrighteousness;


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affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek;


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All those who sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all those who sinned under the law will be judged by the law.


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For the hearers of the law are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous.


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So, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law.


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They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences testify in support of this, and their competing thoughts either accuse or excuse them


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on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.


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an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having in the law the full expression of knowledge and truth--


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you then, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach, "You must not steal"-- do you steal?


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You who say, "You must not commit adultery"-- do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob their temples?


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For circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.


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Therefore if an uncircumcised man keeps the law's requirements, will his uncircumcision not be counted as circumcision?


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A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who fulfills the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter [of the law] and circumcision.


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For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and [true] circumcision is not something visible in the flesh.


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On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart-- by the Spirit, not the letter. His praise is not from men but from God.


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Absolutely not! God must be true, but everyone is a liar, as it is written: That You may be justified in Your words and triumph when You judge.


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But if our unrighteousness highlights God's righteousness, what are we to say? I use a human argument: Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?


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And why not say, just as some people slanderously claim we say, "Let us do evil so that good may come"? Their condemnation is deserved!


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What then? Are we any better? Not at all! For we have previously charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin,


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All have turned away, together they have become useless; there is no one who does good, there is not even one.


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Now we know that whatever the law says speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God's judgment.


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For no flesh will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, for through the law [comes] the knowledge of sin.


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But now, apart from the law, God's righteousness has been revealed-- attested by the Law and the Prophets


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-- that is, God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction.


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God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.


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He presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.


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Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith.


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since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.


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For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.


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But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares righteous the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.


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Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:


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Is this blessing only for the circumcised, then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness.


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How then was it credited-- while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised.


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And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also.


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And he became the father of the circumcised, not only to those who are circumcised, but also to those who follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.


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For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.


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This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants-- not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of Abraham's faith. He is the father of us all


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in God's sight. As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations. He believed in God, who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist.


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Against hope, with hope he believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.


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He considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb, without weakening in the faith.


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He did not waver in unbelief at God's promise, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,


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but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.


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Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.


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Also through Him, we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.


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And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance,


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This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.


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For rarely will someone die for a just person-- though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die.


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Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath.


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For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, [then how] much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!


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And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.


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Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned.


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In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to one's account when there is no law.


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Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam's transgression. He is a prototype of the Coming One.


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But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man's trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift overflowed to the many by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ.


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And the gift is not like the one man's sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification.


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Since by the one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.


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So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is life-giving justification for everyone.


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For just as through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.


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so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


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Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life.


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For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection.


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For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin's dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,


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because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, no longer dies. Death no longer rules over Him.


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And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.


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Do you not know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey-- either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?


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But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were entrusted to,


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I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to moral impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.


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And what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death.


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But now, since you have been liberated from sin and become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification-- and the end is eternal life!


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Since I am speaking to those who understand law, brothers, are you unaware that the law has authority over someone as long as he lives?


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For example, a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law regarding the husband.


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So then, if she gives herself to another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then, if she gives herself to another man, she is not an adulteress.


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Therefore, my brothers, you also were put to death in relation to the law through the [crucified] body of the Messiah, so that you may belong to another-- to Him who was raised from the dead-- that we may bear fruit for God.


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For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions operated through the law in every part of us and bore fruit for death.


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But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law.


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What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, You shall not covet.


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And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead.


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Therefore, did what is good cause my death? Absolutely not! On the contrary, sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin might become sinful beyond measure.


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For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate.


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For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.


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Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but it is the sin that lives in me.


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But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.


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I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin.


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What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin's domain, and as a sin offering,


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in order that the law's requirement would be accomplished in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.


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For those whose lives are according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those whose lives are according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit.


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For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God's law, for it is unable to do so.


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You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.


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Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.


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And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through His Spirit who lives in you.


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for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.


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For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father!"


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and if children, also heirs-- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ-- seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.


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For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.


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For the creation was subjected to futility-- not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it-- in the hope


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that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God's children.


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And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits-- we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.


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Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?


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In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings.


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And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit's mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.


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We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.


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For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.


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And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.


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He did not even spare His own Son, but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything?


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Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.


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Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?


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As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.


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For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,


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nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!


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I speak the truth in Christ-- I am not lying; my conscience is testifying to me with the Holy Spirit--


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For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from the Messiah for the benefit of my brothers, my countrymen by physical descent.


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They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises.


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The forefathers are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Messiah, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.


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But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.


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Neither are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants. On the contrary, in Isaac your seed will be called.


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That is, it is not the children by physical descent who are God's children, but the children of the promise are considered seed.


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(for though they had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to election might stand,


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For He tells Moses: I will show mercy to whom I show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.


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For the Scripture tells Pharaoh: For this reason I raised you up: so that I may display My power in you, and that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth.


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But who are you-- anyone who talks back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?"


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Or has the potter no right over His clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?


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And what if God, desiring to display His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath ready for destruction?


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And [what if] He did this to make known the riches of His glory on objects of mercy that He prepared beforehand for glory--


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As He also says in Hosea: I will call "Not-My-People," "My-People," and she who is "Unloved," "Beloved."


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And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not My people, there they will be called sons of the living God.


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But Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: Though the number of Israel's sons is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved;


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And just as Isaiah predicted: If the Lord of Hosts had not left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made like Gomorrah.


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What should we say then? Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness-- namely the righteousness that comes from faith.


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Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.


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As it is written: Look! I am putting a stone in Zion to stumble over, and a rock to trip over, yet the one who believes on Him will not be put to shame.


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Because they disregarded the righteousness from God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God's righteousness.


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For Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them.


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But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, "Who will go up to heaven?" that is, to bring Christ down


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On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim:


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if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.


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With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.


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for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him.


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But how can they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher?


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And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How welcome are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things!


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But I ask, "Did they not hear?" Yes, they did: Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the inhabited world.


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But I ask, "Did Israel not understand?" First, Moses said: I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that lacks understanding.


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And Isaiah says boldly: I was found by those who were not looking for Me; I revealed Myself to those who were not asking for Me.


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I ask, then, has God rejected His people? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.


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God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the Elijah section-- how he pleads with God against Israel?


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Lord, they have killed Your prophets, torn down Your altars; and I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life!


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What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,


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as it is written: God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day.


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I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their stumbling, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.


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Now if their stumbling brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full number bring!


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Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. In view of the fact that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,


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For if their being rejected is world reconciliation, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?


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Now if the firstfruits offered up are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.


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Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them, and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree,


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do not brag that you are better than those branches. But if you do brag-- you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.


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True enough; they were broken off by unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.


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Therefore, consider God's kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness toward you-- if you remain in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.


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And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again.


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For if you were cut off from your native wild olive, and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these-- the natural branches-- be grafted into their own olive tree?


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So that you will not be conceited, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery: a partial hardening has come to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.


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And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Liberator will come from Zion; He will turn away godlessness from Jacob.


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Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of their forefathers,


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so they too have now disobeyed, [resulting] in mercy to you, so that they also now may receive mercy.


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Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways!


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Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.


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Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.


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For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.


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According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the standard of faith;


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if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.


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Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.


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Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord.


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But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.


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Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God.


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So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God's command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.


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For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do good and you will have its approval.


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For government is God's servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God's servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.


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And for this reason you pay taxes, since the [authorities] are God's public servants, continually attending to these tasks.


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Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.


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Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.


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The commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and if there is any other commandment-- all are summed up by this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.


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Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.


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The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.


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Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy.


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One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat; and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does, because God has accepted him.


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Who are you to criticize another's household slave? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And stand he will! For the Lord is able to make him stand.


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One person considers one day to be above another day. Someone else considers every day to be the same. Each one must be fully convinced in his own mind.


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Whoever observes the day, observes it to the Lord. Whoever eats, eats to the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat, it is to the Lord that he does not eat, yet he thanks God.


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If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.


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But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.


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For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to Me, and every tongue will give praise to God.


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Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another, but instead decide not to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother's way.


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(I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.)


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For if your brother is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. By what you eat, do not destroy that one for whom Christ died.


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for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.


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Do not tear down God's work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong for a man to cause stumbling by what he eats.


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Do you have faith? Keep it to yourself before God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.


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But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin.


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Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves.


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For even the Messiah did not please Himself. On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.


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For whatever was written before was written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we may have hope.


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Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you agreement with one another, according to Christ Jesus,


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Now I say that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God, to confirm the promises to the fathers,


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and so that Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles, and I will sing psalms to Your name.


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And again, Isaiah says: The root of Jesse will appear, the One who rises to rule the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will hope.


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Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.


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Now, my brothers, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.


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Nevertheless, to remind you, I have written to you more boldly on some points because of the grace given me by God


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to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of God's good news. My purpose is that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.


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For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed,


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by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God's Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the good news about the Messiah from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum.


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So my aim is to evangelize where Christ has not been named, in order that I will not be building on someone else's foundation,


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but, as it is written: Those who had no report of Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.


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But now I no longer have any work to do in these provinces, and I have strongly desired for many years to come to you


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whenever I travel to Spain. For I do hope to see you when I pass through, and to be sent on my way there by you, once I have first enjoyed your company for a while.


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for Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution to the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.


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Yes, they were pleased, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits, then they are obligated to minister to Jews in material needs.


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So when I have finished this and safely delivered the funds to them, I will go by way of you to Spain.


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Now I implore you, brothers, through the Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to agonize together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf:


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that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,


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So you should welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever matter she may require your help. For indeed she has been a benefactor of many-- and of me also.


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who risked their own necks for my life. Not only do I thank them, but so do all the Gentile churches.


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Greet also the church that meets in their home. Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.


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Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were also in Christ before me.


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Greet Herodion, my fellow countryman. Greet those who belong to the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.


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Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who have worked hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.


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Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.


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Now I implore you, brothers, watch out for those who cause dissensions and pitfalls contrary to the doctrine you have learned. Avoid them;


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for such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.


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The report of your obedience has reached everyone. Therefore I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good, yet innocent about what is evil.


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Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you.


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Now to Him who has power to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the sacred secret kept silent for long ages,


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but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God, to advance the obedience of faith among all nations--


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To God's church at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord-- theirs and ours.


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so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.


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For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe's household, that there are quarrels among you.


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What I am saying is this: each of you says, "I'm with Paul," or "I'm with Apollos," or "I'm with Cephas," or "I'm with Christ."


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I did, in fact, baptize the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't know if I baptized anyone else.


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For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel-- not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied [of its effect].


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For to those who are perishing the message of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is God's power.


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For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts.


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Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn't God made the world's wisdom foolish?


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For since, in God's wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached.


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because God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.


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Brothers, consider your calling: not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth.


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Instead, God has chosen the world's foolish things to shame the wise, and God has chosen the world's weak things to shame the strong.


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God has chosen the world's insignificant and despised things-- the things viewed as nothing-- so He might bring to nothing the things that are viewed as something,


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But from Him you are in Christ Jesus, who for us became wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,


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When I came to you, brothers, announcing the testimony of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom.


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My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and power,


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However, among the mature we do speak a wisdom, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.


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On the contrary, we speak God's hidden wisdom in a mystery, which God predestined before the ages for our glory.


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None of the rulers of this age knew it, for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.


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But as it is written: What no eye has seen and no ear has heard, and what has never come into a man's heart, is what God has prepared for those who love Him.


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Now God has revealed them to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God.


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For who among men knows the concerns of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him? In the same way, no one knows the concerns of God except the Spirit of God.


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Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, in order to know what has been freely given to us by God.


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We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.


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But the natural man does not welcome what comes from God's Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to know it since it is evaluated spiritually.


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The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone.


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Brothers, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies in Christ.


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I fed you milk, not solid food, because you were not yet able to receive it. In fact, you are still not able,


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because you are still fleshly. For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and living like ordinary people?


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For whenever someone says, "I'm with Paul," and another, "I'm with Apollos," are you not [typical] men?


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So, what is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given.


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So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.


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Now the one who plants and the one who waters are equal, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.


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According to God's grace that was given to me, as a skilled master builder I have laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it,


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each one's work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one's work.


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If anyone's work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.


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If anyone ruins God's sanctuary, God will ruin him; for God's sanctuary is holy, and that is what you are.


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No one should deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, he must become foolish so that he can become wise.


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For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written: He catches the wise in their craftiness--


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whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come-- all are yours,


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It is of little importance that I should be evaluated by you or by a human court. In fact, I don't even evaluate myself.


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For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. The One who evaluates me is the Lord.


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Therefore don't judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.


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Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the saying: "Nothing beyond what is written." The purpose is that none of you will be inflated with pride in favor of one person over another.


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For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you didn't receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn't received it?


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Already you are full! Already you are rich! You have begun to reign as kings without us-- and I wish you did reign, so that we also could reign with you!


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For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: we have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men.


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We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!


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Up to the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we are poorly clothed, roughly treated, homeless;


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we labor, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;


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when we are slandered, we entreat. We are, even now, like the world's garbage, like the filth of all things.


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For you can have 10,000 instructors in Christ, but you can't have many fathers. Now I have fathered you in Christ Jesus through the gospel.


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This is why I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.


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But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will know not the talk but the power of those who are inflated with pride.


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It is widely reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even condoned among the Gentiles-- a man is living with his father's wife.


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And you are inflated with pride, instead of filled with grief so that he who has committed this act might be removed from among you.


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For though absent in body but present in spirit, I have already decided about him who has done this thing as though I were present.


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In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, along with my spirit and with the power of our Lord Jesus,


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turn that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.


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Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, since you are unleavened. For Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.


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Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old yeast, or with the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.


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by no means referring to this world's immoral people, or to the greedy and swindlers, or to idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world.


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But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother who is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a reviler, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person.


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Does any of you who has a complaint against someone dare go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?


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Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest cases?


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So if you have cases pertaining to this life, do you select those who have no standing in the church to judge?


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I say this to your shame! Can it be that there is not one wise person among you who will be able to arbitrate between his brothers?


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Therefore, it is already a total defeat for you that you have lawsuits against one another. Why not rather put up with injustice? Why not rather be cheated?


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Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit God's kingdom? Do not be deceived: no sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals,


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Some of you were like this; but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.


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Everything is permissible for me," but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible for me," but I will not be brought under the control of anything.


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Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods," but God will do away with both of them. The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.


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Do you not know that your bodies are the members of Christ? So should I take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Absolutely not!


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Do you not know that anyone joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For it says, The two will become one flesh.


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Flee from sexual immorality! "Every sin a person can commit is outside the body," but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.


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Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,


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But because of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.


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A wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. Equally, a husband does not have authority over his own body, but his wife does.


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Do not deprive one another-- except when you agree, for a time, to devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control.


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I wish that all people were just like me. But each has his own gift from God, one this and another that.


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But if they do not have self-control, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with desire.


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But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband-- and a husband is not to leave his wife.


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But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is willing to live with him, he must not leave her.


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Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he is willing to live with her, she must not leave her husband.


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For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the Christian husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.


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But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to peace.


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For you, wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Or you, husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?


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However, each one must live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches.


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Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised.


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Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter, but keeping God's commandments does.


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Were you called while a slave? It should not be a concern to you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity.


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For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ's slave.


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About virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.


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Therefore I consider this to be good because of the present distress: it is fine for a man to stay as he is.


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However, if you do get married, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.


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And I say this, brothers: the time is limited, so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none,


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those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,


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and those who use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away.


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I want you to be without concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord-- how he may please the Lord.


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and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world-- how she may please her husband.


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Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but because of what is proper, and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.


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But if any man thinks he is acting improperly toward his virgin, if she is past marriageable age, and so it must be, he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; they can get married.


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But he who stands firm in his heart (who is under no compulsion, but has control over his own will) and has decided in his heart to keep his own virgin, will do well.


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A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone she wants-- only in the Lord.


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But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my opinion. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.


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About food offered to idols: We know that "we all have knowledge." Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.


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About eating food offered to idols, then, we know that "an idol is nothing in the world," and that "there is no God but one."


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For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth-- as there are many "gods" and many "lords"--


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yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through Him.


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However, not everyone has this knowledge. In fact, some have been so used to idolatry up until now, that when they eat food offered to an idol, their conscience, being weak, is defiled.


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Food will not make us acceptable to God. We are not inferior if we don't eat, and we are not better if we do eat.


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For if somebody sees you, the one who has this knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, won't his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols?


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Now when you sin like this against the brothers and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ.


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Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won't cause my brother to fall.


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Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?


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If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.


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Don't we have the right to be accompanied by a Christian wife, like the other apostles, the Lord's brothers, and Cephas?


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Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock and does not drink the milk from the flock?


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For it is written in the law of Moses, Do not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain. Is God really concerned with oxen?


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Or isn't He really saying it for us? Yes, this is written for us, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes should do so in hope of sharing the crop.


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If others share this authority over you, don't we even more? However, we have not used this authority; instead we endure everything so that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ.


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Do you not know that those who perform the temple services eat the food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the offerings of the altar?


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In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel.


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But I have used none of these rights, and I have not written this to make it happen that way for me. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast!


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For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because an obligation is placed on me. And woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!


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What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge, and not make full use of my authority in the gospel.


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For although I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, in order to win more people.


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To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law-- though I myself am not under the law-- to win those under the law.


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To those who are outside the law, like one outside the law-- not being outside God's law, but under the law of Christ-- to win those outside the law.


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To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.


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Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.


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Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.


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Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.


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Now I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea,


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and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.


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Don't become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play.


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Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead.


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Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.


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No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.


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The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?


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No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons!


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You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord's table and the table of demons.


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Everything is permissible," but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible," but not everything builds up.


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If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions of conscience.


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But if someone says to you, "This is food offered to an idol," do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience' sake.


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I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person's. For why is my freedom judged by another person's conscience?


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just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.


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Now I praise you because you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.


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But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ.


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But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since that is one and the same as having her head shaved.


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So if a woman's head is not covered, her hair should be cut off. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should be covered.


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A man, in fact, should not cover his head, because he is God's image and glory, but woman is man's glory.


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Now in giving the following instruction I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.


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For, to begin with, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.


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For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others, and one person is hungry while another is drunk!


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Don't you have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you look down on the church of God and embarrass those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I do not praise you for this!


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For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: on the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread,


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gave thanks, broke it, and said, <J>"This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me."</J>


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In the same way [He] also [took] the cup, after supper, and said, <J>"This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."</J>


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Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord.


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but when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, so that we may not be condemned with the world.


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If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that you can come together and not cause judgment. And I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.


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Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.


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to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit,


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to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of languages, to another, interpretation of languages.


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For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body-- so also is Christ.


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For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-- and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.


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If the foot should say, "Because I'm not a hand, I don't belong to the body," in spite of this it still belongs to the body.


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And if the ear should say, "Because I'm not an eye, I don't belong to the body," in spite of this it still belongs to the body.


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If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?


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So the eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" nor again the head to the feet, "I don't need you!"


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And those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have a better presentation.


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But our presentable parts have no need [of clothing]. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable,


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


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So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.


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And God has placed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next, miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, managing, various kinds of languages.


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If I speak the languages of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal.


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If I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so that I can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.


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And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing.


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Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for languages, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.


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When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things.


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For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.


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For the person who speaks in [another] language is not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.


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The person who speaks in [another] language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church.


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I wish all of you spoke in other languages, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.


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But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in [other] languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?


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Even inanimate things producing sounds-- whether flute or harp-- if they don't make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized?


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In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air.


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Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.


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So also you-- since you are zealous in matters of the spirit, seek to excel in building up the church.


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What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding.


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Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will the uninformed person say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?


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yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in [another] language.


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It is written in the law: By people of other languages and by the lips of foreigners, I will speak to this people; and even then, they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.


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It follows that speaking in other languages is intended as a sign, not to believers but to unbelievers. But prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.


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Therefore if the whole church assembles together, and all are speaking in [other] languages, and people who are uninformed or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?


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But if all are prophesying, and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all.


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The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall down on his face and worship God, proclaiming, "God is really among you."


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How is it then, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, [another] language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification.


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If any person speaks in [another] language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret.


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But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God.


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But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent.


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the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says.


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And if they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church meeting.


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If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord's command.


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Now brothers, I want to clarify for you the gospel I proclaimed to you; you received it and have taken your stand on it.


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You are also saved by it, if you hold to the message I proclaimed to you-- unless you believed to no purpose.


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For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,


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Then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time, most of whom remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.


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For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.


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But by God's grace I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not ineffective. However, I worked more than any of them, yet not I, but God's grace that was with me.


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Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, "There is no resurrection of the dead"?


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In addition, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified about God that He raised up Christ-- whom He did not raise up if in fact the dead are not raised.


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Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He abolishes all rule and all authority and power.


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For He has put everything under His feet. But when it says "everything" is put under Him, it is obvious that He who puts everything under Him is the exception.


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And when everything is subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who subjected everything to Him, so that God may be all in all.


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Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them?


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If I fought wild animals in Ephesus with only human hope, what good does that do me? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.


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Become right-minded and stop sinning, because some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame.


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And as for what you sow-- you are not sowing the future body, but only a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain.


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Not all flesh is the same flesh; there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.


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There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones.


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There is a splendor of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; for star differs from star in splendor.


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sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.


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So it is written: The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit.


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Like the man made of dust, so are those who are made of dust; like the heavenly man, so are those who are heavenly.


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And just as we have borne the image of the man made of dust, we will also bear the image of the heavenly man.


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Brothers, I tell you this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption.


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in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.


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Because this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality.


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Now when this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory.


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Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.


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Now about the collection for the saints: you should do the same as I instructed the Galatian churches.


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On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save to the extent that he prospers, so that no collections will need to be made when I come.


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And when I arrive, I will send those whom you recommend by letter to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.


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and perhaps I will remain with you, or even spend the winter, that you may send me on my way wherever I go.


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I don't want to see you now just in passing, for I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows.


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If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear from you, because he is doing the Lord's work, just as I am.


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Therefore no one should look down on him; but you should send him on his way in peace so he can come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.


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About our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but he was not at all willing to come now. However, when he has time, he will come.


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Brothers, you know the household of Stephanas: they are the firstfruits of Achaia and have devoted themselves to serving the saints. I urge you


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I am delighted over the presence of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because these men have made up for your absence.


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The churches of the Asian province greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, along with the church that meets in their home.


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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, and Timothy our brother: To God's church at Corinth, with all the saints who are throughout Achaia.


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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.


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He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.


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If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is experienced in the endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.


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And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you share in the sufferings, so you will share in the comfort.


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For we don't want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in the province of Asia: we were completely overwhelmed-- beyond our strength-- so that we even despaired of life.


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However, we personally had a death sentence within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.


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He has delivered us from such a terrible death, and He will deliver us; we have placed our hope in Him that He will deliver us again.


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And you can join in helping with prayer for us, so that thanks may be given by many on our behalf for the gift that came to us through [the prayers of] many.


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For our boast is this: the testimony of our conscience that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly wisdom but by God's grace.


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Now we are writing you nothing other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely--


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as you have partially understood us-- that we are your reason for pride, as you are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.


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and to go on to Macedonia with your help, then come to you again from Macedonia and be given a start by you on my journey to Judea.


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So when I planned this, was I irresponsible? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human way so that I say "Yes, yes" and "No, no" [simultaneously]?


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For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us-- by me and Silvanus and Timothy-- did not become "Yes and no"; on the contrary, "Yes" has come about in Him.


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For every one of God's promises is "Yes" in Him. Therefore the "Amen" is also through Him for God's glory through us.


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Not that we have control of your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand by faith.


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I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn't have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident about all of you that my joy is yours.


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For out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart I wrote to you with many tears-- not that you should be hurt, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.


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If anyone has caused pain, he has not caused pain to me, but in some degree-- not to exaggerate-- to all of you.


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so now you should forgive and comfort him instead; otherwise, this one may be overwhelmed by excessive grief.


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It was for this purpose I wrote: so I may know your proven character, if you are obedient in everything.


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Now to whom you forgive anything, I do too. For what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, it is for you in the presence of Christ,


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I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus, but I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.


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But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ, and spreads through us in every place the scent of knowing Him.


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For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.


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To some we are a scent of death leading to death, but to others, a scent of life leading to life. And who is competent for this?


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For we are not like the many who make a trade in God's message [for profit], but as those with sincerity, we speak in Christ, as from God and before God.


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Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or like some, do we need letters of recommendation to you or from you?


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since it is plain that you are Christ's letter, produced by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God; not on stone tablets but on tablets that are hearts of flesh.


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not that we are competent in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our competence is from God.


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He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit produces life.


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Now if the ministry of death, chiseled in letters on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look directly at Moses' face because of the glory from his face-- a fading [glory]--


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For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness overflows with even more glory.


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In fact, what had been glorious is not glorious in this case because of the glory that surpasses it.


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not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel could not look at the end of what was fading away.


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But their minds were closed. For to this day, at the reading of the old covenant, the same veil remains; it is not lifted, because it is set aside [only] in Christ.


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We all, with unveiled faces, are reflecting the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.


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Instead, we have renounced shameful secret things, not walking in deceit or distorting God's message, but in God's sight we commend ourselves to every person's conscience by an open display of the truth.


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Regarding them: the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.


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For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus.


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For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness"-- He has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ.


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Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.


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We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.


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For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus' life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh.


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And since we have the same spirit of faith in accordance with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak,


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knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and present us with you.


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For all this is because of you, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to overflow to God's glory.


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Therefore we do not give up; even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.


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For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.


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So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.


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


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Indeed, we who are in this tent groan, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life.


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Therefore, though we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord--


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For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or bad.


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Knowing, then, the fear of the Lord, we persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well.


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We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance rather than in the heart.


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For Christ's love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: if One died for all, then all died.


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And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised.


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From now on, then, we do not know anyone in a purely human way. Even if we have known Christ in a purely human way, yet now we no longer know Him like that.


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Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.


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Now everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:


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that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.


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Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; certain that God is appealing through us, we plead on Christ's behalf, "Be reconciled to God."


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He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.


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


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But in everything, as God's ministers, we commend ourselves: by great endurance, by afflictions, by hardship, by pressures,


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by the message of truth, by the power of God; through weapons of righteousness on the right hand and the left,


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as grieving yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing yet possessing everything.


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Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?


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What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?


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And what agreement does God's sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said: I will dwell among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.


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Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you.


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Therefore dear friends, since we have such promises, we should wash ourselves clean from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, making our sanctification complete in the fear of God.


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I don't say this to condemn you, for I have already said that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.


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I have great confidence in you; I have great pride in you. I am filled with encouragement; I am overcome with joy in all our afflictions.


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In fact, when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest. Instead, we were afflicted in every way: struggles on the outside, fears inside.


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and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort he received from you. He announced to us your deep longing, your sorrow, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.


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For although I grieved you with my letter, I do not regret it-- even though I did regret it since I saw that the letter grieved you, though only for a little while.


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Now I am rejoicing, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance. For you were grieved as God willed, so that you didn't experience any loss from us.


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For godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation, but worldly grief produces death.


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For consider how much diligence this very thing-- this grieving as God wills-- has produced in you: what a desire to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what deep longing, what zeal, what justice! In every way you have commended yourselves to be pure in this matter.


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So even though I wrote to you, it was not because of the one who did wrong, or because of the one who was wronged, but in order that your diligence for us might be made plain to you in the sight of God.


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For this reason we have been comforted. In addition to our comfort, we were made to rejoice even more over the joy Titus had, because his spirit was refreshed by all of you.


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For if I have made any boast to him about you, I have not been embarrassed; but as I have spoken everything to you in truth, so our boasting to Titus has also turned out to be the truth.


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And his affection toward you is even greater as he remembers the obedience of all of you, and how you received him with fear and trembling.


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during a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity.


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and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God's will.


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Now as you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us-- excel also in this grace.


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I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love.


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For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: although He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.


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Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it.


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But now finish the task as well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have.


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For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.


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It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality--


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at the present time your surplus is [available] for their need, so that their abundance may also become [available] for your need, that there may be equality.


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As it has been written: The person who gathered much did not have too much, and the person who gathered little did not have too little.


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And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gift that is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness [to help].


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We are taking this precaution so no one can find fault with us concerning this large sum administered by us.


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We have also sent with them our brother whom we have often tested, in many circumstances, and found diligent-- and now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.


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As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker serving you; as for our brothers, they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.


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For I know your eagerness, and I brag about you to the Macedonians: "Achaia has been prepared since last year," and your zeal has stirred up most of them.


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But I sent the brothers so our boasting about you in the matter would not prove empty, and so you would be prepared just as I said.


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For if any Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be embarrassed in that situation.


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Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not an extortion.


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Remember this: the person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.


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Each person should do as he has decided in his heart-- not out of regret or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.


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And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.


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Now the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness,


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For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God.


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Through the proof of this service, they will glorify God for your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with others.


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And in their prayers for you they will have deep affection for you because of the surpassing grace of God on you.


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Now I, Paul, make a personal appeal to you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ-- I who am humble among you in person, but bold toward you when absent.


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I beg you that when I am present I will not need to be bold with the confidence by which I plan to challenge certain people who think we are walking in a fleshly way.


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since the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments


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and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.


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Look at what is obvious. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself of this: just as he belongs to Christ, so do we.


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For if I boast some more about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I am not ashamed.


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For it is said, "His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak, and his public speaking is despicable."


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Such a person should consider this: what we are in the words of our letters when absent, we will be in actions when present.


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For we don't dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they lack understanding.


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We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but according to the measure of the area [of ministry] that God has assigned to us, [which] reaches even to you.


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For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we had not reached you, since we have come to you with the gospel of Christ.


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We are not bragging beyond measure about other people's labors. But we have the hope that as your faith increases, our area [of ministry] will be greatly enlarged,


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so that we may preach the gospel to the regions beyond you, not boasting about what has already been done in someone else's area [of ministry].


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For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband-- to present a pure virgin to Christ.


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But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted from a complete and pure devotion to Christ.


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For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!


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Though untrained in public speaking, I am certainly not [untrained] in knowledge. Indeed, we have always made that clear to you in everything.


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Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?


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When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way.


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As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.


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But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to cut off the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in what they are boasting about.


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So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.


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I repeat: no one should consider me a fool. But if [you do], at least accept me as a fool, so I too may boast a little.


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In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone captures you, if someone dominates you, or if someone hits you in the face.


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I say this to [our] shame: we have been weak. But in whatever anyone dares [to boast]-- I am talking foolishly-- I also dare:


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Are they servants of Christ? I'm talking like a madman-- I'm a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, near death many times.


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Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the depths of the sea.


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On frequent journeys, [I faced] dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the open country, dangers on the sea, and dangers among false brothers;


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labor and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and lacking clothing.


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In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me,


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It is necessary to boast; it is not helpful, but I will move on to visions and revelations of the Lord.


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I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don't know; God knows.


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For if I want to boast, I will not be a fool, because I will be telling the truth. But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me,


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especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself.


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But He said to me, <J>"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."</J> Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me.


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So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong.


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I have become a fool; you forced it on me. I ought to have been recommended by you, since I am in no way inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.


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The signs of an apostle were performed among you in all endurance-- not only signs but also wonders and miracles.


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So in what way were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!


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Look! I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, for I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.


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I urged Titus [to come], and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Didn't we walk in the same spirit and in the same footsteps?


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You have thought all along that we were defending ourselves to you. [No], in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.


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For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and I may not be found by you to be what you want; there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.


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I fear that when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and promiscuity they practiced.


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This is the third time I am coming to you. On the testimony of two or three witnesses every word will be confirmed.


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I gave warning, and I give warning-- as when I was present the second time, so now while I am absent-- to those who sinned before and to all the rest: if I come again, I will not be lenient,


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In fact, He was crucified in weakness, but He lives by God's power. For we also are weak in Him, yet toward you we will live with Him by God's power.


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Test yourselves [to see] if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you not recognize for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you?-- unless you fail the test.


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Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong, not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we [may appear] to fail.


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This is why I am writing these things while absent, that when I am there I will not use severity, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.


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Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be restored, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.


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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.


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Paul, an apostle-- not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead--


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who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,


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I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called you by the grace of Christ, [and are turning] to a different gospel--


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not that there is another [gospel], but there are some who are troubling you and want to change the gospel of Christ.


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But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you, a curse be on him!


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As we have said before, I now say again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!


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For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.


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Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not based on a human point of view.


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For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation from Jesus Christ.


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For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I persecuted God's church to an extreme degree and tried to destroy it;


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and I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.


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to reveal His Son in me, so that I could preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.


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I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me; instead I went to Arabia and came back to Damascus.


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Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas, and I stayed with him 15 days.


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they simply kept hearing: "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy."


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I went up because of a revelation and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles-- but privately to those recognized [as leaders]-- so that I might not be running, or have run, in vain.


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[This issue arose] because of false brothers smuggled in, who came in secretly to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.


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But we did not yield in submission to these people for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain for you.


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But from those recognized as important (what they really were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism)-- those recognized as important added nothing to me.


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On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter was for the circumcised.


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For He who was at work with Peter in the apostleship to the circumcised was also at work with me among the Gentiles.


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When James, Cephas, and John, recognized as pillars, acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, [agreeing] that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.


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For he used to eat with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party.


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Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.


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But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, "If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?"


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yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.


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But if, while seeking to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are also found to be sinners, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not!


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For through the law I have died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ;


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and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.


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I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.


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You foolish Galatians! Who has hypnotized you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified?


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I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?


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Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh?


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So then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?


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Now the Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and foretold the good news to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed in you.


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For all who [rely on] the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law.


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Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith.


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Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.


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The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.


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Brothers, I'm using a human illustration. No one sets aside even a human covenant that has been ratified, or makes additions to it.


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Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say "and to seeds," as though referring to many, but and to your seed, referring to one, who is Christ.


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And I say this: the law, which came 430 years later, does not revoke a covenant that was previously ratified by God, so as to cancel the promise.


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For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.


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Why the law then? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. [The law] was ordered through angels by means of a mediator.


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Is the law therefore contrary to God's promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law.


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But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin's power, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.


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Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.


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Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything.


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In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world.


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And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!"


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But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt elemental forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?


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and though my physical condition was a trial for you, you did not despise or reject me. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus [Himself].


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What happened to this blessedness of yours? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.


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They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them.


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I'd like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don't know what to do about you.


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But the one by the slave was born according to the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.


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These things are illustrations, for the women represent the two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery-- this is Hagar.


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Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.


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For it is written: Rejoice, O barren woman who does not give birth. Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor, for the children of the desolate are many, more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband.


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But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now.


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But what does the Scripture say? Throw out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never inherit with the son of the free woman.


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Christ has liberated us into freedom. Therefore stand firm and don't submit again to a yoke of slavery.


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You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace!


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For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.


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In the Lord I have confidence in you that you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is who is troubling you will pay the penalty.


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Now brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.


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For you are called to freedom, brothers; only don't use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.


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For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don't do what you want.


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idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions,


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envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar, about which I tell you in advance-- as I told you before-- that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.


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Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you won't be tempted also.


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But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else.


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because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.


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Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.


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Those who want to make a good showing in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised-- but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.


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For even the circumcised don't keep the law themselves; however, they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh.


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But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.


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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will: To the saints and believers in Christ Jesus at Ephesus.


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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, in Christ;


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for He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love


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In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace


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for the administration of the days of fulfillment-- to bring everything together in the Messiah, both things in heaven and things on earth in Him.


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In Him we were also made His inheritance, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will,


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In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- in Him when you believed-- were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.


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He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.


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[I pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.


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[I pray] that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints,


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and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.


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He demonstrated [this power] in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavens--


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far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come.


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in which you previously walked according to this worldly age, according to the ruler of the atmospheric domain, the spirit now working in the disobedient.


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We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and by nature we were children under wrath, as the others were also.


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so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace in [His] kindness to us in Christ Jesus.


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For we are His creation-- created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.


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So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh-- called "the uncircumcised" by those called "the circumcised," done by hand in the flesh.


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At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, with no hope and without God in the world.


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For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh,


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He did away with the law of the commandments in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.


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[He did this so] that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it.


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When [Christ] came, He proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.


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So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God's household,


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The whole building is being fitted together in Him and is growing into a holy sanctuary in the Lord,


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This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:


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the Gentiles are co-heirs, members of the same body, and partners of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.


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I was made a servant of this [gospel] by the gift of God's grace that was given to me by the working of His power.


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This grace was given to me-- the least of all the saints!-- to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of the Messiah,


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and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.


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This is so that God's multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.


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So then I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.


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[I pray] that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,


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and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. [I pray that] you, being rooted and firmly established in love,


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and to know the Messiah's love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.


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Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think-- according to the power that works in you--


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The One who descended is the same as the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.


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And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,


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until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, [growing] into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ's fullness.


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Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.


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From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.


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Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts.


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They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts.


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They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more.


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you put on the new man, the one created according to God's [likeness] in righteousness and purity of the truth.


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Since you put away lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another.


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The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.


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No rotten talk should come from your mouth, but only what is good for the building up of someone in need, in order to give grace to those who hear.


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All bitterness, anger and wrath, insult and slander must be removed from you, along with all wickedness.


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And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.


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And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.


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But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints.


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For know and recognize this: no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God.


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Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things God's wrath is coming on the disobedient.


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for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.


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speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music to the Lord in your heart,


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for the husband is head of the wife as also Christ is head of the church. He is the Savior of the body.


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He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and blameless.


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In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.


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For no one ever hates his own flesh, but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church,


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For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.


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And fathers, don't stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.


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Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ.


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Don't [work only] while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God's will from your heart.


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And masters, treat them the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their and your Master is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.


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For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.


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This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.


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In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one.


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With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.


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Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.


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For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.


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Tychicus, our dearly loved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything so that you also may know how I am and what I'm doing.


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I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage your hearts.


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Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.


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I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.


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It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel.


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filled with the fruit of righteousness that [comes] through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.


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Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advancement of the gospel,


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so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is for Christ.


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Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message fearlessly.


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the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely, seeking to cause [me] trouble in my imprisonment.


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What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice


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because I know this will lead to my deliverance through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.


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My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.


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Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don't know which one I should choose.


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Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your advancement and joy in the faith,


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Just one thing: live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith of the gospel,


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not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is evidence of their destruction, but of your deliverance-- and this is from God.


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For it has been given to you on Christ's behalf not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,


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If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,


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fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal.


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Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.


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who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.


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Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form,


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so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow-- of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth--


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So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.


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so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.


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Hold firmly the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn't run in vain or labor for nothing.


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But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.


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Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I also may be encouraged when I hear news about you.


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But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father.


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But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus-- my brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need--


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Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one grief on top of another.


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For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice when you see him again and I may be less anxious.


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because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.


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Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a protection for you.


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For we are the circumcision, the ones who serve by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh--


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although I once had confidence in the flesh too. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:


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circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;


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More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ


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and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ-- the righteousness from God based on faith.


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[My goal] is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,


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Not that I have already reached [the goal] or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.


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Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead,


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Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this to you also.


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For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.


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Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things,


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but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.


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He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.


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So then, in this way, my dearly loved brothers, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.


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Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers whose names are in the book of life.


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Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.


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And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


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Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable-- if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise-- dwell on these things.


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Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.


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I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last you have renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me, but lacked the opportunity [to show it].


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I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret [of being content]-- whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.


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And you, Philippians, know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone.


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But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided-- a fragrant offering, a welcome sacrifice, pleasing to God.


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To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ in Colossae. Grace to you and peace from God our Father.


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because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about [this hope] in the message of truth,


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the gospel that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and recognized God's grace in the truth.


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You learned this from Epaphras, our much loved fellow slave. He is a faithful minister of the Messiah on your behalf,


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For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven't stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,


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so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing [to Him], bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.


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May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy


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He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves,


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because by Him everything was created, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him.


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He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything.


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and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross-- whether things on earth or things in heaven.


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But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him--


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if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith, and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. [This gospel] has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a minister of it.


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Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for His body, that is, the church.


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I have become its minister, according to God's administration that was given to me for you, to make God's message fully known,


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God wanted to make known to those among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.


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We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.


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For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person.


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[I want] their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding, and have the knowledge of God's mystery-- Christ.


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For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the strength of your faith in Christ.


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rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.


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Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ.


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In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of the Messiah.


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Having been buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.


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And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses.


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He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross.


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Therefore don't let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a sabbath day.


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Let no one disqualify you, insisting on ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm and inflated without cause by his fleshly mind.


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He doesn't hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, develops with growth from God.


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If you died with Christ to the elemental forces of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations:


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All these [regulations] refer to what is destroyed by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines.


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Although these have a reputation of wisdom by promoting ascetic practices, humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value against fleshly indulgence.


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So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God.


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Therefore, put to death whatever in you is worldly: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.


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But now you must also put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth.


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and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of his Creator.


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Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.


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Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,


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accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you must [forgive].


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And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.


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Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.


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And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.


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Slaves, obey your human masters in everything; don't work only while being watched, in order to please men, but [work] wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.


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knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord-- you serve the Lord Christ.


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Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.


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At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the message, to speak the mystery of the Messiah-- for which I am in prison--


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Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.


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Tychicus, a loved brother, a faithful servant, and a fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.


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I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are, and so that he may encourage your hearts.


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He is with Onesimus, a faithful and loved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.


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Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, as does Mark, Barnabas' cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),


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and so does Jesus who is called Justus. These alone of the circumcision are my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.


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Epaphras, who is one of you, a slave of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always contending for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills.


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For I testify about him that he works hard for you, for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.


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And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.


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And tell Archippus, "Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it."


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Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy: To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.


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We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,


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For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we were among you for your benefit,


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and you became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with the joy from the Holy Spirit.


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For the Lord's message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out, so we don't need to say anything.


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For they themselves report about us what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,


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and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead-- Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.


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On the contrary, after we had previously suffered and been outrageously treated in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition.


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Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but rather God, who examines our hearts.


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Although we could have been a burden as Christ's apostles, instead we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother nurtures her own children.


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We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.


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For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers. Working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God's gospel to you.


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You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves with you believers.


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we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.


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Also, this is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the message of God, which also works effectively in you believers.


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For you, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, since you have also suffered the same things from people of your own country, just as they did from the Jews.


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They killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and persecuted us; they displease God, and are hostile to everyone,


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hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are always adding to the number of their sins, and wrath has overtaken them completely.


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But as for us, brothers, after we were forced to leave you for a short time (in person, not in heart), we greatly desired and made every effort to return and see you face to face.


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For who is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you?


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And we sent Timothy, our brother and God's co-worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith,


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so that no one will be shaken by these persecutions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.


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In fact, when we were with you, we told you previously that we were going to suffer persecution, and as you know, it happened.


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For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing.


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But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news about your faith and love, and that you always have good memories of us, wanting to see us, as we also want to see you.


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Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we were encouraged about you through your faith.


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as we pray earnestly night and day to see you face to face and to complete what is lacking in your faith?


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And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we also do for you.


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May He make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.


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Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God-- as you are doing-- do so even more.


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This means one must not transgress against and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you.


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Therefore, the person who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who also gives you His Holy Spirit.


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About brotherly love: you don't need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.


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In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers in the entire region of Macedonia. But we encourage you, brothers, to do so even more,


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to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,


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We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.


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Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.


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For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord's coming will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep.


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For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.


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Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord.


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For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.


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When they say, "Peace and security," then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.


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But since we are of the day, we must be sober and put the armor of faith and love on our chests, and put on a helmet of the hope of salvation.


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Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you,


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And we exhort you, brothers: warn those who are lazy, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone.


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See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.


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Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy: To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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We must always thank God for you, brothers, which is fitting, since your faith is flourishing, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.


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Therefore we ourselves boast about you among God's churches-- about your endurance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you endure.


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It is a clear evidence of God's righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God's kingdom, for which you also are suffering,


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and [to reward] with rest you who are afflicted, along with us. [This will take place] at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His powerful angels,


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taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who don't know God and on those who don't obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.


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These will pay the penalty of everlasting destruction, away from the Lord's presence and from His glorious strength,


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in that day when He comes to be glorified by His saints and to be admired by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed.


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And in view of this, we always pray for you that our God will consider you worthy of His calling, and will, by His power, fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith,


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so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: we ask you, brothers,


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not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spirit or by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has come.


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Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. For [that day] will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.


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He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God's sanctuary, publicizing that he himself is God.


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For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way,


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and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of His mouth and will bring him to nothing with the brightness of His coming.


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The coming [of the lawless one] is based on Satan's working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders,


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and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. [They perish] because they did not accept the love of the truth in order to be saved.


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But we must always thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.


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He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, either by our message or by our letter.


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May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace,


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Finally, pray for us, brothers, that the Lord's message may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you,


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Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother who walks irresponsibly and not according to the tradition received from us.


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we did not eat anyone's bread free of charge; instead, we labored and toiled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you.


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It is not that we don't have the right [to support], but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us.


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In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: "If anyone isn't willing to work, he should not eat."


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For we hear that there are some among you who walk irresponsibly, not working at all, but interfering with the work [of others].


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Now we command and exhort such people, by the Lord Jesus Christ, that quietly working, they may eat their own bread.


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And if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person; don't associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.


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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus, our hope:


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To Timothy, my true child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.


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As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach other doctrine


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or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God's plan, which operates by faith.


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They want to be teachers of the law, although they don't understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on.


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We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers,


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for the sexually immoral and homosexuals, for kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching


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I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry--


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one who was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. Since it was out of ignorance that I had acted in unbelief, I received mercy,


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This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"-- and I am the worst of them.


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But I received mercy because of this, so that in me, the worst [of them], Christ Jesus might demonstrate the utmost patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.


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Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.


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Timothy, my child, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by them you may strongly engage in battle,


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having faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and have suffered the shipwreck of their faith.


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Hymenaeus and Alexander are among them, and I have delivered them to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.


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First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,


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for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.


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For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.


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Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense; not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel,


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But she will be saved through childbearing, if she continues in faith, love, and holiness, with good sense.


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An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,


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He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the Devil.


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Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the Devil's trap.


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Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money,


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For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.


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But if I should be delayed, [I have written] so that you will know how people ought to act in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.


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And most certainly, the mystery of godliness is great: He was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.


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Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,


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They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth.


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For everything created by God is good, and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,


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If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.


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for, the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.


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In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.


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No one should despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.


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Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.


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Be conscientious about yourself and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.


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But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn to practice their religion toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God.


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The real widow, left all alone, has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers;


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Now if anyone does not provide for his own relatives, and especially for his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.


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No widow should be placed on the official support list unless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband,


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and is well known for good works-- that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints' feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work.


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But refuse to enroll younger widows; for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry,


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At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn't say.


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Therefore, I want younger women to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us.


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If any believing woman has widows, she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it can help those who are genuinely widows.


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The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.


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For the Scripture says: You must not muzzle an ox that is threshing grain, and, The laborer is worthy of his wages.


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I solemnly charge you, before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.


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Don't be too quick to lay hands on anyone, and don't share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.


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Don't continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.


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Some people's sins are evident, going before them to judgment, but [the sins] of others follow them.


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All who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters to be worthy of all respect, so that God's name and His teaching will not be blasphemed.


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And those who have believing masters should not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but should serve them better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved. Teach and encourage these things.


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If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness,


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he is conceited, understanding nothing, but having a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slanders, evil suspicions,


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and constant disagreement among men whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain.


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But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction.


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For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.


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Now you, man of God, run from these things; but pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.


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Fight the good fight for the faith; take hold of eternal life, to which you were called and have made a good confession before many witnesses.


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In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you


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which God will bring about in His own time. [He is] the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords,


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the only One who has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom none of mankind has seen or can see, to whom be honor and eternal might. Amen.


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Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.


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storing up for themselves a good foundation for the age to come, so that they may take hold of life that is real.


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Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent, empty speech and contradictions from the "knowledge" that falsely bears that name.


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To Timothy, my dearly loved child. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.


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I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my forefathers did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.


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clearly recalling your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and that I am convinced is in you also.


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Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.


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So don't be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me His prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God,


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who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.


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This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.


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and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.


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Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.


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May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.


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May the Lord grant that he obtain mercy from the Lord on that day. And you know how much he ministered at Ephesus.


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And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.


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To please the recruiter, no one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of everyday life.


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Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.


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This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.


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Remind them of these things, charging them before God not to fight about words; this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers.


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Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.


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They have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are overturning the faith of some.


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Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, having this inscription: The Lord knows those who are His, and Everyone who names the name of the Lord must turn away from unrighteousness.


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Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls, but also those of wood and earthenware, some for special use, some for ordinary.


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So if anyone purifies himself from these things, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.


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Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.


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instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance to know the truth.


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Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil's trap, having been captured by him to do his will.


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For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,


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For among them are those who worm their way into households and capture idle women burdened down with sins, led along by a variety of passions,


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Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth, men who are corrupt in mind, worthless in regard to the faith.


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But they will not make further progress, for their lack of understanding will be clear to all, as theirs was also.


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along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all.


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But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing those from whom you learned,


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and that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.


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All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,


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Before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom, I solemnly charge you:


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proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.


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For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will accumulate teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new.


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But as for you, keep a clear head about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.


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In the future, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.


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for Demas has deserted me, because he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.


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When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments.


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At my first defense, no one came to my assistance, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them.


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But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the proclamation might be fully made through me, and all the Gentiles might hear. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.


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The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.


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Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.


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Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness,


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and has in His own time revealed His message in the proclamation that I was entrusted with by the command of God our Savior:


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To Titus, my true child in our common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.


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The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town:


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someone who is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of wildness or rebellion.


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For an overseer, as God's manager, must be blameless, not arrogant, not quick tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money,


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holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.


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For there are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those from Judaism.


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It is necessary to silence them; they overthrow whole households by teaching for dishonest gain what they should not.


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To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience are defiled.


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They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.


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Older men are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance.


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In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. [They are] to teach what is good,


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to be sensible, pure, good homemakers, and submissive to their husbands, so that God's message will not be slandered.


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about everything. Set an example of good works yourself, with integrity and dignity in your teaching.


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Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.


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Slaves are to be submissive to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back


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or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything.


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instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,


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while we wait for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.


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He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a special people, eager to do good works.


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For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, captives of various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.


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He saved us-- not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.


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This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.


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But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.


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When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, make every effort to come to me in Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.


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And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works for cases of urgent need, so that they will not be unfruitful.


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All those who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.


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Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, our brother: To Philemon, our dear friend and co-worker,


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[I pray] that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for [the glory of] Christ.


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For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.


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I appeal, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus,


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I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place.


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But I didn't want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will.


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For perhaps this is why he was separated [from you] for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently,


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no longer as a slave, but more than a slave-- as a dearly loved brother. This is especially so to me, but even more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.


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I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it-- not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self.


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Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.


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But meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.


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In these last days, He has spoken to us by [His] Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe.


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He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature, and He sustains all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.


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For to which of the angels did He ever say, You are My Son; today I have become Your Father, or again, I will be His Father, and He will be My Son?


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but about the Son: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of justice.


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You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; this is why God, Your God, has anointed You, rather than Your companions, with the oil of joy.


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And: In the beginning, Lord, You established the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands;


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You will roll them up like a cloak, and they will be changed like a robe. But You are the same, and Your years will never end.


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Now to which of the angels has He ever said: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool?


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For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding, and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment,


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how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.


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At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions [of gifts] from the Holy Spirit according to His will.


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But one has somewhere testified: What is man, that You remember him, or the son of man, that You care for him?


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and subjected everything under his feet. For in subjecting everything to him, He left nothing not subject to him. As it is, we do not yet see everything subjected to him.


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But we do see Jesus-- made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God's grace He might taste death for everyone-- crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death.


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For it was fitting, in bringing many sons to glory, that He, for whom and through whom all things exist, should make the source of their salvation perfect through sufferings.


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For the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why He is not ashamed to call them brothers,


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Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, He also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death-- that is, the Devil--


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Therefore He had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.


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Therefore, holy brothers and companions in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession;


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For Jesus is considered worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder has more honor than the house.


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Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's household, as a testimony to what would be said [in the future].


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But Christ was faithful as a Son over His household, whose household we are if we hold on to the courage and the confidence of our hope.


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for 40 years. Therefore I was provoked with this generation and said, "They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known My ways."


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Watch out, brothers, so that there won't be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that departs from the living God.


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But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin's deception.


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For we have become companions of the Messiah if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start.


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And with whom was He "provoked for 40 years"? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert?


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Therefore, while the promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear so that none of you should miss it.


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For we also have received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith


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(for we who have believed enter the rest), in keeping with what He has said: So I swore in My anger, they will not enter My rest. And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world,


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for somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this way: And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.


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Since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience,


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again, He specifies a certain day-- today-- speaking through David after such a long time, as previously stated: Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.


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Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.


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For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints, and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart.


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No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.


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Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens-- Jesus the Son of God-- let us hold fast to the confession.


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For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.


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Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.


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For every high priest taken from men is appointed in service to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.


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He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.


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In the same way, the Messiah did not exalt Himself to become a high priest, but the One who said to Him, You are My Son; today I have become Your Father,


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During His earthly life, He offered prayers and appeals, with loud cries and tears, to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.


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We have a great deal to say about this, and it's difficult to explain, since you have become slow to understand.


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For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of God's revelation. You need milk, not solid food.


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Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant.


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But solid food is for the mature-- for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.


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Therefore, leaving the elementary message about the Messiah, let us go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God,


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teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.


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For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, became companions with the Holy Spirit,


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and who have fallen away, because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding Him up to contempt.


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For ground that has drunk the rain that has often fallen on it, and that produces vegetation useful to those it is cultivated for, receives a blessing from God.


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But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and will be burned at the end.


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Even though we are speaking this way, dear friends, in your case we are confident of the better things connected with salvation.


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For God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you showed for His name when you served the saints-- and you continue to serve them.


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so that you won't become lazy, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.


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For when God made a promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself:


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For men swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute.


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Because God wanted to show His unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath,


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so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.


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We have this [hope]-- like a sure and firm anchor of the soul-- that enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.


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Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because He has become a "high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek."


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For this Melchizedek-- King of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from defeating the kings,


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and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything; first, his name means "king of righteousness," then also, "king of Salem," meaning "king of peace";


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without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God-- remains a priest forever.


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Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the plunder!


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The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment according to the law to collect a tenth from the people-- that is, from their brothers-- though they have [also] descended from Abraham.


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But one without this lineage collected tithes from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.


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In the one case, men who will die receive tithes; but in the other case, [Scripture] testifies that he lives.


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If, then, perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise in the order of Melchizedek, and not to be described as being in the order of Aaron?


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For the One about whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has served at the altar.


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Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and about that tribe Moses said nothing concerning priests.


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who doesn't become a [priest] based on a legal command concerning physical descent but based on the power of an indestructible life.


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(for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.


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but He with an oath made by the One who said to Him: The Lord has sworn, and He will not change His mind, You are a priest forever.


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Now many have become [Levitical] priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office.


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Therefore He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.


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For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.


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He doesn't need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do-- first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all when He offered Himself.


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For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, [appoints] a Son, who has been perfected forever.


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Now the main point of what is being said is this: we have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,


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For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; therefore it was necessary for this [priest] also to have something to offer.


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Now if He were on earth, He wouldn't be a priest, since there are those offering the gifts prescribed by the law.


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These serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For He said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.


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But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree He is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been legally enacted on better promises.


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For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, no opportunity would have been sought for a second one.


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But finding fault with His people, He says: "Look, the days are coming," says the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah--


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not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day I took them by their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. Because they did not continue in My covenant, I disregarded them," says the Lord.


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But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days," says the Lord: "I will put My laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.


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And each person will not teach his fellow citizen, and each his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know Me, from the least to the greatest of them.


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By saying, a new [ covenant], He has declared that the first is old. And what is old and aging is about to disappear.


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For a tabernacle was set up; and in the first room, which is called "the holy place," were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves.


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It contained the gold altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, covered with gold on all sides, in which there was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.


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The cherubim of glory were above it overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now.


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These things having been set up this way, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry.


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But the high priest alone enters the second room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.


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The Holy Spirit was making it clear that the way into the holy of holies had not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still standing.


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This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper's conscience.


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They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of restoration.


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Now the Messiah has appeared, high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation),


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He entered the holy of holies once for all, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.


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For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,


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how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?


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Therefore He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions [committed] under the first covenant.


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For when every commandment had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people,


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According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.


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Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these [sacrifices], but the heavenly things themselves [to be purified] with better sacrifices than these.


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For the Messiah did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, that He might now appear in the presence of God for us.


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He did not do this to offer Himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another.


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Otherwise, He would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of Himself.


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so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.


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Since the law has [only] a shadow of the good things to come, and not the actual form of those realities, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year.


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Otherwise, wouldn't they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, once purified, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?


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Therefore, as He was coming into the world, He said: You did not want sacrifice and offering, but You prepared a body for Me.


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Then I said, "See, I have come-- it is written about Me in the volume of the scroll-- to do Your will, O God!"


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After He says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings, (which are offered according to the law),


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By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.


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Now every priest stands day after day ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.


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This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws on their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,


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let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled [clean] from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.


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not staying away from our meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.


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For if we deliberately sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,


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If anyone disregards Moses' law, he dies without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.


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How much worse punishment, do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and insulted the Spirit of grace?


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For we know the One who has said, Vengeance belongs to Me, I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge His people.


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Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings.


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Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way.


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For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession.


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By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.


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By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain [did]. By this he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through this.


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By faith, Enoch was taken away so that he did not experience death, and he was not to be found because God took him away. For prior to his transformation he was approved, having pleased God.


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Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.


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By faith Noah, after being warned about what was not yet seen, in reverence built an ark to deliver his family. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.


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By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was going.


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By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise.


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By faith even Sarah herself, when she was barren, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the One who had promised was faithful.


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And therefore from one man-- in fact, from one as good as dead-- came offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as innumerable as the grains of sand by the seashore.


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These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.


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But they now aspire to a better land-- a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.


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By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac; he who had received the promises was offering up his unique son,


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He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead, from which he also got him back as an illustration.


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By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and, he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.


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By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones.


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By faith Moses, after he was born, was hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they didn't fear the king's edict.


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For he considered reproach for the sake of the Messiah to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since his attention was on the reward.


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By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king's anger, for he persevered, as one who sees Him who is invisible.


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By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.


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By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned.


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By faith Rahab the prostitute received the spies in peace and didn't perish with those who disobeyed.


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And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,


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quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength after being weak, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.


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Women received their dead raised to life again. Some men were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection,


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They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated.


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The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the ground.


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Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us,


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keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne.


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For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won't grow weary and lose heart.


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And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord's discipline lightly, or faint when you are reproved by Him;


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Endure it as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline?


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But if you are without discipline-- which all receive-- then you are illegitimate children and not sons.


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Furthermore, we had natural fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn't we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live?


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For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but He does it for our benefit, so that we can share His holiness.


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No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.


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and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but healed instead.


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See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many.


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And see that there isn't any immoral or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for one meal.


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For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected because he didn't find any opportunity for repentance, though he sought it with tears.


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to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. (Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them,


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for they could not bear what was commanded: And if even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned!


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Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels in festive gathering,


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to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to God who is the judge of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect,


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to Jesus (mediator of a new covenant), and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the [blood] of Abel.


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See that you do not reject the One who speaks; for if they did not escape when they rejected Him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven.


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His voice shook the earth at that time, but now He has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven.


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Now this expression, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of what can be shaken-- that is, created things-- so that what is not shaken might remain.


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Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe;


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Don't neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.


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Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily.


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Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers.


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Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.


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Remember your leaders who have spoken God's word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.


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Don't be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by foods, since those involved in them have not benefited.


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For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy of holies by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.


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Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that He might sanctify the people by His own blood.


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Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name.


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Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.


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Pray for us; for we are convinced that we have a clear conscience, wanting to conduct ourselves honorably in everything.


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Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus-- the great Shepherd of the sheep-- with the blood of the everlasting covenant,


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equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.


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Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon enough, he will be with me when I see you.


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Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.


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But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.


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but the one who is rich [should boast] in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.


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For the sun rises with its scorching heat and dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will wither away while pursuing his activities.


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Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him.


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No one undergoing a trial should say, "I am being tempted by God." For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn't tempt anyone.


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Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.


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Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.


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By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures.


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My dearly loved brothers, understand this: everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger,


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Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil excess, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.


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Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror;


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But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts-- this person will be blessed in what he does.


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If anyone thinks he is religious, without controlling his tongue but deceiving his heart, his religion is useless.


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Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.


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For suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring, dressed in fine clothes, and a poor man dressed in dirty clothes also comes in.


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If you look with favor on the man wearing the fine clothes so that you say, "Sit here in a good place," and yet you say to the poor man, "Stand over there," or, "Sit here on the floor by my footstool,


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Listen, my dear brothers: Didn't God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that He has promised to those who love Him?


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If you really carry out the royal law prescribed in Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.


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For He who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. So if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you are a lawbreaker.


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What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can his faith save him?


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and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it?


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But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works.


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So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, and he was called God's friend.


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And in the same way, wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by a different route?


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for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body.


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Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal.


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And consider ships: though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.


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So too, though the tongue is a small part [of the body], it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites.


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And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our [bodies]; it pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.


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Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine [produce] figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.


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Who is wise and understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom's gentleness.


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But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't brag and lie in defiance of the truth.


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But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy.


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What is the source of the wars and the fights among you? Don't they come from the cravings that are at war within you?


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You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask.


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You ask and don't receive because you ask wrongly, so that you may spend it on your desires for pleasure.


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Adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world's friend becomes God's enemy.


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Or do you think it's without reason the Scripture says that the Spirit He has caused to live in us yearns jealously?


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But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.


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Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!


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Don't criticize one another, brothers. He who criticizes a brother or judges his brother criticizes the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.


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There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?


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Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit."


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You don't even know what tomorrow will bring-- what your life will be! For you are a bit of smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes.


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your silver and gold are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You stored up treasure in the last days!


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Look! The pay that you withheld from the workers who reaped your fields cries out, and the outcry of the harvesters has reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.


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You have lived luxuriously on the land and have indulged yourselves. You have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.


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Therefore, brothers, be patient until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.


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Brothers, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door!


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See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job's endurance and have seen the outcome from the Lord: the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.


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Now above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. Your "yes" must be "yes," and your "no" must be "no," so that you won't fall under judgment.


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Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him after anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord.


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The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.


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Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful.


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Elijah was a man with a nature like ours; yet he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land.


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he should know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his life from death and cover a multitude of sins.


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Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To the temporary residents of the Dispersion in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen


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according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and set apart by the Spirit for obedience and [for the] sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.


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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,


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who are being protected by God's power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.


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so that the genuineness of your faith-- more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire-- may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.


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You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy,


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Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that would come to you searched and carefully investigated.


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They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when He testified in advance to the messianic sufferings and the glories that would follow.


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It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you concerning things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Angels desire to look into these things.


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Therefore, get your minds ready for action, being self-disciplined, and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.


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And if you address as Father the One who judges impartially based on each one's work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during this time of temporary residence.


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For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things, like silver or gold,


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He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the times for you


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who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.


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By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,


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since you have been born again-- not of perishable seed but of imperishable-- through the living and enduring word of God.


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For All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower drops off,


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but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was preached as the gospel to you.


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Like newborn infants, desire the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it in [your] salvation,


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you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.


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For it stands in Scripture: Look! I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and valuable cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame!


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So the honor is for you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected-- this One has become the cornerstone, and


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A stone that causes men to stumble, and a rock that trips them up. They stumble by disobeying the message; they were destined for this.


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But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.


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Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.


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Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you.


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Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do evil, they may, by observing your good works, glorify God in a day of visitation.


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Submit to every human institution because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the supreme authority,


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or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.


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Household slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the cruel.


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For it [brings] favor if, because of conscience toward God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly.


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For what credit is there if you endure when you sin and are beaten? But when you do good and suffer, if you endure, it brings favor with God.


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For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps.


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when reviled, He did not revile in return; when suffering, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to the One who judges justly.


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He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounding you have been healed.


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For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.


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Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the [Christian] message, they may be won over without a message by the way their wives live,


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Your beauty should not consist of outward things [like] elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes;


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instead, [it should consist of] the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God's eyes.


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For in the past, the holy women who hoped in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands,


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just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do good and aren't frightened by anything alarming.


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Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives with understanding of their weaker nature yet showing them honor as co-heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.


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Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble,


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not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.


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For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit,


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because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.


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But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed,


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but set apart the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.


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However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame.


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For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God, after being put to death in the fleshly realm but made alive in the spiritual realm.


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who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while an ark was being prepared; in it, a few-- that is, eight people-- were saved through water.


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Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.


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Now that He has gone into heaven, He is at God's right hand, with angels, authorities, and powers subjected to Him.


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Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same resolve-- because the One who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin--


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For there has already been enough time spent in doing the will of the pagans: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.


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In regard to this, they are surprised that you don't plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation-- and they slander you.


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For this reason the gospel was also preached to [those who are now] dead, so that, although they might be judged by men in the fleshly realm, they might live by God in the spiritual realm.


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Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.


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If anyone speaks, [his speech should be] like the oracles of God; if anyone serves, [his service should be] from the strength God provides, so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.


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Dear friends, when the fiery ordeal arises among you to test you, don't be surprised by it, as if something unusual were happening to you.


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Instead, as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah rejoice, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory.


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If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.


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But if [anyone suffers] as a Christian, he should not be ashamed, but should glorify God with that name.


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For the time has come for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?


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So those who suffer according to God's will should, in doing good, entrust themselves to a faithful Creator.


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Therefore, as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of the Messiah, and also a participant in the glory about to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you:


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shepherd God's flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but freely, according to God's [will]; not for the money but eagerly;


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Likewise, you younger men, be subject to the elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.


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Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.


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Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world.


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Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little.


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Through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Take your stand in it!


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Simeon Peter, a slave and an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those who have obtained a faith of equal privilege with ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.


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For His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.


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By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.


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For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge,


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For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted, and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.


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Therefore, brothers, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble.


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For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you.


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Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you have.


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And I will also make every effort that after my departure you may be able to recall these things at any time.


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For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.


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For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, a voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him!


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So we have the prophetic word strongly confirmed. You will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dismal place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.


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because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, moved by the Holy Spirit, men spoke from God.


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But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves.


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In their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation, [pronounced] long ago, is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep.


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For if God didn't spare the angels who sinned, but threw them down into Tartarus and delivered them to be kept in chains of darkness until judgment;


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and if He didn't spare the ancient world, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others, when He brought a flood on the world of the ungodly;


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and if He reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes and condemned them to ruin, making them an example to those who were going to be ungodly;


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(for as he lived among them, that righteous man tormented himself day by day with the lawless deeds he saw and heard)--


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then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,


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especially those who follow the polluting desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold, arrogant people! They do not tremble when they blaspheme the glorious ones;


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however, angels, who are greater in might and power, do not bring a slanderous charge against them before the Lord.


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But these people, like irrational animals-- creatures of instinct born to be caught and destroyed-- speak blasphemies about things they don't understand, and in their destruction they too will be destroyed,


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suffering harm as the payment for unrighteousness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, delighting in their deceptions as they feast with you,


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having eyes full of adultery and always looking for sin, seducing unstable people, and with hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!


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By abandoning the straight path, they have gone astray and have followed the path of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,


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but received a rebuke for his transgression: a speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.


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These people are springs without water, mists driven by a whirlwind. The gloom of darkness has been reserved for them.


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For uttering bombastic, empty words, they seduce, by fleshly desires and debauchery, people who have barely escaped from those who live in error.


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They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them.


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For if, having escaped the world's impurity through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in these things and defeated, the last state is worse for them than the first.


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For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.


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It has happened to them according to the true proverb: A dog returns to its own vomit, and, "a sow, after washing itself, wallows in the mud."


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Dear friends, this is now the second letter I've written you; in both, I awaken your pure understanding with a reminder,


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so that you can remember the words previously spoken by the holy prophets, and the commandment of our Lord and Savior [given] through your apostles.


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saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation."


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They willfully ignore this: long ago the heavens and the earth existed out of water and through water by the word of God.


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But by the same word the present heavens and earth are held in store for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.


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Dear friends, don't let this one thing escape you: with the Lord one day is like 1,000 years, and 1,000 years like one day.


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The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.


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But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that [day] the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.


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Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, [it is clear] what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness


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as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be on fire and be dissolved, and the elements will melt with the heat.


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Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found in peace without spot or blemish before Him.


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Also, regard the patience of our Lord as [an opportunity for] salvation, just as our dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you.


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He speaks about these things in all his letters, in which there are some matters that are hard to understand. The untaught and unstable twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.


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Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of the immoral and fall from your own stability.


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But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.


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What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed, and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life--


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that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us--


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what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may have fellowship along with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.


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Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him.


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If we say, "We have fellowship with Him," and walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth.


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But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.


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If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


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My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father-- Jesus Christ the righteous One.


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He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.


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The one who says, "I have come to know Him," without keeping His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.


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But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him:


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Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command, but an old command that you have had from the beginning. The old command is the message you have heard.


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Yet I am writing you a new command, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.


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But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and doesn't know where he's going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.


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I am writing to you, fathers, because you have come to know the One who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have had victory over the evil one.


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I have written to you, children, because you have come to know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have come to know the One who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, God's word remains in you, and you have had victory over the evil one.


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Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. Because everything that belongs to the world--


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the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one's lifestyle-- is not from the Father, but is from the world.


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Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard, "Antichrist is coming," even now many antichrists have come. We know from this that it is the last hour.


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They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.


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I have not written to you because you don't know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth.


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Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? He is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.


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What you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.


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The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don't need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie; just as it has taught you, remain in Him.


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So now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears we may have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.


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If you know that He is righteous, you know this as well: everyone who does what is right has been born of Him.


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Look at how great a love the Father has given us, that we should be called God's children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn't know Him.


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Dear friends, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He is.


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Little children, let no one deceive you! The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous.


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The one who commits sin is of the Devil, for the Devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the Devil's works.


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Everyone who has been born of God does not sin, because His seed remains in him; he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God.


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This is how God's children-- and the Devil's children-- are made evident. Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother.


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unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's were righteous.


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We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.


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Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.


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This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers.


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If anyone has this world's goods and sees his brother in need but shuts off his compassion from him-- how can God's love reside in him?


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and can receive whatever we ask from Him because we keep His commands and do what is pleasing in His sight.


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Now this is His command: that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as He commanded us.


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The one who keeps His commands remains in Him, and He in him. And the way we know that He remains in us is from the Spirit He has given us.


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Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.


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This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.


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But every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist; you have heard that he is coming, and he is already in the world now.


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You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.


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We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.


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Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.


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God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.


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Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.


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No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us.


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And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.


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In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; for we are as He is in this world.


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There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love.


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If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.


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Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent also loves his child.


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because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.


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Jesus Christ-- He is the One who came by water and blood; not by water only, but by water and by blood. And the Spirit is the One who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.


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If we accept the testimony of men, God's testimony is greater, because it is God's testimony that He has given about His Son.


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(The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. The one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.)


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I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.


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Now this is the confidence we have before Him: whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.


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If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not bring death, he should ask, and God will give life to him-- to those who commit sin that doesn't bring death. There is sin that brings death. I am not saying he should pray about that.


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We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the One who is born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.


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And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true One. We are in the true One-- that is, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.


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The Elder: To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth-- and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth--


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Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.


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I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, in keeping with a command we have received from the Father.


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So now I urge you, lady-- not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning-- that we love one another.


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And this is love: that we walk according to His commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love.


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Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.


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Anyone who does not remain in the teaching about Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son.


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If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and don't say, "Welcome," to him;


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Though I have many things to write to you, I don't want to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to be with you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete.


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Dear friend, I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.


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For I was very glad when some brothers came and testified to your [faithfulness] to the truth-- how you are walking in the truth.


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Dear friend, you are showing your faith by whatever you do for the brothers, and this [you are doing] for strangers;


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they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God,


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I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive us.


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This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church.


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Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.


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Demetrius has a [good] testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. And we also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.


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I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace be with you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.


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Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ, and a brother of James: To those who are the called, loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ.


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Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write and exhort you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all.


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For certain men, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into promiscuity and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.


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Now I want to remind you, though you know all these things: the Lord, having first of all saved a people out of Egypt, later destroyed those who did not believe;


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and He has kept, with eternal chains in darkness for the judgment of the great day, angels who did not keep their own position but deserted their proper dwelling.


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In the same way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them committed sexual immorality and practiced perversions, just as they did, and serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.


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Nevertheless, these dreamers likewise defile their flesh, despise authority, and blaspheme glorious beings.


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Yet Michael the archangel, when he was disputing with the Devil in a debate about Moses' body, did not dare bring an abusive condemnation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"


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But these people blaspheme anything they don't understand, and what they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals-- they destroy themselves with these things.


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Woe to them! For they have traveled in the way of Cain, have abandoned themselves to the error of Balaam for profit, and have perished in Korah's rebellion.


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These are the ones who are like dangerous reefs at your love feasts. They feast with you, nurturing only themselves without fear. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds; trees in late autumn-- fruitless, twice dead, pulled out by the roots;


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wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever!


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And Enoch, in the seventh [generation] from Adam, prophesied about them: Look! The Lord comes with thousands of His holy ones


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to execute judgment on all, and to convict them of all their ungodly deeds that they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against Him.


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These people are discontented grumblers, walking according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage.


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they told you, "In the end time there will be scoffers walking according to their own ungodly desires."


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But you, dear friends, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,


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save others by snatching [them] from the fire; on others have mercy in fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.


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Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless and with great joy,


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to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now, and forever. Amen.


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The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show His slaves what must quickly take place. He sent it and signified it through His angel to His slave John,


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Blessed is the one who reads and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near!


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John: To the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace to you from the One who is, who was, and who is coming; from the seven spirits before His throne;


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and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood,


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and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father-- to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.


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Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him. And all the families of the earth will mourn over Him. This is certain. Amen.


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<J>I am the Alpha and the Omega,"</J> says the Lord God, <J>"the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty."</J>


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I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation, kingdom, and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of God's word and the testimony about Jesus.


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saying, <J>"Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea."</J>


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and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, and with a gold sash wrapped around His chest.


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In His right hand He had seven stars; from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was shining like the sun at midday.


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When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me, and said, <J>"Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last,</J>


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<J>and the Living One. I was dead, but look-- I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.</J>


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<J>The secret of the seven stars you saw in My right hand, and of the seven gold lampstands, is this: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.</J>


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<J>To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: "The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands says:</J>


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<J>I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.</J>


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<J>You also possess endurance and have tolerated [many things] because of My name, and have not grown weary.</J>


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<J>Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place-- unless you repent.</J>


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<J>Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.</J>


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<J>To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: "The First and the Last, the One who was dead and came to life, says:</J>


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<J>I know your tribulation and poverty, yet you are rich. [I know] the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.</J>


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<J>Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will have tribulation for 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.</J>


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<J>Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The victor will never be harmed by the second death.</J>


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<J>To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: "The One who has the sharp, two-edged sword says:</J>


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<J>I know where you live-- where Satan's throne is! And you are holding on to My name and did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of Antipas, My faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan lives.</J>


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<J>But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the sons of Israel: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.</J>


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<J>Therefore repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.</J>


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<J>Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.</J>


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<J>To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: "The Son of God, the One whose eyes are like a fiery flame, and whose feet are like fine bronze says:</J>


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<J>I know your works-- your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. Your last works are greater than the first.</J>


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<J>But I have this against you: you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and teaches and deceives My slaves to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols.</J>


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<J>Look! I will throw her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her practices.</J>


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<J>I will kill her children with the plague. Then all the churches will know that I am the One who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works.</J>


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<J>I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven't known the deep things of Satan-- as they say-- I do not put any other burden on you.</J>


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<J>The victor and the one who keeps My works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations--</J>


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<J>and He will shepherd them with an iron scepter; He will shatter them like pottery-- just as I have received [this] from My Father.</J>


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<J>To the angel of the church in Sardis write: "The One who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says: I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead.</J>


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<J>Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before My God.</J>


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<J>Remember therefore what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. But if you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come against you.</J>


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<J>But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes, and they will walk with Me in white, because they are worthy.</J>


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<J>In the same way, the victor will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels.</J>


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<J>To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: "The Holy One, the True One, the One who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and closes and no one opens says:</J>


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<J>I know your works. Because you have limited strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name, look, I have placed before you an open door that no one is able to close.</J>


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<J>Take note! I will make those from the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying-- note this-- I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you.</J>


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<J>Because you have kept My command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come over the whole world to test those who live on the earth.</J>


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<J>The victor: I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God-- the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God-- and My new name.</J>


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<J>To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: "The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God's creation says:</J>


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<J>So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.</J>


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<J>Because you say, 'I'm rich; I have become wealthy, and need nothing,' and you don't know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked,</J>


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<J>I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, and white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see.</J>


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<J>Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me.</J>


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<J>The victor: I will give him the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I also won the victory and sat down with My Father on His throne.</J>


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After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, <J>"Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."</J>


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Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there in heaven a throne was set. One was seated on the throne,


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and the One seated looked like jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne.


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Around that throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones sat 24 elders dressed in white clothes, with gold crowns on their heads.


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From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and thunder. Burning before the throne were seven fiery torches, which are the seven spirits of God.


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Also before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the middle and around the throne were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back.


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The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like a calf; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.


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Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is coming.


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Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne, the One who lives forever and ever,


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the 24 elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, worship the One who lives forever and ever, cast their crowns before the throne, and say:


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Our Lord and God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You have created all things, and because of Your will they exist and were created.


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Then I saw in the right hand of the One seated on the throne a scroll with writing on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.


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I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?"


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But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it.


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Then one of the elders said to me, "Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has been victorious so that He may open the scroll and its seven seals."


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Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth.


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When He took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints.


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And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; because You were slaughtered, and You redeemed [people] for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.


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Then I looked, and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures, and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands.


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They said with a loud voice: The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!


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I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say: Blessing and honor and glory and dominion to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!


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Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, "Come!"


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I looked, and there was a white horse. The horseman on it had a bow; a crown was given to him, and he went out as a victor to conquer.


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Then another horse went out, a fiery red one, and its horseman was empowered to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another. And a large sword was given to him.


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When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" And I looked, and there was a black horse. The horseman on it had a balance scale in his hand.


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Then I heard something like a voice among the four living creatures say, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius-- but do not harm the olive oil and the wine."


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And I looked, and there was a pale green horse. The horseman on it was named Death, and Hades was following after him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill by the sword, by famine, by plague, and by the wild animals of the earth.


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When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those slaughtered because of God's word and the testimony they had.


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They cried out with a loud voice: "O Lord, holy and true, how long until You judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth?"


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So a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little while longer until [the number of] their fellow slaves and their brothers, who were going to be killed just as they had been, would be completed.


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Then I saw Him open the sixth seal. A violent earthquake occurred; the sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair; the entire moon became like blood;


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the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind;


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the sky separated like a scroll being rolled up; and every mountain and island was moved from its place.


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Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the military commanders, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains.


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And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb,


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After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, restraining the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.


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Then I saw another angel rise up from the east, who had the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were empowered to harm the earth and the sea:


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Don't harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the slaves of our God on their foreheads."


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And I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:


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12,000 sealed from the tribe of Judah, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad,


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12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,


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12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 sealed from the tribe of Benjamin.


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After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were robed in white with palm branches in their hands.


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And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!


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All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,


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saying: Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.


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Then one of the elders asked me, "Who are these people robed in white, and where did they come from?"


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I said to him, "Sir, you know." Then he told me: These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.


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For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve Him day and night in His sanctuary. The One seated on the throne will shelter them:


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no longer will they hunger; no longer will they thirst; no longer will the sun strike them, or any heat.


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Because the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them; He will guide them to springs of living waters, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.


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Another angel, with a gold incense burner, came and stood at the altar. He was given a large amount of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the gold altar in front of the throne.


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The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up in the presence of God from the angel's hand.


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The angel took the incense burner, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; there were thunders, rumblings, lightnings, and an earthquake.


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The first [angel] blew his trumpet, and hail and fire, mixed with blood, were hurled to the earth. So a third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.


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The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain ablaze with fire was hurled into the sea. So a third of the sea became blood,


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The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from heaven. It fell on a third of the rivers and springs of water.


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The name of the star is Wormwood, and a third of the waters became wormwood. So, many of the people died from the waters, because they had been made bitter.


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The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day was without light, and the night as well.


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I looked, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid-heaven, saying in a loud voice, "Woe! Woe! Woe to those who live on the earth, because of the remaining trumpet blasts that the three angels are about to sound!"


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The fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth. The key to the shaft of the abyss was given to him.


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He opened the shaft of the abyss, and smoke came up out of the shaft like smoke from a great furnace so that the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the shaft.


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Then out of the smoke locusts came to the earth, and power was given to them like the power that scorpions have on the earth.


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They were told not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green plant, or any tree, but only people who do not have God's seal on their foreheads.


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They were not permitted to kill them, but were to torment [them] for five months; their torment is like the torment caused by a scorpion when it strikes a man.


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In those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them.


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The appearance of the locusts was like horses equipped for battle. On their heads were something like gold crowns; their faces were like men's faces;


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they had chests like iron breastplates; the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses rushing into battle;


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and they had tails with stingers, like scorpions, so that with their tails they had the power to harm people for five months.


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They had as their king the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he has the name Apollyon.


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The sixth angel blew his trumpet. From the four horns of the gold altar that is before God, I heard a voice


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say to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels bound at the great river Euphrates."


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So the four angels who were prepared for the hour, day, month, and year were released to kill a third of the human race.


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This is how I saw the horses in my vision: The horsemen had breastplates that were fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow. The heads of the horses were like lions' heads, and from their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur.


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A third of the human race was killed by these three plagues-- by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that came from their mouths.


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For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, because their tails, like snakes, have heads, and they inflict injury with them.


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The rest of the people, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands to stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which are not able to see, hear, or walk.


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And they did not repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.


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Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun, his legs were like fiery pillars,


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and he had a little scroll opened in his hand. He put his right foot on the sea, his left on the land,


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and he cried out with a loud voice like a roaring lion. When he cried out, the seven thunders spoke with their voices.


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And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. Then I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down!"


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He swore an oath by the One who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it: "There will no longer be an interval of time,


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but in the days of the sound of the seventh angel, when he will blow his trumpet, then God's hidden plan will be completed, as He announced to His servants the prophets."


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Now the voice that I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."


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So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take and eat it; it will be bitter in your stomach, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth."


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Then I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I ate it, my stomach became bitter.


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Then I was given a measuring reed like a rod, with these words: "Go and measure God's sanctuary and the altar, and [count] those who worship there.


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But exclude the courtyard outside the sanctuary. Don't measure it, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.


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If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies; if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.


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These men have the power to close the sky so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy. They also have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with any plague whenever they want.


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When they finish their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, conquer them, and kill them.


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Their dead bodies will lie in the public square of the great city, which is called, prophetically, Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.


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And representatives from the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will view their bodies for three and a half days and not permit their bodies to be put into a tomb.


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Those who live on the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who live on the earth.


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But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. So great fear fell on those who saw them.


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Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." They went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them.


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At that moment a violent earthquake took place, a tenth of the city fell, and 7,000 people were killed in the earthquake. The survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.


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The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying: The kingdom of the world has become the [kingdom] of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He will reign forever and ever!


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saying: We thank You, Lord God, the Almighty, who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.


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The nations were angry, but Your wrath has come. The time has come for the dead to be judged, and to give the reward to Your servants the prophets, to the saints, and to those who fear Your name, both small and great, and the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth.


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God's sanctuary in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His sanctuary. There were lightnings, rumblings, thunders, an earthquake, and severe hail.


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A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of 12 stars on her head.


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Then another sign appeared in heaven: There was a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and 10 horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.


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His tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she did give birth he might devour her child.


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But she gave birth to a Son-- a male who is going to shepherd all nations with an iron scepter-- and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.


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The woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, to be fed there for 1,260 days.


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Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought,


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So the great dragon was thrown out-- the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him.


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Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah have now come, because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown out: the one who accuses them before our God day and night.


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They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death.


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Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the earth and the sea, for the Devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows he has a short time.


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When the dragon saw that he had been thrown to earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male.


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The woman was given two wings of a great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent's presence to her place in the wilderness, where she was fed for a time, times, and half a time.


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From his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river after the woman, to sweep her away in a torrent.


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But the earth helped the woman: the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth.


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So the dragon was furious with the woman and left to wage war against the rest of her offspring-- those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony about Jesus.


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And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. He had 10 horns and seven heads. On his horns were 10 diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.


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The beast I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like a bear's, and his mouth was like a lion's mouth. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.


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One of his heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but his fatal wound was healed. The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast.


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They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against him?"


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A mouth was given to him to speak boasts and blasphemies. He was also given authority to act for 42 months.


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He began to speak blasphemies against God: to blaspheme His name and His dwelling-- those who dwell in heaven.


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And he was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them. He was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation.


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All those who live on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.


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If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he goes. If anyone is to be killed with a sword, with a sword he will be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.


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Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; he had two horns like a lamb, but he sounded like a dragon.


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He exercises all the authority of the first beast on his behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.


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He deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that he is permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image of the beast who had the sword wound yet lived.


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He was permitted to give a spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.


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And he requires everyone-- small and great, rich and poor, free and slave-- to be given a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,


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Here is wisdom: The one who has understanding must calculate the number of the beast, because it is the number of a man. His number is 666.


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Then I looked, and there on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with Him were 144,000 who had His name and His Father's name written on their foreheads.


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I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of cascading waters and like the rumbling of loud thunder. The sound I heard was also like harpists playing on their harps.


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They sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, but no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.


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These are the ones not defiled with women, for they have kept their virginity. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They were redeemed from the human race as the firstfruits for God and the Lamb.


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Then I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having the eternal gospel to announce to the inhabitants of the earth-- to every nation, tribe, language, and people.


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He spoke with a loud voice: "Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."


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A second angel followed, saying: "It has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen, who made all nations drink the wine of her sexual immorality, which brings wrath."


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And a third angel followed them and spoke with a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,


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he will also drink the wine of God's wrath, which is mixed full strength in the cup of His anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb,


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and the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or anyone who receives the mark of his name.


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Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "let them rest from their labors, for their works follow them!"


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Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and One like the Son of Man was seated on the cloud, with a gold crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.


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Another angel came out of the sanctuary, crying out in a loud voice to the One who was seated on the cloud, "Use your sickle and reap, for the time to reap has come, since the harvest of the earth is ripe."


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Yet another angel, who had authority over fire, came from the altar, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, "Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from earth's vineyard, because its grapes have ripened."


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So the angel swung his sickle toward earth and gathered the grapes from earth's vineyard, and he threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath.


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Then the press was trampled outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press up to the horses' bridles for about 180 miles.


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Then I saw another great and awe-inspiring sign in heaven: seven angels with the seven last plagues, for with them, God's wrath will be completed.


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I also saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had won the victory from the beast, his image, and the number of his name, were standing on the sea of glass with harps from God.


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They sang the song of God's servant Moses, and the song of the Lamb: Great and awe-inspiring are Your works, Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the Nations.


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Lord, who will not fear and glorify Your name? Because You alone are holy, because all the nations will come and worship before You, because Your righteous acts have been revealed.


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Out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, dressed in clean, bright linen, with gold sashes wrapped around their chests.


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One of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven gold bowls filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.


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Then the sanctuary was filled with smoke from God's glory and from His power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.


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Then I heard a loud voice from the sanctuary saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth."


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The first went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and severely painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.


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The second poured out his bowl into the sea. It turned to blood like a dead man's, and all life in the sea died.


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I heard the angel of the waters say: You are righteous, who is and who was, the Holy One, for You have decided these things.


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Because they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, You also gave them blood to drink; they deserve it!


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Then I heard someone from the altar say: Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.


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and people were burned by the intense heat. So they blasphemed the name of God who had the power over these plagues, and they did not repent and give Him glory.


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The fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues from pain


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and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, yet they did not repent of their actions.


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The sixth poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east.


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Then I saw three unclean spirits like frogs [coming] from the dragon's mouth, from the beast's mouth, and from the mouth of the false prophet.


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For they are spirits of demons performing signs, who travel to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for the battle of the great day of God, the Almighty.


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<J>Look, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who is alert and remains clothed so that he may not go naked, and they see his shame."</J>


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Then the seventh poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the sanctuary, from the throne, saying, "It is done!"


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There were lightnings, rumblings, and thunders. And a severe earthquake occurred like no other since man has been on the earth-- so great was the quake.


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The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the Great was remembered in God's presence; He gave her the cup filled with the wine of His fierce anger.


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Enormous hailstones, each weighing about 100 pounds, fell from heaven on the people, and they blasphemed God for the plague of hail because that plague was extremely severe.


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Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me: "Come, I will show you the judgment of the notorious prostitute who sits on many waters.


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The kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and those who live on the earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual immorality."


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So he carried me away in the Spirit to a desert. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names, having seven heads and 10 horns.


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The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She had a gold cup in her hand filled with everything vile and with the impurities of her prostitution.


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On her forehead a cryptic name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE VILE THINGS OF THE EARTH


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Then I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the saints and on the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her, I was utterly astounded.


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Then the angel said to me, "Why are you astounded? I will tell you the secret meaning of the woman and of the beast, with the seven heads and the 10 horns, that carries her.


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The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on the earth whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be astounded when they see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present [again].


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They are also seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for a little while.


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The 10 horns you saw are 10 kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.


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These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with him are called and elect and faithful."


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He also said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.


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The 10 horns you saw, and the beast, will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her up with fire.


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For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His plan by having one purpose, and to give their kingdom to the beast until God's words are accomplished.


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After this I saw another angel with great authority coming down from heaven, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.


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He cried in a mighty voice: It has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen! She has become a dwelling for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, and a haunt for every unclean and despicable beast.


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For all the nations have drunk the wine of her sexual immorality, which brings wrath. The kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from her excessive luxury.


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Then I heard another voice from heaven: Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins, or receive any of her plagues.


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Pay her back the way she also paid, and double it according to her works. In the cup in which she mixed, mix a double portion for her.


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As much as she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, give her that much torment and grief. Because she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never see grief,'


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therefore her plagues will come in one day-- death, and grief, and famine. She will be burned up with fire, because the Lord God who judges her is mighty.


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The kings of the earth who have committed sexual immorality and lived luxuriously with her will weep and mourn over her when they see the smoke of her burning.


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They stand far off in fear of her torment, saying: Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the mighty city! For in a single hour your judgment has come.


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The merchants of the earth will also weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their merchandise any longer--


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merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine fabrics of linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; all kinds of fragrant wood products; objects of ivory; objects of expensive wood, brass, iron, and marble;


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cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine, olive oil, fine wheat flour, and grain; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human bodies and souls.


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The fruit you craved has left you. All your splendid and glamorous things are gone; they will never find them again.


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The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand far off in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,


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saying: Woe, woe, the great city, clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls;


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because in a single hour such fabulous wealth was destroyed! And every shipmaster, seafarer, the sailors, and all who do business by sea, stood far off


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They threw dust on their heads and kept crying out, weeping, and mourning: Woe, woe, the great city, where all those who have ships on the sea became rich from her wealth; because in a single hour she was destroyed.


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Rejoice over her, heaven, and you saints, apostles, and prophets, because God has executed your judgment on her!


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Then a mighty angel picked up a stone like a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying: In this way, Babylon the great city will be thrown down violently and never be found again.


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The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters will never be heard in you again; no craftsman of any trade will ever be found in you again; the sound of a mill will never be heard in you again;


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the light of a lamp will never shine in you again; and the voice of a groom and bride will never be heard in you again. [All this will happen] because your merchants were the nobility of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery,


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After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven, saying: Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,


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because His judgments are true and righteous, because He has judged the notorious prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality; and He has avenged the blood of His servants that was on her hands.


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Then the 24 elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who is seated on the throne, saying: Amen! Hallelujah!


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A voice came from the throne, saying: Praise our God, all you His servants, you who fear Him, both small and great!


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Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying: Hallelujah-- because our Lord God, the Almighty, has begun to reign!


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Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself.


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She was permitted to wear fine linen, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.


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Then he said to me, "Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!" He also said to me, "These words of God are true."


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Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow slave with you and your brothers who have the testimony about Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."


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Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.


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His eyes were like a fiery flame, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knows except Himself.


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From His mouth came a sharp sword, so that with it He might strike the nations. He will shepherd them with an iron scepter. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty.


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Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying in mid-heaven, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God,


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so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great."


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Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and against His army.


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But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with him the false prophet, who had performed signs on his authority, by which he deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.


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The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.


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Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand.


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He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for 1,000 years.


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He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the 1,000 years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time.


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Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. [I] also [saw] the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of God's word, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with the Messiah for 1,000 years.


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The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were completed. This is the first resurrection.


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Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over these, but they will be priests of God and the Messiah, and they will reign with Him for 1,000 years.


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and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea.


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They came up over the surface of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven and consumed them.


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The Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.


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Then I saw a great white throne and One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.


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I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books.


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Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works.


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Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea existed no longer.


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I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.


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Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God's dwelling is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.


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He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will exist no longer; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.


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Then the One seated on the throne said, "Look! I am making everything new." He also said, "Write, because these words are faithful and true."


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And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give to the thirsty from the spring of living water as a gift.


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But the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars-- their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."


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Then one of the seven angels, who had held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me: "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."


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He then carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,


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arrayed with God's glory. Her radiance was like a very precious stone, like a jasper stone, bright as crystal.


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[The city] had a massive high wall, with 12 gates. Twelve angels were at the gates; [on the gates], names were inscribed, the names of the 12 tribes of the sons of Israel.


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There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.


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The city is laid out in a square; its length and width are the same. He measured the city with the rod at 12,000 stadia. Its length, width, and height are equal.


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The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone: the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,


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the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.


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The 12 gates are 12 pearls; each individual gate was made of a single pearl. The broad street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.


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The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God's glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.


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Nothing profane will ever enter it: no one who does what is vile or false, but only those written in the Lamb's book of life.


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Then he showed me the river of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb


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down the middle of the broad street [of the city]. On both sides of the river was the tree of life bearing 12 kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations,


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and there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him.


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Night will no longer exist, and people will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.


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Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must quickly take place."


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I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me.


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But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow slave with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."


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Let the unrighteous go on in unrighteousness; let the filthy go on being made filthy; let the righteous go on in righteousness; and let the holy go on being made holy."


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<J>Look! I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me to repay each person according to what he has done.</J>


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<J>Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.</J>


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<J>Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.</J>


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<J>I, Jesus, have sent My angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright Morning Star."</J>


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Both the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" Anyone who hears should say, "Come!" And the one who is thirsty should come. Whoever desires should take the living water as a gift.


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I testify to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book.


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And if anyone takes away from the words of this prophetic book, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, written in this book.


