# verses

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Then straightaway it so happened that three men came to the house in which I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me.


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And the spirit told me to go with them, not doubting in any way. So these six brothers also went along with me, and we went into the man's house,


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and he related to us how he had seen the angel in his house, who stood and said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa and send for Simon who is surnamed Peter,


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And as I was beginning to speak, the holy spirit fell on them, as it had also done on us in the beginning.


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And I remembered the word of the Lord when he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with holy spirit.’


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So if God has given them the same gift as to us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, then who was I that I could hinder God?”


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And when they had heard these things, they quietened down and they glorified God, saying, “Has God then also given the Gentiles repentance leading to life?”


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Now then, those who were scattered by the tribulation which took place over Stephen went across to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, not speaking the word to anyone except Jews only.


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But there were some of them, Cypriot and Cyrenian men, who went to Antioch and spoke to the Greek speakers, preaching the Lord Jesus.


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And the report concerning them was heard in the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go across as far as Antioch,


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who when he arrived and saw the grace of God, rejoiced, and encouraged them all in their heart's resolve to remain attached to the Lord,


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for he was a good man, and full of holy spirit and faith, and a considerable company was added to the Lord.


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and he found him and brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass that they assembled together with the church for a whole year and taught a considerable company, and that the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.


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And one of them by the name of Agabus arose and indicated through the spirit that there was about to be a great famine over all the world, which indeed came to pass in the time of Claudius Caesar.


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Then according to how any of the disciples prospered, each of them assigned money to send for relief to those brothers living in Judaea,


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And seeing that this was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too. Now these were the days of the unleavened bread,


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and having seized him he put him in prison and handed him over to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him, wishing to lead him up to the people after the Passover.


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So Peter was being guarded in the prison. Meanwhile there was intense prayer taking place by the church to God for him.


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Then when Herod was about to bring him forward, on that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound by two chains, while guards were guarding the prison in front of the door.


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And behold, the angel of the Lord came up to him and a light shone in the cell. He prodded Peter's side and made him get up, saying, “Arise quickly.” And his chains fell off from his hands.


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Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”


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And he went out and followed him, but he was not aware that what was taking place through the angel was real, but he thought he was seeing a vision.


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They passed through the first guard-post and the second one and came to the iron gate which led to the city, which opened automatically to them. And they went out and went on down one street, then straightaway the angel departed from him.


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And Peter, having come to himself, said, “Now I truly know the Lord sent his angel and set me free from Herod's grip and all the expectation of the Jewish people.”


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And realizing this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John who is surnamed Mark, where there was a considerable number of people gathered and praying.


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And recognizing Peter's voice, she did not open the gate for joy, but ran to report that Peter was standing at the gate.


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But they said to her, “You're mad.” But she affirmed that it was so. Then they said, “It's his angel.”


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Then he signalled to them with his hand to be silent, and explained to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison, and he said, “Tell these things to James and the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.


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And when day came, there was no minor disturbance among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.


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And Herod made a further search for him, and not finding him, he interrogated the guards and ordered them to be led away. Then he went down from Judaea to Caesarea and spent time there.


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Now Herod was raging against the Tyrians and Sidonians. But they had come to him with one mind, and having won over Blastus who was in charge of the king's bedroom, they asked for peace, because their country was supported by the king's country.


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And immediately the angel of the Lord struck him because he had not given glory to God, and he was consumed by worms and expired.


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Then Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, having fulfilled their mission, taking John surnamed Mark with them too.


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Now there were some prophets and teachers here and there in the church which existed in Antioch: Barnabas, and Simeon surnamed Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Manaen of common upbringing with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.


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And as they were performing service to the Lord and fasting, the holy spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul completely apart for me for the work which I have called them to do.”


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So these men were sent out by the holy spirit and went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed away to Cyprus.


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And when they arrived in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jews' synagogues. They also had John as an assistant.


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When they had crossed the island, as far as Paphos, they found a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, who had the name Barjesus,


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who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. He called for Barnabas and Saul, and was very keen to hear the word of God.


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But Elymas the magician – for that is his name when translated – opposed them, attempting to divert the proconsul from the faith.


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and said, “You who are full of all deceit and all fraud, son of the devil, hostile to all righteousness, will you not cease from perverting the straight ways of the Lord?


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And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and darkness fell on him and he went about seeking guides.


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Then having seen what had taken place, the proconsul believed, and was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.


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Then Paul and his company put out to sea from Paphos and went to Perga in Pamphylia. But John took leave of them and returned to Jerusalem.


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And they crossed from Perga and arrived at Antioch of Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.


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And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent assistants to them, who said, “Men and brothers, if any of you have a word of encouragement to the people, speak up.”


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Then Paul got up and signalled with his hand and said, “Men and Israelites, and you who fear God, listen.


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The God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm he brought them out of it.


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And he destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, and gave their land to them as an inheritance.


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And for about four hundred and fifty years after that he gave them judges, until Samuel the prophet.


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Then after that they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kis, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.


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Then he removed him and raised up David to them as king, to whom he also gave witness and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my heart who will carry out all my will.’


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And as John was completing his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the one. But look, after me is coming one the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to loosen.’


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Men and brothers, sons of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent.


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For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers did not know this man, yet they fulfilled the voices of the prophets – which are read every Sabbath – when they judged him.


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And when they had finished doing everything that stood written about him, they took him down from the wood and put him in a tomb.


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and he was seen for many days by those who went up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are witnesses of him to the people.


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And we preach to you the promise to the fathers which has taken place – that God has completely fulfilled it to their children – us – in raising up Jesus,


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In that he raised him from the dead, no longer destined to return to decay, he has spoken as follows: ‘I will give you the faithful sacred things of David’.


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For David, having served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep and was added to his fathers and saw decay,


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So let it be known to you, men and brothers, that through this man, forgiveness of sins is declared to you,


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and that through this man everyone who believes is justified from all the things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.


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‘Behold, you haughty ones, and be amazed and vanish, for I am carrying out a work in your days which you certainly would not believe even if someone declared it to you.’ ”


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And when they had gone out of the synagogue of the Jews, the Gentiles pleaded with them for the words to be spoken to them on the intervening Sabbath.


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And when the synagogue gathering had broken up, many of the Jews and the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who addressed them and persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.


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And when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and spoke against the things being spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.


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But speaking out boldly, Paul and Barnabas said, “It was necessary for the word of God to be spoken to you first. But since you discard it and do not judge yourselves worthy of age-abiding life, look, we are turning to the Gentiles.


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For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have appointed you as a light to the Gentiles, for you to be for salvation up to the end of the earth.’ ”


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And the Gentiles, hearing this, rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and those who were appointed to age-abiding life believed.


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But the Jews incited the devout women and those of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of their territories.


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And it came to pass in Iconium that they went in the same way into the Jews' synagogue and spoke in such a way that a large number of both Jews and Greeks believed.


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And they spent a considerable time speaking out boldly about the Lord, who gave witness to his word of grace, allowing signs and miracles to take place through their hands.


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So the population of the city was divided, and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.


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But when an assault by both Gentiles and Jews took place with their leaders, intending to maltreat and stone them,


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they became aware of it and fled to the Lyconian cities of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area.


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And a certain man in Lystra, disabled in his feet, was sitting down. He had been lame from his mother's womb and had never walked.


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But when the crowds saw what Peter had done, they raised their voices and said in Lycaonian, “The gods have taken on human likeness and come down to us.”


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And the priest of Zeus's temple, which was in front of their city, brought bulls and garlands to the gates, and along with the crowds wished to offer sacrifice.


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But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and leapt into the crowd, shouting


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and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We too are men with similar feelings to you, preaching the gospel to you, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and the sea and everything that is in them,


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And yet he did not leave himself without a witness, doing good, giving rains from the sky and fruit-bearing seasons to you, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”


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Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium, and they persuaded the crowds otherwise, and they stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he had died.


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But the disciples gathered round him, and he got up and went to the city, and on the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.


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And they preached the gospel to that city, and when they had made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch.


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And they boosted the morale of the disciples and encouraged them to remain in the faith, and said, “We must go through many tribulations into the kingdom of God.”


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And they appointed them elders in each church, and after praying with fastings they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.


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And from there they sailed off to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.


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And when they had arrived and gathered the church, they reported on all the things that God had done with them and on the fact that he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.


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And certain men came down from Judaea and were teaching the brothers as follows: “Unless you are circumcised in the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”


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So with a not insignificant standpoint and argument with Paul and Barnabas having arisen against them, they arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of their company to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this dispute.


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So they were seen off on their way by the church, and they went through Phoenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles in detail, and gave great joy to all the brothers.


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And when they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received favourably by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported on all the things God had done with them.


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Then some of the sect of the Pharisees, believers, stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”


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And after much disputing had taken place, Peter stood up and said to them, “Men and brothers, you understand that from early days God made a choice among us that the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel through my mouth, and believe.


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And God who knows our hearts witnessed to them by giving them the holy spirit, as he also did to us,


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So now, why are you putting God to the test, by putting a yoke on the disciples' neck, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?


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But it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus that we believe that we have been saved in the same way that they do.”


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And the whole company went silent and heard Barnabas and Paul relating in detail all the signs and miracles which God had performed among the Gentiles through them.


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‘After these things I will return and build up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and I will rebuild its ruins and restore it,


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in order that the rest of men might seek out the Lord, including all the Gentiles on whom my name has been called,’ says the Lord, ‘who does all these things.’


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but should write to them to refrain from the polluted accompaniments of the idols, and from fornication, and anything strangled, and from blood.


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For Moses from early generations has had those who preach him in various cities, he being read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”


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Then the apostles and the elders with all the church decided to select some men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who is surnamed Barsabbas, and Silas – leading men among the brothers.


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They wrote as follows, to be taken by hand personally: “From the apostles and the elders and the brothers to the Gentile brothers throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.


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In view of the fact that we have heard that some of us have gone out and disturbed you with words, upsetting your spiritual condition, telling you to be circumcised and to keep the law, to whom we have given no such instructions,


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we, reaching unanimity, have decided to send some selected men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,


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For it seemed good to the holy spirit and us not to lay anything heavier on you except these necessary things:


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to refrain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and anything strangled, and fornication. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will be doing well. May you be strong.”


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So these were sent on their way and they came to Antioch, and when they had gathered the group together, they handed over the epistle.


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And Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and invigorated the brothers with many words.


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And when they had spent some time there, they were sent on their way with peace from the brothers to the apostles.


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Then Paul and Barnabas spent time in Antioch, teaching and preaching the gospel, with many others, the word of the Lord.


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And after several days Paul said to Barnabas, “Now then, let us return and visit our brothers in every city in which we declared the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”


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But Paul did not think it proper that they should take this man with them, who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them for the work.


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So a bitter dispute arose, with the result that they took leave of each other, and that Barnabas took Mark with him to sail off to Cyprus.


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And he arrived at Derbe and Lystra, where there was a certain disciple by the name of Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman, who was a believer, and a Greek father,


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Paul wanted him to come along with him, and took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.


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And as they went through the cities, they delivered decrees to them, to keep, which had been issued by the apostles and the elders in Jerusalem.


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But as they passed through Phrygia and the Galatian region, they were prevented by the holy spirit from speaking the word in Asia,


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and they came down to Mysia, and attempted to go down to Bithynia, but the spirit did not allow them,


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Then a vision appeared in the night to Paul – a certain Macedonian man was standing and calling on him and saying, “Cross into Macedonia and help us.”


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And when he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to depart for Macedonia, deducing that the Lord had called on us to preach the gospel to them.


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And from there to Philippi, which is the first city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony, and we were in the city itself spending time there for several days.


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And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city along the river where prayer was customarily held and we sat down and spoke to the women who were gathered there.


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And a certain woman by the name of Lydia was listening, a seller of purple cloth, of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, whose heart the Lord had opened to pay heed to the things spoken by Paul.


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And when she had been baptized, along with her household, she invited us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay in my house.” And she urged us to do so.


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And it came to pass as we were going to prayer that a certain girl who was possessed by a soothsaying spirit met us, and who provided her masters with much business by soothsaying.


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She followed Paul and us persistently and kept shouting out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they will declare the way of salvation to us.”


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She kept doing this for many days. Paul, being worn out with annoyance, turned to the spirit and said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out at that very hour.


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But when her masters saw that the mainstay of their business had come out, they laid hold of Paul and Silas dragged them to the market place to the governors.


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And they led them to the magistrates and said, “These men are stirring up our city, and, being Jews,


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And the crowd rose up against them together, and the magistrates tore their coats and ordered beating with rods.


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And after inflicting many blows on them, they threw them in prison, ordering the prison guard to guard them securely,


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and he accepted such a charge and put them in the innermost prison area and secured their feet to the wood.


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Now at around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,


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when suddenly a heavy earthquake took place, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's shackles became detached.


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The prison guard was awoken from his sleep, and when he saw that the doors of the prison were open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped.


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Then he took them along at that hour of the night and washed their wounds, and was immediately baptized, as were all those of his family.


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And he led them up to his house, and served them a meal and rejoiced with all his household, having believed in God.


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And the prison guard reported these words to Paul as follows, “The magistrates have sent word that you should be released. So depart now and go in peace.”


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Then Paul said to them, “They flogged us when we were uncondemned, in public, whilst we are Roman citizens, and threw us in prison. And now, are they going to expel us in secret? Not likely! Rather, let them come and conduct us out themselves.”


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And the lictors reported these words to the magistrates, and they became afraid when they heard that they were Romans,


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and they came and apologized to them profusely, then they conducted them out and asked them to leave the city.


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So they came out of the prison and went to Lydia, and saw the brothers there and encouraged them, and departed again.


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And they travelled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.


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And in accordance with his custom, Paul went to them, and for three Sabbaths he debated with them from the scriptures,


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expounding and explaining as follows: “Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead”, and “This is who the Christ is: Jesus whom I declare to you”.


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And some of them were persuaded and were allotted to Paul and Silas, as were a very large number of the devout Greeks and not an insignificant number of the leading women.


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But the unbelieving Jews recruited some good-for-nothing men from those who hang around the market area, and when they had collected a crowd, they brought the city into uproar and took a stand at Jason's house and tried to bring them to the people.


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But as they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers to the city rulers, shouting, “Those upsetting the world are these present right here,


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whom Jason has received as guests. And all these are doing things contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king – Jesus.”


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And the brothers immediately during the night sent Paul and Silas away to Berea, who, when they arrived, went to the Jews' synagogue.


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Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they received the word with all readiness, closely examining the scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.


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But when the Jews from Thessalonica came to know that the word of God had also been declared in Berea by Paul, they came there too and stirred up the crowds.


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And then immediately the brothers sent Paul out so that he could go in the direction of the sea. But both Silas and Timothy stayed there.


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And they conducted Paul and brought him to Athens, then having received an instruction for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible, they departed.


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And in Athens, while Paul was waiting for them, his spirit in him was exasperated when he saw how the city was given to idolatry.


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So he discussed with the Jews and devout people in the synagogue, and every day with those who happened to be around in the market place.


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And also some of the Epicurean and the Stoic philosophers engaged him in conversation, and some said, “What could this amateur be getting at?” But others said, “He seems to be a propounder of foreign deities.” This was because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.


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And they took him along with them and brought him to Ares Hill and said, “May we know what this new teaching is which is being spoken by you?


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For all the Athenians and the foreigners living away from home spend their leisure time in nothing other than talking or hearing about something new.


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So Paul, standing before the Ares Hill council said, “Men of Athens, I see, apparently, that you are very reverent to the gods in all respects.


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For as I passed through and looked at your objects of worship, I also found an altar on which had been inscribed, ‘To an unknown god.’ Now him whom you worship in ignorance, I declare to you.


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God who made the universe and everything in it – he being Lord of heaven and earth – does not dwell in shrines made by hands,


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nor is he served by human hands as if he lacked anything, but he himself gives life and breath in all respects to all.


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And he made every nation of men from one blood, so as dwell on all the surface of the earth, and he set appointed times and the borders of their territory,


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so that they should seek the Lord, to see if they might possibly feel their way to him and find him, and at any rate he is not far from any one of us.


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For in him we live and move and exist, as also some of your poets have said, ‘For we too are his kindred.’


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So since we are the offspring of God, we should not think the Godhead is like gold or silver or stone or a sculpture from the craftsmanship and the ponderings of men.


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And so although God turned a blind eye throughout the times of ignorance, in these times he commands all men everywhere to repent.


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For he has appointed a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, through a man whom he has appointed, having provided assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”


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And when they heard, “resurrection of the dead”, some scoffed, but some said, “We will hear you again on this matter.”


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But some men stuck with him and believed, among whom were Dionysius the Ares Hill council member, and a woman by the name of Damaris and others with them.


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And he found a certain Jew by the name of Aquila, a Pontian by descent, who had just come from Italy and Priscilla his wife (because Claudius had decreed that all the Jews must depart from Rome), and he went up to them,


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and since they were of the same trade, he remained with them and did some work, for they were tent-makers by trade.


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And when both Silas and Timothy had come down from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in spirit and testified solemnly to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.


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But since they took an opposing standpoint and blasphemed, he shook out his clothes and said to them, “Your blood be on your head. I am clear of responsibility. From now on I am going to the Gentiles.”


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And moving on from there he went to the house of a certain man by the name of Justus, who worshipped God, whose house abutted on the synagogue.


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But Crispus the leader of the synagogue believed in the Lord with the whole of his household, and many of the Corinthians heard and believed and were baptized.


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Then the Lord said to Paul through a vision at night, “Do not be afraid, but speak out and do not be silent,


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for I am with you and no-one will attack you so as to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”


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But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaea, the Jews unanimously rose up against Paul and led him to the court,


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And as Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “Now if it had been some wrongdoing or nefarious malpractice, O Jews, I would have accepted your charge as reasonable,


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but if it is a dispute about a word and names and your law, see to it yourselves. For I do not wish to be a judge of these things.”


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And all the Greeks took hold of Sosthenes the leader of the synagogue and beat him in the presence of the court. But none of these things was a scruple to Gallio.


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And Paul stayed on several days more, then bade farewell to the brothers and sailed away to Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila, who had had his head shaved in Cenchreae, for he had made a vow.


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And he reached Ephesus and left those there while he himself went to the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews.


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but took his leave of them, and said, “I must at all events keep the coming festival in Jerusalem, but I will come back to you again, God willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.


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And he spent some time there, then departed and crossed through, in sequence, the Galatian region and Phrygia, invigorating all the disciples.


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And a certain Jew by the name of Apollos, and Alexandrian by descent an erudite man, being masterful in the scriptures, came down to Ephesus.


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He had been taught the way of the Lord verbally, and being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught the matters concerning the Lord accurately, although he only knew the baptism of John.


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And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. And when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately.


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And as he wished to cross over to Achaea, the brothers urged him on and wrote to the disciples to receive him. And when he arrived he contributed much to those who had believed, through grace.


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For he vigorously and thoroughly refuted the Jews, publicly demonstrating through the scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.


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And it came to pass while Apollos was in Corinth that Paul crossed through the upper regions and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples,


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and asked them, “Did you receive holy spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether holy spirit exists.”


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Then Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is in Christ Jesus.”


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Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the holy spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.


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And he went to the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, discussing and persuading them of matters concerning the kingdom of God.


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But when some became hardened and disbelieved, and denigrated “the way” in the presence of the community, he withdrew from them and separated the disciples from them, holding discussions daily in the lecture room of a certain Tyrannus.


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This took place for two years, resulting in all those living in Asia hearing the word of the Lord Jesus – both Jews and Greeks.


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so that even sweat-bands or gowns which had been in contact with him were brought and put on the sick, and the diseases were removed from them, and evil spirits came out of them.


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Then some of the roaming Jewish exorcists took it in hand to name the name of the Lord Jesus over those possessed by the evil spirits and they said, “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul proclaims.”


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And the evil spirit answered and said, “I know Jesus and I am well acquainted with Paul, but as for you, who are you?”


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And the man in whom the evil spirit was leapt on them and overpowered them, and prevailed over them with the result that they only escaped from that house naked and wounded.


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And this became known to all the Jews and Greeks who were living in Ephesus, and a fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.


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And a considerable number of those who had engaged in superstitious practices collected their books and burned them up in the presence of everyone, and they added up the value of them and found that it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.


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And when these things had been completed, Paul resolved, after going across Macedonia and Achaea, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I arrive there, I must also see Rome.”


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Then he sent two of those who were assisting him, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, but he himself stayed on for a while in Asia.


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For a certain Demetrius by name, a silversmith, who made silver shrines to Artemis, provided the craftsmen with no small amount of work,


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and he gathered them together, including the workmen connected with such things, and said, “Men, you understand that our prosperity comes from this trade.


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And you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but in almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded a considerable number of people and caused them to change their position, saying that there are no gods made by hands.


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And not only is this line of business of ours in danger of coming into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Artemis is in danger of being considered worthless, and also her magnificence of being destroyed – Artemis whom the whole of Asia and the world worships.”


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When they heard this, they also became full of anger, and shouted, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”


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And the whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one mind to the theatre and rounded up Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, travelling companions of Paul.


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And also some of the rulers of Asia, since they were friendly towards him, sent to him, and exhorted him not to venture into the theatre.


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So some were shouting one thing, and some another. For the legislative assembly was in confusion, and most did not know on account of what they had gathered together.


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And they put Alexander forward from the crowd, the Jews having proposed him. And Alexander motioned his hand for quiet and wished to speak in defence to the people,


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but when they realized he was a Jew, there arose one call from all of them, and they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.”


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Then the town clerk restrained the crowd and said, “Men of Ephesus, after all, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the custodian of the temple of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image of Zeus fallen from above.


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For you have brought these men here, but they are not temple plunderers or blasphemers of your goddess.


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So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a charge against anyone, the courts are functional and there are proconsuls available – let them charge one another.


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But if you are seeking something relating to other matters, it will be settled in the legislative assembly.


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For we are also in danger of being charged for today's rioting, although there is no cause concerning which we will not be able to give an account of this rally.”


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And after the uproar had ceased, Paul called for the disciples, and when he had wished them well, he departed, to go to Macedonia.


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And when he had crossed through those parts and encouraged them with many a word, he went to Greece.


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And after spending three months there, when a plot was hatched by the Jews against him when he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.


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And Sopater, a Berean, accompanied him as far as Asia, as did Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and the Asians Tychicus and Trophimus.


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But after the days of the unleavened bread we sailed away from Philippi and came to them at Troas in five days, where we spent seven days.


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And on the first of the Sabbaths when the disciples had gathered together to break bread, Paul held a discussion with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged the discussion up to midnight.


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Now a certain young man by the name of Eutychus was sitting at the window, and was weighed down by deep sleepiness, while Paul was all the more engaged in discussion, and when he was finally overcome by the sleepiness, he fell down from the third storey and was taken up dead.


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But Paul went down and fell on him and embraced him and said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.”


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And he went upstairs and broke bread, and had a taste of it, and talked for a long time – until daybreak – and then he departed.


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And we arrived and went on board the ship and set sail to Assos, and from there we planned to take Paul on board, for that is how he had made arrangements, he himself having the intention to go there on foot.


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And from there on the next day we sailed off and skirted round Chios, and on the day after we crossed over past Samos, and we stayed in Trogullium, and on the day after that we went to Miletus.


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For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not end up spending time in Asia. For he was eager, if it was possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.


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And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You know from the first day on which I set foot on Asia, how I was with you all the time,


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serving the Lord with all humility and many tears and trials which befell me through the plots of the Jews,


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how I did not keep back anything profitable – not refraining from informing you and teaching you in public and from house to house,


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And now, look, I am going bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what things will befall me there,


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except that the holy spirit testifies from city to city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.


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But I consider it a matter of no concern, nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so long as I complete my course with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to give a witness of the gospel of the grace of God.


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And now, look, I know that none of you, among whom I went about proclaiming the kingdom of God, will see my face any longer,


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So take heed for yourselves and the whole flock, over which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to shepherd the church of the Lord and God, which he acquired through his own blood.


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And from within your company men will arise, saying perverse things in order to draw away the disciples after them.


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Be watchful, therefore, remembering that for three years, night and day, I did not stop warning each one of you with tears.


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And regarding present matters, brothers, I commit you to God and his word of grace which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who have been sanctified.


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I have set you an example in all respects, showing you that this is how you must toil to help those who are weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus as he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”


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feeling grief most of all at the words which he had spoken, that they would not see his face any more. Then they escorted him to the ship.


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And when it came to pass that we set sail, after we had taken our leave of them, we sailed a straight course and went to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there we went to Patara,


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Then we came in sight of Cyprus, and leaving it behind on the port side, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for that is where the ship was to unload its cargo.


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And when we had sought out the disciples, we stayed on there for seven days, and they told Paul through the spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.


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Then when it came to pass that we had come to the end of the days, we departed and moved on, while they all with wives and children escorted us as far as outside the city, and we knelt down on the shore and prayed.


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And as for us, we completed our voyage from Tyre and reached Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed one day with them.


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Then on the next day, Paul and his company departed and came to Caesarea, and went into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and we stayed with him.


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And as we were staying on for many days, a certain prophet by the name of Agabus came down from Judaea.


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And he came to us and took Paul's belt and bound his feet and hands and said, “The holy spirit says this: ‘In this way the Jews will bind in Jerusalem the man whose belt this is, and they will hand him over to the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”


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Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the sake of the name of the Lord Jesus.”


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Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, and they brought a certain Mnason, a Cypriot, along with them, who was a disciple of long standing, with whom we were to lodge.


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And he greeted them and related each thing one by one of what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.


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And those listening glorified the Lord, and said to him, “You see, brother, how many tens of thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous of the law.


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But they have been instructed concerning you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles defection from Moses, saying that they should not circumcise their children, or observe the customs.


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So which way is it? At all events, the community must gather, for they will hear that you have come.


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Take these with you and be purified with them, and pay expenses on their behalf so that they may shave their heads and everyone may know that there is nothing in the things about which they have been instructed concerning you, but that you yourself also walk according to regulation and keep the law.


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And concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter, since we judge that they should keep no such thing, except to keep themselves from anything sacrificed to idols, and blood, and anything strangled, and fornication.”


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Then Paul took the men with him, and on the next day he purified himself with them, and went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of their purification, until the offering had been made for each one of them.


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But as the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia saw him in the temple and stirred up all the crowd, and laid hands on him,


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shouting, “Men and Israelites, help. This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere things against the people and the law and this place. Moreover he has brought Greeks into the temple and has profaned this holy place.”


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For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, whom they supposed Paul had brought into the temple.


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And the whole city was stirred up, and a rally of the people took place, and they seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the gates were closed.


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And while they tried to find a way to kill him, a report came to the commander of the cohort that the whole of Jerusalem was in turmoil,


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and he immediately took soldiers with him and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the cohort commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.


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Then the cohort commander approached and seized him and ordered him to be bound with two chains, and he enquired who he was and what he had done.


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Now various people in the crowd were shouting various things, and since he could not find out exactly what was going on because of the disturbance, he ordered him to be brought to the camp.


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And when he came to the steps, it was necessary for him to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd.


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And as Paul was about to be led into the camp, he said to the cohort commander, “Is it permitted for me to speak to you?” And he said, “Do you speak Greek?


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So you are not the Egyptian who a while ago caused a revolt and led the four thousand cut-throats into the desert?”


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Then Paul said, “I am a Jew of Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of a city which is not insignificant. And I ask you, permit me to speak to the people.”


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And he permitted him, and Paul, standing on the steps, signalled to the people with his hand. And when it had gone very quiet, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, and said,


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And when they heard that he had addressed them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more quiet. And he said,


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“I am a Jewish man who was born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated according to the exactness of the ancestral law, being a zealot for God, as all of you are today,


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as the high priest also testifies to me, as does the whole council of elders, from whom I also received letters addressed to the brothers, and I went to Damascus in order to also bring those there bound to Jerusalem for them to be punished.


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But it came to pass as I was going along and approaching Damascus at about mid-day, that suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.


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And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene whom you are persecuting.’


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And the people who were with me saw the light and became fearful, but they did not hear the voice of him who was speaking to me.


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And I said, ‘What am I to do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go to Damascus and there you will be told about all the things that have been appointed for you to do.’


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But as I could not see because of that dazzling light, I came to Damascus being led by the hand by those who were with me.


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And a certain Ananias, a man who was devout according to the law, held in high regard by all the Jewish inhabitants,


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came to me and confronted me and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, recover your sight.’ And at that very hour I recovered my sight and looked up at him.


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And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will and to see the just one and to hear a sound from his mouth,


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And now, why do you delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and wash away your sins, calling upon the name of the Lord.’


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And it happened that when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I went into a trance,


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and saw him saying to me, ‘Hurry up and depart from Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive your witness concerning me.’


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And I said, ‘Lord, they know that I used to imprison and flog those who believed in you as I went from synagogue to synagogue.


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And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I myself was also standing by, approving of his elimination, while guarding the coats of those eliminating him.’


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And they heard him as far as this word, then they raised their voices and said, “Remove a man like this from the face of the earth, for it is not proper that he should live.”


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the cohort commander ordered him to be brought into the camp, ordering him to be interrogated with whips, so that he might ascertain the reason why they clamoured like that against him.


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And when he had stretched him out, bound with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it permitted for you to whip a man who is a Roman, and who has not been condemned?”


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And when the centurion heard it, he went and told the cohort commander, and said, “Watch what you are about to do. For this man is a Roman.”


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And the cohort commander answered, “I obtained this citizenship for a large sum of money”. Then Paul said, “But I was born with it”.


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So those who were going to interrogate him immediately stood back from him, and the cohort commander was afraid, as he had ascertained that he was a Roman, and had bound him.


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And the next day, wishing to know the details of what he had been accused of by the Jews, he released him from his bonds and ordered the senior priests and the whole of their Sanhedrin council to come, and brought Paul down and stood him before them.


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And Paul looked at the Sanhedrin council intently and said, “Men and brothers, I have lived as a citizen with a fully clear conscience before God up to this day.”


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Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall. And you sit judging me according to the law, but you order me to be struck, acting contrary to the law.”


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Then Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that it was the high priest. For it stands written, ‘You shall not speak ill of the ruler of your people.’ ”


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Then Paul, knowing that one part was of the Sadducees and the other Pharisees, shouted out in the Sanhedrin council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. For the hope and the resurrection of the dead I am being judged.”


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For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor even angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees confess all of these.


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And loud shouting arose and the scribes of the faction of the Pharisees stood up and strove, and said, “We do not find anything wrong in this man. And if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let us not fight God.”


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And when a lot of contention arose, the cohort commander saw to it that that Paul should not be torn apart by them, and ordered the army to come down and seize and take him away from them and to bring him to the camp.


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The following night the Lord came and stood by him and said, “Take courage, Paul, for as you bore witness to the things concerning me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness in Rome.”


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And when day had broken, some of the Jews made an alliance and bound themselves with a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.


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And they went to the senior priests and the elders, and said, “We have absolutely bound ourselves with a curse, that we will not taste anything until we have killed Paul.


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So for your part, give a plain message to the cohort commander, with the Sanhedrin council, to the intent that he brings him down to you tomorrow, as if you intend to investigate more precisely the matters concerning him. Then for our part, we are prepared to eliminate him before he comes near.”


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But the son of Paul's sister heard about the ambush plot and went to the camp and went in and told Paul.


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Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the cohort commander, for he has something to report to him.”


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So he took him with him and brought him to the cohort commander and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to say to you.”


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Then the cohort commander took him by the hand and went aside privately and enquired, “What is it that you have to report to me?”


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And he said, “The Jews have agreed together to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Sanhedrin council, as if you intend to ascertain something more precisely about him.


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So don't you be persuaded by them. For more than forty men of theirs are making an ambush, and they have bound themselves with a curse neither to eat nor drink until they have eliminated him, and now they are ready, expecting your promise.”


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So the cohort commander sent the young man away, having given this instruction, “Do not divulge the fact that you have reported this to me.”


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And he called for a certain two of the centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to be ready at the third hour of the night,


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I intervened with the army and rescued this man, having learned that he was a Roman citizen, when he had been seized by the Jews and was about to be eliminated by them,


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and wishing to know the reason why they were bringing a charge against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin council,


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and I found that he was charged concerning enquiries into their law, but not in any way under a charge worthy of death or bonds.


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And when a plot against the man by the Jews had been disclosed to me which was about to take place, I immediately sent word to you, also instructing his accusers to state the charges against him in your presence. Farewell.”


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So the soldiers took Paul with them, according to their orders, and brought him by night to Antipatris.


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And when they had arrived in Caesarea, they handed over the letter to the governor and also presented Paul to him.


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Then the governor read it and asked what province he was from, and ascertained that he was from Cilicia.


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He said, “I will hold your hearing when your accusers also arrive.” And he ordered him to be guarded in Herod's official residence.


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And five days afterwards Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator, Tertullius, and they explained the charge against Paul to the governor.


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And when he had been called, Tertullius began to make the accusation, and said, “We have enjoyed a very peaceful time thanks to you, and through your foresight sound undertakings have been accomplished to the benefit of this nation,


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For we found this man to be a pest, and to be stirring up a revolt among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,


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And from him you yourself, after questioning him concerning all these things, will be able to ascertain the matters of which we accuse him.”


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Then, when the governor had signalled to him that he should speak, Paul answered, “Knowing that you have been a judge over this people for many years, I make a defence of the charges concerning me in very good spirits,


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Now they did not find me in the temple disputing with anyone or causing a popular riot, either in the synagogues or around the city.


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But I confess this to you, that according to ‘the way’, which they call ‘sectarian’, so I serve the God of my forefathers, believing in all the things which are according to the law and which stand written by the prophets,


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having a hope in God, which these people themselves also expect – that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both the just and the unjust.


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And I myself am at pains in respect of this, having an irreproachable conscience towards God and men at all times.


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And during these undertakings certain Jews from Asia found me sanctified in the temple, not with a crowd or with a disturbance,


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who ought to be present before you and make their accusation if they should have anything against me,


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or let these themselves say what wrong-doing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin council,


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or concerning this one expression which I exclaimed when I stood among them: ‘I am being judged by you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.’ ”


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Then when Felix had heard these things, he postponed their hearing, knowing the reports about “the way” in quite some detail, and said, “When Lysias the cohort commander comes down, I will investigate your case.”


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And he ordered the centurion that Paul should be guarded and have privileges and that he should not prevent any of his own people from attending to him or coming to him.


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And after a certain number of days, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, who was Jewish, and called for Paul and heard him about faith in Christ.


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And while he was debating about righteousness and self-control and the judgment which is to come, Felix became fearful and answered, “For the present, go your way, but I will take an opportunity and call for you.”


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And at the same time he hoped that money would be given to him by Paul for him to release him, and for that reason he quite often sent for him and held conversations with him.


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Then after two full years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And Felix, wishing to do the Jews a favour, left Paul bound.


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And the high priest and the highest-ranking Jews made their position against Paul clear to him, and appealed to him,


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asking for a favour against the man, that he would send for him to come to Jerusalem, while they laid an ambush so as to eliminate him on the way.


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So Festus answered that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, whereas he himself was going to depart shortly.


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He said, “Well then, let the men of senior rank among you come down together and accuse him, if there is anything against this man.”


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Then he spent more than ten days among them, and when he had come back down to Caesarea, on the following day he took his seat in the court and ordered Paul to be brought.


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And when he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood round about, bringing many serious charges against Paul, which they could not substantiate,


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whereas he stated in his defence, “I have neither offended against the law of the Jews nor against the temple nor against Caesar in any respect.”


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But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favour, answered and said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged on these matters by me there?”


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Then Paul said, “I stand in Caesar's court where I should be judged. I have not wronged the Jews, as you for your part know very well.


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So if I am in the wrong, and have done anything deserving death, I do not ask for the death penalty to be lifted, but if the things which these people accuse me of are nothing, no-one can hand me over to them as a favour. I appeal to Caesar.”


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Then Festus conferred with the council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.”


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Now when a number of days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.


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And when he had spent several days there, Festus set Paul's case out to the king, and said, “There is a certain man who was left by Felix, a prisoner,


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concerning whom when I was in Jerusalem the senior priests and elders of the Jews explained a case, asking for a penalty against him.


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And I replied to them that it is not the custom for Romans to hand over any man to the death penalty before the accused has the accusers face to face, and receives an opportunity for defence concerning the accusation.


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So they gathered here and I made no delay and held a sitting in the court the next day and I ordered the man to be brought in.


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But the accusers stood there and did not make any accusation concerning him of the kind which I suspected,


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but they had some dispute about their own religion against him, and about a certain Jesus who had died, whom Paul was asserting to be alive.


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And I was at a loss in this dispute concerning this man, and I asked if he wished to go to Jerusalem and be judged there concerning these things.


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But when Paul appealed that he should be guarded awaiting Augustus's decision, I ordered him to be guarded until I send him to Caesar.”


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Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I myself would also like to hear the man.” “Tomorrow,” he then said, “you will hear him.”


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So the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with much pomp, and went to the audience hall with the cohort commanders and the prominent men of the city, and at Festus's command Paul was brought in.


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And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all you gentlemen who are present with us, you see this man concerning whom the whole multitude of Jews has been prevailing on me in Jerusalem and here, shouting out that he should no longer live.


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But I do not detect that he has done anything worthy of death, and as he himself has appealed to Augustus, I have decided to send him.


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But I have nothing specific about him to write to the sovereign, which is why I have produced him before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that when an interrogation has taken place, I might have something to write.


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For it seems to me to be unreasonable when sending a prisoner not also to indicate the charges against him.”


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Then Agrippa said to Paul, “It is permitted for you to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and spoke in his defence.


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“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to be in a position to make my defence before you today concerning everything that I have been accused of by the Jews,


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especially as you are an expert in all the customs and disputes among the Jews. So I ask you to hear me patiently.


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Now all the Jews know my way of life from my youth, which from the start was led among my people in Jerusalem.


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They have known me from the beginning – perhaps they would care to testify – that I lived according to the strictest sect of our religion, as a Pharisee.


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to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, serving strenuously night and day. And concerning this hope I have been indicted, King Agrippa, by the Jews.


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Now I decided for myself that it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarene,


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which I duly did in Jerusalem, and I shut up many of the saints in prisons, having obtained authority from the senior priests, and when they were liable to be executed, I voted against them.


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And I punished them in all the synagogues many times, and compelled them to blaspheme, and being exceedingly mad at them, I persecuted them even to cities abroad.


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And in these circumstances, when I was going to Damascus with authority and a commission from the senior priests,


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at mid-day on my way, I saw, O king, a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, flash around me and those travelling with me.


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And when we had all fallen down on the ground, I heard a voice which spoke to me and said in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’


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But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this: to appoint you as a servant and witness to both the things you have seen and the things in which I will be evident to you,


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to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified through faith in me.’


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But I preached to those in Damascus first, and then to those in Jerusalem, and in the whole region of Judaea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.


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So having obtained help from God up to this day, I stand witnessing to both small and great, not saying anything outside of what the prophets and Moses said would take place,


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as to whether Christ was to suffer, as to whether he as the first of the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light to the people and to the Gentiles.”


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And as he said these things in his defence, Festus said in a loud voice, “You are mad, Paul. Much learning is reducing you to madness.”


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But he said, “I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I speak words of truth and sanity in my defence.


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For the king has understanding of these things, and I speak freely to him. For I am not persuaded that any of these things escape his notice. For this has not been done in a corner.


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Then Paul said, “I could wish to God that not only you but also all those who hear me today would both in brief and at length become such as I am, except for these bonds.”


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And when he had said these things, the king stood up, as did the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them.


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And they withdrew and spoke to each other, saying, “This man has done nothing deserving death or bonds.”


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Now when it had been decided that we should sail to Italy, they handed Paul and some other prisoners over to a centurion by the name of Julius, of the Augustan cohort.


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So we embarked on an Adramyttian ship intending to sail to various places in Asia, and we put out to sea, there being Aristarchus a Macedonian of Thessalonica with us.


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On the next day we put in at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul in a kindly way, and permitted him to go to his friends to receive their care.


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And from there we put out to sea and sailed in the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.


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And after we had been sailing slowly for several days and had hardly reached being opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us to proceed, we sailed under Crete, passing opposite Salmone.


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Then sailing past it with difficulty, we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, which the town of Lasea was near to.


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After the ship had spent a considerable time there, and sailing was already dangerous, (considering even the fast had already passed), Paul gave some advice,


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and said to them, “Men, I see that the voyage is going to be with damage and much loss, not only to the cargo and the ship, but also to our lives.”


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But the centurion was more persuaded by the captain and the ship owner than by the things said by Paul.


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And as the port was unsuitable for wintering, the majority took a decision to put out to sea, and from there to reach, if they possibly could, Phenice, to winter there, a port in Crete facing south-west and north-west.


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And as a south wind was blowing gently, and thinking that they had secured their objective, they weighed anchor and sailed very close to Crete.


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As the ship was caught up and not able to make headway against the wind, we gave up and allowed ourselves to be carried along.


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And when we had run into the lee of a small island called Clauda, we were barely able to keep control of the tender.


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And they hoisted it aboard and applied reinforcements by undergirding the ship. And being afraid that they would run aground in the Syrtis, they lowered the tackling and were carried along like that.


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And since neither the sun nor the stars were visible for many days, with a not inconsiderable storm raging, from that time all hope of us being saved was lost.


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And after much abstinence from food, Paul then stood up in with them and said, “Men, you should have done what I said by not putting out to sea from Crete and running up this damage and loss.


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And as for the present situation, I exhort you to be in good spirits, for there will be no loss of life among you, except for the ship.


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and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And look, God has kindly given you all those who are sailing with you.’


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And when it was the fourteenth night of us being driven about in the Adriatic, at about midnight, the sailors suspected that they were approaching land.


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And when they took soundings, they found the depth to be twenty fathoms, and after leaving a short interval, when they took soundings again, they found the depth to be fifteen fathoms.


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And fearing that we might run up against rocky places, they cast four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.


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But when the sailors tried to abandon the ship and had lowered the tender into the sea, under pretext of being about to stretch out anchor lines from the bow,


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Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.”


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Then while day was on the point of breaking, Paul encouraged everyone to partake of food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been without food, waiting in suspense, not taking any.


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So I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your salvation. For not a hair from anyone will fall from his head.”


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And when he had said these things, he took bread and thanked God in the presence of everyone and broke it and began to eat.


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And when they had had their fill of food, they lightened the ship by jettisoning the corn into the sea.


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And when day had come, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay which had a beach, on which they resolved to drive the ship ashore, if possible.


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And they slipped anchors and committed everything to the sea, while at the same time they loosened the connections to the rudders and hoisted the foresail to the prevailing wind and brought the ship to the beach.


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So they were wrecked at a place with sea on two sides and ran the ship aground, and the prow became stuck and remained motionless, but the stern began to be broken up by the force of the waves.


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Then a decision was made by the soldiers to kill the prisoners in case anyone should swim away and escape.


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But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, prevented them from carrying out their intention and ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land,


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then the remainder, some on planks, others on various parts of the ship. And in this way it so happened that all came safely through onto land.


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Now the barbarians showed us extraordinary kindness, for they lit a fire and welcomed all of us because of the rain which had come on and because of the cold.


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And when Paul had gathered a mass of firewood and put it on the fire, a viper came out of the heat and fastened itself onto his hand.


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And when the barbarians saw the wild beast hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man is no doubt a murderer, whom Justice has not allowed to live, although he was saved from the sea.”


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but they expected him to become inflamed or to suddenly fall down dead, but after they had been in expectation for a long time, and seen nothing untoward happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.


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And in the neighbourhood of that place was the estate of the principal man of the island, by the name of Publius, who received us for three days and lodged us in a friendly way.


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Now it came to pass that the father of Publius was lying sick, afflicted with fever and dysentery, and Paul went to him and prayed and laid hands on him and cured him.


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And when this had taken place, the rest on the island who had sicknesses also came forward and were cured,


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and they also honoured us with many honours, and when we set sail, they supplied us with what was needed.


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And after three months, we set sail in a ship which had wintered on the island – an Alexandrian one with the ensign of Castor and Pollux.


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From there we sailed round and reached Rhegium, and one day later, when a south-west wind sprang up, we came to Puteoli on the second day,


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where we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days, and in this way we went to Rome.


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And when the brothers from that place heard about our circumstances, they came out to meet us at the Appian Forum and Three Taverns, and when Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and took courage.


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And when we came to Rome, the centurion handed over the prisoners to the military commander, but he permitted Paul to remain by himself with the soldier guarding him.


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And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the prominent Jews together, and when they had gathered together, he said to them, “Men and brothers, I have done nothing against the people or the ancestral customs, but I have been delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,


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who after interrogating me wanted to release me because there was no cause for a death penalty against me.


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But since the Jews spoke against me, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything to accuse my nation of.


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So for this reason I requested to see you and to address you, for I have this chain round me for the sake of the hope of Israel.”


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Then they said to him, “We have neither received letters about you from Judaea, nor has any of the brothers come and reported or said anything bad about you.


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We consider it proper to hear from you what you think. For concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”


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And they appointed him a day, and very many came to him, to his lodging, to whom he expounded, testifying solemnly to the kingdom of God, persuading them of the things concerning Jesus from the law of Moses and the prophets, from morning to evening.


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And being at variance with each other, they separated, after Paul had made one remark, “The holy spirit spoke well through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,


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saying, ‘Go to this people and say «You will definitely hear but certainly won't understand, and you will definitely see but certainly won't perceive,


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for the heart of this people has become obtuse, and with their ears they hear in a dull way, and they have closed their eyes, so that they should not see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and repent, and I would heal them.» ’.


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So let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it.”


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Then Paul remained for a full two years in his own hired house and he received all those who came to him,


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proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all frankness, unhindered.


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who was marked out as the son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection of the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,


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through whom we have received grace and an apostleship for obedience in faith among all the Gentiles for the cause of his name,


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to all those who are in Rome, God's beloved, called as saints, grace to you and peace from God our father and Lord Jesus Christ.


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Firstly, I give thanks to my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, in that your faith is proclaimed in the whole world.


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For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the cause of the gospel of his son, as to how I ceaselessly make mention of you,


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always on the occasions of my prayers asking that I might by some means, sometime, at last, by the will of God, have a prosperous journey and come to you.


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For I yearn to see you, in order that I may share a spiritual gift with you for you to be strengthened,


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that is to say, for me to be encouraged along with you through each other's faith, both yours and mine.


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But I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (but I have been prevented up to now) so that I might also bear some fruit among you as indeed among the rest of the Gentiles.


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


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For in it the righteousness of God is revealed, by faith, in faith, as it stands written, “And the righteous shall live by faith.”


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For God's anger is revealed from heaven on all ungodliness and injustice of men who suppress the truth in injustice,


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For the invisible attributes of him, from the creation of the world, are understood and caught sight of in the things made: his perpetual power and deity, so that they are without excuse,


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because although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give thanks, but became vain in their reasonings, and their undiscerning heart was darkened.


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and changed the glory of indefectible God into a likeness, an image of perishable man and birds and quadrupeds and reptiles.


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This is why God has delivered them up to uncleanness in the desires of their hearts, so that their bodies are dishonoured among themselves.


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And they exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served creation more than the creator, who is blessed throughout the ages. Amen.


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For this reason God delivered them up to dishonourable passions. For their women also exchanged the natural way of things for one which is against nature,


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and similarly the men also abandoned the natural way of things of the woman and burned in their lust for each other, males practising with males that which is indecent, and receiving the inevitable consequence of their error among themselves.


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And just as they did not think it fit to acknowledge God, God delivered them up to a discredited mentality, so as to do things which are not fitting,


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being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, fraud, malice; being full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity – whisperers,


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slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,


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who, although they are well aware of the decree of God, that those who do such things are worthy of death, not only do they do them, but they also approve of those who do them.


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Therefore you are without excuse, O man – everyone who judges. For in the way that you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge do the same things.


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Do you think this, O man who judges those who do such things, although you do them yourself: that you will escape God's judgment?


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Or do you look down on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and longsuffering, being ignorant of the fact that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?


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But you, with your obduracy and unrepentant heart, are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation and the righteous judgment of God,


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to some in accordance with their patience in good work, seeking glory and honour and incorruptibility – age-abiding life;


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but to those who are of contention, and disobedient to the truth, and trusting in unrighteousness, wrath and anger –


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tribulation and anguish on the mind of every man who perpetrates evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek,


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For those who have sinned without the law will also die without the law. And those who have sinned in the law will be judged by the law,


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for it is not the hearers of the law who are just with God, but it is the doers of the law who will be justified.


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For when the Gentiles, who do not have the law, carry out by nature the requirements of the law, they, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,


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who demonstrate the work of the law written in their hearts, while their conscience bears witness also, while their reasonings accuse or else defend each other –


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this judgment being on the day when God judges the secret things of men according to my gospel through Jesus Christ.


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as an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, having the formulation of the knowledge and the truth in the law.


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You who tell people not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abominate idols, do you steal sacred items?


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For circumcision is indeed of benefit if you carry out the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.


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So if the uncircumcision keeps the ordinances of the law, will not his uncircumcision be considered as circumcision?


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And will not uncircumcision by nature, if it fulfils the law, judge you a transgressor of the law, despite your writings and circumcision?


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but he who is a Jew in secret, and is the circumcision of the heart by spirit, not by letters, one whose praise is not from men but from God.


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May it not be so. But let God be true and every man a liar, as it stands written, “In order that you may be justified with your words and that you may be vindicated when you are judged.”


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And if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Surely God who brings wrath is not unjust? I speak humanly.


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For if God's truth has abounded to his glory in the face of my untruth, why am I for my part still judged as a sinner?


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– and not according to how we are slanderously spoken of, and as some also claim that we say, “Let us do evil things so that good things may come,” whose judgment is merited.


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What then? Are we superior? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin.


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All have turned aside; they have become altogether useless. There is no-one who shows kindness; there is not even one.


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Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have been deceitful; asps' venom is under their lips,


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But we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped up, and the whole world may be accountable to God.


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Because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law before him, for through the law is acknowledgment of sin.


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But now the righteousness of God has been made manifest without the law, testified to by the law and the prophets –


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the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all and on all who believe, for there is no distinction,


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whom God appointed as a propitiation through faith in his blood, as a demonstration of his righteousness, for the sake of the remission of previously committed sins,


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in God's forbearance, as a demonstration of his righteousness at the present time, with a view to him being just and a justifier of him who is a partaker of faith in Jesus.


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For what does the scripture say? “Now Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him as righteousness.”


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But for one who does not work, but who believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.


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As indeed David also says of the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness, apart from works,


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So is this blessedness on the circumcision or also on the uncircumcision? For we say, “Faith was imputed to Abraham as righteousness.”


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How then was it imputed? To him when he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision but in uncircumcision.


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And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of faith which was in uncircumcision, so that he should be the father of all those who believe despite uncircumcision, with a view to righteousness being imputed to them also,


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and the father of the circumcision, not to those of the circumcision only, but also to those who march in the footsteps of our father Abraham's faith, which was in uncircumcision.


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For the promise to Abraham or to his seed was not through the law, that he should be heir to the world, but it was through the righteousness of faith.


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For if those of the law were heirs, faith would have been made void, and the promise would have been invalidated,


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Here is why it is of faith: so that it is by grace, in order that the promise be secure for all the seed, not only to that of the law, but also to that of Abraham's faith, who is the father of us all,


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as it stands written, “I have appointed you a father of many nations,” in the sight of God whom he believed, who makes the dead alive, and calls the things not in existence to exist.


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And he against hope but in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken, “So shall your seed be.”


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And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, which was by that time dead, he being about one hundred years old, or the deadness of Sarah's womb,


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and he did not hesitate at God's promise in disbelief, but was strengthened in faith, and gave glory to God,


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but also for our sakes, to whom it is going to be imputed – to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,


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through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we exult in the hope of the glory of God.


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Now hope does not cause shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by holy spirit which has been given to us.


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For scarcely will anyone die for a righteous person. Yet for a good person someone might perhaps even dare to die.


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For if when we were hostile, we were reconciled to God through the death of his son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by his life!


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


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This is why, just as sin came into the world through one man, and through sin, death, so also death passed on to all men, seeing that all have sinned,


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But death reigned from Adam to Moses, including over those who had not sinned in a similar way to the transgression of Adam, who is a depictment of the one to come.


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But the act of grace is not as the transgression is. For if in the transgression of one person, many have died, how much more has the grace of God, and the gift in grace which is from one man Jesus Christ, abounded to many!


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And the gift is not just subsequent to one person having sinned. For the judgment on one person led to condemnation, but the act of grace ensuing from the transgressions of many led to justification.


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For if death started reigning by the transgression of one man – through the one – how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through one man, Jesus Christ!


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So then, as by one transgression sentence came on all men leading to condemnation, so also by one righteous act the gift came to all men leading to justification which is life.


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For as through the disobedience of one man many were established as sinners, so also through the obedience of one many will be established as righteous.


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Then the law came along, so that transgression should abound, but where sin abounded, grace superabounded,


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so that as sin reigned by death, so also grace might reign through righteousness leading to age-abiding life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


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Or do you not know that as many of us as have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death?


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Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ rose from the dead by the glory of the father, so we too should walk in newness of life.


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For if we have been made of a joint nature in the likeness of his death, then we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection,


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knowing this, that our old man was jointly crucified, in order that the body of sin might be put out of action, so that we should no longer serve sin.


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knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, no longer dies: death no longer has dominion over him.


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For as regards the fact that he died, he died to sin once and for all, but as regards the fact that he is alive, he is alive to God.


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And do not put your members as weapons of iniquity at the disposal of sin, but put yourselves at the disposal of God, as being living from the dead, and your members as weapons of righteousness at the disposal of God.


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Do you not know that to whom you put yourselves at the disposal of as slaves in obedience – to him whom you obey – you are slaves, whether of sin resulting in death or of obedience resulting in righteousness?


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But thanks be to God, because you were slaves of sin, but you have been obedient from the heart to the form of doctrine to which you were committed.


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I speak humanly on account of the weakness of your flesh. For as you have in the past put your members in service to immorality and lawlessness, resulting in lawlessness, so now put your members in service to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.


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So what fruit did you then have from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the result of those things is death.


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But now, having been set free from sin, and having been made servants to God, you have your fruit in sanctification, and the result, which is age-abiding life.


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Or are you unaware, brothers – for I speak to those who know the law – that the law rules over man as long as he is alive?


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For a married woman is bound by the law to her husband while he is alive, but if the husband dies, she is released from the law of the husband.


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So she will be called an adulteress if she becomes the wife of another man while the husband is alive. But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress if she becomes the wife of another man.


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So, my brothers, you too have died to the law through the body of Christ so as to become subject to another, him who has been raised from the dead, so that we may bear fruit to God.


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For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions defined by the law were active in our members so as to produce fruit to death.


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But now, we have been released from the law, and we have died to that by which we were being held, so that we should serve in newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.


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What, then, shall we say? Is the law sin? Far from it. But I would not have known sin, except through the law. For indeed I would not have known covetousness if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”


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And sin, having seized the opportunity through the commandment, engendered in me all sorts of covetousness. For without the law, sin is dead.


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And I was alive without the law at one time. But when the commandment came, sin came to life, but I died,


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So did that which was good become death to me? Far from it. But sin did, in order that it might be shown up as sin, engendering death to me through that which is good – in order that sin might become exceedingly sinful through the commandment.


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For I am not conscious of what I do. For it is not the case that I do what I want to do, but what I hate – that is what I do.


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For I know that there does not dwell in me – that is, in my flesh – anything good. For willing a thing is readily available to me, but doing that which is good escapes me.


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For I do not do the good that I wish to do, but as for the evil that I do not wish to do – that is what I do.


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Now if I do that which I do not wish to do, it is no longer I who do it, but the sin which dwells in me.


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But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which is in my members.


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I thank God that it is through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but the law of sin with the flesh.


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So there is now no condemnation of those in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the spirit.


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For what was impossible with the law, in that it was weak as a result of the flesh, God did, having sent his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and concerning sin condemned sin in the flesh,


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in order that the righteous decree of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit.


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For those who are according to the flesh concentrate on the interests of the flesh, but those who are according to the spirit concentrate on the interests of the spirit.


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For the mindset of the flesh is on a par with death, but the mindset of the spirit is on a par with life and peace.


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For the mindset of the flesh is hostile to God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can it be,


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But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, assuming the spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, he is not one of his.


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But 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 dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies on account of his spirit which dwells in you.


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for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if you mortify the deeds of the body through the spirit, you will live.


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For you have not received the spirit of bondage again, leading to fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption, by which we cry, “Abba, father.”


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And if children, then also heirs, God's heirs at that, and Christ's joint heirs, if indeed we jointly suffer, in order also for us to be jointly glorified.


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For I do not consider the sufferings of the present time worthy compared to the coming glory which is to be revealed to us.


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For creation was subject to futility, not willingly, but on account of him who did the subjecting, but in hope,


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that also creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of the children of God.


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For we know that the whole of creation has been groaning and suffering labour pains together up to now.


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And not only that, but also those who have the firstfruit of the spirit, and we ourselves also groan inwardly while awaiting the adoption – the redemption of our body.


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For we have been saved by hope. Now hope which is seen is not hope. For what someone sees, in what way does he also hope for it?


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And likewise, the spirit also helps counter our weaknesses. For we do not know in what way we shall pray – as we ought to – but the spirit itself intercedes for us with unutterable sighings.


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And he who searches hearts knows what the mindset of the spirit is, because it intercedes for the saints in God's way.


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And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose,


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that those whom he knew beforehand, he also pre-destined to be conformed to the likeness of his son, so that he should be the firstborn among many brothers,


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and those whom he pre-destined, he also called; and those whom he called, he also justified; and those whom he justified, he also glorified.


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He who for his part did not spare his own son, but delivered him up for all of us, how will he not with him also make a gift of all things to us?


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Who is the accuser? Christ is the one who died, or rather, who was also raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.


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


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As it stands written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We have been considered as sheep for slaughter.”


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For I have been persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor dominions nor powers, either present or future,


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nor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


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I am speaking the truth in Christ – I am not lying – with my conscience jointly bearing me witness by holy spirit,


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For I could vow that I myself were accursed from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh,


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who are Israelites, who have the adoption and the glory and the covenants and the instituting of the law and the service and the promises,


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of whom the fathers are, and from whom Christ is as regards the flesh, who is above all, God blessed throughout the ages. Amen.


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nor is it so that because they are the seed of Abraham, they are all children, but, “In the line of Isaac seed will be called to you.”


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This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but rather the children of the promise are counted as seed.


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for while they had not yet been born and had not done anything good or bad (so that the purpose of God should stand by choice, not of works, but by him who does the calling)


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For he says to Moses, “I will show mercy to whomever I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”


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For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “I raised you up for this very thing: that I might show my power by means of you and so that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”


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Rather, O man, who are you to answer back to God? Will the artefact say to the artist, “Why did you make me like this?”


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Or does the potter not have the power over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel having honour, but another lacking honour?


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So what if God, wishing to show anger and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath, prepared for destruction,


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and acted in order that he might make the riches of his glory known on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory –


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As he also says in Hosea, “I will call those who are not my people, ‘my people’, and her who was not beloved, ‘beloved’.


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And it will be the case that in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘the sons of the living God.’ ”


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And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Even if the number of the sons of Israel is like the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved.


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For he will complete the account and make decrees in righteousness, because the Lord will carry out the pronouncement which has been decreed on the earth.”


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And as Isaiah foretold, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made to resemble Gomorrha.”


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What, then, shall we say? – That the Gentiles who do not pursue righteousness have attained righteousness, and righteousness out of faith at that.


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But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not come up to the standard of the law of righteousness.


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How come? Because they pursued it not out of faith but out of works of the law. For they stumbled at the stumbling block,


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as it stands written, “Behold, I put a stumbling block in Zion and a rock of offence, but no-one who believes in it will be ashamed.”


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For they are ignorant of God's righteousness, and, seeking to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God's righteousness.


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For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law, that the man who does the requirements will live by them.


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But the righteousness which is of 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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But what does it say? “The word is near to you, in your mouth and in your heart,” – that is, the word of faith which we proclaim,


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


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For one believes with the heart leading to righteousness, and confesses with the mouth leading to salvation.


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For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same one is Lord of all, being rich towards all those who call on him.


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How, then, will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without one who does the proclaiming?


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And how will they do the proclaiming if they are not sent? As it stands written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, of those who preach the gospel of good things!”


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But not all have responded to the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our announcement?”


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But I say, “Have they not heard?” They certainly have – their speech went out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.


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But I say, “Did Israel not know?” Firstly, Moses says, “I will provoke you to jealousy by a non-nation, by a foolish nation I will provoke you to anger.”


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But Isaiah shows boldness and says, “I have been found by those who were not seeking me; I have become evident to those who were not enquiring after me.”


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But to Israel he says, “All day long I have stretched out my hands to a disbelieving and refractory people.”


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So I say, “Surely God has not rejected his people?” May it not be so. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.


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God has not rejected his people whom he knew beforehand. Or do you not know what the scripture says in Elijah, when he intercedes to God against Israel, and says,


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“Lord, they have killed your prophets and demolished your altars, and I am left remaining on my own, and they seek my life”?


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But what does the oracle say to him? – “I have kept myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”


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And if by grace, then no longer by works, for then grace is no longer grace. But if by works, then it is no longer grace, for then the work is no longer work.


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What is the case then? What Israel is seeking it has not obtained, but those chosen did obtain it, whereas the rest became hardened.


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As it stands written, “God gave them a slumbering spirit, eyes not for seeing and ears not for hearing,” which holds up to this day.


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And David says, “Make their table become a snare and a trap, and a stumbling block and a requital to them;


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So I say, “Did they stumble in order that they might fall?” Far from it. But by their fall there is salvation to the Gentiles, so as to provoke them to jealousy.


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Now if their fall is the world's richness, and their decline is the richness of the Gentiles, how much more is their fulness!


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For if casting them aside is the reconciliation of the world, what is the acceptance of them, if not life from the dead?


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But if some of the branches have been broken off, and you, being a wild olive, have been grafted into them, and have become a joint partaker of the root and the fatness of the olive tree,


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do not boast over the branches. And if you do boast, consider that it is not you who supports the root, but the root you.


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Well now, they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be high-minded, but be fearful.


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So see the kindness and severity of God: severity towards those who have fallen, but kindness to you, if you remain in the kindness, otherwise you will also be cut off.


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And they too, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in. For God is able to graft them in again.


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For if you were cut out from the naturally wild olive and were unnaturally grafted in to the fine olive, how much more can these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!


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For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you are not clever in your own estimation: that hardness in part has taken place with Israel, and will remain until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in.


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And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it stands written, “The deliverer will come out of Zion and will turn ungodliness away from Jacob,


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Now in relation to the gospel they are hostile for your sake, but in relation to the choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.


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so also have these not believed either, in the mercy shown to you, in order that they too may receive mercy.


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O depth of God's riches and wisdom and knowledge, how unsearchable his judgments are and untraceable his ways are!


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For all things are from him and through him and destined for him. To him be glory throughout the ages. Amen.


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So I exhort you, brothers, being moved by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, a holy one, pleasing to God, as your rational service,


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and not to be conformed to this age, but to be transformed to the renewal of your mind, in order to determine what the will of God is, what is good and pleasing and perfect.


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For by the grace which has been given to me, I am telling everyone among you not to be high-minded above how you should be minded, but be minded to be sober-minded, as God has apportioned a measure of faith to each one.


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And we have different gracious gifts according to the grace given to us, whether prophecy, according to the proportion of our faith,


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or whether as one who encourages, with encouragement; a sharer, with liberality, one who presides, with diligence; one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.


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Be of the same mind towards each other. Do not be high-minded, but sympathize with those who are low-ranking. Do not become wise-minded in your own estimation.


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Do not take revenge on each other, beloved, but leave room for anger, for it stands written, “Vengeance is mine. I will repay,” says the Lord.


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“So if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. For by doing this you will heap fiery coals on his head.”


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Let every person be subject to supreme authorities. For there is no authority unless appointed by God, and the existing authorities have been appointed by God,


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so that he who opposes authority is resisting God's ordinance, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.


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For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to bad ones. Now do you wish not to fear authority? Do what is good and you will have commendation for it,


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for it is an instrument of God which applies to you to good purpose. But if you do what is wrong, then fear, for it does not bear the sword for nothing, for it is an instrument of God, an avenger in wrath on him who does wrong.


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So it is necessary to be subject not only on account of the wrath, but also on account of one's conscience.


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And so in view of this, pay your taxes. For they are God's ministers persevering with this very thing.


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So pay to everyone what is due – tax to whom tax is due, levies to whom levies are due, fear to whom fear is due, honour to whom honour is due.


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Don't owe anyone anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.


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For the injunctions are, “You shall not commit adultery. You shall not kill. You shall not steal. You shall not covet.” And if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this formula, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”


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And there is this, while we know the time, that the hour is already here for us to be roused from sleep. For our salvation is now nearer than when we believed.


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The night is advanced; the day has drawn near. So let us put away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.


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Let us walk decently as in the day, not with orgies and in drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in strife and jealousy,


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but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not indulge in the predisposition of the flesh in its desires.


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Let not him who eats something despise him who does not eat it, nor he who does not eat something judge him who does eat it. For God has accepted him.


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Who are you to judge another person's servant? He stands or falls serving his own master. But he will be upheld, for God is able to uphold him.


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One person judges one day against another, while another judges each day. Let each one be completely sure in his own mind.


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He who considers the day considers it to the honour of the Lord, and he who ignores the day ignores it to the honour of the Lord. And he who eats something, eats it to the honour of the Lord, for he gives thanks to God. And he who refrains from eating something refrains from eating it also to the honour of the Lord, and gives God thanks.


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For if we live, we live to the Lord, or if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.


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For it is for this reason that Christ died and rose and came to life: in order that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.


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And why do you judge your brother? Or again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand at Christ's court.


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For it stands written, “ ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘to me every knee shall bow, and every tongue will confess to God.’ ”


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So let us no longer judge each other, but judge this rather, not to put a stumbling-block or a cause of offence in your brother's way.


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I know and have been persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is profane of itself, except that to anyone who considers something to be profane, to him it is profane.


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And if your brother grieves on account of food, you no longer walk lovingly. Do not lose him for whom Christ died by your food.


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Do not undo the work for God on account of food. All things are clean, but it is wrong for the man who eats with offence to do so.


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It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or to consume anything at which your brother stumbles or is offended or falters.


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Do you have faith? Have it as your own in God's sight. Blessed is he who does not judge himself in what he approves of.


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But he who is in two minds stands condemned if he eats like that, because it is not based on faith. Indeed everything that is not based on faith is a sin.


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Now we who are able should bear the weaknesses of those who are unable to, and should not please ourselves.


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For indeed, Christ did not please himself, but as it stands written, “The reproaches of those who reproach you fell on me.”


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For all the things which were written beforehand were written for our instruction, in order that we might have hope through patience and through the encouragement of the scriptures.


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May the God of patience and encouragement give you the same mindset among each other, in accordance with Christ Jesus,


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Now I say that Christ Jesus has become a minister of the circumcision for God's truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers,


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and for the Gentiles to glorify God for his mercy, as it stands written, “On account of this I will confess you among the Gentiles, and I will sing praises to your name.”


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And again, Isaiah says, “There will be the Root of Jesse and the one who rises to rule over 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 abound in the hope, by the power of holy spirit.


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And I am convinced, my brothers, I my very self, concerning you, that you yourselves too are full of goodness, and are filled with all knowledge, and are able also to advise others.


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Now I have written rather boldly to you, brothers, on occasion, as one reminding you, on account of the grace given to me by God


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for me to be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, sacredly ministering the gospel of God, in order that the Gentiles' offering might be acceptable, sanctified by holy spirit.


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For I will not dare to speak of anything other than of the things which Christ accomplished through me in the cause of obedience of the Gentiles in word and deed,


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by the power of signs and miracles, by the power of God's spirit, so that I have completed the proclamation of the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum,


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in this way being particular not to preach the gospel where Christ has been named, so that I do not build on another's foundation,


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but as it stands written, “Those to whom no announcement about him was made shall see, and those who have not heard will understand.”


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but now, no longer having an opportunity in these regions, but having had a longing to come to you for many years,


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as soon as I go to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you as I pass through and to be sent on my way there by you, if I may first enjoy your company for a while.


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


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For they were pleased and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles had a share in their spiritual benefits, they conversely have a duty to minister to them in material matters.


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So when I have completed this, and have sealed the transfer of these proceeds to them, I will depart passing through your way for Spain.


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And I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.


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And I encourage you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the spirit, to jointly strive with me in prayers to God for me,


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in order that I may be delivered from those who in Judaea do not believe and that my ministry in Jerusalem may be well-received by the saints,


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so that you welcome her in the Lord, in a way worthy of the saints, and that you stand by her in whatever matter she needs from you, for indeed she has been a patroness to many, including myself.


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who have risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I, but also all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks,


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and greet the church in various homes of theirs. Greet Epainetus my beloved, who is the firstfruit of Achaea in Christ.


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Greet Andronicus and Junia my kinsmen and my fellow captives, who are outstanding among the apostles, who were also in Christ before me.


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Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who have toiled in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has toiled a lot in the Lord.


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


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And I exhort you, brothers, to look out for those who cause dissensions and offences contrary to the teaching which you have learned, and turn away from them.


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For suchlike do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and they deceive the hearts of the naive through smooth speech and fine language.


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For your obedience has reached everyone. So I rejoice over you. And I want you to be wise with respect to good, but untainted with respect to evil.


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And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet quickly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.


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Gaius, my host – and of the whole church – greets you. Erastus, the steward of the city greets you, as does Quartus, our brother.


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to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all those who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place of both theirs and ours,


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I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which has been given to you in Christ Jesus,


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so that you are not lacking in any gracious gift, as you await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,


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And I exhort you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak with one voice, and that there should not be any divisions among you, and that you should be equipped with the same mind and with the same purpose.


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For concerning you, my brothers, it has been shown to me by those of Chloe's household that there are controversies among you.


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Now I say this, that each of you is saying, “I am of the school of Paul,” and, “I of Apollo,” and, “I of Cephas,” and, “I of Christ.”


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But I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Other than that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.


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For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in linguistic wisdom, so that the cross of Christ should not be made void.


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For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are on the road to perdition, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.


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For it stands written, “I will demolish the wisdom of the wise, and dismiss the intelligence of the intellectuals.”


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Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God rendered the wisdom of this world foolish?


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For since the world, in the wisdom of God, did not know God through its wisdom, it pleased God to save those who believe through the foolishness of the proclamation of the gospel.


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but to those themselves who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God,


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For you see your calling, brothers, and that not many who are wise according to the flesh, that not many who are powerful, that not many who are of noble birth are called,


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but God has chosen the foolish things of the world, in order that he might put the wise to shame, and God has chosen the weak things of the world, in order that he might put the strong things to shame,


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and God has chosen the ignoble things of the world, and the despised things, and the non-existent things, in order to nullify the existing things,


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But by virtue of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became our wisdom from God, both righteousness and holiness, and redemption,


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And as for me, when I came to you, brothers, I did not come in extravagance of speech or wisdom when I proclaimed the testimony of God to you.


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And my speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in an exhibition of spirit and power,


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But we speak wisdom among those who are complete – wisdom not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are being brought to nothing,


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but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, wisdom which has been hidden, which God pre-ordained before the ages for our glory,


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which none of the rulers of this age has known, for if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.


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But, as it stands written, “What the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard, and what has not arisen in the heart of man are what God has prepared for those who love him.”


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And God has revealed them to us through his spirit. For the spirit enquires about all things, including the deep things of God.


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For who among men knows the concerns of man, except the spirit of man which is in him? And likewise, no-one knows the concerns of God except the spirit of God.


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But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God, in order that we might know the things graciously given to us by God.


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And we also speak of these things, not with subject matter taught by human wisdom, but with subject matter taught by holy spirit, as we compare spiritual things with spiritual things.


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But the natural man does not receive the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot know them because they are spiritually evaluated.


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Yet I myself, brothers, was not able to speak to you as one does to spiritual people, but only as one does to carnal people, as to infants in Christ.


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I have given you milk to drink rather than food, for you were not yet able to take it, and even now you still can't,


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for you are still carnal, for where there is rivalry among you, and strife, and dissensions, are you not carnal and do you not walk according to man?


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Well who is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you came to believe, and each has a ministry according to what the Lord gave him?


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But he who plants and he who waters are one agency. And each will receive his own reward according to his own labour.


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I have laid a foundation as a wise master-builder, according to the grace of God given to me, and another is building on it. But let each one watch how he builds on it.


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each person's work will become manifest. For the day will show it, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will prove what kind of work each person's is.


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If anyone's work is burnt up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but this is how: as through fire.


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If anyone spoils the sanctuary of God, God will spoil him. For the sanctuary of God is holy, which is what you are.


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Let no-one deceive himself. If anyone among you considers himself to be wise in this age, let him become foolish, in order that he may become wise.


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For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it stands written, “He catches the wise with their own cunning.”


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whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death, whether present or future – everything is yours,


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And it is the least of my concerns that I should be examined by you or by the probings of the day of man. But neither do I examine myself.


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For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I do not stand justified by that. And he who examines me is the Lord.


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As a result, do not judge anything before its time, until the Lord comes, who will also bring the hidden things of darkness to light, and he will make the motives of people's hearts manifest, and then each one will have praise from God.


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And, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos on your account, so that you who are among us might learn not to speculate beyond what stands written, so that you aren't self-opinionated – one person above another to the detriment of someone else.


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For who gives you distinct characteristics? And what do you possess that you did not receive? But if you received it, why do you boast as if you didn't receive it?


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You have already become satiated, you have already become rich, you have started reigning without us – and if only you really had started reigning, so that we too might reign with you.


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For I consider that God has exhibited us, the apostles, last, as people subject to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men.


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We are foolish for the sake of Christ, whereas you are wise in Christ. We are weak, whereas you are strong. You are esteemed, whereas we are without honour.


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Up to the present hour we have been hungry and thirsty and been poorly clothed and have been knocked about and have been without a fixed address,


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and we have toiled, working with our own hands. When railed at, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;


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when slandered, we speak in good cheer. We have become like the scum of the world – the off-scouring of all sorts – up to the present time.


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For even if you had ten thousand tutors in Christ, you still would not have many fathers. For I have begotten you in Christ Jesus through the gospel.


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For this reason I have sent you Timothy, who is a beloved child of mine, and faithful in the Lord, and who will remind you of my ways in Christ – how I teach everywhere in every church.


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And I will come to you quickly, if the Lord wishes it, and get to know not the talk of those who are complacent, but the power,


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It is heard – very much so – that there is fornication among you, and fornication of such a kind that is not even named among the Gentiles, that someone should have his father's wife.


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And you are complacent, and have not rather mourned, so that he who committed this act should be removed from your company.


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Well I, being absent in the body but present in the spirit, have already reached a decision on him who actually did this, as if I were present,


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in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, while you are gathered together (as is also my spirit) with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,


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to deliver a man like this to Satan, for destruction of the flesh, in order that the spirit might be saved on the day of the Lord Jesus.


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Clear out the old leaven, in order to be a new lump, since you are unleavened. For indeed, our Passover has been sacrificed for us – Christ –


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so let us keep the feast, not in old leaven, nor in leaven of wickedness and evil, but in unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.


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and not at all with the fornicators of this world, or with the fraudsters, or the rapacious or idolaters, since then you would have to depart from the world.


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And I have written to you now not to associate with anyone if he is called a brother but is a fornicator or fraudsters or an idolater or is abusive or drunk or rapacious, and not to eat with such a person.


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Does anyone among you dare, if you have a case against another, to go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?


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Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And that if the world is judged by you, then you are unsuited for the least of the courts?


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I speak to your shame. Is there not even one wise person among you, then, who will be able to judge between one of his brothers and another,


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So you are already wholly at fault in that you have law-suits with each other. Why do you not rather suffer the injustice? Why do you not rather suffer being defrauded?


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Or do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be led astray: neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor the effeminate nor men who lie with men,


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nor fraudsters, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor the abusive, nor the rapacious will inherit the kingdom of God.


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And so were some of you. But you have had yourselves washed, and you have been sanctified, and you have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God.


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Everything is permitted me, but not everything is profitable. Everything is permitted me, but I will not be put under authority by anyone.


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Food for the stomach and the stomach for food – but God will bring both of these to nothing. And the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.


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Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of a prostitute? May it not be so!


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Do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? “For the two,” he says, “will be one flesh.”


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Flee fornication. Whatever sin a man commits is separate from the body. But he who fornicates sins against his own body.


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Or do you not know that your body is the sanctuary of the holy spirit in you, which you have from God? And you are not your own,


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for you have been bought at a price. Glorify God, therefore, in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.


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But because of the danger of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and each woman have her own husband.


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It is not the wife who has authority over her own body, but the husband. And similarly, neither is it the man who has authority over his own body, but the wife.


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Do not withhold from one another, except perhaps in agreement for a while, in order that you may be at leisure for fasting and prayer, and come together again, so that Satan does not tempt you through lack of control on your part.


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For I wish that all men were as I myself am, but each has his own gracious gift from God – one of this kind, one of that kind.


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But I say to those who are unmarried and to the widows, that it is good for them if they remain as I am.


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But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be ardently desirous.


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And to those married, I command, though not I, but the Lord, that a woman should not separate from her husband.


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But if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or let her be reconciled to her husband. And I command a husband not to divorce his wife.


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And to the rest, I, not the Lord, speak. If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, let him not divorce her.


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And as for a wife who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, let her not divorce him.


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For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified by the husband, since otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.


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But if the unbelieving spouse separates, let him be separate. A brother or sister is not tied down in such cases. And God has called us in peace.


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


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But as God has distributed to everyone – as the Lord has called everyone – so let him walk. And this is what I command in all the churches.


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Is anyone who is circumcised called? Let him not be drawn away. Is anyone in uncircumcision called? Let him not be circumcised.


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Circumcision isn't anything, nor is uncircumcision anything, but rather keeping the commandments of God is quite something.


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Have you, as a slave, been called? Don't let it be a concern to you. But even so, if you can become free, it is preferable to make use of it.


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For the slave who has been called in the Lord is the Lord's freedman. Likewise too, the called free man is Christ's servant.


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Now concerning virgins, I do not have a commandment from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who has received mercy from the Lord, so as to be faithful.


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So I consider this to be right, on account of the present constrained circumstances: that it is right for a man to stay as he is.


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Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek dissolution. Have you been released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.


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But even if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. However, such will have tribulation in the flesh. But I spare you.


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And I say this, brothers: the time has drawn in. From now on it is for even those who have wives to be as if they do not have wives,


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and for those who weep to be as if they do not weep, and for those who rejoice to be as if they do not rejoice, and for those who make purchases to be as if they don't possess anything,


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and for those who use this world to be as if they don't exploit it, for the system of this world is passing away.


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And I would like you to be free from anxiety. He who is not married cares about the affairs of the Lord, about how he can please the Lord,


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There is also a distinction between a married woman and a virgin. An unmarried woman cares about the affairs of the Lord, in order that she may be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman cares about the affairs of the world, about how she can please her husband.


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And I say this for the benefit of yourselves, not in order to put a noose round you, but for the sake of what is seemly and with willing devotion to the Lord without distraction.


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But if anyone thinks he is behaving in an improper way towards his virgin daughter, if she is passing the prime of life, and if he thinks it has to be this way, let him do what he wants – he is not sinning – let them marry.


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But he who stands steadfast in his heart, not being under compulsion, but who has control over his own will, and who has so decided in his heart to keep his virgin daughter at home – he does well.


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So that he who gives her in marriage also does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.


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The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband is alive. But if her husband falls asleep, she is free to marry whom she wishes, except that it must be in the Lord.


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But she is more blessed if she remains as she is, in my opinion. And I also consider I have the spirit of God.


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Now concerning things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs a person up, whereas love edifies.


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And if anyone thinks he knows anything, he has not yet come to knowledge of anything in the way it is necessary to know it.


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Concerning food which has been offered to idols, then, we know that there is no idol in the universe, and that there is no other God besides the one.


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For indeed, although there are those called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords,


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yet to us there is one God, the father, from whom all things come, including us for him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things come, including us through him.


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But knowledge is not prevalent among all. And some still eat that which has been offered to idols with consciousness of the idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.


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But food does not commend us to God. For neither if we eat do we gain anything, nor if we do not eat do we lose anything.


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For if anyone sees you – you who have knowledge – reclining at table in an idolatrous temple, will not his conscience, with him being weak, be indoctrinated with the matter of eating things offered to idols?


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And in this way, in sinning against the brothers and wounding their weak conscience, you would be sinning against Christ.


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That is why if food causes offence to my brother, I certainly will never eat meat, in order not to cause offence to my brother.


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Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ 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 in the Lord are the seal of my apostleship.


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Do we not have authority to take a sister-lady around as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord do, and Cephas does?


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Who ever serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat from its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not eat from the milk of the flock?


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For in the law of Moses it stands written, “You shall not muzzle an ox which threshes.” Is God really concerned about oxen?


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Or does he say it entirely for our sakes? Well, it was written for our sakes, because he who ploughs should plough in hope, and he who threshes should share his hope in hope.


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If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it anything extraordinary if we reap your material things?


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If others share in this authority over you, should not we all the more? But we have not used this authority; rather, we endure all things, in order not to create any hindrance to the gospel of Christ.


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Do you not know that those who work on holy matters eat from the income of the temple, and that those who officiate at the altar take a share in the sacrifices of the altar?


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But I have not used any of these things, and I have not written these things in order for it to be like that in my case. For it is better for me to die than that anyone should make my exultation void.


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For if I preach the gospel, I do not have anything to glory about, for necessity constrains me. But woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.


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For if I do this willingly, I have a reward. But if unwillingly, then I have still been entrusted with a stewardship.


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So what is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may present the gospel of Christ without expense being incurred, so as not to exploit my authority with the gospel.


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For although I am free from all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over the greater number of people.


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And I became as a Jew to the Jews, in order to win over the Jews; to those under the law I became as one under the law, in order that I might win over those under the law;


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to those who are without the law I became as one without the law (not being without the law to God, but subject in the law to Christ) in order that I might win over those without the law.


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To the weak I became as one weak, in order to win over the weak. I have become all sorts of things to all kinds of people in order to save some in all sorts of ways.


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Do you not know that those who run in a stadium all run, but only one receives the prize? Run so as to win!


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Every contestant exerts himself in every way. So they do it in order to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable one.


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but I deal severely with my body and bring it into subjection, in case, having proclaimed this to others, I myself become disqualified.


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And, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea.


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and they all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock following them, and the rock was Christ.


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But God was not pleased with most of them, as is evidenced by how they were strewn around in the desert.


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But these things were depictments for us, so that we should not be intent on evil things, as they for their part were intent.


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And do not become idolaters, as some of them did, as indeed it stands written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play around.”


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And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them put him to the test and were destroyed by the serpents.


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Now all these things happened to those people as depictments, but they have been written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have converged.


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Temptation has not got a grip on you, except for the human kind. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can take, but rather will also make an escape route with the temptation so that you can endure it.


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The cup of blessing which we bless – is it not fellowship with the blood of Christ? The bread which we break – is it not fellowship with the body of Christ?


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Because although many, we are one loaf of bread, one body – for we all partake of one loaf of bread.


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Look at Israel according to the flesh. Are not those who eat the sacrifices involved with the altar?


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What, then, do I say? That an idol is anything? Or that that which is offered to an idol is anything?


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No, but I say that what the Gentiles offer, they offer to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to become involved with the demons.


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You cannot drink the cup of the Lord as well as the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the demons' table.


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Everything is permitted me, but not everything is profitable. Everything is permitted me, but not everything edifies.


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If any of the unbelievers invites you round and you wish to go, eat everything laid before you, not enquiring in any way for conscience's sake.


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But if anyone says to you, “This has been offered to idols,” do not eat it on account of him who informed you and conscience. For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness of it.


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And I don't mean your own conscience, but that of the other. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience?


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So whether you eat or whether you drink or whether you do anything, do everything to the glory of God.


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as I also please everyone in respect of all things, not seeking my own benefit, but that of the many so that that they may be saved.


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But I praise you, brothers, because you remember me in all respects, and you hold on to the traditions as I handed them down to you.


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And I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and that the head of the wife is the husband, and that the head of Christ is God.


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But every woman praying or prophesying with the head uncovered dishonours her head. For she and one shaven are one and the same.


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For if a woman is not covered, let her have her hair cut. And if having her hair cut or being shaven is dishonouring to a woman, let her be covered.


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For indeed a man should not cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but a woman is the glory of a man.


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But that if a woman lets her hair grow, it is to her honour. For hair has been given instead of a head-dress.


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But if anyone is inclined to be contentious, we do not have any such custom, and neither do the churches of God.


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Now as I advocate this, I don't praise you, because you meet together not for the better but for the worse.


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For firstly, I hear that when you come together in the church, there are divisions among you and to some extent I believe it.


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For there must indeed be sects among you, in order that those who are approved might be made evident among you.


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For each person first grabs his own supper when eating, and one goes hungry, while another becomes drunk.


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For do you not have houses for eating and drinking in? Or do you despise the church of God, and put those who do not have anything to shame? What am I to say to you? Am I to praise you in this matter? I do not praise you.


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For I had received from the Lord that which I passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus took bread on the night when he was betrayed.


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And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take it and eat it. This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”


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Similarly also saying of the cup after having supper, “This cup is the new covenant by my blood. Do this, and every time you drink, let it be in remembrance of me.”


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For until he comes, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death.


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So that whoever eats this bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.


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For he who eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks judgment on himself, not discerning the body of the Lord.


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But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord in order that we should not be condemned with the world.


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And if anyone is famished, let him eat at home, so that you do not meet bringing on judgment. As for the remaining matters, when I come, I will sort them out.


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So I am making it known to you that no-one speaking in the spirit of God says that Jesus is a curse, and no-one can say that Jesus is Lord, except by holy spirit.


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For to one a word of wisdom is given through the spirit, whereas to another it is a word of knowledge according to the same spirit,


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and to another it is faith by the same spirit, while to another it is gracious gifts of healing by the same spirit,


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and to yet another the working of deeds of power, and to another prophecy, and to another discernings of spirits, and to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.


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One and the same spirit is active in all these things, apportioning to each individually as it wishes.


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For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts are of the one body, yet are many, whereas the body is one, so also is Christ.


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For indeed, we have all been baptized by one spirit into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we have all been given drink at one spirit.


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If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” surely it is not so, that on account of this it is not part of the body?


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And if the ear says, “Because I am not a eye, I am not of the body,” surely it is not so, that on account of this it is not part of the body?


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


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And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you,” or again the head to the feet, “I don't need you.”


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and that as for those parts of the body which we consider to be less honoured, that we invest them with all the more copious honour, then our uncomely parts have more copious comeliness,


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while our comely parts do not need redress. But God composed the body, and gave more copious honour to that which lacked it,


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in order that there should be no divisions in the body, but that the parts should care for each other in the same way.


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And if one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is glorified, all the parts rejoice with it.


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And God appointed some in the church: firstly, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers; then deeds of power; then gracious gifts of healing, help, guidance, and various kinds of tongues.


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


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And if I have prophecy and know all the mysteries and have all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but if I do not have love, I am nothing.


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And if I distribute all my belongings, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, I am not profited in any way.


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Love is longsuffering; it is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not vaunt itself; it does not become puffed up.


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It does not behave in an unseemly way; it does not seek its own interests; it is not provoked; it does not keep an account of evil.


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Love never fails. But if there are prophecies, they will be abolished. And if there are tongues, they will cease. And if there is knowledge, it will cease to be applicable.


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When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But since I have become a man, I have done away with childish things.


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For now we see through a mirror enigmatically, but then it will be face to face. At present I know in part, but then I will know as I am also known.


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For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. For no-one understands him; rather, he speaks mysteries by the spirit.


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I would like you all to speak in tongues, but more so that you should prophesy. For he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church receives edification.


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And now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I speak to you either in the form of revelation or in knowledge or in prophecy or in teaching?


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Likewise, when inanimate objects give sound, whether the flute or the harp, if they do not show a distinction in the tones, how will the flute-playing or harp-playing be identified?


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So you too, if you do not give clear speech through the tongue, how will that which is spoken be understood? For you will just be speaking into the air.


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Now for all the kinds of languages which there might be in the world, not one of them is meaningless.


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So if I do not know the force of the sound, I will be to him who is speaking a barbarian, and he who is speaking will be a barbarian to me.


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So you too, since you are zealots for spiritual gifts, seek them so that you may excel in the edification of the church.


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What is the issue then? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in my mind. I will sing psalms in the spirit, and I will also sing psalms in my mind.


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Otherwise, if you bless in the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the layman say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?


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but in the church I would rather speak five words mindfully, so that I might instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.


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Brothers, do not be children in mentality. However, act like an infant with regard to evil, but become fully mature in mentality.


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In the law it stands written, “By those of another language and by foreign lips I will speak to this people, and not even in this way will they listen to me, says the Lord.”


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So tongues are a sign not to those who believe, but to unbelievers. But prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for believers.


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So if the whole church meets together and all speak in tongues, and laymen or unbelievers come along, will they not say that you are mad?


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But if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or layman comes along, he is confronted by all – he is challenged by all.


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And in this way the secret things of his heart become manifest, and so he will fall face-down and worship God, declaring that God really is among us.


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What is the issue then, brothers? Whenever you meet, each of you has a psalm – has teaching, has a tongue, has revelation, has interpretation. Let everything be for edification.


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And if anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be two on an occasion or at most three, and in turn, and let one interpret,


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but if there is no interpreter, let him be silent in the church, and let him speak to himself and to God.


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Let your women in the churches be silent. For it is not permitted for them to speak, but to be in subjection, as the law also says.


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But if they wish to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for women to speak in church.


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If anyone considers himself to be a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord's commandments.


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Now I make known to you, brothers, the gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, and in which you stand,


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by which you are also being saved, if you hold on to the words with which I preached the gospel to you, unless you have come to believe in vain.


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For I have passed on to you in the first place that which I for my part received, namely that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,


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After that he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at once, of whom the majority remain to the present time, but some have fallen asleep.


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For I am the least of the apostles, and I am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God,


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but by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain, but I have toiled more inordinately than them all, yet not I, but the grace of God which is with me.


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But if Christ is preached, namely that he has been raised from the dead, how is it that some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?


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And we are also found to be false witnesses of God, because we have testified against God, that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise, if the dead really are not raised.


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But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead. He has become the firstfruit of those who have fallen asleep.


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Then the end comes, when he delivers the kingdom to him who is God and father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power.


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For he has made everything subject under his feet. And when he says, “Everything has been subjected,” it is evident that it is with the exception of him who made everything subject to him.


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And when everything has been subjected to him, then the son himself will be subjected to him who subjected everything to him, in order that God may be all in all.


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For otherwise, what will they who are being baptized in connection with the state of the dead do? If the dead are not raised at all, why are they being baptized in connection with the state of the dead?


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If I, humanly speaking, have done battle with wild beasts in Ephesus, what advantage do I have if the dead are not raised? Then let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.


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And what you sow – you do not sow the body which will come, but a bare seed, whether it happens to be of wheat or of some other crop.


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Not all flesh is the same flesh, but there is one kind for men, but another kind of flesh for cattle, and another for fish, and another for birds.


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And there are upper-heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the upper-heavenly ones is of one kind whereas that of the earthly ones is of another kind.


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The glory of the sun is of one kind, and the glory of the moon is of another kind, and the glory of the stars is of yet another kind, for one star differs from another star in glory.


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So is also the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in perishability; it is raised in indefectibility.


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It is sown as a natural body; it is raised as a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body.


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So it also stands written, “The first man Adam became a living soul.” The last Adam – a life-giving spirit.


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As the one of dust was, so also are those of dust. And as the upper-heavenly one is, so also are the upper-heavenly ones.


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And just as we bore the image of the one of dust, so also let us bear the image of the upper-heavenly one.


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And I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does perishability inherit indefectibility.


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in an unsplittable instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet-call. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised as indefectible, and we will be changed.


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For this perishable state must put on indefectibility, and this mortal state must put on immortality.


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And when this perishable state puts on indefectibility, and this mortal state puts on immortality, then the word which stands written will apply: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”


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So then, my beloved brothers, be firmly seated, steadfast, always abounding in the Lord's work, knowing that your labour is not in vain with the Lord.


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Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I instructed the churches of Galatia, you do the same.


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On each first day of the week let each one of you put something aside, and contribute to the treasury whatever accords with how he is prospering, so that there will not be collections when I come.


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But when I arrive, I will send whomever you recommend in writing to take your gracious gift to Jerusalem.


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It may be that I stay with you, or even that I spend the winter with you, so that you may send me on my way to wherever I am going.


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I do not want to see you in passing now, but I hope to stay on with you for some time, if the Lord permits.


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Now if Timothy comes, see that he feels at ease with you, for he carries out the work of the Lord, as I do.


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So do not let anyone make light of him. And send him on his way in peace so that he may come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.


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And concerning our brother Apollos, I have greatly encouraged him to come to you with the brothers. But it was not his will at all to come now, but he will come when there is a good opportunity.


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And I urge you, brothers – you know the household of Stephanas, how he is the firstfruit of Achaea, and how they appointed themselves to the ministry of the saints –


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And I rejoice at the presence of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaichus, in that these men have supplied what you lacked.


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The churches in Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you profoundly in the Lord, as does the church in their various houses.


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From Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy the brother, to the church of God which is in Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaea,


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


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who comforts us at every tribulation of ours, so that we can comfort those in any tribulation, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.


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And if we are in tribulation, it is for your comfort and salvation, which is effective in endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firm, and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort and salvation,


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For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brothers, of our tribulation which came on us in Asia, because we were exceedingly weighed down beyond our ability to cope, so that we even despaired of surviving.


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But we ourselves have had the sentence of death in ourselves, so that we should not be trusting in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead,


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who has rescued us from so great a death, and is rescuing us, in whom we have put our hope that he will rescue still,


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while you also support us in your supplication for us, so that thanks may be offered for the favour shown to us by many individuals, through many tribulations, on your behalf.


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For our exultation is this: the witness of our consciences – that we have conducted ourselves in godly simplicity and sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God, in the world and all the more towards you.


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For we do not write to you any other things than either what you read or acknowledge, and I hope that you will also continue to acknowledge them until the end,


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as you have also acknowledged us in part, that we are your exultation, as indeed you are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.


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and to cross through your way to Macedonia, and to come to you again from Macedonia and to be sent on by you to Judaea.


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Now then, when I resolved to do this, did I indulge in frivolity at all? Or the things I resolve to do – do I resolve to do them according to the flesh, so that it is “Yes, yes,” one day and “No, no,” another day with me?


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For the son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by us, by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No”, but in him was “Yes”.


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For as regards all God's promises, in him is “Yes” and in him is “Amen”, with a view to glory to God through us.


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And I wrote this very thing to you, so that I would not have grief when I came from those people over whom I should have rejoiced, trusting in you all that my joy is that of you all.


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For I wrote to you from much tribulation and distress of heart, with many tears, not that you should grieve, but that you should know the love which I have most profusely towards you.


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But if anyone has caused grief, he has not caused me grief, except for a while, so that I do not weigh down on you all.


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so that on the contrary rather, you show grace and give encouragement, in case such a man should in any way be overwhelmed by too much grief.


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For I wrote to this effect, that I should know your proven character – whether you are obedient in all things.


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If you forgive anyone anything, so do I. And indeed if I have forgiven anyone anything, I forgave him because of you in the presence of Christ,


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And when I came to Troas for the purpose of the gospel of Christ, and a door was opened to me in the Lord,


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I did not have peace of mind, because I did not find Titus my brother, but I took leave of them and departed for Macedonia.


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But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ and who makes the scent of knowledge of him manifest through us in every place.


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For we are a sweet smell of Christ to God among those on the road to being saved and among those who are on the road to perdition:


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to some a savour of death leading to death, to others a savour of life leading to life. And who is worthy of these things?


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For we are not as others who corrupt the word of God, but we are sincere and we speak in Christ, as from God, in the presence of God.


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Are we starting to commend ourselves again? Do we really need, as some do, commendatory epistles to be sent to you, or commendations from you?


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You are manifested that you are an epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets, but on tablets which are fleshly hearts.


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Not that we are qualified to credit anything as being of ourselves, but our qualification is from God,


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who has also qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of a letter but of spirit. For the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.


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But if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on stones, was in glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look straight at Moses' face, because of the glory of his face – a glory to be abolished –


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For if the ministry of condemnation is glory, how much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory!


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For indeed, that which has been glorified has not been glorified in this respect, because of the exceeding glory.


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For if that which is being abolished was with glory, how much more will that which remains be in glory!


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and are not as Moses who put a covering on his face, in order that the sons of Israel should not look straight at the result of that which is being abolished.


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But their thoughts were hardened. For up to today the same covering remains unremoved at the reading of the old covenant, it being a covering which is being abolished in Christ.


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But we all with uncovered face, reflecting the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, such as comes from the spirit of the Lord.


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For this reason, having this ministry according to how we have received mercy, we are not faint-hearted,


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but we have renounced shameful hidden things, not going about in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but in manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience before God.


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But if on the other hand our gospel is hidden, it is hidden among those who are on the road to perdition,


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among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, does not shine on them.


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For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, but ourselves as your servants for the sake of Jesus.


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For it is God, who commanded light to shine from darkness, who has shone in our hearts for the enlightenment of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.


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And we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the immensity of the power should be of God and not of ourselves:


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always carrying around in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, in order that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.


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For we who are alive are continually delivered to death on account of Jesus, in order that on the other hand the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.


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But having the same spirit of faith according to what stands written, “I have believed, therefore I have spoken,” we also believe and therefore also speak,


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For all things are for your sake, so that grace, having increased with many people, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.


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For this reason we are not faint-hearted, and even though our outward man is perishing, our inward man is renewed day by day.


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For the momentary light weight of our tribulation works for us an age-abiding weight of glory which is exceedingly exceeding,


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while we do not look to the visible things, but the invisible things. For the visible things are temporary, but the invisible things are age-abiding.


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For we know that if our earthly tent-house is dissolved, we have a building from God, an age-abiding house in the heavens, not made by hands.


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And indeed, being in the tent, we groan, weighed down because we do not wish to take clothes off, but to put clothes on, so that that which is mortal is swallowed up by life.


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But he who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has also given us the pledge: the spirit.


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So we are always of good courage, also knowing that although we are at home in the body, we are away from home, being away from the Lord –


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but we are of good courage and would rather be away from home out of the body and be at home with the Lord.


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For we must all be manifested before Christ's court, in order that each should receive what is due for the things he did in the body, whether a good or bad thing.


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So knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we have been manifested to God, and I hope we have also been manifested in your consciences.


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For we do not commend ourselves to you again, but we give you an occasion for boasting on our behalf, so that you may have something in answer to those who boast superficially but not in the heart.


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For the love of Christ constrains us, as we conclude as follows: that if one died for all, then all must have died,


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and he died for all, in order that those living should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again.


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The result is that from now on we know no-one according to the flesh. And even if we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we no longer know him that way,


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with the result that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation – the old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.


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And all things are from God who has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,


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in that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their transgressions to them, and has placed the word of reconciliation among us to his own ends.


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So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God pleads through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.


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For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for our sakes, in order that we might become the righteousness of God in him.


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for he says, “At an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, the time is now most acceptable; behold, now is the day of salvation –


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but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, with much endurance in tribulations, in constrained circumstances, in hardships,


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in stricken circumstances, in imprisonments, in commotions, in toils, in sleeplessness, in fastings,


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through glory and dishonour, through defamations and acclamations, defamed as deceivers and acclaimed as tellers of the truth,


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as unrecognized and as recognized, as dying, but look, we are alive, as being chastised but not put to death,


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as grieving, but always rejoicing, as poor but enriching many, as having nothing but possessing everything.


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You need not be under strain as far as we are concerned, but you are under strain in your feelings from your side.


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Do not be disparately yoked to unbelievers, for what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? And what fellowship does light have with darkness?


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And what agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever?


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And what compatibility is there between the sanctuary of God and idols? For you are the sanctuary of the living God, as God has 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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So “Go away from them and be separate,” says the Lord, “and do not touch anything unclean, and I will receive you,


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So having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, bringing sanctification to completion in the fear of God.


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Make room for us; we have not wronged anyone, we have not corrupted anyone, we have not defrauded anyone.


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I do not say this as an accusation. For I have said before that you are in our hearts in dying with us and living with us.


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I have great freedom of speech towards you; I have great exultation over you. I have been filled with comfort – I superabound in joy at all our tribulation.


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For indeed, when we went to Macedonia, our flesh had no peace, but we suffered tribulation in every way – strife externally, fears internally.


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And not only with his arrival, but also in the comfort with which he had been comforted about you, as he related to us your longing, your lamentation, your zeal for me, with the result that I rejoiced all the more.


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For even if I have grieved you with my epistle, I do not have regret now, even if I did have regret. For I see that that epistle grieved you, even if it was just for a while.


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I rejoice now, not because you grieved, but in that you grieved resulting in repentance. For you grieved in a godly way, so that you were not hurt through us in any way.


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For godly grief engenders repentance leading to salvation without regrets. But worldly grief engenders death.


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For as regards this very thing – your godly grieving – see how much eagerness it has engendered for you, and also defence of the case, and indignation, and fear, and longing, and zeal, and vindication! In every respect you proved yourselves to be pure in the matter.


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Consequently, although I wrote to you, it was not on account of anyone doing wrong, or on account of anyone suffering wrong, but on account of your eagerness for us to be manifested to you in the sight of God.


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For this reason we have been comforted. But we rejoiced at your encouragement all the more exuberantly at the joy of Titus, in that his spirit was refreshed by you all.


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So if I have boasted to him about you in anything, I have not been put to shame, but just as we spoke everything in truth to you, so our boasting before Titus has been true.


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And his affections are most exuberantly towards you, as he remembers the obedience of all of you – how you received him with fear and trembling.


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And, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given among the churches of Macedonia,


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for with a great trial in affliction their exuberance of joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their single-mindedness.


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and with much entreaty, imploring us in respect of the grace and the fellowship of the ministry to the saints,


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and not as we had expected, but they gave themselves firstly to the Lord, and to us, through the will of God,


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for us to comfort Titus, so that just as he began before, so he should bring this grace towards you to a conclusion as well.


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But as you abound in everything – in faith and word, and knowledge and all eagerness and in the love from your side among us – may you also abound in this grace.


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I do not speak by commandment, but moved by the eagerness of others and as one approving the sincerity of your love.


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For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ – how on your account he became poor, though being rich, in order that you by his poverty might become rich.


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And I give my opinion in this matter. For this is expedient for you, who last year took the lead not only in taking action, but also in having the will.


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And now, complete the execution of it, so that as your enthusiasm was when you made your mind up, so the completion may be, your resources permitting.


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For if the enthusiasm is present, it is appreciated when judged against one's means, not when judged against something beyond one's means.


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For it is not in order that others may have ease, while you have tribulation, but it is on the basis of equality. At the present time, your surplus is a supply to their lack,


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as it stands written, “He who had much did not have surplus, and he who had a little did not suffer a lack.”


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And we have sent the brother with him, who has a good reputation for the gospel throughout all the churches,


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and not only so, but he was also appointed by the churches as our travelling companion, collaborating in this grace being ministered by us for the glory of the Lord himself and as an outlet for our enthusiasm,


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avoiding this: that anyone should have cause to blame us in this tremendous project which is being undertaken by us,


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as we concern ourselves with things that are right not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.


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And we have sent our brother with them, whom we have often proved to be eager in many matters, and who is now much more eager, with much confidence in you.


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If anyone enquires about Titus, he is my partner and co-worker for you, or if our brothers are enquired about, they are apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.


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for I know your enthusiasm, and I boast about it to the Macedonians on your behalf, in that Achaea has been prepared since last year and the zeal from your side has stimulated quite a few of them.


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And I sent the brothers there, so that our boasting about you should not go unheard in this matter – so that, as I said, you are prepared –


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so that, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we – so that we don't say “you” – are not ashamed of these grounds of boasting.


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So I considered it necessary to encourage the brothers to go on ahead to you and finalize your donation beforehand, which was announced in advance, so that it should be ready, so as a blessing, not as a matter of meanness.


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And I say this, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows generously will also reap generously.


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Each person should give as he has decided beforehand in his heart, not grudgingly or under constraint, for God loves a cheerful giver.


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For God is able to make all grace abound to you, in order that you, always being entirely self-sufficient in everything, might have something left over for every good work.


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As it stands written, “He distributed; he gave to the poor. His righteousness remains throughout the Age.”


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Now may he who supplies seed to the sower also supply bread for food and multiply your seed sown, and increase the yield of your righteousness,


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as you become rich in every respect, in all generosity, which engenders thanksgiving to God through us.


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For administering this service not only supplies the saints' lack, but also abounds to God through much thanksgiving,


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as they glorify God through the tried character of this service acquired through subjection to your profession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity in contributing to them and to all,


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while they also long for you in supplication for you on account of the exceeding grace of God bestowed on you.


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Now I Paul myself call upon you, through the meekness and fairness of Christ – I who am lowly when face to face among you, but being absent, I have confidence in you –


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and I appeal to you that when I am present, I do not have to be courageous, in the confidence which I count on, to stand up to some who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.


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for the weapons of our campaign are not fleshly, but are extremely powerful in demolishing strongholds –


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as we demolish arguments, and all arrogance exalted against knowledge of God, and as we take every thought captive to obedience to Christ,


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Look at the things that are before your eyes. If anyone is convinced that he is Christ's, let him consider this again: that just as he is Christ's, so also are we Christ's.


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For even if I should boast somewhat exceedingly about our authority – which the Lord gave us for your edification and not for your demolition – I shall not be ashamed,


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For, “The epistles,” they say, “are weighty and forcible, but his presence in the body is weak, and his speech is deplorable.”


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Let such a person consider this: that as we are in word through epistles when we are absent, so we are in deed when physically present.


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For we are not so bold as to reckon ourselves among – or compare ourselves with – some of those who commend themselves, but they who measure themselves by their own standards, and compare themselves with each other, do not show understanding.


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But we will not boast outside our limits, but within the limits of the area which God has apportioned us, limits reaching you as well.


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For we do not overstretch ourselves as if we did not reach as far as you, for we have been quick in coming to you as well with the gospel of Christ.


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We do not boast outside our limits, in the labours of others, but we do have hope, as your faith grows, that we will greatly grow in stature among you within our area,


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progressing to preaching the gospel in places beyond your region, but not to do so in another's the area, so boasting about places already evangelized.


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For I am zealous for you with a tremendous zeal, for I have betrothed you to one man, so as to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.


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But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve with his trickery, so your minds may be drawn away to corruption from the simplicity which is in Christ.


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For if he who is coming proclaims another Jesus, whom we have not proclaimed, or you receive a different spirit, which you have not received, or accept a different gospel, which you have not accepted, then that is a fine way to bear up!


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And even if I am an amateur in speech, I am not in knowledge; for we have been made known to you in every respect and in all regards.


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Or have I committed a sin in lowering myself so that you might be exalted, because I have preached the gospel of God to you freely?


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and being present with you and having run short, I have not pressed heavily on anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia made up for my shortage, and I have guarded – and will guard – myself against being a burden to you in any way.


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As the truth of Christ is in me, so this boasting will not be stifled with me in the regions of Achaea.


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And this I do, and will do, in order to eliminate any opportunity for those wanting an opportunity to be found copying us in what they boast of.


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For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.


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So it is not a great thing then if his servants also transform themselves, as if they were servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.


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Again I say it, in case anyone considers me to be foolish. Otherwise, receive me even as a fool, so that I too have some small grounds for boasting.


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What I say, I do not say from the Lord's perspective, but as it were in foolishness, on these boastful grounds.


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For you bear up if anyone domineers over you, if anyone exploits you, if anyone arrests you, if anyone is overbearing, if anyone hits you on the face.


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I speak to my shame, as if we were taken ill. And in whatever way someone might be daring – I speak in foolishness – I myself am daring too.


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Are they ministers of Christ? – I speak as if deranged – I go further: in labours more prolifically, in beatings more exceedingly, in imprisonments more frequently, in situations in danger of death, often;


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three times I was beaten with sticks, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, and I have spent a night and a day in the deep;


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in travels often, in dangers of rivers, in dangers of robbers, in dangers from my race, in dangers from the Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the desert, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers;


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in toil and hardship, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.


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The God and father of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed throughout the ages, knows that I do not lie.


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In Damascus the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes, wishing to lay hold of me,


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Boasting is actually of no advantage to me, for I will enter into visions and revelations of the Lord.


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I know a man in Christ – whether in the body, I don't know, or whether out of the body, I don't know, God knows – who fourteen years ago was caught up as far as the third heaven.


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how he was caught up in Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not permitted for man to speak.


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For even if I were to want to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would speak the truth. But I will restrain myself in case anyone should consider me to be above what he observes me to be or what he hears from me.


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And so that I do not exalt myself in the special nature of revelations, a thorn in the flesh has been given to me – a messenger of Satan – to harass me so that I do not exalt myself.


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And he said, “My grace is sufficient for you. For my strength is brought to completion in weakness.” So I will most gladly boast rather in my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may reside on me.


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Therefore, I am content in weaknesses, in maltreatment, in constrained circumstances, in persecution, in straits, for Christ's sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong.


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I have become foolish in boasting. You forced it on me, for I should have been commended by you. For in no way have I fallen short of the most superlative apostles, even if I am nothing.


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The signs of the apostle were performed among you with all endurance, with signs and miracles and deeds of power.


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For in what way were you inferior to the other churches, if not in that I myself did not press heavily on you? Forgive me this wrong.


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Look, I am prepared to come to you a third time, and I will not press heavily on you. For I do not seek what is yours, but you. For it is not that children ought to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.


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For I will gladly spend money and be spent for yourselves, even if the more intensely I love you, the less I am loved.


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I exhorted Titus and sent his brother with him. Surely Titus did not defraud you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Was it not in the same tracks?


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Do you again think we are defending ourselves to you? We speak in the presence of God in Christ, and all these things, my beloved, are for your edification.


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For I am afraid that, if I come, I will not find you as I wish, and I will be found by you not as you wish – that there will be rivalries, jealousies, angry exchanges, strife-ridden situations, backbitings, gossip, conceit, acts of disorder –


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and that my God will humble me when I come to you again, and I should mourn many of those who sinned previously and have not repented of their uncleanness and fornication and debauchery which they have committed.


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I am coming to you this third time. Every matter shall be established at the affirmation of two or three witnesses.


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I have spoken beforehand, and am speaking beforehand, as when I was present on the second occasion, and being now absent, I am writing to those who previously sinned, and all the others, that if I come again, I will not spare you,


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since you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me, who is not weak towards you, but is powerful in you.


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For in fact, if he was crucified through weakness, then he lives through the power of God. And indeed, we are weak in him, but we shall live with him through the power of God towards you.


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Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith – test yourselves. Or do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless, that is, you are unauthenticated in some way.


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And I pray to God that you will do nothing wrong, not so that we appear authenticated, but so that you do what is right, and that we are as those authenticated.


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For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. But this we also pray for: your restoration.


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On this account I, being absent, am writing these things, so that when I am present I shall not have to deal with matters severely, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for edification and not for demolition.


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Finally, brothers, rejoice, amend your ways, be encouraged, be of one mind, be peaceful, 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 you all. Amen.


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From Paul, an apostle, not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the father who raised him from the dead,


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who gave himself for our sins, in order to deliver us out of the present evil age, according to the will of our God and father,


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I am astonished that you are so quickly switching from him who called you in the grace of Christ to another gospel,


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while there is no other, except that there are some who are troubling you and wishing to distort the gospel of Christ.


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But even if we or an angel from heaven preach a gospel to you contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.


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As we have said before, and I say again now, if anyone preaches a gospel to you contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.


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For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I aim to please men? Well, if I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.


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But I am making known to you, brothers, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man,


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for I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through Jesus Christ's revelation.


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For you have heard of my previous manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God wantonly and ravage it,


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and how I progressed in Judaism beyond many contemporaries of my race, being exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.


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to reveal his son within me, in order that I should preach him among the Gentiles, I immediately made a point of not consulting with flesh and blood,


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nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who were before me, but I went away into Arabia and returned again to Damascus.


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Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to acquaint myself with Peter, and remained with him for fifteen days,


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except that they kept hearing, “He who persecuted us at one time is now preaching the faith which previously he ravaged.”


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and I went up by revelation, and put the gospel which I proclaim among the Gentiles to them, privately to those who are held in regard, so that I might not run or have run in vain.


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Moreover, Titus, who was with me, although he was a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised at all,


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but we watched out because of the false brothers who had been brought in surreptitiously, who had come in stealthily to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us to themselves,


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to whom we did not yield in submission even for an hour, in order that the truth of the gospel might maintain its ground for you.


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Then of those considered to be of importance – whatever they once were doesn't make any difference to me; God does not show partiality to anyone – for those who were held in high regard did not contribute anything as far as I'm concerned,


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but on the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, as Peter with that of the circumcision,


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(for he who had been active in Peter for the apostleship of the circumcision had also been active in me for the Gentiles),


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and when they knew the grace which had been given to me, of these people James and Cephas and John, who were considered to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcision,


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because prior to some others coming from James, he would eat with the Gentiles. But when they had come, he would draw away and separate himself, fearing those of the circumcision,


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and the remaining Jews also joined him in the hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was actually led away with them by their hypocrisy.


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But when I saw that they were not progressing straight towards the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in the presence of them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the Gentile way and not in the Jewish way, why do you compel the Gentiles to act in the Jewish way?”


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and are aware that a man is not justified by works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, and we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified through faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by works of the law.


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But if while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are for our part identified as sinners, is then Christ a minister of sin? Far from it!


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I have been crucified with Christ. I live, but no longer I, but Christ lives in me. The life I now lead in the flesh, I lead in faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.


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I am not setting aside the grace of God, for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died in vain.


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O foolish Galatians, who has spellbound you into not obeying the truth, you before whose eyes Jesus Christ was exhibited, crucified among you?


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I just want to learn this from you: did you receive the spirit by works of the law or by heeding the principle of faith?


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So he who provides you with the spirit and who works deeds of power among you, is it all by works of the law or by heeding the principle of faith?


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and the scripture, having foreseen that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel beforehand to Abraham and said, “All the Gentiles will be blessed through you,”


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For all who are of works of the law are under a curse, for it stands written, “Cursed is everyone who does not remain in all the things written in the book of the law, to do them.”


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But that no-one is justified with God by the law is clear, because the righteous shall live by faith.


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Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for our sakes. For it stands written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on wood,”


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this being in order that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith.


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Brothers, I speak humanly: it is just like the way no-one annuls or adds to a man's covenant which has been confirmed.


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Now the promises were made to Abraham and his seed. It does not say, “And to seeds,” as speaking of many, but as speaking of one, “And to your seed,” which is Christ.


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And I say this: the law, which came four hundred and thirty years afterwards, does not annul a covenant confirmed beforehand by God until Christ, which would break the promise.


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For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no longer by a promise. But God has bestowed a gift on Abraham through a promise.


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What about the law, then? It was added on account of transgressions, until the seed should come to him to whom the promise was made, the law having been ratified by angels through the agency of a mediator.


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Is then the law contrary to the promises of God? Far from it. For if a law had been given which was able to give life, then righteousness really would have been by the law.


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But the scripture has concluded everything under sin, in order that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe,


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whereas before faith had come we were kept under the law, confined until the coming principle of faith should be revealed.


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So as a result, the law became our educator to Christ, in order that we should be justified by faith.


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There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.


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Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he is in no way different to a slave, although he may be lord of all,


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and in that you are sons, God has sent the spirit of his son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, father,”


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But now that you do know God, or rather are known by God, how can you turn again to the powerless and weak rudiments which you wish to serve all over again?


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And you did not disdain my physical trial, nor did you eject me, but you received me like an angel of God, as Christ Jesus even.


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What then was your blessing? For I bear witness that if it had been possible you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.


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There are those who are zealous for you in a way which is not good. Rather, they wish to exclude you so that you should be zealous for them.


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But it is good to be impelled by zeal for a good thing at all times, and not only while I am present with you,


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And I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, because I am at a loss with you.


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For it stands written that Abraham had two sons, one from the maidservant and one from the free woman.


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But while he who was from the maidservant was born according to the flesh, he who was from the free woman, was born through the promise.


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Now these things are allegorical. For these two women represent two covenants, one from Mount Sinai, giving birth into bondage, and she is Hagar.


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For Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem of the present, and she is in bondage with her children.


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For it stands written, “Rejoice, you who are barren and cannot give birth; break out and cry out, you who cannot go into labour, because the children of the desolate will be many more than those of her who has a husband.”


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But as at that time the one born according to the flesh persecuted the one according to the spirit, so it is now too.


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But what does the scripture say? “Cast out the maidservant and her son. For the son of the maidservant will certainly not inherit anything with the son of the free woman.”


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Stand, therefore, in the freedom in which Christ has made us free, and do not be held again by the yoke of bondage.


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And I testify again to every man who undergoes circumcision that he is a debtor to carry out the whole law.


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You who are justified by the law have become disengaged from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.


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For in Christ Jesus neither does circumcision effect anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith put in action through love does.


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I trust in you through the Lord that you have no other frame of mind, but he who is subverting you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.


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And as for me, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offensiveness of the cross would have been made inapplicable.


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For you were called on the basis of freedom, brothers – only do not use freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another with love.


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For the flesh has desires against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; these are in opposition to each other, so that it is not what you want to do that you do.


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And the works of the flesh are evident; they are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness,


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envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies and similar things to these, which I am telling you about beforehand as I have also told you before, namely that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.


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Brothers, if, even so, a man is caught up in some transgression, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of meekness, watching yourself, in case you too are tempted.


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but let each one test his own work, and then he will have something to be proud of on his own account only and not on that of another.


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Do not be led astray; God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he will by the same token reap.


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For he who sows in his own flesh will reap corruption from his flesh, but he who sows in the spirit will reap age-abiding life from the spirit.


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So then, when we have an opportunity, let us do good work towards all, especially to those of the household of the faith.


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Those who wish to make a good showing in the flesh are the ones who are compelling you to be circumcised, but only so as not to be persecuted for the cross of Christ.


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For those who have been circumcised themselves do not even keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh.


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But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world was crucified to me and I to the world.


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For in Christ Jesus neither does circumcision effect anything nor does uncircumcision, but a new creation does.


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From Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, through the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus,


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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 upper-heavenly places in Christ,


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according to how he chose us in him before the overthrow of the world, for us to be holy and without blemish in his presence in love,


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having appointed us beforehand for adoption through Jesus Christ to him, according to the good pleasure of his will,


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in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, according to the richness of his grace,


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having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, good pleasure which he planned in him,


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with a view to the dispensation of the fulness of times, to head up all things in Christ, those above the heavens and those on the earth,


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in him in whom we also have received an inheritance, having been appointed beforehand according to the plan of him who is active in all things according to the resolve of his will,


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in whom you too received an inheritance after you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after you believed, you were sealed by the holy spirit of promise,


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and he is the guarantee of our inheritance, until the redemption of the special possession, to the praise of his glory.


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On account of this, I too, having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love towards all the saints,


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that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in acknowledgment of him,


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that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what the hope of his calling is, and what the wealth of the glory of his inheritance in holy places is,


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and what the exceeding greatness of his power is in us who believe, according to the action of his strong might,


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which he exerted in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and seated him at his right hand in the upper-heavenly places,


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far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name which is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come,


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in which you once walked, according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, of the spirit which is now active in the sons of disobedience,


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among whom we all also once had our mode of life, in the desires of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh, and of the mind, and we were children of wrath by nature, as the rest are too,


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that in the ages to come he might exhibit the exceeding richness of his grace in kindness to us in Christ Jesus,


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for you have been saved by grace, through faith, and this is not of yourselves: it is the gift of God,


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for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, to the intent that we should walk in them.


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Therefore remember that you who were once Gentiles in the flesh, called uncircumcision by those called circumcision in the flesh, circumcision made by hands,


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that you were at that time without Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of the promise, not having any hope and without God in the world,


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having abolished the enmity by his flesh, the law of the commandments in ordinances, in order that he might create the two in himself into one new man, making peace,


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So then, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but joint citizens of the holy places and are God's household residents,


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if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which has been given to me for you,


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which was not made known to other generations, to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by spirit,


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that the Gentiles should be joint heirs and a joint body, and joint partakers of his promise in Christ through the gospel,


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of which I have become a minister by the gift of the grace of God which was given to me by the exertion of his power,


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to me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given: to preach among the Gentiles the untraceable richness of Christ,


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and to enlighten everyone as to what the dispensation of the mystery is, which was hidden from the ages in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ,


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in order that the highly diversified wisdom of God might now be made known to the realms and the authorities in the upper-heavenly places through the church,


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that he may grant you according to the richness of his glory, to be strengthened by power through his spirit in the inner man,


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that you, being rooted and founded in love may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what the breadth and length and depth and height are,


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and to know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge, in order that you may be filled to the extent of all the fulness of God.


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To him who is able to do superabundantly beyond everything which we ask or conceive of, according to the power exerted in us,


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I, the prisoner in the Lord, appeal to you therefore to walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called,


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There is one body and one spirit, even as you for your part have been called in one hope of your calling,


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Now the word “he ascended” – what does it mean but that he also first descended to the lowest parts of the earth?


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He who descended is himself also he who ascended far above all the heavens, in order to fill all things,


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and he himself appointed some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers,


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for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ,


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until we all attain the unity of the faith and of acknowledgment of the son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ,


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in order no longer to be infants, tossed by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of hand of men, by roguery intent on deceitful craftiness,


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but rather that we, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in respect of all things to him who is the head, Christ,


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from whom the whole body, being fitted together and joined up by every sustaining joint with invigoration appropriate to each individual part, brings about increase of the body to the edification of itself in love.


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This therefore I say and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,


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darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God on account of the ignorance which is within them, and on account of the hardness of their hearts,


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who, being desensitized, have given themselves over to debauchery, intent on a pursuit of all uncleanness with greed.


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that you should put away the old man of your former conduct, which is corrupt with its deceitful desires,


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Therefore, having put away the lie, speak the truth, each one with his neighbour, for we are members of one another,


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Let him who steals steal no more, but rather labour, working at what is good with his hands, in order that he may have something to share with him who is in need.


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Let no corrupt word come out of your mouth, but rather some good word for edification of what is needful, in order that it may give grace to those hearing it,


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and do not grieve the holy spirit of God, with which you have been sealed for the day of redemption.


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Let all bitterness and rage and anger and clamour and blasphemy be put away from you, along with all malice,


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but be kind to each other, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has for his part forgiven us in Christ.


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and walk in love, as also Christ loved us and gave himself up on our behalf as an offering and sacrifice to God as a sweet scent.


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But as for fornication and all uncleanness or fraud, let them not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints,


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nor disgracefulness and foolish talk or jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks,


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for be aware of this, that no fornicator, or unclean person, or fraudster, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.


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Let no-one deceive you with vain words, for on account of such things the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience.


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But all the things which are censured by the light are made manifest. For everything that makes manifest is light.


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Therefore he says, “Awake, you who are asleep and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”


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speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing a melody in your heart to the Lord,


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for a husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church, as he is the saviour of the body.


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in order that he might present the church to himself as glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.


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In this way husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself,


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for no-one ever hated his own flesh, but everyone nourishes and cherishes it as the Lord for his part does the church,


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For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and the two will be one flesh.


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But still, let each of you individually so love your wife as himself, but let the wife see that she reveres her husband.


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And fathers, do not provoke your children, but bring them up in the education and admonition of the Lord.


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Servants, obey your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling in your single-mindedness, as to Christ,


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not in the manner of eye-service as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,


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knowing that whatever good each one does, he will receive it from the Lord, whether he is a slave or a free man.


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And masters, act in the same way to them, forbearing threatening, knowing that your own master for his part is in the heavens, and there is no partiality with him.


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for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against realms, against authorities, against the world-rulers of this dark age, against spiritual forces of wickedness in the upper-heavenly places.


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On account of this, take up the full armour of God in order that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.


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Stand therefore having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,


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above all having taken up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the wicked one.


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with all prayer and supplication, praying on every occasion in spirit, and being watchful to this very end in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,


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and for me, that speech be given to me when I open my mouth, to make known frankly the mystery of the gospel,


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but that you too may know my affairs – what I am doing – Tychichus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will make all known to you,


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whom I have sent to you for this very thing, that you may know our circumstances, and so that he may encourage your hearts.


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From Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and ministers,


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confident of this very thing, that he who started a good work in you will be completing it until the day of Christ Jesus,


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and it is right for me to think this of all of you like this, because I have you in my heart, in both my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, you all being fellow sharers of my grace.


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and I pray for this, that your love may abound still more and more in acknowledgement and every insight,


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so that you scrutinize the things that differ, in order that you may be sincere and inoffensive up to the day of Christ,


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having been filled with the fruits of righteousness which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.


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so that my bonds on account of Christ have become well-known in all the government offices and all the other places,


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and so that most of the brothers, trusting in the Lord, because of my bonds, dare more than ever to speak the word fearlessly.


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Some proclaim Christ out of self-interest, not with pure motives, thinking to bring affliction on top of my bonds,


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So what? As long as, in one way or another, whether by pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice, and not only so, but I will rejoice.


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For I am aware that this, you know, will turn out to salvation through your supplication and the support of the spirit of Jesus Christ,


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according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall not be ashamed of anything, but that in all frankness, now as always, Christ will be magnified by my body whether through life or through death.


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But if to live in the flesh means I have the fruit of my work, then what I will choose, I cannot tell.


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and being convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and stay along with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,


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so that your exultation may abound in Christ Jesus because of me through my presence again with you.


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Only conduct yourselves as citizens worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or whether I am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you are standing in one spirit, striving together with one mind for the faith of the gospel,


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and not being alarmed by anything done by your adversaries, which is an indication to them of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.


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For it is granted to you concerning Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake,


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If therefore there is any comfort in Christ, if there is any consolation from love, if there is any fellowship of the spirit, if there is any compassion and mercy,


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make my joy full, by being likeminded, having the same love, of one mind, having your thoughts on the one thing,


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nothing being through self-interest or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind, considering each other more important than yourselves.


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yet he emptied himself, having taken on the status of a servant, having come in the appearance of men,


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and having been found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to the extent of death, and the death of the cross at that,


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so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in the upper-heavens and on earth and underground,


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So, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,


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in order that you may be blameless and unspoiled, unblemished children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,


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presenting the word of life, to my exultation on the day of Christ, in that I did not run in vain nor did I toil in vain.


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But even if I am poured out on the offering and ministering of your faith, I rejoice and will jointly rejoice with you all.


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But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be of good courage, when I have got to know your affairs,


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but get to know his trustworthiness, because as a child with his father he has served with me in the cause of the gospel.


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However, I considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your apostle, and minister of my needs,


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for he did indeed fall so ill that he was near to death, but God had mercy on him, and not only him, but me also, so that I should not have grief upon grief,


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so I sent him with greater earnest, so that when you saw him again, you would rejoice and I would be somewhat relieved from sorrow.


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because for the work of Christ he came near to death, not having regarded his life, so that he could make up for the thing that was missing in your service towards me.


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Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is not troublesome for me to write the same things to you, and for you it is a safeguard.


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for we are the circumcision, those who serve by the spirit of God, and exult in Christ Jesus, and do not trust in the flesh,


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although I have grounds for trust in the flesh too. If anyone else thinks he can trust in the flesh, I can do so more:


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circumcised on the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, as to the law, a Pharisee,


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zealously persecuting the church, whilst being blameless as regards the righteousness which is in the sphere of the law,


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and indeed I even count everything to be a loss by reason of the pre-eminence of knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of everything, and I count them dung in order that I may gain Christ,


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and that I may be found in him, not having my own righteousness which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith,


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so as 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 it, or have already reached perfection, but I pursue it aspiring to take hold of that for which I have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.


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Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold, but one thing I do, forgetting the things that are behind, and forging ahead towards the things that are in front,


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Let us therefore, inasmuch as we are perfect, have this frame of mind. However, if you take a different view of anything, God will reveal this to you too.


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But whatever stage we have reached, let us keep to the same line and hold to the same frame of mind.


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Be imitators together of me, brothers, and look to those who walk this way, as you have us as an example.


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For many walk, about whom I have often told you, and now tell you weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ,


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whose end is loss, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who have in mind earthly things,


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who will transform our lowly body, so that it becomes conformant to his glorious body according to the force by which he is also able to subdue everything to himself.


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So then, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, take this stand in the Lord, my beloved.


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Yes, I ask you too, my genuine yokefellow, help these women who strove with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and my other co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.


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Do not be anxious about anything, but let your requests in every matter be known to God in all prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.


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And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.


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Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is revered, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is kindly, whatever is laudable – if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise: take account of these things.


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And the things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do, and the God of peace will be with you.


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But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because you have at last revived your thoughts on behalf of me. And on this point, you did consider me, but you lacked opportunity.


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Not that I speak from a lack of anything, for I have learned to be independent of the circumstances in which I find myself.


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And I know what it means to be brought low, and I also know what it means to have more than enough. In each and every circumstance I have learned the secret of both being fed and going hungry, and of having more than enough and of lacking things.


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But you Philippians also know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I came out of Macedonia, no church contributed to me in settlement of debit and credit except you alone,


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But I have received everything in full and have surplus. I have been fully supplied, having received via Epaphroditus the things from you, a sweet scent, an acceptable 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 and Lord Jesus Christ.


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because of the hope which is reserved for you in the heavenly places, which you have heard of before, in the word of truth of the gospel,


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which has come to you, as also in all the world, and is bearing fruit and increasing, as it has been doing among you too, from the day when you heard and acknowledged the grace of God in truth,


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as you have also learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ for your sakes,


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On account of this, we too, from the day we heard it, do not cease praying for you and asking that you be filled with acknowledgment of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,


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that you should walk worthy of the Lord, so as to be pleasing in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in acknowledgment of God,


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being empowered with all power according to his glorious might, with a view to all patience and longsuffering, with joy,


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giving thanks to the father, who has made us fit for the share of the inheritance of the saints in light,


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who has delivered us from the authority of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved son,


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because everything was created by him – the things in the heavens and the things on earth, the visible things and the invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or realms or authorities – everything was created through him and for him.


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and he is the head of the body – the church; and he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, in order that he himself might become pre-eminent in all matters,


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and through him to reconcile all things to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether they are things on earth or things in the heavens.


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in his body of flesh through death, to present you holy and unblemished and unimpeachable in his presence,


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if, that is, you remain in the faith, founded and stable, and are not moved from the hope of the gospel which you have heard, which was proclaimed in the whole of the creation under heaven, of which I Paul have been made a minister.


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I now rejoice in sufferings for your sakes, and I contribute my share to what is lacking among the tribulations of Christ, in my flesh, for the sake of his body, which is the church,


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of which I have been made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given to me for you, to fill the word of God –


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the mystery which was hidden away from the ages and from the generations, but now has been made manifest to his saints,


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to whom God wished to make known what the richness is of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ among you, the hope of glory,


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whom we proclaim, admonishing every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, in order that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus,


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For I want you to know how great a struggle I have concerning you and those in Laodicea and all others who have not seen my face in the flesh,


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and I want their hearts to be comforted, united in love, and to be leading to all the richness of the full assurance which comes with understanding, leading on to acknowledgment of the mystery of God and the father and of Christ,


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for although I am absent in the flesh, yet in the spirit I am with you, rejoicing and observing your orderliness and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.


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being rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.


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Watch out that no-one carries you away through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world and not according to Christ,


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in whom you have also been circumcised with a circumcision made without hands by the divesting of the sinful fleshly body by the circumcision of Christ,


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being buried with him in baptism, by whom you were also jointly raised through faith in the exertion of power from God who raised him from the dead.


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And as for you, being dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has jointly made you alive with him, having forgiven us all of our transgressions,


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having blotted out the writing attesting to ordinances, which was against us, which was in opposition to us and which he has removed from our midst having nailed it to the cross,


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and having stripped the realms and the authorities, he made an example of them openly, and triumphed over them by means of it.


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So let no-one judge you in food or in drink or in partaking of a festival or of a new moon celebration, or of Sabbaths,


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Let no-one defraud you of your prize, while he exercises his will in humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,


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and not holding onto the head, from where the whole body, supplied and united by joints and bands, grows with growth from God.


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If you have died with Christ to the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you imposed upon with ordinances?


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which are all destined for decay with falling into disuse, these being after the commandments and teachings of men,


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which indeed have a reputation for wisdom in self-willed worship and humility and austerity of the body, but not of any value for satisfying the flesh.


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If, then, you have been raised with Christ, seek things above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.


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So mortify your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and fraud, which is idolatry,


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then having put on the new man, who is renewed, leading to knowledge in accordance with the image of him who created him,


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where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision or uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free man, but Christ who is all and in all.


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Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, compassionate feelings, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering,


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bearing up with each other, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against anyone; and as Christ also has forgiven you, so also you should do.


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and may the peace of God preside in your hearts, to which you have also been called in one body. And do be thankful.


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May the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, as you teach and admonish each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.


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Also, everything you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the father through him.


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Servants, obey your masters according to the flesh in everything, not in eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in single-mindedness, fearing God,


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knowing that you will receive from the Lord the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ,


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Masters, render to your servants that which is just and fair, knowing that you too have a master in the heavens.


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praying together for us too, that God may open to us a door for the word, for me to speak of the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am also bound,


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Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer each person.


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Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord will make all my affairs known to you,


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whom I have sent to you for this very purpose: that he may know your circumstances and encourage your hearts,


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with Onesimus the faithful and beloved brother who is one of you. They will make all the things going on here known to you.


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Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas concerning whom you have received instructions. If he comes to you, receive him,


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and Jesus who is called Justus, these being of the circumcision; only these are my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, who have become a consolation to me.


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Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, greets you, always contending for your sakes in prayers, so that you may stand perfect and fulfilled in all the will of God,


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for I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those in Laodicea and those in Hieropolis.


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and when this epistle is read among you, arrange for it to be read in the church of the Loadiceans too and that you also read the one from Laodicea,


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From Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the father and Lord Jesus Christ, grace to you, and peace from God our father and Lord Jesus Christ.


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as we continually remember your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience for the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ before our God and Father,


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because our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but rather in power and in holy spirit, and with much conviction, knowing as you do what kind of people we were among you for your sakes.


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Then you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in great tribulation with great joy derived from holy spirit,


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For the word of the Lord has been blazed abroad by you, not only in Macedonia and in Achaea, but your faith towards God has also spread everywhere, so that we don't need to make any comment,


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for they themselves report back about us on what kind of approach we took with you, and how you turned to God from the idols, to serve the living and true God,


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and to await his son from the heavens, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who saves us from the coming wrath.


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but, although we had suffered before and been spitefully treated, as you know, in Philippi, we spoke out frankly in our God, so as to propound to you the gospel of God, amid much opposition.


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but it is according to how we have been approved of by God to be entrusted with the gospel that we speak, not in pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.


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For neither were we at any time involved in a word of flattery, as you know, nor in a pretext for greed – God is a witness –


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nor did we seek glory from men, either from you, or from others, since as apostles of Christ we could have behaved with gravity,


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So longing for you, we were glad to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves, because you had become dear to us.


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For you remember, brothers, our labour and toil, for we worked night and day so as not to burden any of you when we proclaimed the gospel of God to you.


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You are witnesses, and God too, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved towards you who believe,


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and how we testified that you should walk worthy of God who called you into his own kingdom and glory.


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On account of this, we also thank God continually, because when you received the reported word of God from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, who is also active in you who believe.


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For you became imitators, brothers, of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus, in that you too suffered the same things done by people of your own community, just as they for their part suffered things done by the Jews,


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who also killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and do not please God, and are opposed to all men,


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preventing us from speaking to the Gentiles in order that they might be saved, so that they constantly bring their sins to completion; indeed wrath has come upon them in the end.


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But we, brothers, having been bereft of you for a short time, in presence, not in heart, endeavoured most strenuously to see your face, with much longing,


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For what is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it anything but you in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming?


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and we sent Timothy our brother and servant of God and our co-worker in the gospel of Christ, in order to strengthen you and encourage you concerning your faith,


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so that no-one should be disturbed by these afflictions. After all, you yourselves know that this is what we are destined for.


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For indeed, when we were with you, we would tell you in advance that we would be afflicted, as it duly turned out, which you know.


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This is why when I could no longer endure either, I sent inquirers to find out about your faith, as to whether the tempter has tempted you, and our toil had been in vain.


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But now that Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news about your faith and love, and that you always have fond memories of us, and long to see us, as we do you,


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it is with good reason that we are encouraged, brothers, about you in all our affliction and distress, by your faith.


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For what thanks can we return to God concerning you for all the joy with which we rejoice on your account before our God,


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night and day pleading most earnestly to be able to see your face and to rectify the shortcomings of your faith?


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And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love towards each other and towards everyone, as we for our part do towards you,


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in order to strengthen your hearts as blameless in holiness before our God and father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his holy ones.


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Finally, then, brothers, we ask you and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, to abound yet more in the way you received from us about how you need to walk and how to please God.


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not to transgress or defraud one's brother in business, for the Lord is an avenger concerning all these things, as indeed we have told you before, and have testified solemnly.


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Consequently, he who is disregardful is not disregarding man but God who also gave his holy spirit to you,


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but concerning brotherly love, you do not need me to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,


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for in fact you do this to all the brothers who are in the whole of Macedonia. And we encourage you, brothers, to abound more still,


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and to be particular about living quietly and attending to your own affairs and working with your own hands, as we have commanded you,


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But we do not wish you to be ignorant brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve as do the rest, who have no hope.


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For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also will God bring back those who have fallen asleep, through Jesus, with him.


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For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive – who survive up to the coming of the Lord – will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep,


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because the Lord himself will descend from heaven on command, at the voice of the archangel and with the sound of the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first,


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then we who are alive, who survive, will be caught up together with them in clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and in this way we will always be with the Lord.


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for you yourselves know perfectly well that the way the day of the Lord comes is like a thief in the night.


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For when they say, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, like the birth-pangs on her who is with child, and they will by no means escape.


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But let us who are of the day be sober, having put on a breastplate of faith and love, and a helmet, a hope of salvation,


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because God has not appointed us to wrath, but to be an acquisition of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,


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who died for our sakes, to the intent that whether we are watchful or whether we sleep, we will live together with him.


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But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those among you who toil, and your overseers in the Lord and those who admonish you,


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And we beseech you, brothers, warn those who are unruly, comfort the faint-hearted, support the weak, be longsuffering towards all.


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See to it that no-one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue goodness, both to each other and to everyone.


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And may the God of peace himself sanctify you to become complete, and may the whole of your spirit and being and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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From Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God our father and Lord Jesus Christ,


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We have a debt to always be giving thanks to God for you, brothers, as is befitting, because your faith is increasing exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all towards one another is growing,


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with the result that we ourselves boast in you, in the churches of God, for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the tribulations which you endure,


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which is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, to the intent that you are considered worthy of the kingdom of God, concerning which you also undergo suffering,


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and to give you who are afflicted relief with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his mighty angels,


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with flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus,


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who will pay the penalty: age-abiding destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,


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when he comes to be glorified among his saints and to be looked at with wonder among all those who have believed, (because our witness to you was believed), on that day.


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And in view of this we also pray at all times concerning you, that our God may make you worthy of the calling and fulfil every resolve of goodness and work of faith with power,


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so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.


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And we ask you, brothers concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering up to him,


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for you not to be quickly shaken from a sound mind nor to be troubled either through a spirit or a saying or an epistle supposedly from us, claiming that the day of Christ is immediately at hand.


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Let no-one deceive you in any way, because it will not come until the apostasy has come first and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,


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who is opposed and self-exalted against everything called God, or object of worship, so that he sits as God in the sanctuary of God, putting himself forward as God.


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For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, except that there is the one who is currently doing the restraining until he emerges from the arena.


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And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy with the breath of his mouth, and will annihilate, at the manifestation of his coming,


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and with all kinds of unjust deceit among those who are on the road to being lost, because they did not receive the love of the truth, which was for them to be saved.


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in order that all those who have not believed the truth, but taken satisfaction in unrighteousness, may be judged.


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But we have a debt to give thanks to God at all times for you, brothers, loved by the Lord, in that God chose you from the beginning with a goal of salvation with sanctification of the spirit and faith in the truth.


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And to this he called you through our gospel: to be a glorious acquisition of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you have been taught, whether by spoken word or by our epistle.


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And may our Lord himself, Jesus Christ, and our God and father who loved us and gave age-abiding encouragement and good hope by grace


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Finally, brothers, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may run its course, and be glorified, as also with you,


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And we trust in the Lord concerning you, that you do, and will do, the things that we charge you with.


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And we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you shun every brother who behaves in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition which they received from us.


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For you yourselves know how it is necessary to imitate us, because we did not behave in a disorderly way among you.


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And we did not eat bread from anyone without payment, but we worked night and day with toil and hard work, so as not to be a burden to any of you.


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Not that we don't have authority, but so that we make ourselves an example to you, for you to imitate.


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For indeed, when we were with you, we commanded you this: that if anyone was unwilling to work, that he should not eat either,


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And we command such and exhort them through our Lord Jesus Christ, that they work quietly and eat their own bread.


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And if anyone does not obey our injunction through the epistle, take note of him and do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed,


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And may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.


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From Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by command of God our saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,


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to Timothy, a genuine child in faith, grace, mercy and peace from God our father and Christ Jesus our Lord.


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I write in the vein of when I appealed to you to stay on in Ephesus, when I was on my way to Macedonia, in order that you might command some not to teach extraneous doctrines,


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nor to heed fables or interminable genealogies, which give rise to disputes rather than a dispensation of God in faith.


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And the goal of the commandment is love from a pure heart and a clear conscience and unfeigned faith,


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wanting to be teachers of the law, but understanding neither what they say nor things pertaining to what they assert.


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knowing this, that the law has not been instituted for a righteous person, but for the lawless and unruly, for the undevout and for sinners, for the irreverent and profane, for those who commit parricide and matricide, for murderers,


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for fornicators, homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and anything else there might be contrary to sound doctrine,


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And I am thankful to him who empowered me, to Christ Jesus our Lord, in that he considered me faithful and appointed me to a ministry,


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me, who was formerly a blasphemer and persecutor and an impudent person, but I received mercy, because I acted in ignorance and unbelief,


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The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.


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But I received mercy on account of this: that in me first Jesus Christ should show all longsuffering, as a model for those who will believe in him, resulting in age-abiding life.


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Now to the king of the ages, indefectible, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory throughout the durations of the ages. Amen.


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I commit this command to you, Timothy, my child, according to the prophecies which have led in your direction, that by means of them you should fight the good fight,


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having faith and a clear conscience, which some have rejected, and have suffered shipwreck in respect of their faith,


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among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan in order that they may be taught not to blaspheme.


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for kings and all those in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and calm life in all godliness and solemnity,


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to which I have been appointed a herald and apostle – I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying – a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.


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and for women similarly to adorn themselves in discreet dress, with modesty and sobriety, not with braids or gold or pearls or extravagant clothes,


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but she will be saved throughout childbearing, if they remain in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.


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An overseer, then, must be unimpeachable, the husband of one wife, sober, temperate, well-behaved, hospitable, with aptitude for teaching,


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not over-fond of wine, not violent, not shamefully greedy of gain, but equitable, peaceable, not a lover of money,


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But if a person does not know how to take charge of his own household, how can he take care of the church of God?


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Not a newcomer, in case his imagination runs away with him and he falls into the condemnation of the devil.


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And he must also have a good reputation with those outside, so that he does not fall into disrepute or a snare of the devil.


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Likewise, ministers must be solemn, not equivocal, not heavy drinkers of wine, not shamefully greedy of gain,


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And let these be put to the test first, then let them minister, when they are found to be irreproachable.


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Ministers must be the husbands of one wife, properly in charge of their children and their own households.


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For those who minister well acquire good standing for themselves and much assurance in faith in Christ Jesus.


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But if I take a long time, I have written in order that you may know how you should behave in the house of God, which is the church of the living God. A pillar and base of the truth,


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and confessedly great, is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and taken up in glory.


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Now the spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will apostatize from the faith and give heed to misleading spirits and teachings of demons,


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forbidding to marry, ordering to abstain from foodstuffs which God created to be partaken of with thanks by those who are faithful and have acknowledged the truth.


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For every creature of God is good and is by no means to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,


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If you propose these things to the brothers you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished by the words of the faith and of good doctrine which you have followed closely.


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For physical exercise is beneficial in a minor matter, but godliness is beneficial in all respects, having the promise of present and future life.


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For we also toil for this and are reproached, because we have put hope in the living God, who is the saviour of all men, especially believers.


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Let no-one despise your youth, but become a model for believers, in word, in behaviour, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.


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Do not neglect the gracious gift in you, which was given to you through prophecy with laying on of hands of the council of elders.


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Concern yourself with these things, be immersed in these things, so that your progress may be evident among all.


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Attend to yourself and the teaching. Continue with them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.


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But if any widow has children or descendants, let them first learn to treat their own house reverently, and return what is due to their forebears, for that is acceptable in the sight of God.


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But she who really is a widow and has been forsaken has put her hope in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,


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But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.


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reputed for good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has helped the afflicted, if she has engaged in every good work.


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while at the same time they idly learn, as they go round houses, and not only idly, but as gossip-mongers and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.


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So I want the younger women to marry, have children, be mistress of a house, not to give any opportunity to the adversary on account of abuse,


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If any man or woman believer has widows, let him help them, and don't let the church be burdened, so that it can help the real widows.


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Let the elders who have taken charge well be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who toil in word and teaching,


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for the scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox that threshes,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”


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I attest before God and Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels, that you should keep these things without prejudice, not acting in any respect with partiality.


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Don't just drink water any longer, but use a little wine on account of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.


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The sins of some men are evident beforehand, preceding them to judgment, whereas others have sins following them.


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Similarly too, the good works are evident beforehand, whereas the things that are otherwise cannot be hidden.


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Let all who are slaves, under a yoke, consider their own masters worthy of all honour, so that the name of God and the doctrine are not blasphemed.


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And let those who have believing masters not despise them, because they are brothers, but let them rather serve them, because those who partake of good work are believers and beloved. Teach and encourage these things.


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If anyone teaches another doctrine and does not adhere to sound words – those of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the godly doctrine –


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he has let his imagination run away with him and understands nothing, but is delirious concerning enquiries and controversies from which arise envy, strife, blasphemies, malevolent suppositions,


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vain arguments of men corrupt in mind and devoid of the truth, who reckon godliness to be a means of gain. Do not associate with such.


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But those who wish to become rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and harmful desires, which sink men into destruction and ruin.


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For love of money is a root of all the evils, a root which some, by striving for it, have strayed from the faith, and pierced themselves all over with many pangs of pain.


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But you, O man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.


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Contend in the good contest of faith, take hold of age-abiding life, to which you were called, and confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.


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I command you in the sight of God who makes everything alive, and Christ Jesus who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,


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which in his own time the blessed and only potentate, the king of those that reign and Lord of those that rule will display,


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who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no-one among men has seen or can see, to whom be honour and age-abiding might. Amen.


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Command those who are rich in the present age not to be haughty, nor to put hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in the living God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment,


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treasuring up for themselves a good foundation for the future, in order that they might take hold of age-abiding life.


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Timothy, guard the deposit, avoiding profane vain talk and contradictions of science falsely so called,


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From Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,


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I thank God, whom I serve following my forebears with a clear conscience when I ceaselessly remember you in my supplications night and day,


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as I recall the unfeigned faith which is in you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and, I am persuaded, also in you.


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And for this reason I remind you to rekindle the gracious gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands,


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So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord nor of me his prisoner, but partake of the suffering for the gospel according to 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 the durations of the ages,


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but which has now been made manifest through the appearing of our saviour Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and indefectibility to light through the gospel,


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And for this reason I suffer these things too, but I am not ashamed, for I know in whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep my entrusted deposit up to that day.


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Hold on to the model of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith, and love which is in Christ Jesus.


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You know this, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.


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May the Lord show mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain,


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May the Lord let him find mercy from the Lord on that day. You also know very well in how many ways he ministered in Ephesus.


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and commit to faithful men the things which you have heard from me through many testimonies, men who will be competent to teach others too.


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No-one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the affairs of civilian life, in order that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.


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Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David has been raised from the dead according to my gospel,


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on account of which I suffer affliction, even of bonds like a criminal. But the word of God has not been not bound.


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Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, in order that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with age-abiding glory.


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Make mention of these things, testifying solemnly in the presence of the Lord not to dispute about words serving no useful purpose, so subverting those listening.


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Be studious to present yourself approved to God, a workman with no cause for shame, rightly dividing the word of truth.


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who have missed the mark concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they are overturning the faith of some.


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However, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: the Lord knows those who are his. And let everyone who names the name of the Lord avoid iniquity.


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But in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also wooden ones and earthenware ones, and some are for honour and others for use without honour.


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Therefore if anyone thoroughly cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honour, sanctified and useful to the master, prepared for every good work.


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Flee youthful lusts, but pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.


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in meekness teaching those who offer opposition, for the possibility that God gives them repentance leading to acknowledgment of the truth,


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and that they regain a sober mind from the snare of the devil, having been taken alive by him at his will.


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for men will be selfish, money-loving, braggarts, arrogant, blasphemous, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,


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For among them are those who slip into houses and captivate silly women who are loaded with sins and led along by various desires,


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And in the way in which Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also are resisting the truth, being men of depraved mind, unfit in respect of the faith.


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But they will not get very far, for their folly will be evident to all, as was that of the above-mentioned.


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But you have closely followed my doctrine, way of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, endurance,


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persecutions, sufferings, such as happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra. But I endured such persecutions, and the Lord rescued me from them all.


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But you remain in those things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you learned them.


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And from childhood you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise in salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.


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Every scripture is inspired by God, and is useful for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,


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I solemnly testify therefore in the presence of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom,


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preach the word, take your stand in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, comfort, with all longsuffering and doctrine.


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For the time will come when they will not put up with sound doctrine, but they will heap upon themselves teachers according to their own desires, having their ears tickled,


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But you be sober in all things, suffer afflictions, carry out the work of an evangelist, bring your ministry to fulfilment,


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Finally there is the crown of righteousness laid up for me which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day. And not only to me, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.


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For Demas has left me, having loved the present age, and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.


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Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for the ministry.


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When you come, bring the cloak with you which I left behind in Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.


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In my first defence, no-one stood in support of me, but everyone left me. May it not be held against them.


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The Lord was present with me and strengthened me in order that through me the preaching might be fulfilled, and all the Gentiles might hear. And I was rescued out of the mouth of the lion.


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And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me for entry into his upper-heavenly kingdom. To him be glory throughout the durations of the ages. Amen.


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Make an effort to come before winter. Eubulus and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers greet you.


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From Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and acknowledgment of the truth that is in accordance with godliness,


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and made his word manifest in his own seasons by the preaching of that with which I have been entrusted according to the commandment of God our saviour),


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to Titus, a genuine child in a shared faith, grace, mercy and peace from God the father and Lord Jesus Christ our saviour.


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I left you in Crete for this reason: so that you might put the remaining things in order, and appoint elders in various cities, as I instructed you,


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to see if anyone is unimpeachable, a husband of one wife, having believing children who are not culpable of irresponsibility or are unruly,


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because an overseer must be unimpeachable, as a steward of God's, not presumptuous, not irascible, not over-fond of wine, not violent, not shamefully greedy of gain,


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holding fast to the faithful doctrinal word in order that he may be competent to both give encouragement in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.


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For there are many also who are unruly, idle talkers and deluders, especially those of the circumcision,


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who need to be silenced, the kind who overturn whole households, teaching things which they should not for the sake of shameful gain.


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A certain one of them, a prophet of their own, said, “The Cretans always have been liars, wicked beasts, idle gluttons.”


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This testimony is true. For this reason censure them sharply, in order that they may be sound in the faith,


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Everything is clean to the clean, but to the defiled and unbelievers nothing is clean, and even both their mind and conscience are defiled.


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They profess to know God, but by their works they deny it, being abominable and disobedient, and unqualified for any good work.


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Elder women should likewise be reverent in comportment, not slanderous, not addicted to much wine, good teachers,


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to be temperate, pure, keepers of the home, good, subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God is not ill-spoken of.


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in all respects showing yourself a model of good works, showing integrity in teaching, solemnity, incorruptibility


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sound speech, being incontrovertible in order that whoever is opposed might be ashamed, having nothing base to say about us.


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Exhort servants to be subject to their own masters, to be pleasing in every way, not answering back,


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not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they may adorn the teaching of God our saviour in all things.


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teaching us that having denied ungodliness and worldly desires we should live temperately and righteously and in a godly way in this present age,


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who gave himself on behalf of us in order that he might redeem us from all lawlessness, and might purify for himself a special people, zealous of good works.


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Speak these things, and exhort and censure with all authority. Let no-one be presumptuous about you.


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For we too were once without sense, disbelieving, erring, serving various lusts and pleasures, spending life in wickedness and envy, detestable, hating one another.


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not by works of righteousness which we did, but it is by his mercy that he saved us, through regenerative washing and renewing by holy spirit,


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in order that we, having been justified by his grace, should become heirs according to the hope of age-abiding life.


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The saying is faithful, and I want you to insist on these things: that those who have believed in God make a point of giving priority to good works. These are the good and beneficial things to men.


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And avoid fatuous enquiries and genealogies and quarrels and legal battles, for they are unprofitable and vain.


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When I send Artemas or Tychichus to you, make haste to come to me in Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.


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Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way expeditiously, so that nothing may be lacking to them.


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And let our people also learn to give priority to good works to alleviate pressing needs, so that they are not unfruitful.


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From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy the brother, to Philemon, our beloved and fellow worker,


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praying that the fellowship of your faith may be effective in acknowledgment of everything good among us in the cause of Christ Jesus.


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For we have much gratitude and encouragement at your love, because the inner heart of the saints has been refreshed through you, brother,


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which is why, although I have much frankness in Christ in instructing you about what is fit and proper,


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yet for love's sake, I exhort you – being such as I am, Paul the aged, and now also the prisoner of Jesus Christ –


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whom I would have liked to hold on to for myself, in order that instead of you he might minister to me in the bonds of the gospel,


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but I did not want to do anything without your opinion, so that your good deed would not be as it were under compulsion, but of free will.


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no longer as a slave, but above a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, and how much more to you with him both in the flesh and in the Lord.


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I Paul have written with my own hand, “I will repay” – not to mention to you that you are for your part indebted to me for your own self.


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Trusting in your obedience, I have written to you, knowing that you will even do more than what I say.


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At the same time, also prepare me a guest-room, for I hope that through your prayers I will be granted release to you.


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God, who in time past spoke in many stages and in many ways to the fathers by the prophets has spoken at the end of these days to us by his son,


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who being the radiance of his glory and the impressed image of his essence, and upholding everything by his powerful word, after he had through his own doing brought about the cleansing of our sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high,


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and to the extent to which he became better than the angels he has inherited a more excellent name than them.


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For to whom of the angels has he said at any time, “You are my son; today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me”?


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And when again he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “And let all the angels of God worship him.”


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but to the son, “Your throne, O God, is throughout the duration of the age. The sceptre of your kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness.


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You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. That is why God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness, rather than your fellow men.”


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and you will roll them up like a cloak and they will be changed, but you are the same and your years will not fail.”


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But to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit on my right hand side until I make your enemies your foot-stool”?


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Are they not all ministering spirits, sent for service for the sake of those who are going to inherit salvation?


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This is why we should pay attention all the more to the things heard, so that we do not at any time drift away.


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For if the word spoken by angels came to be inviolable, and every transgression and disobedience received legitimate retribution,


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how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which started to be spoken about by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard it,


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while God bore additional witness with them in signs and miracles and various deeds of power and by distributions of holy spirit, according to his will?


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but someone solemnly testified in a certain place and said, “What is man, that you should remember him? Or the son of man, that you should watch over him?


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and you put everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left him nothing unsubjected to him. But right now we do not yet see everything subjected to him.


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But we do see Jesus, who had been made lower than the angels for a short while, on account of suffering death now crowned with glory and honour, in order that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone's sake.


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For it was fitting for him, for whose sake everything exists, and by whom everything exists, who led many sons to glory, to bring the institutor of their salvation to perfection through sufferings.


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For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all of one, and for this reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers,


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and he says, “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the heart of the assembly I will sing praises to you.”


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And again, “I will be confident in him.” And again, “Here am I and the children whom God has given me.”


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Now since the children are constituted of flesh and blood, so he likewise partook of the same, in order that through death he might nullify him who has the power of death, that is, the devil,


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and release them – all those who through fear of death throughout their whole life were subject to enslavement.


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Hence he needed to become like his brothers in all respects in order to become a merciful and faithful high priest of things relating to God, to propitiate the sins of the people.


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For in that he himself has suffered, having been put to the test, he is able to help those undergoing testing.


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In view of which, holy brothers, partakers of the upper-heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our confession, Jesus Christ,


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For this man has been considered worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as the one who constructed a house has more honour than the house itself.


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And Moses was indeed faithful in all his house as a servant, as a testimony of things which would be spoken about,


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but Christ was faithful as a son over his house, and we are of that house, if, that is to say, we hold fast to the firm confidence and boast of hope to the end.


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for that reason I became angry with that generation and I said, ‘They are always erring in their heart, and they do not know my ways.’


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Watch out, brothers, in case there is in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in defecting from the living God.


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But comfort each other every day as long as it is called “today”, in order that not one of you be hardened by sinful deceit.


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For we have become partakers of Christ, if, that is to say, we hold on to the origin of our entitlement firmly to the end,


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with it being said, “Today, if you will heed his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the provocation.”


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For some on hearing it were provocative, but not all who came out of Egypt under Moses' leadership were.


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And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the desert?


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So let us fear in case, although a promise of going in to his rest remains open, any one of you should appear to have failed to obtain it.


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For indeed we are those who have had the gospel preached to us, as also are they. But the word heard did not benefit them because they were not united in faith with those who had heeded it.


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For we who have believed are entering into the rest, as he has said, “As I have sworn in my anger, ‘They shall certainly not enter into my rest,’ ” and yet the works were completed from the overthrow of the world.


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For he has spoken in a certain place concerning the seventh day as follows: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”


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Since therefore the fact remains that some are entering into it, but those who first had the gospel preached to them did not enter into it, through disbelief,


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he has again appointed a day, “today,” speaking by means of David, after so much time, as has been said, “Today, if you will heed his voice, do not harden your hearts.”


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For he who has entered into his rest has also himself rested from his works, as God has from those of his own.


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Let us be eager, therefore, to enter into that rest, in case anyone should fall in the same example of unbelief.


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For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword and reaches as far as dividing both soul and spirit, both joints and marrow, and is discerning of thoughts and intentions of the heart.


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For there is no creature which is out of sight before him, but everything is laid bare and laid open to his eyes, with whom we must reckon.


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Therefore, seeing we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.


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For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tested in all respects like us except sin.


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So let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, in order that we may receive mercy and find grace as a timely help.


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For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men concerning matters pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins,


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being able to bear to some degree with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is beset by weakness,


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and on account of this, just as he needs to make offering for sins on behalf of the people, so also he needs to on behalf of himself.


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And it is not to oneself that anyone takes the honour, but he is called by God, as Aaron was as well.


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So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but it happened by him who said to him, “You are my son; today I have begotten you.”


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As he also says in another place, “You are a priest throughout the Age according to the order of Melchisedec.”


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And in the days of his flesh he made supplications and entreaties with loud cries and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his devoutness,


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and when he had come to completion, he became the source of age-abiding salvation to all those who obey him,


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concerning whom we have many a word to say, although hard to interpret, since you have become dull of hearing.


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For indeed, although you should be teachers by this time, you again need someone to teach you what the basics of the starting point of the oracles of God are, and you have come to need milk, and not solid food.


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For everyone who partakes of milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness, for he is an infant,


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but solid food is appropriate for those who are complete, who have senses which have been exercised through practice, leading to discernment of both good and evil.


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That is why, leaving the instruction on the starting point of Christ, let us be brought along to perfection, not again laying a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith towards God,


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of the doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead and of age-abiding judgment.


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For it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened and have tasted the upper-heavenly gift, and have become partakers of holy spirit,


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and have fallen away, to renew them to repentance, because they crucify the son of God to themselves again and make an example of him.


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For land which has drunk the rain which often falls on it and produces plants which are useful to those by whom it is farmed shares in blessing from God;


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but land which produces thorn-bushes and thistles is rejected and is close to a curse, the fate of which is burning.


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But, beloved, we have been persuaded of better things concerning you, and things following on from salvation, even though we speak this way,


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for God is not unrighteous, forgetting your work and toil in the love which you have shown for the sake of his name, having ministered to the saints, and are still ministering.


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And we long that each of you should show the same eagerness for the full assurance of your hope up to the end,


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so that you do not become slothful, but imitators of those who through faith and forbearance inherit the promises.


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For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had nothing greater by which to swear, he swore by himself,


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For men swear by something greater, and the oath is the end of all controversy for them, as a confirmation.


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And so God, wishing to show the unchangeableness of his will all the more forcibly to the heirs of the promise, intervened with an oath,


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in order that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a robust encouragement, we who have fled to lay hold of the hope that lies before us,


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which we have as a safe and firm anchor for our life, which also enters into the inside area behind the veil,


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where Jesus went in as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest according to the order of Melchisedec throughout the Age.


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For this Melchisedec – king of Salem, a priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him,


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to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything, who is firstly, by translation, “King of Righteousness,” and then also “King of Salem,” which means “King of Peace;”


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without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but being like the son of God – remains a priest perpetually.


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So you see how great this man is, to whom Abraham the patriarch for his part gave a tenth of the finest produce,


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and how those who are of the sons of Levi receive the priesthood, and have a commandment to tithe the people according to the law, that is their brothers, although they have come from the loins of Abraham,


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And in one case dying men receive tithes, but in the other case it is one who is borne witness to that he is living.


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So if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood – for under it the people had been placed under a law – what need would there still be for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchisedec, and not to be called according to the order of Aaron?


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For these things speak about him, who belongs to a different tribe, of which no-one has offered at the altar.


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For it is evident that our Lord sprang from Judah, a tribe about which Moses did not say anything concerning priesthood.


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And it is all the more abundantly evident, if another priest arises after the likeness of Melchisedec,


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who was not appointed according to a human legal commandment, but according to the power of indissoluble life.


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For an annulment of the preceding commandment is taking place because of its weakness and unprofitableness.


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For the law perfected nothing, but the introduction of a better hope did, through which we approach God.


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Inasmuch as it is not without swearing an oath – for the priests are appointed without the swearing of an oath,


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but he was appointed with the swearing of an oath, by saying to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, you are a priest throughout the Age according to the order of Melchisedec” –


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And on this ground he is able also to save those who come through him to God completely, as he is always alive to intercede for them.


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For such a high priest was fitting for us, holy, free from wrongdoing, undefiled, separate from sinners and having become higher than the heavens,


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who does not need each day, as the high priests do, first to offer sacrifices for their own sins, then for those of the people, since he did this once and for all when he offered himself.


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For the law appoints men as priests having weakness, but the word of the swearing of an oath which came after the law appoints a son who has been brought to perfection throughout the Age.


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Now the essence of the things spoken of is that we have a high priest of such a kind, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of majesty in the heavens,


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For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Hence it is necessary that this one also has something to offer.


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For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, seeing that there are priests who offer gifts according to the law,


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who minister by example and foreshadowing of upper-heavenly things, as Moses was oracularly instructed when he was about to take the tabernacle through to completion. For he said, “Look, you shall make everything according to the blueprint shown to you in the mountain.”


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But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry inasmuch as he is also a mediator of a better covenant, which has been drawn up on the basis of better promises.


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For finding fault with those people, he says, “ ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when I will thoroughly bring a new covenant about with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,


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not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, since they did not remain in my covenant, and I let them have their way,’ says the Lord.


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‘For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel, after those days,’ says the Lord, ‘I will put my laws in their mind, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be God to them, and they will be a people to me.


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And not a single one of them will have to teach his fellow citizen at all, nor a single one of them his brother, saying, «Know the Lord,» because all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,


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because I will be propitious with their wrongdoings and I will no longer remember their sins and their lawless deeds at all.’ ”


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In saying “New,” he has made the first obsolete. Now that which is obsolete and ageing is on the point of vanishing.


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For the first tabernacle was fitted out in which there was the lamp-stand and the table and the exhibition of the showbread, which is called the sanctuary.


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having a golden censer and the ark of the covenant, overlaid on all sides with gold, in which is a golden jar containing the manna, and Aaron's rod which budded, and the tablets of the covenant.


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And above it are the cherubim of glory overshadowing the atonement cover, concerning whom it is not now possible to speak particularly.


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And with these things fitted out in this way the priests continually go into the first tabernacle, carrying out the religious services,


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but the high priest alone goes into the second tabernacle once a year, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of ignorance of the people,


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the holy spirit demonstrating this: that the way of the sanctuary has yet not been made manifest since the first tabernacle is still standing,


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which is a figure pointing to the present time, in accordance with which gifts and sacrifices are offered which are not able to make the officiator perfect as pertaining to the conscience,


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just being based on food and drink and various baptisms and carnal statutes, imposed on them until the time of reform.


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But now that Christ has come as high priest of good things to come through a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,


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and not through the blood of goats and calves, but it is through his own blood that he went into the sanctuary once and for all, having made himself an age-abiding redemption.


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For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on the defiled sanctify for the purity of the flesh,


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how much more will the blood of Christ, who through age-abiding spirit offered himself unblemished to God, purify your conscience from dead works, for you to serve the living God!


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And because of this he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, his death having taken place as a ransom for the transgressions under the first covenant, those who have been called might receive the promise of the age-abiding inheritance.


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For when the whole body of commandments according to the law under Moses had been stated to all the people, he took the blood of the calves and goats with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and the whole people,


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And almost everything is purified by blood according to the law, and without the shedding of blood forgiveness does not take place.


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So it was necessary that the figures of things in the heavens should be purified by these means, but the upper-heavenly things themselves by better sacrifices than these.


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For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made with hands, which is a prefiguration of the true one, but into heaven itself to be exhibited now in the presence of God for our sakes.


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And not in order to offer himself repeatedly, as when the high priest enters into the sanctuary each year with blood which is not his,


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since then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the overthrow of the world. But now he has been manifested once for the consummation of the ages to annul sin by the sacrifice of himself.


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so too Christ, having been offered once in order to take upon himself the sins of many, will appear a second time without sin to those who eagerly await him for salvation.


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For seeing that the law has a shadow of the good things to come, but not the image itself of the things, they can never – with the same sacrifices which they offer every year perpetually – perfect those who draw near.


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For in that case, would they not have stopped being offered, because the ministers would not have any consciousness of sins any more, having been purified that one time?


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which is why, on coming into the world, he says, “You did not desire sacrifice and offering, but you have prepared a body for me.


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Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come – in the scroll of the book it stands written about me – to do your will, O God.’ ”


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Having said above, “You did not desire or take pleasure in sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offerings for sin” – which are offered according to the law –


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he then said, “Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,”. So he removes the first in order to establish the second.


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And by this will we have been sanctified, we who are so through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.


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Also every priest stands every day ministering and repeatedly offering the same sacrifices, which can never remove sins,


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“This is the covenant which I will make with them after those days,” says the Lord: “I will put my law in their hearts and I will write them in their minds,


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confidence which he inaugurated for us as a fresh and living way, through the veil, that is, through his flesh,


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let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having been sprinkled in heart from a guilty conscience and washed as regards the body in pure water.


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not abandoning our own episynagogue gathering, as is the custom of some, but encouraging each other, and all the more so as you see the day approaching.


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For if we deliberately sin after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,


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but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a zealous fire which is about to devour those who are in opposition.


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Anyone who lays aside the law of Moses on the testimony of two or three witnesses dies without mercy.


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Of how much worse punishment do you think he who tramples on the son of God will be considered worthy, and who considers profane the blood of the covenant in which he was sanctified, and insults the spirit of grace?


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For we know him who has said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord, and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”


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But remember the former days, in which you were enlightened and endured a great struggle full of sufferings.


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Sometimes you were made a gazing stock with reproaches and afflictions whereas at other times you made common cause with those who had that mode of life.


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For indeed you sympathized with my bonds and you accepted the confiscation of your property with joy, knowing that you have among yourselves better and permanent property in the heavens.


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And the righteous shall live by faith, but if he draws back, my being shall not be pleased with him.


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But we are not ones to draw back leading to loss, but we are of faith, leading to the preservation of one's being.


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By faith we understand that the ages have been arranged by the word of God, in such a way that the things seen did not come about from things appearing automatically.


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By faith Abel offered a greater sacrifice to God than Cain, through which he was attested to be righteous, God himself testifying about his gifts, and through it, although he has died, he is still adduced.


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By faith Enoch was translated so as not to see death, and was not found anywhere because God had translated him. After all, before his translation he had been attested to have pleased God.


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But without faith, it is impossible to please him. For he who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him out.


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By faith Noah, having been oracularly warned about things not yet seen, took devout heed and prepared an ark for the safety of his household, by which he condemned the world and became an heir to righteousness which is by faith.


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By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed in going out to the place which he was to receive as an inheritance, and went out not knowing where he was going.


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By faith he lived as an emigrant in the land of the promise as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the fellow heirs of the same promise.


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By faith Sarah herself also received power to conceive seed and when past the prime of life she gave birth, because she considered him who made the promise faithful.


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Which is also why there were begotten from one – who was in these respects considered dead – as many as the stars of the sky in abundance and as the sand of the sea-shore which is uncountable.


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In faith these all died, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar, and having embraced them, and they confessed that they were strangers and outsiders on the earth.


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And if they had kept thinking back to where they had come out from, they would have had an opportunity to turn back.


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But as it is, they aspire to a better homeland, that is to say, an upper-heavenly one. For that reason God is not ashamed of them to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.


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By faith Abraham offered Isaac when he was tested, and having received the promises was in the process of offering his only begotten son,


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And he had considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from where he duly got him back in a symbolic way.


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By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped leaning on the top of his staff.


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By faith Joseph when dying made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave commandment concerning his bones.


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By faith when he was born, Moses was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was good-looking, and they did not fear the king's edict.


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considering the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he had the reward in view.


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By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the anger of the king, for he was steadfast in the invisible one as if seeing him.


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By faith he kept the Passover and the pouring of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.


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By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if crossing on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried it they were swallowed up.


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By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who disbelieved, because she received the spies in peace.


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And what more can I say? For time is insufficient for me to go into detail about Gideon, Barak and Samson and Jephthae, David and Samuel and the prophets,


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who through faith prevailed over kingdoms, practised righteousness, attained promises, stopped up the mouths of lions.


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They quenched powerful fire, escaped the blade of the sword, they were strengthened in weakness, they became strong in battle, they made foreigners' encampments give way.


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Women received their dead back from resurrection, others were beaten to death but did not accept deliverance, in order that they might attain to a better resurrection,


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They were stoned, they were sawn up, they underwent trials, they died in cases of murder by the sword, they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated –


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of whom the world was not worthy – wandering in desert places and mountains and caves and the crevices of the world.


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God having provided something better for us in order that they should not be brought to perfection without us.


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Consequently as regards us too, having such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us dispose of every burden and of sin which easily besets us, and run with patience the race which lies ahead of us,


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turning our sights to the originator and finisher of faith, Jesus, who over against the joy which lay ahead of him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.


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For consider him who has endured such opposition towards himself by sinners, so that you do not flag and become faint-hearted.


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And you have completely forgotten the exhortation which treats you as sons, “My son, do not make light of the discipline of the Lord, nor lose heart when you are reproved by him.


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Be patient in being disciplined when God deals with you as with sons, for what kind of a son is it whom the father does not discipline?


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For if you were to be without discipline, of which you have all become partakers, you would then be illegitimate children and not sons.


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Then again, we had our fathers in the flesh as educators and we respected them. Shall we not much more submit to the father of spirits and live?


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For they for a few days disciplined us according to what seemed right to them, but he for what is beneficial for our partaking of his holiness.


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Now no discipline seems to be a matter of joy at the time, but of grief, but later it yields peaceful fruit of righteousness to those exercised by it.


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and make straight paths with your feet, so that a lame member is not put out of joint, but rather is healed.


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watching out that no-one is missing the grace of God, in order that no root of bitterness grows up and causes disquiet and many become defiled through it,


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For you know that also later on, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no room for a change of mind, although he sought it earnestly with tears.


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For you have not come to the tangible mountain which has been burnt with fire, and gloom and darkness and storm,


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and with the sounding of the trumpet, and the sound of words, which those who heard it pleaded that not a word should be spoken to them again.


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For they could not bear what was ordered: “If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”


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But you have come to Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the upper-heavenly Jerusalem, and myriads of angels,


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to the assembly and church of the firstborn who have been recorded in the heavens, and to God the judge of everyone, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,


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and to the mediator of a new covenant, Jesus, and to sprinkled blood speaking of something better than Abel.


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See that you do not disregard him who speaks. For if those who disregarded him who gave oracular instructions on earth did not escape, how much more so if we turn away from him who instructs from the heavens,


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whose voice shook the world at that time, and has now made a promise, saying, “Yet one more time will I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.”


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And the phrase, “Yet one more time” indicates the removal of the things shaken, that is, the things physically made, in order that the things not shaken should remain.


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So let us have grace, seeing that we are receiving an unshakeable kingdom, through which we serve God in a pleasing way, with reverence and veneration,


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Do not forget hospitality to strangers. For through this some have been host to angels without knowing it.


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Remember prisoners as if you were fellows-in-bonds, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were in their body.


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Let marriage be honourable in every respect and the marriage-bed undefiled, but God will judge fornicators and adulterers.


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Let your way of life not be avaricious, but one of you being content with what you have, for he himself said, “I will certainly never leave you nor forsake you.”


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As a result we can be of good courage and say, “The Lord is my helper and I shall not be afraid of what man might do to me.”


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Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you, and in closely examining the outcome of their behaviour, imitate their faith.


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Do not be diverted by various foreign doctrines. For it is good for the heart to be confirmed by grace, not by food, by which those who have embraced such doctrines have not been benefited.


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For the bodies of animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for the sin offering are burnt outside the camp,


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which is why Jesus for his part, in order that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside the gate.


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So let us offer a sacrifice of praise through him to God continually, that is to say, the fruit of our lips confessing his name.


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Obey your leaders and comply with them, for they keep watch over your very beings, since they must render an account. Comply in order that they may do that with joy, and not sighing, for that would be unprofitable to you.


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Pray for us, for we trust that we have a clear conscience, seeing we want to conduct ourselves well in all circumstances.


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And may the God of peace, who brought up the great shepherd of the sheep from the dead, our Lord Jesus, by the blood of an age-abiding covenant,


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equip you in every good work for doing his will, when he does in you what is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory throughout the durations of the ages. Amen.


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And I exhort you, brothers, bear with the word of encouragement, for in fact I have written to you rather concisely.


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Be informed that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes quickly, I will see you.


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From James, a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Diaspora, greetings.


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and let patience have a perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, not lacking anything.


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But if anyone among you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God who gives generously to all, and not begrudgingly, and it will be given to him.


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And let him ask in faith, not doubting in any way, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed about.


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For the sun rises with burning heat, and dries up the vegetation and its flower withers, and the comeliness of its appearance is lost. In this way the rich man will also fade in his pursuits.


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Blessed is the man who endures a trial, because if he is approved he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.


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Let no-one who is being tempted say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is incapable of being tempted by things that are wrong, and he does not tempt anyone,


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then when desire has conceived, it bears sin, and sin, when it has been brought to full maturity, engenders death.


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Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of change.


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Having willed it, he brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we should be a kind of firstfruit of his creatures.


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On account of which, set aside all sordidness and remains of wickedness, and accept with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your lives.


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For if a person is a hearer of the word but not a doer, he is like a man who takes note in a mirror of the face he is endowed with,


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But he who surveys the completed law of freedom, and stands his ground, such a person is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of work; blessed he will be when he does it.


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If any man among you considers himself to be religious but cannot bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, his religious observance is in vain.


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Pure and undefiled religious observance with God and the father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their affliction, to keep oneself untainted by the world.


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For if a man with golden rings on his fingers in magnificent clothing goes into your synagogue, and a poor man in filthy clothes also goes in,


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and you look favourably on the one wearing magnificent clothing, and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or “Sit here under my footstool,”


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then do you not make a distinction in your minds and have you not become judges with evil reasonings?


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My beloved brothers, listen. Has not God chosen the poor of the world, rich in faith, and heirs to the kingdom which he promised to those who love him?


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But you despised the poor man. Do not the rich exercise power over you, and do they not drag you to the law courts?


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If however you keep the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself,” you do well.


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For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” And if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you become culpable of breaking the law.


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My brothers, what is the benefit if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can his faith really save him?


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and one of you says to them, “Go off in peace, warm yourselves and feed yourselves,” but you do not give them provisions for the body, what is the benefit?


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But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith by your works, and I will show you by my works my faith.”


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And the scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.


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And likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute justified by works too, lodging the messengers and sending them away by a different route?


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My brothers, do not become teachers in large numbers, knowing that as teachers we will receive a more severe judgment.


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For we all stumble in many respects. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, capable of bridling his whole body too.


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And look at how ships, which are so large, and are driven by strong winds, are steered by a very small rudder, wherever the helmsman's spur of the moment wishes.


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So also the tongue is a small member, but it boasts greatly. See how great a forest a little fire sets alight!


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And the tongue is a fire, a world of injustice. In this way the tongue is appointed among our members as the one that defiles the whole body and sets the cycle of nature alight, and is set alight by Gehenna.


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For every kind of wild animal and bird, and reptile and marine creature can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,


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With it we bless the God and father, yet with it we curse men who have been made in the likeness of God.


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My brothers, can a fig tree possibly produce olives, or a vine figs? In this way no source can produce salt and fresh water.


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Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show his works by his good behaviour with the meekness of wisdom.


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But wisdom from above is, in the first instance, pure, then peaceful, equitable, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not unpretentious.


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Where do battles and fights among you come from? Is it not from this: from your pleasures that war in your members?


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You have desires, but you don't obtain them. You kill and covet, but you cannot attain them. You fight and wage war, but you do not obtain them, because you do not ask.


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You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility to God? So whoever wishes to be a friend of the world sets himself up as an enemy of God.


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Or do you think that the scripture speaks vacuously? The spirit which dwells in us yearns with proneness to envy.


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But he gives a greater grace. That is why he says, “God opposes the arrogant but gives grace to the lowly.”


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Approach God, and he will approach you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and sanctify your hearts, you who are in two minds.


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Suffer hardship and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be changed into mourning, and your joy to gloom.


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Do not speak ill of each other, brothers. He who speaks ill of a brother and judges his brother, speaks ill of the law and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.


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Come now, you who say, “Today and tomorrow let us go to this city and spend one year there and trade and make a profit,”


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you who do not understand what “tomorrow” means. What kind of a life do you have, then? For it will be a vapour which makes an appearance for a short time, but then in turn it vanishes.


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Your gold and silver have become corroded, and their tarnish will be a testimony to you and it will consume your flesh as fire does. You treasured this up in the latter days.


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Look, the wages of the workers who harvested your farms, wages which have been withheld by you, shout out, and the cries of the reapers have come to the ears of the Lord of hosts.


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You have lived extravagantly on the earth and have behaved wantonly; you have fed your hearts as in the day of slaughter.


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So be longsuffering, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Look, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the land, being longsuffering for it until he receives the early and late rain.


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So you too be longsuffering, make your hearts resolute, because the coming of the Lord has drawn near.


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Brothers, do not criticize each other, in order that you should not be judged. Look, the judge is standing at the doors.


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Take as an example of ill-plight and longsuffering, my brothers, the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord.


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Look, we deem blessed those who endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and look at the Lord's result: that he is of great pity and is compassionate.


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But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by the earth, or any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you do not fall into hypocrisy.


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Is anyone among you suffering affliction? Let him pray. Is anyone of good cheer? Let him sing psalms.


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Is anyone among you ill? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, having anointed him with olive oil in the name of the Lord,


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and the faithful prayer will save him who is ailing, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, it will be forgiven him.


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Confess your transgressions to each other, and pray for each other that you may be healed. The entreaty of a righteous person, once empowered, is very effective.


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Elijah was a man of feelings like ours, and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.


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let him know that he who turns a sinner back from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.


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From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are outsiders belonging to the Diaspora of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,


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elect according to the foreknowledge of God the father, in sanctification of the spirit, in obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, grace to you and may peace be plentiful.


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Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy bore us again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,


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who are guarded by the power of God through faith for a salvation which is ready to be revealed in the latter time.


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And in this inheritance you rejoice, although for a short time now, if it is necessary, you grieve with various trials,


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in order that the tested character of your faith might be found to be much more precious than gold which perishes, even if tested by fire, for praise and honour and for glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,


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whom, although you do not know him, you love, in whom, although you do not see him now, you believe and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy,


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a salvation about which the prophets – who prophesied about grace destined for you – enquired and investigated,


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investigating at what time and under what circumstances the spirit of Christ in them was indicating, as it testified beforehand of the sufferings destined for Christ and the glories after that.


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And to these prophets it was revealed that they were ministering not to themselves but to you the things which have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the holy spirit which was sent from heaven, things into which angels desire to look.


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Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and put hope absolutely in the grace which is being brought to you by revelation of Jesus Christ,


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And if you call on the father, who judges impartially according to each person's work, then conduct yourselves with fear in the time of your stay here,


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knowing that you were not redeemed by perishable things, silver or gold, from your vain comportment as handed down from the fathers,


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who was appointed beforehand before the overthrow of the world, but in the latter times made manifest on your account,


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you who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope should be in God.


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Now that you have sanctified your inner selves by obedience to the truth through the spirit leading to unfeigned brotherly love, love each other intensely from a pure heart,


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having been begotten again, not from perishable seed, but from imperishable, through the living word of God, which also remains throughout the Age.


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For all flesh is as grass, and all glory of man is like a herbaceous flower. The grass dries up and its flower withers,


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but the word of the Lord remains throughout the Age. And this is the word which has been preached to you.


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and like new-born babies long for the genuine word-based milk in order that you may increase by means of it,


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while you yourselves are built up as living stones, as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, in order to bring spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.


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Therefore it says in the scripture, “Behold, I place in Zion a cornerstone, select and honoured, and he who believes in him will certainly not be ashamed.”


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So you who believe have the honour, but to those who do not believe the scripture says, “The stone which the builders rejected is what has become the keystone,”


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and, “A stumbling-stone and a rock of offence.” And they stumble at the word in disbelieving, to which they for their part were appointed.


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But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people destined to be a special possession, in order that you should proclaim the virtues of him who called you out of darkness into his wondrous light,


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– you who were at one time not a people, but are now God's people, who were not shown mercy, but have now been shown mercy.


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Beloved, I exhort you as foreigners and outsiders to abstain from fleshly desires which are at war with the inner self,


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keeping your conduct good among the Gentiles, so that in a situation where they slander you as if you were evil doers, they may from observing your good works glorify God on the day of visitation.


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So be subject to every human institution on account of the Lord, whether to a king, having supremacy,


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or whether to leaders, who are sent by him for punishment of evil doers, but for praise of well doers,


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Household servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and fair ones, but also to the unfair ones.


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For this is grace: if anyone bears grievous things, suffering unjustly, on account of a consciousness of God.


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For what kind of credit is it if, when you sin and are knocked about, you endure it? But if when you do good and suffer, you endure, then this is grace in the estimation of God.


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For you were called to this end, seeing that Christ also suffered on our behalf leaving you an example, that you should follow the footsteps of him


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who, when railed at did not rail back, when suffering did not make threats but committed himself to him who judges righteously,


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who himself took up our sins in his body on the wood, in order that we, having died to sins, should live to righteousness: by whose weal you were healed.


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For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your beings.


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Likewise, you wives, submit to your own husbands, so that even if some disbelieve the word, they will be won over through the conduct of their wives without the word,


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And let your adorning not be the exterior plaiting of hair and putting on of gold or wearing of garments,


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but the hidden man of the heart, with the indefectibility of the meek and quiet spirit which is very valuable in God's sight.


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For in this way in the past also holy women – who put their hope in God – adorned themselves, being subject to their own husbands,


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just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, of whom you are children, and these women were doers of good works and did not fear any intimidation.


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Husbands likewise, live with them in accordance with your knowledge, bestowing honour on the weaker feminine vessel, since you are also joint heirs to the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers may not be impeded.


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not repaying evil for evil, or abuse for abuse, but rather on the contrary giving blessing, knowing that you were called for this, in order that you may inherit blessing.


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For let him who wishes to love life and see good days restrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.


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For the eyes of the Lord are fixed on the righteous, and his ears are directed to their entreaties, but the face of the Lord is set against those who do evil.


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But even if you were to suffer on account of righteousness, you would be blessed. And do not fear their animosity, nor be disturbed.


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And sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, being always ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you for an account of the hope in you, doing it with meekness and fear,


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having a clear conscience so that in the matter for which they vilipend you as an evil doer, those who treat you spitefully for your good conduct in Christ might be ashamed.


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For Christ also suffered for sins once, the just for the unjust, in order that he might bring you to God, he having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the spirit,


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who at one time disbelieved, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while an ark was prepared, in which a few – that is eight people – were saved through water.


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And this as a counterpart also now saves us, that is, baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the quest for a clear conscience towards God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,


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who is at the right hand of God, having gone to heaven, while angels and authorities and powers have been made subject to him.


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So with Christ having suffered on our behalf in the flesh, you arm yourselves too with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,


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resulting in him living the rest of his time in the flesh, no longer in men's desires, but in the will of God.


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For the past phase of life is sufficient for us in carrying out the will of the Gentiles, for us to have walked in debaucheries, lusts, drunkenness with wine, orgies, drinking-bouts and forbidden idolatries,


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at which they are surprised when you don't go along with them to the same burst of excess, while they blaspheme,


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For to this end the gospel was also preached to the dead: that they might be judged according to men in the flesh but live according to God in the spirit.


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But the end of all things has drawn near. So be sober-minded and abstemious for the benefit of your prayers.


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just as each has received a gracious gift, so serve each other with it, like good stewards of the many-facetted grace of God.


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If anyone speaks, let it be as oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let it be as from strength as God provides, in order that God should be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ, who has the glory and the power throughout the durations of the ages. Amen.


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Beloved, do not be surprised at the trial by fire in you which takes place to test you, as if something strange is happening to you,


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but insofar as you have a share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that at the revelation of his glory, you in turn may rejoice and be jubilant.


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If you are reproached on account of the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory and of God rests on you. From their perspective he is blasphemed, but from your perspective he is glorified.


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But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this respect.


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For it is time for judgment to begin from the house of God; and if first with us, what will be the end of those who disbelieve the gospel of God?


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So also let those who suffer according to God's will commit their lives in well-doing to him as to a faithful creator.


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I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, and also as a partaker of the coming glory which will be revealed,


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tend the flock of God among you, overseeing it not under compulsion, but willingly, and not in a way which is shamefully greedy of gain, but whole-heartedly,


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Similarly you younger ones, be subject to the elders, and, all being subject to each other, gird yourselves with humility, for God opposes the arrogant but gives grace to the lowly.


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Be sober, keep watch; your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking anyone he can devour.


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Resist him, being steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same kinds of sufferings are inflicted on your brotherhood in the world.


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And may the God of all grace – who has called you into his age-abiding glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered for a little while – restore you, and he will fortify, strengthen and establish you.


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I have written to you in a few words via Silvanus, the faithful brother for you, as I consider him, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.


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From Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained equally precious faith to ours in the righteousness of our God and saviour Jesus Christ,


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since his divine power has bestowed on us everything pertaining to life and godliness through acknowledgment of him who called us through glory and virtue,


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qualities through which precious and very great promises have been given to us, in order that through these you might become partakers of divine nature, having fled from the corruption in the world, which is driven by covetousness.


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And for this very reason, while bringing all zeal to bear, supply virtue in your faith, and in your virtue, knowledge,


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and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, endurance, and in your endurance, godliness,


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For if these things belong to you and abound, they establish you as neither inactive nor unfruitful in the acknowledgment of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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Therefore, brothers, be eager rather to make your calling and election steadfast. For if you do these things, you will certainly never stumble.


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For this is how the way into the age-abiding kingdom of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you.


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This is why I will not be negligent in always reminding you about these things, although you know them and have been confirmed in the present truth.


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knowing that I shall imminently be divesting myself of my tent, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me.


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For we have not made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ by following sophisticated fables, but as having been eye-witnesses of his majesty.


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For he received honour and glory from God the father when an utterance was delivered to him, such as is from magnificent glory, saying, “This is my beloved son, with whom I am very pleased,”


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Yet we have the more steadfast prophetic word whereby you do well if you heed it, like a lamp shining in a drab place until the day dawns and the light-bearer rises in your hearts,


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For prophecy was never produced by the will of man, but when holy men of God spoke as they were borne along by holy spirit.


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But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will surreptitiously introduce destructive heresies, also denying the master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.


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And prompted by greed, they will make merchandise of you with fabricated words – they for whom judgment from long ago will not lie idle and whose destruction will not slumber.


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For if God did not spare angels who sinned, but consigned them to Tartarus in chains of underworld gloom under guard and delivered them to judgment,


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and he did not spare the old world, but he did preserve Noah in a company of eight, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood onto a world of the ungodly,


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and as he reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha to ashes, he condemned them with a downfall, making an example for those who intend to be ungodly,


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and he delivered righteous Lot who was worn down by the behaviour of those unprincipled individuals in their debauchery,


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for he who was righteous, dwelling among them, at the sight and sound of them tortured his righteous mind day after day at their lawless deeds –


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if so – then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly from temptation and to guard the unrighteous up to the day of judgment to be punished,


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and especially those walking after the flesh with depraved desires, also despising lordship. Daring they are, presumptuous, not afraid to blaspheme those in glory,


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where angels, being greater in strength and power, do not pronounce a defamatory judgment against them before the Lord.


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But these, like unreasoning animals in the order of nature, born to capture and to corrupt, who blaspheme against those they do not understand, will be utterly destroyed in their own corruption,


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who will receive the wages of iniquity in full, since they consider running riot in the daytime a pleasure. They are stains and blemishes, revelling in their deceits as they feast with you,


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having eyes full of an adulteress and being unceasing in sin, enticing unstable people, having a heart practised in fraud, cursed children;


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abandoning the straight way, they gave gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of iniquity,


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and suffered the conviction of his own transgression, when a mute beast of burden, speaking with a human voice, prevented the deranged intention of the prophet.


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These individuals are sources without water, clouds driven by a tempest, for whom the underworld gloom of darkness throughout the age is reserved.


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For they speak bombastically vain words as they entice – with lusts of the flesh and debaucheries – those who actually had fled from those who conduct themselves in error.


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While they promise them freedom, they themselves are servants of corruption. For one is brought into slavery by anyone to whom one yields.


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For if having fled the defilements of the world in acknowledgment of the Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, they again become entangled by these things and yield to them, their final state is then worse than their first one.


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For it would have been better for them not to have acknowledged the way of righteousness than for them having acknowledged it to turn aside from the holy commandment handed down to them.


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And the enactment of the true proverb has happened to them: a dog which has returned to its own vomit, and a washed sow to wallowing in the mud.


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Beloved, I am writing this second of my epistles to you now, in which I am stirring your honest mind with a reminder,


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to remember the words spoken before by the holy prophets, and your apostolic command from the Lord and saviour,


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knowing this first of all, that in the latter days scoffers will come walking after their own desires,


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and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, everything has been continuing this way from the beginning of creation.”


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For they willingly ignore the fact that the heavens have been in existence from long ago, and land came out of water and through water, and it holds together by the word of God,


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But the present heavens and earth, by his word, are kept in store, reserved to fire until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly men.


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Let not one of you fail to notice this one fact, beloved, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day.


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The Lord will not delay with the promise, as some consider delay, but he is longsuffering towards us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.


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For the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, on which the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn up and will be dissolved, and the earth and the works in it will be thoroughly burnt up.


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When all these things have been dissolved, then, what kind of people should you be in holy conduct and godliness,


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awaiting and eagerly seeking the coming of the day of God by means of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved and the elements will be burnt and melt?


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But we await new heavens and a new earth, according to his promise, places in which righteousness dwells.


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Therefore, beloved, while waiting for these things be zealous to be found without spot and without blemish by him in peace.


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And consider our Lord's longsuffering as salvation, as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him,


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as indeed in all his epistles, in which he speaks about these matters, matters in which there are some things that are difficult to understand which unlearned and unstable individuals pervert, as they do with other scriptures, to their own destruction.


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You, therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, be on your guard that you are not led away likewise by the error of the unprincipled, and you fall away from your own steadfast ground.


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But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and throughout the day of the Age. Amen.


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That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld and which our hands felt, concerning the word of life


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– and the life was made manifest, and we have seen and we testify and proclaim age-abiding life to you, which was with the father and was made manifest to us –


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that which we have seen and heard we proclaim to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the father and with his son Jesus Christ.


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And this is the message which we have heard from him and report back to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all.


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If we say that we have fellowship with him but we walk in darkness, we are lying and not reflecting the truth.


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But if we walk in the light, as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin.


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If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just in forgiving us our sins and in cleansing us from all unrighteousness.


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My little children, I write these things to you so that you do not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ the righteous.


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And he is a propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.


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He who says, “I have come to know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.


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But as for whoever keeps his word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this means we know that we are in him.


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Brothers, it is not a new commandment which I am writing to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning.


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There again, I am writing a new commandment to you – that which is true in him and in you – that darkness is passing away and that the true light is already shining.


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He who hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.


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Fathers, I am writing to you because you have come to know him who is from the beginning. Young men, I am writing to you because you have overcome the evil one. Children, I am writing to you because you have come to know the father.


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Fathers, I have written to you because you have come to know him who is from the beginning. Young men, I have written to you because you are strong and the word of God remains in you and you have overcome the evil one.


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Do not love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him,


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because everything that is in the world – carnal appetite and the longing of the eyes and the pretention of life – is not from the father, but is from the world.


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And the world is passing away as is desire for it. But he who does the will of God remains throughout the Age.


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Children, it is the last hour, and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come – by which we know that it is the last hour.


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They came out of us, but they did not stem from us, for if they did stem from us, they would have remained with us, but this happened so that they should be made manifest: that not all stem from us.


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I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and that no lie stems from the truth.


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Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is an antichrist: one who denies the father and the son.


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As for you, therefore, let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If that which you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the son and in the father.


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And as for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you, but as the same anointing teaches you about all things, and is true, and is not a lie, so just as it has taught you, you will remain in him.


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And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he is made manifest we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.


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If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been begotten by him.


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See what great love the father has given us in that we should be called children of God. This is why the world does not know you: because it did not know him.


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Beloved, we are now children of God, but it has not yet been made apparent what we shall be. But we do know that when he is made manifest, we shall be like him, because we will see him as he is.


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Little children, let no-one lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, as he is righteous.


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He who commits sin stems from the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The son of God was made manifest for this reason: to undo the works of the devil.


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No-one who has been begotten by God commits sin, because his seed remains in him. And he cannot sin, because he has been begotten by God.


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By this criterion the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: everyone who does not do what is right does not stem from God, including him who does not love his brother.


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not as Cain, stemming from the wicked one, was, who killed his brother. And for what reason did he kill him? Because his works were evil, but those of his brother were good.


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We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brothers. He who does not love his brother remains in death.


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Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has age-abiding life remaining in him.


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By this we have come to know love: in that he laid down his life for our sakes. And we have a debt to lay down our lives for the sake of our brothers.


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And as for whoever makes a living in the world and sees his brother in need, but shuts off his feelings of compassion for him – how can the love of God remain in him?


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And this is how we know that we stem from the truth, and that we will assure our hearts in his presence:


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and whatever we ask, we receive from him because we keep his commandments and we do things pleasing in his sight.


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And this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his son Jesus Christ, and love each other as he gave commandment.


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And he who keeps his commandments remains in him, and the latter remains in the former. And by this we know that he remains in us: by the spirit which he has given us.


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Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits as to whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.


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This is how the spirit of God is known: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,


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whereas every spirit which does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not from God. And such is the spirit of antichrist which you have heard is coming, and is already in the world now.


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You, little children, stem from God, and have overcome them, because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.


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They are of the world. That is why they speak from the standpoint of the world, and the world heeds them.


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We are of God. He who knows God heeds us. He who is not of God does not heed us. That is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.


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Beloved, we love each other, because the love is from God, and everyone who shows love has been begotten by God and knows God.


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This is how the love of God was made manifest among us: in that God has sent his only-begotten son into the world in order that we should live through him.


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This is how love is evident: not in that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as a propitiation for our sins.


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No-one has seen God at any time. If we love each other, God remains in us and his love has been brought to completion in us.


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This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us: in that he has given us a share of his spirit.


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And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has among us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.


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This is how love has been perfected with us: that we may have confidence on the day of judgment, that as he is, so we are in this world.


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There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts fear out, because fear involves punishment, and he who has fear has not been perfected in love.


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If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For how can he who does not love his brother whom he has seen love God whom he has not seen?


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Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been begotten by God, and everyone who loves him who did the begetting also loves him who was begotten by him.


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This is how we know that we love the children of God: it is when we love God and we keep his commandments.


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For this is the love of God: that we should keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.


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For everything that has been begotten by God overcomes the world. And this is the victory which has overcome the world: our faith.


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This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ – not with water alone, but with water and blood. And the spirit is what gives witness, because the spirit is truth.


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If we accept the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God which he has given concerning his son.


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He who believes in the son of God has the testimony in him. He who does not believe God has made him a liar because he has not believed in the testimony which God gave concerning his son.


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I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the son of God in order that you may know that you have age-abiding life, and that you may believe in the name of the son of God.


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And this is the confidence which we have with him, that if we ask for anything in accordance with his will, he hears us.


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And if we know that he hears us with respect to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests which we have asked for from him.


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If anyone sees his brother committing a sin which is not mortal, he can ask, and he will give him life; this is for those who commit a sin which is not mortal. There is a mortal sin – I do not say that you should ask concerning that.


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We know that no-one who has been begotten by God sins, but he who has been begotten by God is on his guard 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 a mind so as to know the true one. And we are in the true one, in his son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and age-abiding life.


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From the elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I alone, 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 the Lord Jesus Christ, the son of the father, in truth and love.


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I rejoiced greatly at having found some of your children walking in the truth according to how we received a commandment from the father.


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And now I ask you, lady, not as if I were writing you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we should love one another.


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And this is love: that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, given for you to walk in it.


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For many deceivers have come into the world who do not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. Any such person is a deceiver and an antichrist.


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No-one who transgresses and does not remain in the teaching of Christ has God. It is he who remains in the teaching of Christ who 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 do not bid him welcome.


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Although I have many things to write to you, I did not want to do it with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, in order that our joy may be made full.


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Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way, and be in good health, as your spiritual condition is prospering.


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For I greatly rejoiced when some brothers came and testified to your truthfulness – as to how you walk in truth.


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Beloved, you are acting faithfully in everything you undertake for the brothers and for the strangers,


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who testify to your love in the presence of the church, and you will do well when you have sent them on with supplies, in a way worthy of God.


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So we should correspondingly receive people like these, so that we become fellow workers for the truth.


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I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be at the forefront over them, does not receive us.


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For this reason, if I come, I will raise the matter of his works which he is doing, as he rants on at us with wicked words. And not being satisfied with that, he does not receive the brothers either, and he prevents those who are willing to do so, and throws them out of the church.


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Beloved, do not imitate what is bad, but what is good. He who does good is from God. He who does evil has not seen God.


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A testimony has been given to Demetrius by all and by the truth itself, and we too testify, and you know that our testimony is true.


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But I hope to see you very shortly so we can speak face to face. Peace to you. The friends here greet you. Greet the friends there by name.


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From Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who have been sanctified in God the father and kept safe for Jesus Christ, and called,


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Beloved, when I was making every effort to write to you about our shared salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to strive on behalf of the faith once delivered to the saints.


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For certain men have crept in surreptitiously, who have long been consigned to this judgment, who are ungodly, who are changing the grace of our God into licentiousness, and are denying God the only master and Lord of ours, Jesus Christ.


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And I want to remind you, although you know this, that after the Lord had rescued the people out of the land of Egypt on a first occasion, on the second occasion he destroyed those who did not believe.


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And he has put the angels who did not keep their own dominion, but left their own dwelling place, under guard in perpetual chains in underworld gloom ready for the judgment of the great day.


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Just as Sodom and Gomorrha and the towns around them committed fornication in a similar way to these, and went out after alien flesh, so they are set before us as an example, as they undergo the penalty of age-abiding fire.


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Yet these also, dreaming, likewise defile the flesh and flout dominion and blaspheme those in glory.


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And when Michael the archangel was contending with the devil and disputing about the body of Moses, he did not dare bring a charge of blasphemy, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you.”


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But these speak blasphemously about all sorts of things which they do not know about, but on the other hand they instinctively understand things in the way unreasoning animals do, and they are wrecked by these things.


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Woe to them, because they went the way of Cain, and abandoned themselves in the error of Balaam's remuneration, and perished by the refractoriness of Korah.


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These are sunken rocks in your love feasts, who feast with you, fearlessly attending to themselves, who are clouds without water, carried off course by the winds, and they are withering autumnal trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted,


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wild waves of the sea, foaming with their own shameful deeds, wandering stars, for whom the underworld gloom of darkness has been reserved throughout the Age.


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And moreover Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied to these, and said, “Look, the Lord has come with tens of thousands of his holy ones,


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to execute judgment against all, and to convict all of them who are ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have said against him.”


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These individuals are murmurers, dissatisfied with their fate, who walk according to their desires, while their mouth speaks bombastic words, showing partiality for the sake of gain.


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But as for you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,


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how they told you that in the latter time there would be scoffers who would walk according to their own ungodly desires.


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keep yourselves in the love of God, as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, culminating in age-abiding life.


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and save another group with fear, snatching them out of the fire, while you show revulsion even at the garment polluted by the flesh.


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Now to him who is able to keep them firm-footed and to set you without blemish with joy in the presence of his glory,


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to the only and wise God our saviour be glory and majesty, might and authority, both now and throughout all the ages. Amen.


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The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him to show his servants the things which must quickly come to pass. And he declared it by delivering it by means of his angel to his servant John,


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who testified that all the things which he saw were the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.


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Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things written in it, for the time is near.


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From John to the seven churches in Asia, grace to you and peace from God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits which are before his throne,


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and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and washed us from our sins by his blood,


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and made us into a kingdom, priests to his God and father, to him be glory and might throughout the durations of the ages. Amen.


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Behold, he is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn for him. Indeed so; amen.


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I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the almighty.


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I John, your brother and sharer in the tribulation and in the kingdom and in patience in Christ Jesus arrived on the island called Patmos for the cause of the word of God and for the cause of the testimony of Jesus Christ.


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I came to be in the power of the spirit on the day of the Lord, and I heard a voice behind me, loud like a trumpet,


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and it said, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna, and to Pergamon, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”


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And I turned round on the spot to see the voice which was speaking to me, and when I turned round, I saw seven golden lamp-stands,


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and in the middle of the seven lamp-stands I saw one like the son of man, clothed down to the feet and girded round at the chest with a golden girdle.


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And his head and his hair were as white as white wool, like snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame.


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And his feet were like refined bronze, such as has been refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of much water.


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And he was holding seven stars in his right hand, and out of his mouth a sharp double-edged sword was coming, and his appearance was as the sun shining in all its power.


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And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as if dead, but he put his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last,


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and he who is alive, although I was dead, and behold, I am alive throughout the durations of the ages, truly, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.


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Now write down the things you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which are going to take place after these things.


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Record the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamp-stands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp-stands are the seven churches.


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Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus, ‘He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks about in the midst of the seven golden lamp-stands, says this:


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I know your works and your toil and your endurance, and how you cannot bear the wicked, and how you have tested those who say they are apostles but are not, and found them to be false,


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So remember where it is you have fallen from, and repent, and do the former works. Otherwise I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp-stand from its place, if you do not repent.


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Let him who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the churches. I will allow him who overcomes to eat from the tree of life which is in the paradise of my God.


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And write to the angel of the church in Smyrna, ‘The first and the last, who was dead but came to life, says this:


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I know your works and your tribulation and your poverty, (but you are rich), and the blasphemy from those who say they are Jews but are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.


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Do not be afraid of any of the things which you are going to suffer. It will transpire that the devil will indeed throw some of you in prison, in order that you be put to the test, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful up to death, and I will give you the crown of life.’


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Let him who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will certainly not be harmed by the second death.


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And write to the angel of the church in Pergamon, ‘He who holds the sharp double-edged sword says this:


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I know your works and where you live: where Satan's throne is, but you are holding on to my name and did not deny my faith in the days when Antipas my faithful martyr was around, who was killed in your place, where Satan dwells.


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But I have a few things against you, in that you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a snare in front of the sons of Israel and to eat things offered to idols and to commit fornication,


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So repent. For if you don't, I will come to you quickly and will wage war on them with the sword of my mouth.’


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Let him who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some hidden manna to eat and I will give him a white pebble and on the pebble a new name will be written which no-one will know except him who receives it.


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And write to the angel of the church in Thyatira, ‘The son of God, who has eyes like a fiery flame, and whose feet are like refined bronze, says this:


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I know your works and love and faith and ministry, and your endurance, and that your latest works are greater than the first ones,


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but I have some things against you, in that you condone your wife Jezebel, who says she is a prophetess, and teaches and leads my servants astray into fornicating and eating things offered to idols.


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Watch out, I will cast her into a bed, along with those who commit adultery with her, who are heading for great tribulation, if they do not repent of her works.


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And I will kill her children with a death blow, and all the churches will know that I am the one who searches kidneys and hearts, and I will give each of you what is appropriate according to your works.


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But I say to you others in Thyatira, you who do not hold to this doctrine, you who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they say: I am not putting any other burden on you.


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And as for him who overcomes, and him who keeps my works up to the end, I will give him authority over the nations,


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and he will tend them with an iron rod. They will be shattered like clay vessels, as I for my part have received from my father.


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And write to the angel of the church in Sardis, ‘He who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: I know your works, that you have fame for being alive, although you are dead.


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Be watchful, and consolidate the remaining things which you were about to cast off. For I have not found your works fulfilled before my God.


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So remember how you received and heard them, and guard them, and repent. For if you are not watchful, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know at all at what hour I will come upon you.


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But you have a few individuals in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes, and who will walk with me in white, because they are worthy.


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It is he who overcomes who will be clothed in white garments, and I will certainly not expunge his name from the book of life, and I will vouch for his name before my father and before his angels.’


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And write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, ‘The holy one, the true one, who holds the key of David, who, when he opens it, no-one can close it, except he who opens, (and no-one can open it either), – he says this:


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I know your works. Look, I have put an open door in front of you, which no-one can close. For you have little strength, but have kept my word and have not denied my name.


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You will see how I make some from the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews but are not, but lie – you will see that I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and know that I have loved you.


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Because you have kept my charge of endurance, I for my part will keep you from the hour of trial which is going to come on the whole world, to test those who inhabit the earth.


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As for him who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, and he will certainly not go out any longer, and I will write the name of my God on him, and the name of the city of my God – the New Jerusalem which descends out of heaven from my God – and my new name.’


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And write to the angel of the church in Laodicea, ‘The amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God's creation, says this:


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Because you are lukewarm like this, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth.


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This is because you say, «I am rich, and I have become wealthy and I don't need anything,» but you do not know that you are most wretched and most pitiable and poor and blind and naked.


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I advise you to buy gold from me, refined by fire, in order to become rich, and white clothes for you to put on, and so that the shame of your nakedness should not be made manifest, and eye-salve to apply to your eyes in order to see.


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Behold, I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him and dine with him and he with me.


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As for him who overcomes, I will allow him to sit with me on my throne, as I for my part have overcome and sat with my father on his throne.’


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After these things I observed and there was an opened door in heaven, and the first voice I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here and I will show you what must take place after these things.”


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And I immediately came to be in the power of the spirit, and there was a throne standing in heaven, and on the throne a person was sitting,


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resembling a jasper gemstone in appearance, and a sardian one, and around the throne was an iridescent sheen like the appearance of emeralds,


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and around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw the twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and I saw golden crowns on their heads.


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And flashes of lightning and voices and thunderclaps went out from the throne, and there were seven lamps of fire burning in front of his throne, which are the seven spirits of God,


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and in front of the throne was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal, and in the proximity of the throne and around the throne were four living beings full of eyes at the front and at the back.


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Now the first living being was like a lion, and the second living being was like a calf, and the third living being had the face of a man, and the fourth living being was like a flying eagle.


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And as for the four living beings, each one had six wings around them, and inside they were full of eyes, and they did not have a break day and night from saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God the almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”


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And when the living beings give glory and honour and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives throughout the durations of the ages,


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the twenty-four elders fall before the one sitting on the throne, and worship him who lives throughout the durations of the ages, and they place their crowns before the throne and say,


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“You are worthy, O Lord and holy God of ours, to receive glory and honour and power, because you created everything, and through your will they had existence and were created.”


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And I saw on the right hand side of him who was sitting on the throne a book written on the inside and outside, sealed up with seven seals.


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And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and break its seals?”


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But no-one in heaven above or on the earth or below the earth was able to open the book or to look inside it.


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Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah – the Root of David – has been victorious and is opening the book and its seven seals.”


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And I saw in the proximity of the throne and the four living beings and in the proximity of the elders a lamb standing as slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God which are being sent into the whole earth.


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and when he had taken the book, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.


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And they sang a new song, pronouncing, “You are worthy to take the book and open its seals, because you were slaughtered and you redeemed us to God by your blood, from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.


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And I looked, and heard the sound of many angels around the throne and of the living beings and of the elders, and the number of them was tens of thousands of tens of thousands and thousands of thousands,


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saying in a loud voice, “The lamb which was slaughtered is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing.”


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And I heard every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and below the earth, and which is on the sea, and the creatures in them, all saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the lamb be blessing and honour and glory and power throughout the durations of the ages. Amen.”


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Then I saw that the lamb had opened one of the seven seals. And I heard one of the four living beings say with a thundering voice, “Come and see.”


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And there was a white horse, and he who was sitting on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.


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And another horse went out, a fiery one, and to him who was sitting on it was given authority to take peace away from the earth so that they should slaughter each other. And a large sword was given to him.


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And when he had opened the third seal I heard the third living being say, “Come and see.” And there was a black horse, and he who was sitting on it had a pair of balances in his hand.


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And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living beings say, “A choenix of wheat for a denary,” and, “Three choenixes of barley for a denary,” and, “Do not damage the oil and the wine.”


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And there was a pallid horse, and he who was sitting on it had the name of Death, and Hades was following him. And to him was given authority over a quarter of the earth to kill by the sword and by famine and by death and by the wild beasts of the earth.


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And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those killed on account of the word of God and on account of the testimony of the lamb to which they held.


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And they cried out in a loud voice and said, “How long, O holy and true master, will you not judge and take vengeance for our blood on those dwelling on the earth?”


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And to each of them was given a white robe and they were told that they should rest a while longer until their fellow servants and their brothers should also fulfil their course, and any others who would be killed, as they for their part would.


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And I looked when he had opened the sixth seal, and a great earthquake took place, and the sun became black like sack-cloth made from hair, and the whole moon became like blood.


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And the stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig-tree shedding its winter figs when shaken by a strong wind,


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and the sky was parted asunder, like a rolled up scroll, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.


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And the kings of the earth and the high ranking people and the cohort commanders and the rich and the strong, and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,


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and they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb,


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And after this I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth so that no wind should blow on the earth, or blow on the sea, or on any tree.


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And I saw another angel ascending from the east, holding the seal of the living God, and he cried out in a loud voice to the four angels to whom authority had been given to harm the earth and the sea,


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and said, “Do not harm the earth, or the sea, or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”


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Then I heard the number of those who had been sealed: one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, from every tribe of the sons of Israel.


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From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand sealed; from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand;


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from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand;


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from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand;


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from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand sealed.


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After these things I looked, and there was a large crowd which no-one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the lamb, clothed in white garments and with palms in their hands.


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And they cried out in a loud voice, and said, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb.”


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And all the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four living beings, and they fell before the throne face down and worshipped God,


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and said, “Amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and might and strength be to our God throughout the durations of the ages. Amen.”


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Then one of the elders engaged me, and said to me, “These who are clothed in white garments, who are they, and where have they come from?”


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And I said to him, “My lord, you know.” Then he said to me, “These are those who came out of the great tribulation and washed their garments and whitened them in the blood of the lamb.


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On account of this they are before the throne of God and serve him night and day in his sanctuary, and he who sits on the throne will dwell with them.


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They will no longer hunger, or thirst any longer, nor will the sunlight fall on them at all, nor any scorching heat,


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for the lamb which is in the middle of the throne is a shepherd to them, and guides them to the sources of waters of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”


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And another angel came and stood on the altar, holding a golden censer, and he was given much incense, in order that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints at the golden altar which was before the throne,


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and the smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of the saints out of the hand of the angel in the presence of God.


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And the angel took the censer and filled it from the fire of the altar and cast it to the earth. Then there were thunderclaps and voices and lightning flashes and an earthquake.


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Then the first one sounded the trumpet, and hail came, and fire mixed with blood, and it was cast to the earth, and one third of the earth was burned up, and one third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.


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Then the second angel sounded the trumpet, and a kind of large burning mountain was cast into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.


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Then the third angel sounded the trumpet, and a great star burning like a lamp fell out of the sky, and fell on one third of the rivers, and on the sources of water.


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And the name of the star is Wormwood, and one third of the water became wormwood. And many men died from the water, because it had been made bitter.


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Then the fourth angel sounded the trumpet, and one third of the sun and one third of the moon and one third of the stars were struck so that one third of them should become dark, and for a third of the time the day should not have light, and likewise the night.


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And I looked, and heard an eagle flying overhead, saying in a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth after the remaining soundings of the trumpet of the three angels who are going to sound the trumpet.”


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Then the fifth angel sounded the trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen out of the sky to the earth. Then he was given the key to the shaft of the abyss,


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and he opened the shaft of the abyss, and smoke up came out of the shaft, like the smoke of a burning furnace, and the sun was darkened, as was the air, by the smoke of the shaft.


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Then locusts came out of the smoke to the earth, and they were given authority as the scorpions of the earth have authority,


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but they were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any greenery or any tree, nothing except the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.


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But it was not granted to them to kill them, but for them to be tormented for five months. Now their torment is like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man,


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and in those days men will seek death, but they will not find it at all, and they will long to die, but death will escape them.


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And the appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for war, and on their heads were kinds of golden crowns, and their faces were like the faces of men,


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Furthermore they had breast-plates like iron breast-plates, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of many horse-drawn chariots running into battle.


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And they had tails like scorpions with stings, and in their tails they had authority to harm men for five months.


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They had a king over them – the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebraic is Abbaddon, and in Greek he has the name Apollyon.


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Then the sixth angel sounded the trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God


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say to the sixth angel which had had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river, the Euphrates.”


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So the four angels who had been prepared for the hour and for the day and month and year were released, in order that they should kill one third of men.


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And this is how in the vision I saw the horses and those seated on them: they had fiery and violet and sulphurous breast-plates, and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and fire and smoke and sulphur came out of their mouths.


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One third of men were killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the sulphur which came out of their mouths.


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For the instrument of authority of the horses is in their mouth and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, having heads, and they do harm with them.


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But the rest of men, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship the demons and the golden and silver and bronze and stone and wooden idols, which can neither see nor hear nor walk around.


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And they did not repent of their murders, or of their sorceries, or of their fornication, or of their thefts.


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Then I saw a mighty angel descending from heaven, clothed in a cloud, with an iridescent sheen on his head, while his face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire.


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and he cried out in a loud voice, as when a lion roars. And when he had cried out, the seven thunders uttered their sounds.


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Then when the seven thunders had spoken, I was about to write it down. But I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up the things that the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them down.”


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Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted his right hand up towards heaven,


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and swore by him who lives throughout the durations of the ages, who created heaven and the things in it and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there would no longer be any delay,


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but that these things would take place in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he proceeds to sound the trumpet, and the mystery of God has been completed, as he proclaimed to his servants the prophets.


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Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke with me again and said, “Go and take the book which is open in the hand of the angel standing on the sea and on land.”


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So I set off to the angel to tell him to give me the book, and he said to me, “Take it and consume it, and it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”


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So I took the book from the hand of the angel and consumed it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.


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Then they said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”


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And I was given a reed like a staff, and he said, “Arise and measure the sanctuary of God and the altar and those who worship in it,


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but omit the courtyard outside the sanctuary, and do not measure it, because it is given to the Gentiles, and they will trample on the holy city for forty-two months.


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Then I will empower my two witnesses and they will prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days clothed in sack-cloth.


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And if anyone wishes to harm them, fire will come out of their mouth and devour their enemies. So if anyone wishes to harm them, he must be killed in this way.


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These have authority to shut up the sky so that no rain falls for the duration of their prophecy, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they wish.


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And when they complete their testimony, the beast who will come up out of the abyss will wage war on them and will overcome them and will kill them.


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And their corpses will lie on the street of the great city which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where indeed their Lord was crucified.


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And folk from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will see their corpses for three and a half days, and will not permit their corpses to be put in a tomb.


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And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, and will be glad, and will give gifts to each other because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.”


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Then after the three and a half days the spirit of life from God entered them and they stood up on their feet, while a great fear fell on those watching them.


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Then I heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, “Come up here.” And they went up into heaven in a cloud while their enemies watched them.


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And on that day a great earthquake took place, and a tenth of the city collapsed, and seven thousand people in the population were killed in the earthquake, while the remainder became fearful and gave glory to the God of heaven.


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Then the seventh angel sounded the trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, and they said, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ, and he will reign throughout the durations of the ages.”


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Then the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before the throne of God fell face down and worshipped God,


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and said, “We give you thanks, Lord God the almighty, who is and who was, because you have taken up your great power and started to reign.”


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At this the Gentiles became angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged and to give your servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear your name, those small and great, their reward, and to destroy those who are destroying the earth.


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Then the sanctuary of God, which is in heaven, was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant in his sanctuary appeared, and lightning flashes and voices and thunderclaps and a heavy hailstorm took place,


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and a great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed in the sun, while the moon was below her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars.


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Now she was with child, and she was crying out, being with pains of labour and in the agony of giving birth.


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Then another sign appeared in the sky, and there was a large fiery dragon which had seven heads and ten horns, with seven diadems on its heads.


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And its tail swept one third of the stars of the sky aside and cast them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth in order to devour her child when she had given birth.


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And she bore a son, a male, who was destined to tend all the nations with a rod of iron. Then her child was carried off to God and to his throne.


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And the woman fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God in order to feed her there for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.


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Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels were to fight against the dragon, and the dragon fought them, as did his angels,


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And the great dragon, the old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who leads the whole world astray, was cast down. He was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.


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Then I heard a loud voice in heaven which said, “Now salvation has come about, as have the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers, who used to accuse them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”


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And they overcame him by virtue of the blood of the lamb and by virtue of the word of their testimony, when they did not love their life, maintaining that up to death.


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On account of this, “Rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, harbouring great wrath, knowing that he has little time.”


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And when the dragon saw that he had been cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who had given birth to the male child.


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But the woman was given a pair of a great eagle's wings, in order to fly into the desert, to her place, in order to be fed there for a time, and times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent.


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Then the serpent spewed water like a river out of its mouth, chasing after the woman, in order to get her swept away by the river.


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But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.


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Then the dragon became angry with the woman, and went away to wage war on the remainder of her seed, those who keep the commandments of God and who have the testimony of Jesus.


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Then I stood on the sand of the sea and I saw a beast come up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.


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Now the beast whom I saw was like a leopard, but his feet were like those of a bear, whereas his mouth was like the mouth of a lion, and the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.


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And one of his heads was apparently fatally struck, but his fatal blow was healed, and the whole earth marvelled at the beast.


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And they worshipped the dragon who had given the authority to the beast, and worshipped the beast and said, “Who is like the beast? And who can go to war against him?”


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Also, he was given a mouth speaking presumptuous things and blasphemy and he was given authority to wage war for forty-two months.


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And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle – those who dwell in heaven.


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And he was granted to wage war against the saints and to defeat them, and he was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.


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And all those who dwell on the earth will worship him, those whose name is not written in the book of life of the lamb slain since the overthrow of the world.


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If anyone lives in captivity, he will go free. If anyone kills by the sword, he must be killed by the sword. This is the patience and the faith of the saints.


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Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like those of a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon,


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and he exercised all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he made the earth and those who dwell in it worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.


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Moreover he performed great signs, and made fire come down from the sky onto the earth in the presence of men.


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And he led those of mine who dwell on the earth astray by the signs which he was granted to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had received the strike but lived after the sword strike.


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And he was granted to impart a spirit to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast should both speak and cause any who did not worship the image of the beast to be put to death.


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And he forced everyone, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, the free and bond-servants, to be given marks on their right hand or on their forehead,


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and he enforced that no-one should be able to buy or sell unless he has the mark, the name of the beast, or the number of his name.


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Here is wisdom. He who is sharp-witted, let him calculate the number of the beast. For it is the number of man, and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.


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Then I looked and there was the lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were one hundred and forty-four thousand in number having his name and the name of his father written on their foreheads.


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And I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of much water, and like the sound of loud thunder. And the sound which I heard was like harpists playing their harps.


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And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living beings and the elders. And no-one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth.


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These are those who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from men as a firstfruit to God and the lamb.


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Then I saw an angel flying overhead, having an age-abiding gospel to preach to those dwelling on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people,


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saying in a loud voice, “Fear the Lord and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come. And worship who who made heaven and the earth and the sea and the sources of water.”


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Then another, a second angel, followed and said, “Babylon the great has fallen. It made all the nations drink from the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”


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Then another angel, a third one, followed them and said in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast or his image, or takes a mark on his forehead or on his hand,


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then he will drink from the wine of the wrath of God, poured undiluted in the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented by fire and sulphur before the holy angels and before the lamb.


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And the smoke of their torment will ascend throughout the durations of the ages, and those who worship the beast or his image, or anyone who takes the mark of his name, have no rest day or night.”


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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.’ The spirit says, ‘Yes, let them rest from their toilings, but their works go along with them.’ ”


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And I looked, and there was a white cloud, and on the cloud I saw someone with the appearance of the son of man sitting, having a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.


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And another angel went out of the sanctuary, crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud, “Thrust in your sickle and reap, because the time of reaping has come, because the harvest of the earth has become dry.”


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And another angel went out of the altar, having authority over fire, and he called with a loud shout to the one who had the sharp sickle and said, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and harvest the grapes of the vine of the earth, because its grapes have ripened.”


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So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth, and harvested the vine of the earth, and put it in the great wine-press of the wrath of God.


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And the wine-press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the wine-vat up to a horse's bridle height over a radius of one thousand six hundred stades.


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Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and wondrous, seven angels who had the seven last plagues, because the wrath of God is concluded in them.


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And I saw a kind of sea of glass mixed with fire, and I saw those who had been victorious over the beast and over his image and over the number of his name standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God,


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and they sang the Song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the lamb, which reads, “Great and wondrous are your works, O Lord God almighty. Righteous and true are your ways, O king of the nations.


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Who can possibly not fear you, O Lord, and not glorify your name? For you alone are holy, for all the nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous decrees have been made manifest.”


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Then after these things I looked, and the sanctuary of the tabernacle of the testimony was opened in heaven,


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and the seven angels who had the seven plagues went out of the sanctuary, and they were clothed in pure bright white linen and were girded around the breast with golden girdles,


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and one of the four living beings gave the seven angels seven golden vials, full of the wrath of God who lives throughout the durations of the ages,


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and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no-one could enter into 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, “Depart and pour out the seven vials of the wrath of God on the earth.”


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And the first one departed and poured his vial out on the earth. Then a noxious and troublesome ulcer plague came on those men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image.


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Then the second angel poured his vial out on the sea, and it became blood as of someone dead, and every living soul in the sea died.


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Then the third one poured his vial out on the rivers and on the water sources, and they became blood.


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And I heard the angel of the waters say, “You are righteous, you who are and who were, you who are holy, because you have executed judgment in respect of these things.


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Since they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, so you have given them blood to drink. Of this they are deserving.”


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and men were very severely scorched, and the men blasphemed the name of God who had authority over these plagues, but they did not repent by giving him glory.


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Then the fifth one poured his vial out on the throne of the beast, at which his kingdom became darkened, and they bit their tongues from the distress,


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and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their distress, and because of their ulcers, but did not repent of their works.


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Then the sixth one poured his vial out on the great river, the Euphrates, and its water dried up, so that the way of the kings of the east should be prepared.


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Then I saw three unclean spirits, like frogs, come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet,


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for they are the spirits of demons which perform signs which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them to the war of that great day of God the almighty.


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Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he who watches out and keeps his clothes on, so that he does not walk around naked and they see his indecency.


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Then the seventh one poured his vial out on the air, and a loud voice came from the sanctuary of heaven from the throne, and said, “It has taken place.”


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Then lightning flashes and thunderclaps and sounds took place, and a great earthquake such as had never taken place since when men came into existence on earth, so great was such a severe earthquake.


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And the great city became split into three parts, and the cities of the Gentiles collapsed. Then Babylon the great was remembered before God by giving it the cup of the wine of the wrath of his anger.


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And a great hailstorm with stones weighing about a talent each came down from the sky on men. At this the men blasphemed God for the plague of the hail, because its impact was very severe.


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Then one of the seven angels who had the seven vials came and spoke with me and said, “Come here, I will show you the judgment on the great whore who sits on much water,


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with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, while the inhabitants of the earth became drunk with the wine of her fornication.”


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And he carried me away into the desert in the spirit, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, the beast being full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.


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Now the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, gilded with gold and precious gemstones and pearls, holding a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations and the unclean things of her fornication,


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and on her forehead a name was written, “Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of the Fornications and the Abominations of the Earth.”


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And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, with the blood of the witnesses to Jesus, and I marvelled with great wonder as I saw her.


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Then the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast who is carrying her, who has the seven heads and the ten horns.


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The beast whom you saw was, but is not, but is about to ascend out of the abyss and go away to destruction. And those dwelling on the earth will marvel, those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the overthrow of the world, when they see that the beast was and is not but will be present.


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Here is understanding comprising wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits,


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and they are seven kings. Five have fallen, one is in existence, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must remain for a short time.


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And the beast who was, but is not, is itself both the eighth, and yet is of the seven, and will go away to destruction.


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And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received their kingdom, but who will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.


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These will wage war on the lamb, but the lamb will overcome them, because he is the Lord of lords and king of kings, and those with him are called and elect and faithful.”


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And he said to me, “The water which you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.


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And as for the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the whore and make her desolate and make her naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her up with fire.


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For God has put it in their hearts to carry out his purpose, and to make them unanimous, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.


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After these things I saw another angel descending from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was lit up by his glory,


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and he cried out in a strong voice and said, “Babylon the great has fallen, and it has become an abode of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit and a prison of every unclean and detested bird,


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because all the nations have fallen because of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the kings of the earth have fornicated with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich from the profitability of her wantonness.”


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Then I heard another voice from heaven say, “My people, get out of her, so that you don't become party to her sins, and so you don't receive any of her plagues,


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Requite her as she for her part requited others, and pay her back double according to her works. In the cup in which she made a mixture, mix her double.


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Give her the equivalent torment and mourning of the extent to which she glorified herself and lived voluptuously, for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen and I am not a widow and I will never see mourning.’


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This is why her plagues will come in one day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire, for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.


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And the kings of the earth who committed fornication with her and lived voluptuously will weep, and mourn for her, when they see the smoke of her being burnt,


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as they stand at a distance for fear of her torment and say, ‘Alas, alas, O great city of Babylon, O mighty city, for your judgment came in one hour.’


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And the merchants of the earth will bewail her and mourn for her, for no-one will buy their merchandise any more,


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merchandise of gold and silver and precious gemstones and pearls and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all fragrant cedar wood, and every ivory vessel and every vessel of most precious wood, and of copper and iron and marble,


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and cinnamon and incense and ointment and frankincense and wine and olive oil, and fine wheat flour and wheat and sheep and cattle and horses and carriages and slaves and trafficked people.


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And the fruit which you longed for has become unavailable to you, and all the luxurious and splendid things are lost to you, and you will certainly not find them any more.


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The merchants in these things who became rich from her will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, wailing and mourning,


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and say, ‘Alas, alas for the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and gilded in gold and precious gemstones and pearls,


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for in one hour such great wealth was made valueless.’ And every helmsman and every passenger, and sailors, and whoever has seafaring work, stood at a distance,


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and they cried out as they saw the smoke of her being burnt, and said, ‘What city is comparable to the great city?’


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And they threw dust on their heads and cried out wailing and mourning and saying, ‘Alas, alas, for the great city, by which all those who had boats on the sea became rich from her profitability, because she was made desolate in one hour.’


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Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and you apostles and you prophets, because God has passed judgment in your favour against her.”


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Then one strong angel lifted up a stone like a large millstone, and cast it into the sea, and said, “In this way Babylon the great city will be cast away with a heave and will not be found any more at all.


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And no sound of harpists and musicians and flautists and trumpet-players will be heard in you any more at all, and no craftsmen of any craft will be found in you any more at all, nor will the sound of the mill ever be heard in you any more,


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and no light of a lamp will shine in you any more at all, and no sound of a bridegroom and bride will be heard in you any more at all, because your merchants were the magnates of the earth, for all the nations were led astray by your sorcery.”


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And in her the blood of the prophets and saints was found, and of all those slaughtered on the earth.


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After these things I heard a loud sound like a large crowd in heaven, saying, “Alleluia, salvation and power and glory are characteristic of our God,


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for his judgments are true and righteous, for he has judged the great whore, who brought the earth to ruin with her fornication, and he has avenged the blood of his servants which was shed at her instigation.”


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And he said a second time, “Alleluia.” And her smoke will ascend throughout the durations of the ages.


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Then the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshipped God, who was sitting on the throne, and said, “Amen. Alleluia.”


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And a voice went out from the throne and said, “Praise our God all you servants of his, and you who fear him, small and great.”


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And I heard a voice as of a great crowd and a voice as of great waters and a voice as of mighty thunderclaps, which said, “Alleluia, for the Lord our God, the almighty, has started to reign.


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Let us rejoice and be glad, and give the glory to him, because the marriage feast of the lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.”


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And she was granted to put on shining and pure fine linen, for fine linen stands for the righteous observances of the saints.


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And he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who have been invited to the marriage feast of the lamb.’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”


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And I fell down before his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Watch out that you do not do that. I am your fellow servant and am one of your brothers who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”


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Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse, and one who was sitting on it, called Faithful and True, and he judges and wages war in righteousness.


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And his eyes were a fiery flame, and on his head were many diadems. He has names written, including a name written which no-one knows except himself,


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And out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword with which to strike the nations. And he himself will tend them with an iron rod, and he himself treads the wine-vat of the vine of the wrath of the anger of God the almighty.


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Then I saw an angel standing on the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice and said to all the birds that fly high overhead, “Come and gather together at the great supper of God,


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to eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of cohort commanders and the flesh of the mighty and the flesh of horses and of those sitting on them, and the flesh of all, both free and in bond-service, and both small and great.”


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And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered to wage war on him who was sitting on the horse and on his army.


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But the beast was seized, as was the false prophet with him, who performed the signs in his presence by which he deceived those who took the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. The two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which was burning with sulphur.


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And the rest were killed by the sword of him who was sitting on the horse, the sword which came out of his mouth. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.


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Then I saw an angel descending from heaven holding the key to the abyss with a great chain in his hand.


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And he took hold of the dragon, the old serpent who is the devil and Satan, who leads the whole world astray, and bound him for a thousand years,


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and cast him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it above him, so that he should not deceive the nations any more until the thousand years should be completed. Then after these things he must be released for a short time.


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Then I saw thrones, and people were sitting on them, and they were invested with judgment, and I saw the souls of those beheaded on account of the testimony of Jesus and on account of the word of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and who had not taken the mark on their forehead or on their hand. Then they came to life and reigned with Christ for the thousand years.


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But the rest of the dead did not live until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.


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Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection; the second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.


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and he will go out to lead astray the nations who are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them to the war, whose number is as the sand of the sea.


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And they went through the breadth of the land, and surrounded the camp of the saints and the sanctified city. Then fire came down out of heaven from God and devoured them.


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And the devil who led them astray was cast into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet also are, and they will be tormented day and night throughout the durations of the ages.


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And I saw a great white throne and him who sits on it, from whose presence the earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them.


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And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by the things written in the books according to their works.


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And the sea gave up the dead in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and each one was judged according to his works.


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Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.


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And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.


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And I heard a loud voice from heaven say, “Behold, God's home is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and he will be God with them.


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And he will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor wailing, nor will there be any toil any more, for the former things will have passed away.”


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And he who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I am making everything afresh.” And he said to me, “Write it down, for these words are true and faithful.”


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And he said to me, “I have become the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him who is thirsty drink from the source of the water of life, freely.


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But the fearful and unbelieving, and sinners and the abominated and murderers and fornicators and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars have their part in the lake burning with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.”


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Then one of the seven angels who had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me and said, “Come, I will show you the wife, the bride of the lamb.”


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And he carried me away in the spirit to a great high mountain and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,


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having the glory of God. Its brilliance was like a most precious gemstone, like a jasper gem, as clear as crystal,


