# verses

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This man led them out, doing miracles and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.


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This is the Moses who says to the sons of Israel: A Prophet will God be raising up to you from among your brethren, as me.


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This is he who came to be in the ecclesia in the wilderness with the messenger, who speaks to him in mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who receives the living oracles to give to you,


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to whom our fathers are not willing to become obedient, but they thrust him away, and turned to Egypt in their hearts,


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saying to Aaron, 'Make us gods who will go before us -- for this Moses, the man who led us out of the land of Egypt, we are not aware what became of him.'


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"And they make a calf in those days, and they led up the sacrifice to the idol, and made merry with the works of their hands.


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Now God turns and gives them up to be offering divine service to the host of heaven, according as it is written in the scroll of the prophets: Do you not offer Me slain victims and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, house of Israel?


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And you took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the constellation of your god Raiphan, the models which you make, to worship them. 'And I shall be exiling you beyond Babylon.


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"The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the wilderness, according as He prescribes, Who speaks to Moses, to make it according to the model which he had seen,


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which also our fathers who succeed him, with Joshua, led into the tenure of the nations, whom God thrusts out from the face of our fathers, till the days of David,


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'"Heaven is My throne, yet the earth is a footstool for My feet. What kind of house shall be built for Me?" the Lord is saying, or what is the place of My stopping?"


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Stiff-necked and uncircumcised in your hearts and ears, you are ever clashing with the holy spirit! As your fathers, you also!


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Which of the prophets do not your fathers persecute? And they kill those who announce before concerning the coming of the Just One, of Whom now you became the traitors and murderers --


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Now possessing the fullness of faith and holy spirit, looking intently into heaven, he perceived the glory of God, and Jesus, standing at the right hand of God,


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and said, "Lo! I am beholding the heavens opened up, and the Son of Mankind standing at the right hand of God."


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And, casting him out, outside of the city, they pelted him with stones. And the witnesses put off their garments at the feet of a young man called Saul.


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And they pelted Stephen with stones, while he is invoking and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"


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Now, kneeling, he cries with a loud voice, "Lord, Thou shouldst not stand against them this sin!" And saying this, he was put to repose.


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Yet Saul was endorsing his assassination. Now in that day there came to be a great persecution of the ecclesia which is in Jerusalem, and they were all dispersed among the districts of Judea and Samaria, save the apostles.


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Now Saul devastated the ecclesia; going into the homes, dragging out both men and women, he gave them over to jail.


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Now the throngs with one accord heeded the things being said by Philip, on hearing them and observing the signs which he did.


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For from many of those having unclean spirits, they came out, imploring with a loud voice. Now many who were paralyzed and lame were cured. Now much joy came to be in that city.


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Yet, before this, a certain man named Simon existed in the city by using magic and amazing the nation of Samaria, saying himself to be some great one,


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whom they all heeded, from the small to the great, saying, "This man is the power of the god which is called Great."


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Yet when they believe Philip bringing the evangel concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.


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Now Simon, he also believes, and being baptized, was waiting on Philip. Besides, beholding the signs and great powerful deeds occurring, he is amazed.


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Now the apostles in Jerusalem, hearing that Samaria has received the word of God, dispatch to them Peter and John,


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for not as yet was it fallen on any of them, yet only, having been baptized, they belonged to the name of the Lord Jesus.


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Yet Simon, perceiving that through the imposition of the hands of the apostles the spirit is being given, offers them money,


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saying, "Give me also this authority, that on whomsoever I may be placing my hands, he may be obtaining holy spirit."


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Yet Peter said to him, "May your silver be for destruction together with you, seeing that you infer that the gratuity of God is to be acquired by means of money!


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For you there is neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not straight in front of God.


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Repent, then, from this evil of yours, and beseech the Lord, if, consequently, the notion of your heart will be forgiven you.


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Now answering, Simon said, "You beseech the Lord for my sake so that nothing may be coming on me which you have declared."


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Those indeed, then, who certify and speak the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem. Besides, they evangelized many villages of the Samaritans.


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Now a messenger of the Lord speaks to Philip, saying, "Rise and go at midday on the road which is descending from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a wilderness."


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And rising, he went. And lo! a man, an Ethiopian eunuch, a potentate of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over her entire exchequer, who had come, to be worshiping, to Jerusalem.


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Now Philip, running toward him, hears him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Consequently, you surely know what you are reading!"


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Yet he said, "For how should I be able, if ever someone should not be guiding me?" Besides, he entreats Philip, stepping up, to be seated with him.


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Now the context of the scripture which he read was this: "As a sheep to slaughter was He led, And as a lamb in front of its shearer is not bleating, Thus He is not opening His mouth.


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In His humiliation His judging was taken away. His generation who will be relating? For His life is being taken away from the earth."


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Now answering, the eunuch said to Philip, "I beseech you, concerning whom is the prophet saying this, concerning himself or concerning some different person?"


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Now as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch is averring, "Lo ! Water! What is preventing me from being baptized?"


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And he orders the chariot to stand, and they both descended into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptizes him.


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Now when they stepped up out of the water, the spirit of the Lord snatches away Philip, and the eunuch did not perceive him any longer, for he went his way rejoicing.


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Now Philip was found in Azotus, and, passing through, he brought the evangel to all the cities, till his coming into Caesarea.


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Now Saul, still breathing out threatening and murder against the disciples of the Lord, approaching the chief priest,


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requests from him letters for Damascus to the synagogues, so that, if he should be finding any who are of the way, both men and women, he may be leading them bound to Jerusalem.


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Now the men who are journeying with him stood dumbfounded, hearing, indeed, the sound, yet beholding no one.


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Now Saul was raised from the earth, yet, his eyes being open, he observed nothing. Now, leading him by the hand, they led him into Damascus,


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Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" Now he said, "Lo! it is I, Lord!"


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Now the Lord to him, "Rise! Go to the street called 'Straight,' and seek in the house of Judas for a Tarsian named Saul, for lo! he is praying.


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And he perceived in a vision a man named Ananias entering and placing his hands on him so that he should be receiving sight."


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Yet Ananias answered, "Lord, I hear from many about this man, how much evil he does to Thy saints in Jerusalem.


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Yet the Lord said to him "Go, for he is a choice instrument of Mine, to bear My name before both the nations and kings, besides the sons of Israel,


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Now Ananias came away and entered the house, and placing his hands on him, he said, "Saul! Brother! The Lord has commissioned me (Jesus, Who was seen by you on the road by which you came), so that you should be receiving sight and be filled with holy spirit."


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And immediately fall from his eyes as if scales, and he receives sight. Besides, rising, also, he is baptized,


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and obtaining nourishment, is strengthened. Now he came to be with the disciples in Damascus some days.


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Now amazed are all who are hearing, and they said, "Is not this the one who, in Jerusalem, ravages those who are invoking this Name? And for this had he come here, that he may be leading them bound to the chief priests."


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Yet Saul was the more invigorated, and threw the Jews dwelling in Damascus into confusion, deducing that this One is the Christ.


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Yet known to Saul is their plot. Now they scrutinized the gates also, both by day and by night, so that they may be assassinating him.


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Now, on coming along to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; and all feared him, not believing that he is a disciple.


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Yet Barnabas, getting hold of him, led him to the apostles and relates to them how he became acquainted with the Lord on the road, and that He speaks to him, and how, in Damascus, he speaks boldly in the name of Jesus.


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Speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, he both spoke and discussed with the Hellenists. Yet they took in hand to assassinate him.


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Indeed, then, the ecclesia down the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified, and, going on in the fear of the Lord and the consolation of the holy spirit, multiplied.


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Now it occurred that Peter, passing through all, comes down to the saints who are dwelling at Lydda also.


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Now he found there a certain man named Eneas, eight years lying down on a pallet, who was paralyzed.


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And Peter said to him, "Eneas, Jesus Christ is healing you! Rise and spread your pallet by yourself!" And immediately he rose.


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Now in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which, being interpreted, is termed Dorcas ["Gazelle"]. This woman was full of good acts and alms which she did.


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Now it occurred in those days that, being infirm, she dies. Now, bathing her, they place her in an upper chamber.


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Now, Lydda being near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter is in it, dispatch two men to him, entreating, "You should not be slothful in passing through to us!"


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Now Peter, rising, came together with them, whom, coming along, they led up into the upper chamber. And beside him stand all the widows, lamenting and exhibiting tunics and garments, whatever Dorcas made while she was with them.


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Now Peter, ejecting them all outside and kneeling, prays. And turning about to the body, he said, "Tabitha, rise!" Now she opens her eyes, and perceiving Peter, sits up.


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Now giving her a hand, he raises her. Now summoning the saints and the widows, he presents her alive.


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Now it became known down the whole of Joppa, and many believe on the Lord. Now it came that he remains a considerable number of days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.


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devout and fearing God with his entire house, doing many alms to the people and beseeching God continually,


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perceived in a vision manifestly, as if about the ninth hour of the day, a messenger of God entering to him and saying to him, "Cornelius!"


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Now he, looking intently at him, and becoming affrighted, said, "What is it, lord?" Now he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms ascended for a memorial in front of God.


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Now as the messenger who is speaking to him came away, summoning two of the domestics and a devout soldier of those who waited on him,


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Now, on the morrow, as they are journeying and drawing near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray about the sixth hour of the day.


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Now he became ravenous and wanted to taste food. Now, while they are preparing it, an ecstasy came on him,


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and he is beholding heaven open and a certain utensil descending, as a large sheet, with four edges, being let down on the earth,


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Now, as Peter was bewildered in himself as to what the vision which he perceived should be, lo! the men who have been dispatched by Cornelius, asking the way through to the house of Simon, stand by at the portal.


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Now, as Peter is engrossed, concerned with the vision, the spirit said to him, "Lo! three men are seeking you!


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Now Peter, descending to the men, said, "Lo! I am he whom you are seeking. What is the cause for which you are present?"


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Now they say, "Cornelius, a centurion, a man just and God-fearing, besides being attested by the whole nation of the Jews, is apprized by a holy messenger to send after you to come into his house, and to hear declarations from you."


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Calling them in, then, he lodges them. Now on the morrow, on rising, he came away together with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa came with him.


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Now on the morrow he entered into Caesarea. Now Cornelius was hoping for them, calling together his relatives and intimate friends.


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Besides, he averred to them, "You are versed in the fact how illicit it is for a man who is a Jew to join or come to another tribe, and God shows me not to say that any man is contaminating or unclean.


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Wherefore, without gainsaying, also, being sent after, I came. I am inquiring to ascertain, then, on what account you send after me."


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And Cornelius averred, "Four days ago unto this hour was I fasting, and at the ninth, praying in my house, and lo! a man stood before me in splendid attire,


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and is averring, 'Cornelius, your prayer is hearkened to, and your alms are brought to remembrance in God's sight.


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Send, then, into Joppa, and call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, beside the sea.'


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Forthwith, then I send to you. Besides you do ideally in coming along. Now, then, we are all present in God's sight to hear all that you have been bidden by the Lord."


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Of the word He dispatches to the sons of Israel, bringing the evangel of peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all),


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you are aware, the declaration coming to be down the whole of Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John heralds:


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Jesus from Nazareth, as God anoints Him with holy spirit and power, Who passed through as a benefactor and healer of all those who are tyrannized over by the Adversary, for God was with Him.


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"And we are witnesses of all that He does, both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; Whom they assassinate also, hanging Him on a pole.


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not to the entire people, but to witnesses who have been selected before by God, to us who ate and drank together with Him after His rising from among the dead.


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And He charges us to herald to the people and to certify that this One is He Who is specified by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.


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To this One are all the prophets testifying: Everyone who is believing in Him is to obtain the pardon of sins through His name."


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While Peter is still speaking these declarations, the holy spirit falls on all those hearing the word.


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And amazed were the believers of the Circumcision, whoever come together with Peter, seeing that on the nations also the gratuity of the holy spirit has been poured out.


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Then Peter answered, "There can not be anyone to forbid water, so that these are not to be baptized, who obtained the holy spirit even as we."


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Now the apostles and the brethren who are of Judea hear that the nations also receive the word of God.


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saying, "I was in the city of Joppa, praying; and I perceived, in an ecstasy, a vision, a certain utensil descending, as a large sheet with four edges, being let down out of heaven; and it came as far as me.


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Into which, looking intently, I considered and perceived the quadrupeds of the earth and the wild beasts and the reptiles and the flying creatures of heaven.


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Yet I said, 'Far be it from me, Lord, for a thing contaminating or unclean never entered into my mouth!'


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Yet the voice answered a second time out of heaven, 'What God cleanses, do not you count contaminating!'


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"And lo! forthwith three men stand by at the house in which we were, having been dispatched from Caesarea to me.


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Now the spirit said to me to come together with them, nothing doubting. Now these six brethren also came with me, and we entered into the man's house.


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"Now he reports to us how he perceived the messenger, standing in his house and saying, 'Dispatch to Joppa and send after Simon, who is surnamed Peter,


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Now I am reminded of the declaration of the Lord, as He said that 'John, indeed, baptizes in water, yet you shall be baptized in holy spirit.'


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If, then, God gives them the equal gratuity as to us also, when believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I -- able to forbid God?"


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Now, on hearing these things, they are quiet, and glorify God, saying, "Consequently, to the nations also God gives repentance unto life!"


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Those indeed, then, who are dispersed from the affliction which is occurring over Stephen, passed through as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.


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Now some of them were the Cyprian men and Cyrenians, who, coming into Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, evangelizing to them the Lord Jesus.


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Now the account concerning them is heard in the ears of the ecclesia which is in Jerusalem, and they delegate Barnabas to Antioch,


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who, coming along and perceiving the grace of God, rejoiced and entreated all with purpose of heart to be remaining in the Lord --


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


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and finding him, he led him to Antioch. Now it came that they are gathered a whole year, also, in the ecclesia, and teach a considerable throng. Besides, in Antioch first, the disciples are styled "Christians."


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Now one of them, named Agabus, rising, signifies through the spirit, the great famine which is about to be on the whole inhabited earth, which occurred under Claudius.


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Now according as any of the disciples thrived, each of them designate something to send to the brethren dwelling in Judea, for dispensing;


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Now perceiving that it is pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to apprehend Peter also (now they were the days of unleavened bread),


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whom, arresting also, he placed in jail, giving him over to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to lead him up to the people.


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Peter, indeed, then, was kept in the jail, yet prayer was earnestly made by the ecclesia to God concerning him.


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Now when Herod was about to be leading him to them, in that night Peter was reposing between two soldiers, bound with two chains, besides which guards before the door kept the jail.


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And lo! a messenger of the Lord stood by, and a light shines in the room. Now smiting Peter on the side, he rouses him, saying, "Rise quickly!" And off fall his chains from his hands.


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Now the messenger said to him, "Gird yourself and bind on your soles." Now he does thus. And he is saying to him, "Throw your cloak about you and follow me."


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And, coming out, he followed him. And he had not perceived that what is occurring by means of the messenger is true, yet he seemed to be observing a vision.


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Now, passing through the first jail and the second, they come to the iron gate that brings them into the city, which spontaneously was opened to them. And, coming out, they came forward one street, and immediately the messenger withdrew from him.


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And Peter, coming to himself, said, "Now I truly am aware that the Lord delegates His messenger, and extricates me out of the hand of Herod and all the hope of the Jewish people.


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Besides, being conscious, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who is surnamed Mark, where a considerable number were, convened together and praying.


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And, recognizing the voice of Peter, for joy she does not open the portal. Yet, running in, she reports Peter standing before the portal.


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Yet they say to her, "You are mad!" Yet she stoutly insisted on having it thus. Yet they said, "It is his messenger."


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Yet gesturing with a hand to them to hush, he relates to them how the Lord led him out of the jail. Besides, he said, "Report these things to James and the brethren." And, coming out, he went to a different place.


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Now, at the coming of day, there was no slight disturbance among the soldiers as to what, consequently, became of Peter.


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Now Herod, seeking for him and not finding him, examining the guards, orders them to be led away to death. And, coming down from Judea into Caesarea, he tarried there.


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Now he was in a fighting fury, with the Tyrians and Sidonians. Yet, with one accord, they were present with him, and, persuading Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they requested peace, because their country was nourished from the king's.


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Now instantly a messenger of the Lord smites him, because he gives not the glory to God, and, becoming the food of worms, he gives up his soul.


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Now Barnabas and Saul return out of Jerusalem, completing the dispensing, taking along with them John, who is surnamed "Mark."


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Now there were in Antioch, to accord with the ecclesia which is there, prophets and teachers, both Barnabas and Simeon, called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, besides Manaen, the tetrarch Herod's foster brother, and Saul.


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Now, at their ministering to the Lord and fasting, the holy spirit said, "Sever, by all means, to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."


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They, indeed, then, being sent out by the holy spirit, came down into Seleucia. Besides, from thence they sail away to Cyprus.


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And, coming to be in Salamis, they announced the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. Now they had John also as a deputy.


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Now, passing through the whole island up to Paphos, they found a certain man, a magician, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus,


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who was with the proconsul Sergius Paul, an intelligent man. He, calling to him Barnabas and Saul, seeks to hear the word of God.


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Now Elymas, the "Magician" (for thus is his name construed), withstood them, seeking to pervert the proconsul from the faith.


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said, "O, full of all guile and all knavery, son of the Adversary, enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?


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And now, lo! the hand of the Lord is on you, and you shall be blind, not observing the sun until the appointed time." Now instantly there falls on him a fog and darkness, and, going about, he sought someone to lead him by the hand.


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Then the proconsul, perceiving what has occurred, believes, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.


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Now setting out from Paphos, those about Paul came to Perga of Pamphylia. Yet John, departing from them, returns to Jerusalem.


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Now they, passing through from Perga, came along into Antioch, Pisidia, and, entering into the synagogue the day of the sabbaths, they are seated.


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Now, after the reading of the law and the prophets, the chiefs of the synagogue dispatch to them, saying, "Men, brethren, if there is in you any word of entreaty for the people, say it."


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Now Paul, rising and gesturing with his hand, said "Men, Israelites, and those who are fearing God, hear!


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The God of this people Israel chooses our fathers, and exalts the people in the sojourn in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm He led them out of it.


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And thence they request a king, and God gives them Saul, son of Kish, a man out of the tribe of Benjamin, forty years.


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And, deposing him, He rouses David for their king, to whom He said also, in testifying, 'I found David, of Jesse, a man according to My heart, who will be doing all My will.'


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"The previous heralding of John, before His personal entrance, was the baptism of repentance to the entire people of Israel.


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Now as John completed his career, he said, 'What you are suspecting me to be, I am not. But lo! coming after me is One, the sandal of Whose feet I am not worthy to loose.'


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"Men! Brethren! Sons of the race of Abraham, and those among you who are fearing God! To us was the word of this salvation dispatched.


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For those dwelling in Jerusalem and their chiefs, being ignorant of Him and of the voices of the prophets which are read on every sabbath, fulfill them in judging Him.


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"Now as they accomplish all that which is written concerning Him, taking Him down from the pole, they place Him in a tomb.


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Who was seen on more days by those who ascend with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now His witnesses to the people.


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that God has fully fulfilled this for our children in raising Jesus, as it is written in the second psalm also, 'My Son art Thou; I, today, have begotten Thee.'


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Now, seeing that He raises Him from among the dead, by no means longer about to return to decay, He has thus declared that, I shall be giving you the faithful benignities of David.'


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Wherefore, in a different place also, He is saying, 'Thou wilt not be giving Thy Benign One to be acquainted with decay.'


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For David, indeed, subserving his own generation by God's counsel, was put to repose, and was added to his fathers, and was acquainted with decay;


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"Let it then be known to you, men, brethren that through this One is being announced to you the pardon of sins,


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and from all from which you could not be justified in the law of Moses, in this One everyone who is believing is being justified.


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Perceive, you despisers, and marvel, and disappear! for a work am I working in your days -- a work which you should by no means be believing if anyone should be detailing it to you."


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Now, at their being out, they entreated that these declarations be spoken to them on the intervening sabbath.


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Now the synagogue having broken up, many of the Jews and the reverent proselytes follow Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to remain in the grace of God.


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Yet the Jews, perceiving the throngs, are filled with jealousy, and they contradicted the things spoken by Paul, blaspheming.


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Being bold, both Paul and Barnabas, say, "To you first was it necessary that the word of God be spoken. Yet, since, in fact, you are thrusting it away, and are judging yourselves not worthy of eonian life, lo! we are turning to the nations.


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For thus the Lord has directed us: I have appointed Thee for a light of the nations; for Thee to be for salvation as far as the limits of the earth.'"


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Now on hearing this, the nations rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and they believe, whoever were set for life eonian.


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Yet the Jews spur on the reverent, respectable women, and the foremost ones of the city, and rouse up persecution for Paul and Barnabas, and they ejected them from their boundaries.


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Now in Iconium the same thing occurred at their entering into the synagogue of the Jews and speaking, so that a vast multitude of both Jews and Greeks believe.


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They, indeed, then, tarry a considerable time, speaking boldly in the Lord, Who is testifying to the word of His grace, granting signs and miracles to occur through their hands.


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Now the multitude of the city is rent; these, indeed, were with the Jews, yet those with the apostles.


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Now as there came to be an onset both of the nations and the Jews, together with their chiefs, to outrage and pelt them with stones,


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being conscious of it, they fled for refuge into the cities of Lycaonia: Lystra and Derbe, and the country about.


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And a certain man in Lystra, impotent in the feet, sat there, lame from his mother's womb, who never walks.


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This one hears Paul speaking, who, looking intently at him, and perceiving that he has faith to be saved,


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Besides, the throngs, perceiving what Paul does, lift up their voice in Lycaonian saying, "The gods, made like men, descended to us!"


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Besides, the priest of the Zeus which is before the city, bringing bulls and garlands to the portals, wanted to sacrifice together with the throngs.


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Now, on hearing this, the apostles Barnabas and Paul, tearing their garments, spring out into the throng, crying


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and saying, "Men! Why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like emotions as you, bringing the evangel to you to turn you back from these vain things to the living God, Who makes heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them,


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although He leaves Himself not without the testimony of good acts, giving showers from heaven and fruitbearing seasons, filling our hearts with nourishment and gladness."


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Yet Jews from Antioch and Iconium come on, and, persuading the throngs, and stoning Paul, they dragged him outside of the city, inferring that he is dead.


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Yet, when the disciples surround him, rising, he entered into the city. And on the morrow he came out with Barnabas to Derbe.


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Evangelizing that city besides, and making a considerable number of disciples, they return into Lystra and into Iconium and into Antioch,


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establishing the souls of the disciples, besides entreating them to remain in the faith and saying that, "Through many afflictions must we be entering into the kingdom of God."


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Now, selecting elders for them according to the ecclesia, praying with fastings, they committed them to the Lord in Whom they had believed.


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and thence they sail away to Antioch, whence they were given over to the grace of God for the work which they fulfill.


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Now coming along and gathering the ecclesia, they informed them of whatever God does with them, and that He opens to the nations a door of faith.


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And some, coming down from Judea, taught the brethren that, "If you should not be circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can not be saved."


text:
Now as Paul and Barnabas come to have no slight commotion and questioning with them, they prescribe that Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them are to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this question.


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They indeed, then, being sent forward by the ecclesia, passed through Phoenicia as well as Samaria, detailing the turning about of the nations. And they caused great joy to all the brethren.


text:
Now coming along into Jerusalem, they were received by the ecclesia and the apostles and the elders. Besides, they inform them of whatever God does with them.


text:
Yet some from the sect of the Pharisees who have believed rise up, saying that they must be circumcised, besides charging them to keep the law of Moses.


text:
Now, there coming to be much questioning, rising, Peter said to them, "Men! Brethren! You are versed in the fact that from the days at the beginning God chooses among you, that through my mouth the nations are to hear the word of the evangel and believe.


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Why, then, are you now trying God, by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we are strong enough to bear?


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Now the entire multitude hushes, and they heard Barnabas and Paul unfolding whatever signs and miracles God does among the nations through them.


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After these things I will turn back, 'And I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen... And its overturned structure will I rebuild, And I will re-erect it...


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So that those left of mankind should be seeking out the Lord, And all the nations, on them over whom My name is invoked, Is saying the Lord, Who is doing these things.'


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but to write an epistle to them to be abstaining from ceremonial pollution with idols, and prostitution, and what is strangled, and blood.


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For Moses, from ancient generations, city by city, has those who are heralding him, being read on every sabbath in the synagogues."


text:
Then it seems good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole ecclesia, choosing men from among them, to send to Antioch, together with Paul and Barnabas, Judas, called Bar-Sabbas, and Silas, leading men from among the brethren.


text:
writing through their hand as follows: "The apostles and the elders and the brethren, to the brethren at Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, out of the nations: Rejoice!


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"Since, in fact, we hear that some coming out from us disturb you with words, dismantling your souls, whom we gave no assignment,


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it seems good to us, in coming to be of one accord, choosing men, to send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,


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For it seems good to the holy spirit and to us in nothing to be placing one more burden on you save these essentials:


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to be abstaining from idol sacrifices, and blood, and what is strangled and prostitution; from which, carefully keeping yourselves, you will be well engaged. Farewell!"


text:
They indeed, then, being dismissed, came down to Antioch, and gathering the multitude, hand them the epistle.


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Now, after spending some time, they were dismissed with peace from the brethren to those who commission them.


text:
Yet Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and bringing the evangel of the word of the Lord, with many others also.


text:
Now, after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, "By all means, turning back, we should be visiting the brethren at every city in which we announce the word of the Lord,


text:
to see how they are faring." Now Barnabas intended to take along with them John also, who is called Mark.


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Yet Paul counted the man who withdraws from them from Pamphylia and comes not with them to the work -- this man not worthy to take along.


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Now they become so incensed as to recoil from one another. Besides, Barnabas, taking Mark along, sails off to Cyprus.


text:
Now he arrives also at Derbe and at Lystra. And lo! a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, yet of a Greek father,


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This one Paul wants to come out with him, and, taking him, circumcised him because of the Jews who are in those places, for they all were aware that his father belonged to the Greeks.


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Now, as they went through the cities, they give over to them the decrees to maintain, which have been decided upon by the apostles and elders who are in Jerusalem.


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Now they passed through Phrygia and the Galatian province, being forbidden by the holy spirit to speak the word in the province of Asia.


text:
And during the night a vision was seen by Paul. A certain man, a Macedonian, was standing and entreating him, and saying, "Cross over into Macedonia! Help us!"


text:
Now as he perceived the vision, we immediately seek to come out to Macedonia, deducing that God has called us to bring the evangel to them.


text:
Now we were in this city, tarrying some days. Besides, on the day of the sabbaths we came outside of the gate beside a river, where we inferred there is prayer, and, being seated, we spoke to the women who are coming together.


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And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, revering God, heard, whose heart the Lord opens up to heed what is spoken by Paul.


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Now as she is baptized, she and her household, she entreats, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, enter into my house and remain." And she urges us.


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Now it occurred, at our going to prayer, a certain maid, having a python spirit, meets us, who afforded a vast income to her masters, divining.


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She, following after Paul and us, cried, saying, "These men are slaves of God most high, who are announcing to you a way of salvation!"


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Now this she did on many days. Now Paul, being exasperated and turning about, said to the spirit, "I am charging you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to be coming out from her!" And it came out the same hour.


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Now her masters, perceiving that the expectation of their income was come out, getting hold of Paul and Silas, draw them into the market to the magistrates,


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and, leading them to the officers, say, "These men are confounding our city. Belonging to the Jews, they are


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And the throng assailed them, and the officers, tearing off their garments, ordered them to be flogged with rods.


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Besides, placing on them many blows, they cast them into jail, charging the warden to keep them securely,


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who, getting such a charge, casts them into the interior jail, and secures their feet in the stocks.


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Now at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and sang hymns to God. Now the prisoners listened to them.


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Now suddenly a great quake occurred, so that the foundations of the prison are shaken. Now instantly all the doors were opened, and the bonds of all were slacked.


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Now the warden, coming out of his sleep, and perceiving the doors of the jail open, pulling his sword, was about to despatch himself, inferring that the prisoners have escaped.


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Yet Paul shouts with a loud voice, saying, "You should commit nothing evil to yourself, for we are all in this place."


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And, taking them aside, in that hour of the night he bathes off their blows, and is baptized, he and all his family, instantly.


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Besides, leading them up into his house, he sets a table before them, and exults with all his household, having believed God.


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Now the warden reports these words to Paul, that "The officers have dispatched that you may be released. Then, coming out now, go in peace."


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Yet Paul averred to them, "Lashing us in public, uncondemned, men belonging to the Romans, they cast us into jail, and now they are ejecting us surreptitiously! No! But let them come themselves and lead us out!"


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Now the constables report these declarations to the officers. Now they were afraid, hearing that they are Romans.


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Now, coming out from the jail, they came in to Lydia, and, seeing the brethren, they console them and came away.


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Now, traversing Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.


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Now, as was Paul's custom, he entered to them, and on three sabbaths he argues with them from the scriptures,


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opening up and placing before them that the Christ must suffer and rise from among the dead, and that "This One is the Christ -- the Jesus Whom I am announcing to you."


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And some of them are persuaded, and were allotted to Paul and Silas, both a vast multitude of the reverent Greeks, and of the foremost women not a few.


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Now the Jews, being jealous and taking to themselves some wicked men of the loafers and making up a mob, made a tumult in the city, and, standing by the house of Jason, they sought to lead them before the populace.


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Now, not finding them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the city magistrates, imploring that "Those who raise the inhabited earth to insurrection, these are present in this place also,


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whom Jason has entertained. And all these are committing things contravening the decrees of Caesar, saying there is a different king, Jesus."


text:
Now the brethren immediately send out both Paul and Silas by night into Berea, who are away, coming along into the synagogue of the Jews.


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Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, who receive the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures day by day, to see if these have it thus.


text:
Now as the Jews from Thessalonica know that in Berea also the word of God was announced by Paul, they came there also, agitating and disturbing the throngs.


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Now immediately, then, Paul was sent away by the brethren to go as far as the sea. Besides, both Silas and Timothy remain behind there.


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Now those who are conducting Paul led him as far as Athens, and, obtaining a direction to Silas and Timothy that they may be coming most quickly to him, they are off.


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Now, while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was incited in him at beholding the city being idol-ridden.


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Indeed, then, he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and with the reverent, and in the market on every day with those happening along.


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Now some of the Epicurean as well as Stoic philosophers parleyed with him, and some said, "Whatever may this rook be wanting to say?" Yet others, "He seems to be an announcer of strange demons," seeing that he brought them the evangel of Jesus and the resurrection.


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Besides, getting hold of him, they led him to the Areopagus, saying, "Can we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken of by you?


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For strange is what you are bringing to our hearing. We are resolved, then, to know what this is wanting to be."


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Now all the Athenians, and the repatriated guests, had opportunity for nothing different than to be saying something or hearing something newer.


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Now Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus averred, "Men! Athenians! On all sides am I beholding how unusually religious you are.


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For, passing through and contemplating the objects of your veneration, I found a pedestal also, on which had been inscribed, 'To an Unknowable God.' To Whom then, you are ignorantly devout, This One am I announcing to you.


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The God Who makes the world and all that is in it, He, the Lord inherent of heaven and earth, is not dwelling in temples made by hands,


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neither is He attended by human hands, as if requiring anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all.


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Besides, He makes out of one every nation of mankind, to be dwelling on all the surface of the earth, specifying the setting of the seasons and the bounds of their dwelling, for them to be seeking God, if, consequently,


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they may surely grope for Him and may be finding Him, though to be sure, not far from each one of us is He inherent,


text:
for in Him we are living and moving and are, as some poets of yours also have declared, 'For of that race also are we.'


text:
The race, then, is inherently of God; we ought not to be inferring that the Divine is like gold, or silver, or stone, a sculpture of art and human sentiment.


text:
"Indeed, then, condoning the times of ignorance, God is now charging mankind that all everywhere are to repent,


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forasmuch as He assigns a day in which He is about to be judging the inhabited earth in righteousness by the Man Whom He specifies, tendering faith to all, raising Him from among the dead -- "


text:
Now, on hearing of the resurrection of the dead, these, indeed, jeered, yet those say, "We will hear you concerning this again also."


text:
Yet some men, being joined to him, believe, among whom were Dionysius, the Areopagite, also, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.


text:
And, finding a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy, and Priscilla, his wife (because Claudius prescribed that all the Jews depart from Rome), he came to them,


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and, because of his being of a like trade, he remained with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.


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Now, as both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the word, certifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.


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Now at their resisting and blaspheming, shaking out his garments, he said to them, "Your blood be on your head! Clear am I! From now on I shall go to the nations."


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And, proceeding thence, he entered the house of a certain one named Titus Justus, who is revering God, whose house was adjacent to the synagogue.


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Now Crispus, the chief of the synagogue, believes the Lord, together with his whole household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.


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Now the Lord said to Paul, in the night, through a vision, "Fear not! but be speaking; and you should not be silent,


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because I am with you, and no one shall place hands on you to illtreat you, because there are many people of Mine in this city."


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Now, Gallio being proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord assaulted Paul, and they led him to the dais,


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Now Paul being about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If, indeed, it were some injury or wicked knavery, O Jews, I might, on that account tolerate you.


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Yet if they are questions concerning a word, and names, and a law of yours, you see to it! A judge of these I am not intending to be!"


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Yet they all, getting hold of Sosthenes, the chief of the synagogue, beat him in front of the dais. And Gallio cared for none of these things.


text:
Now Paul, remaining still a considerable number of days with the brethren, taking leave, sailed off to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea, for he had a vow.


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Now they arrive at Ephesus and he left them there. Yet he, entering the synagogue, argues with the Jews.


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but, taking leave and saying, "I shall come back again to you, God willing," he set out from Ephesus.


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And, spending some time, he came away, passing consecutively through the Galatian province and Phrygia, establishing all the disciples.


text:
Now a certain Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, a scholarly man, arrives at Ephesus, being able in the scriptures.


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He was instructed in the way of the Lord, and fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately what concerns Jesus, being versed only in the baptism of John.


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Besides, he begins to speak boldly in the synagogue. Now, hearing him, Priscilla and Aquila took him to themselves and expounded the way of God to him more accurately.


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Now, at his intending to pass through into Achaia, the brethren, promoting it, write to the disciples to welcome him, who, coming along, parleyed much with those who have believed through grace,


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for he strenuously and thoroughly confuted the Jews in public, exhibiting through the scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.


text:
Now it occurred while Apollos is in Corinth, Paul, passing through the upper parts, comes down to Ephesus and, finding some disciples,


text:
said to them, "Did you obtain holy spirit on believing?" Yet they to him, "Nay, neither hear we if there is holy spirit."


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Yet Paul said, "John baptizes with the baptism of repentance, telling the people that in the One coming after him they should be believing, that is, in Jesus."


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And at the placing of Paul's hands on them, the holy spirit came on them. Besides, they spoke languages and prophesied.


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Now, entering the synagogue, he spoke boldly for three months, arguing and persuading as to that which concerns the kingdom of God.


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Now, as some were hardened and stubborn, saying evil things of the way before the multitude, withdrawing from them, he severs the disciples, arguing day by day in the school of Tyrannus.


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Now this occurred for two years, so that all those dwelling in the province of Asia hear the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.


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so the handkerchiefs or aprons from his cuticle are carried away to the infirm also, to clear the diseases from them. Besides, wicked spirits go out.


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Now some of the wandering Jews also, exorcists, take in hand to name the name of the Lord Jesus over those having wicked spirits, saying, "I am adjuring you by the Jesus Whom Paul is heralding!"


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Yet answering, the wicked spirit said to them, "Jesus, indeed, I know, and in Paul am I versed, yet who are you?"


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And leaping on them, the man in whom the wicked spirit was, getting the mastery of both, is too strong for them, so that, naked and wounded, they are escaping out of that house.


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Now this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who are dwelling in Ephesus. And fear falls on them all, and magnified was the name of the Lord Jesus.


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Now a considerable number of those practicing the meddling arts, carrying together the scrolls, burned them up in sight of all. And they compute their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.


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Now as these things were fulfilled, Paul pondered in spirit, passing through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying that, "After my coming to be there I must see Rome also."


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Now dispatching to Macedonia two of those serving him, Timothy and Erastus, he attended, for the time, to the province of Asia.


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for a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, making silver temples of Artemis, afforded no slight income to the artificers,


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whom convening together, as also the workers about such things, he said, "Men! You are versed in the fact that by this vocation we thrive,


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and you are beholding and hearing that, not only of Ephesus, but of almost the entire province of Asia, this Paul by his persuading causes a considerable throng to stand aloof, saying that they are not gods which are coming into being by means of hands.


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Now, not only is this endangering our party, by it coming to be confuted, but the sanctuary of the great goddess Artemis also is being thereby reckoned nothing. Besides, her magnificence is about to be pulled down also, whom the whole province of Asia and the inhabited earth is revering."


text:
Now, hearing this and becoming full of fury, they cried, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"


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And filled is the city with confusion. Besides, they rush with one accord into the theater, gripping Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, fellow travelers of Paul.


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Yet some of the chiefs of the province of Asia also, being his friends, sending to him, entreated him not to venture into the theater himself.)


text:
Others, indeed, then, cried some other thing, for the ecclesia was in confusion, and the majority were not aware on what account they had come together.


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Now they unite on Alexander, one of the throng, the Jews pushing him forward. Now Alexander, gesturing with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the populace.


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Yet, on recognizing that he is a Jew, one voice came from all for about two hours, crying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"


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Now, composing the throng, the scribe is averring, "Men! Ephesians!" What man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is sexton of the temple of the great Artemis and of that which fell from Zeus?


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Indeed, then, if Demetrius and the artificers with him have a charge against anyone, court sessions are being held, and there are proconsuls; let them be indicting one another.


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Now if you are seeking for anything concerning other things, in the legal ecclesia will it be explained.


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For we are also in danger of being indicted concerning today's commotion, there inhering not one cause concerning which we shall be able to render any account concerning this riot."


text:
Now after the tumult ceased, Paul, sending after the disciples and consoling and saluting them, came away to go into Macedonia.


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Besides, spending three months, at there coming to be a plot against him by the Jews, being about to set out for Syria, he came to be of the opinion that he would return through Macedonia.


text:
Now it was arranged for him to be met, as far away as the province of Asia, by Sopater Pyrrhus, a Berean. Yet of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius the Derbian, and Timothy, yet of the province of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.


text:
Yet we sail off from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came to them in Troas in five days, where we tarry seven days.


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Now on one of the sabbaths, at our having gathered to break bread, Paul argued with them, being about to be off on the morrow. Besides, he prolonged the word unto midnight.


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Now a certain young man named Eutychus, being seated on the window, sinking into a deep sleep while Paul is arguing still more, being sunk from sleep, falls down from the third story, and was picked up dead.


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Now Paul, descending, falls on him, and, embracing him, said, "Make no tumult, for his soul is in him."


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Now, going up and breaking bread and tasting, besides conversing a considerable time until daybreak, thus he came away.


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Now we, coming before to the ship, set out for Assos, thence being about to take up Paul, for thus it has been prescribed, he being about to go on foot.


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And sailing from thence, the ensuing day we arrive abreast of Chios, yet on another we put in at Samos, yet the next we came to Miletus,


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for Paul had decided to sail by Ephesus, so that he may not be coming to linger in the province of Asia, for he hurried, if it may be possible for him to be in Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost.


text:
Now as they came along to him, he said to them, "You are versed in the facts, from the first day on which I stepped into the province of Asia, how I came to be with you all the time,


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slaving for the Lord with all humility and tears, and the trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews;


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how under no circumstances did I shrink from informing you of anything which was expedient, and teaching you in public and at your homes,


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"And now, lo! I, bound in spirit, am going to Jerusalem, not being aware what I will meet with in it,


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more than that the holy spirit, city by city, certifies to me, saying that bonds and afflictions are remaining for me.


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But of nothing have I a word, nor yet am I making my soul precious to myself, till I should be perfecting my career and the dispensation which I got from the Lord Jesus, to certify the evangel of the grace of God.


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"And now, lo! I am aware that you all, among whom I passed through heralding the kingdom, shall be seeing my face no longer.


text:
"Take heed to yourselves and to the entire flocklet, among which the holy spirit appointed you supervisors, to be shepherding the ecclesia of God, which He procures through the blood of His Own.


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Now I am aware that, after I am out of reach, burdensome wolves will be entering among you, not sparing the flocklet.


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And from among yourselves will arise men, speaking perverse things to pull away disciples after themselves.


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Wherefore watch, remembering that for three years, night and day, I cease not admonishing each one with tears.


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And now I am committing you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to edify and give the enjoyment of an allotment among all who have been hallowed.


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All I intimate to you, that, thus toiling, you must be supporting the infirm. Besides, remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'Happy is it to give rather than to get.'"


text:
Now there came to be considerable lamentation by all, and falling on Paul's neck, they kissed him fondly,


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being pained especially at the word which he had declared, that no longer are they about to behold his face. Yet they sent him forward into the ship.


text:
Now as we came to set out, being pulled away from them, running straight, we came to Coos, yet the next day to Rhodes, and thence to Patara.


text:
Now, Cyprus looming up, and leaving it on the left, we sailed to Syria, and came down to Tyre, for there the ship was unloading the cargo.


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Now, finding the disciples, we stay there seven days, who said to Paul, through the spirit, not to be stepping on board to Jerusalem.


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Now, when the days came to fit us out, coming away, we went, all sending us forward, together with the wives and children, till outside of the city. And kneeling on the beach, praying,


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Now we, terminating the voyage, from Tyre descended to Ptolemais, and, greeting the brethren, we remain one day with them.


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Now, on the morrow, coming away, we came to Caesarea, and, entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who is of the seven, we remain with him.


text:
And coming to us and picking up Paul's girdle, binding his own feet and hands, he said, "Now this the holy spirit is saying, 'The man whose girdle this is, shall the Jews in Jerusalem be binding thus, and they shall be giving him over into the hands of the nations.'"


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Now as we hear these things, both we and those in the place entreated him not to go up to Jerusalem.


text:
Then Paul answered and said, "What are you doing, lamenting and unnerving my heart? For I hold myself in readiness, not only to be bound, but to die also in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."


text:
Now disciples from Caesarea, also, came together with us, leading us to Mnason, a certain Cyprian, a disciple from the beginning, with whom we should lodge.


text:
Now by the ensuing day, Paul had been in, together with us, to James. Besides, all the elders came along.


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And, greeting them, he unfolded, one by one, each of the things which God does among the nations through his dispensation.


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Now those who hear glorified God. Besides, they said to him, "You are beholding, brother, how many tens of thousands there are among the Jews who have believed, and all are inherently zealous for the law?


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Now they were instructed concerning you that you teach all the Jews among the nations apostasy from Moses, telling them not to be circumcising their children, nor yet to be walking in the customs.


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What is it, then? Undoubtedly a multitude must come together, for they will hear that you have come.


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Taking these along, be purified together with them, and bear their expenses, that they should be shaving their heads, and all will know that what they have been instructed concerning you is nothing, but you also are observing the elements and you yourself are maintaining the law.


text:
Now concerning those of the nations who have believed, we write an epistle, deciding they are to guard themselves from idol sacrifice, besides from blood also, and what is strangled, and from prostitution."


text:
Then Paul, taking the men along on the next day, being purified together with them, had been in the sanctuary, publishing the full completion of the days of purification, till the approach present for each one of them was offered.


text:
Now as the seven days were about to be concluding, Jews from the province of Asia, gazing at him in the sanctuary, threw the entire throng into confusion, and laid hands on him,


text:
crying, "Men! Israelites! Help! This is the man who is teaching all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this holy place. Besides, still more, he led Greeks also into the sanctuary, and has contaminated this holy place."


text:
For, before this, Trophimus the Ephesian was seen in the city with him, whom they inferred that Paul led into the sanctuary.


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Besides, stirred was the whole city, and there came to be a running together of the people. And getting hold of Paul, they drew him outside of the sanctuary, and immediately the doors are locked.


text:
And while they are seeking to kill him, the allegation came up to the captain of the squadron that the whole of Jerusalem is in confusion,


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who, taking along soldiers and centurions, forthwith ran down to them. Now they, perceiving the captain and the soldiers, cease beating Paul.


text:
Then the captain, drawing near, got hold of him, and orders him to be bound with two chains. And he ascertained who he may be and what he has done.


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Now they retorted in the throng, some this, others some other thing. Now, at his not being able to know for certain because of the tumult, he orders him to be led into the citadel.


text:
Now when he came on the stairs, it befell that he was borne by the soldiers because of the violence of the throng,


text:
Besides, being about to be led into the citadel, Paul is saying to the captain, "Is it allowed me to say anything to you?" Yet he averred, "Greek you know,


text:
consequently you are not the Egyptian who, before these days, raises an insurrection and leads out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins."


text:
Yet Paul said, "I, indeed, am a Jewish man, a Tarsian of Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. Now I beseech you, permit me to speak to the people."


text:
Now at his permitting it, Paul, standing on the stairs, gestures with his hand to the people. Now as there comes to be a vast hush, he shouts to them in the Hebrew vernacular, saying,


text:
Now hearing that he shouted to them in the Hebrew vernacular, they tendered more quietness, and he is averring,


text:
"I am a man, a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, yet reared in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, trained according to the strictness of the hereditary law, being inherently zealous for God according as all of you are today,


text:
as the chief priest also was testifying to me, and the entire eldership, from whom, receiving letters also to the brethren, I went into Damascus, to be leading also those being there, bound, to Jerusalem, that they may be punished.


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"Now it occurred, at my going and drawing near to Damascus, about midday, suddenly out of heaven a considerable light flashes about me.


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Yet I answered and said, 'Who art Thou, Lord?' Besides, He said to me, 'I am Jesus, the Nazarene, Whom you are persecuting.'


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Now those who are with me gaze, indeed, at the light, yet they hear not the voice of Him Who is speaking to me.


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Now I said, 'What shall I be doing, Lord?' Now the Lord said to me, 'Rise. Go into Damascus, and there you will be spoken to concerning all which has been set for you to do.'


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"Now, as I observed nothing for the glory of that light, being led by the hand by those who are with me, I came into Damascus.


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Now a certain Ananias, a pious man according to the law, being attested by all the Jews dwelling there,


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coming to me and standing by, said to me, 'Saul! Brother! Receive your sight!' And I, in the same hour, look up to him.


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Now he said. 'The God of our fathers fixes upon you beforehand to know His will, and to be acquainted with the Just One, and to hear the voice of His mouth,


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"Now it occurred, at my returning to Jerusalem and while I am praying in the sanctuary, I come to be in an ecstasy


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and to perceive Him saying to me, 'Hurry, and come quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not be assenting to your testimony concerning Me.'


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And I said, 'Lord, they are versed in the fact that I was jailing and lashing those at the synagogues who are believing on Thee.


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And when the blood of Stephen, Thy witness, was shed, I myself also was standing by, endorsing it, as well as guarding the garments of those who are assassinating him.'


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Now they heard him until this word, and they lift up their voice, saying, "Away from the earth with such a one, for it is not befitting for him to live!"


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the captain orders him to be led into the citadel, telling them to interrogate him by scourging, that he may recognize for what cause they retorted thus at him.


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Now, as they stretch him before them with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion standing by, "Is it allowed you to scourge a Roman man, and uncondemned?"


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Now, hearing it, the centurion, coming to the captain, reports, saying, "What are you about to be doing? For this man is a Roman."


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Now the captain answered, "I with a vast sum acquire this citizenship." Yet Paul averred, "Yet I have been so born also."


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Immediately then, those about to be interrogating him withdraw from him. Now the captain also was afraid, recognizing that he is a Roman and that he was bound by him.


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Now on the morrow, resolved to know the certainty of that of which he is being accused by the Jews, he looses him and orders the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin to come together. And, leading Paul down, he stands him among them.


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Now looking intently at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, "Men! Brethren! I, in all good conscience, have used my citizenship for God until this day."


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Then Paul said to him, "God is about to beat you, whitewashed wall! And you are sitting to judge me according to the law, and illegally are you ordering me to be beaten!"


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And Paul averred, "I was not aware, brethren, that he is chief priest. For it is written that, 'Of your people's chief you shall not be declaring evil.'"


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Now Paul, knowing that the one party is of Sadducees, yet the other of Pharisees, cries in the Sanhedrin, "Men! Brethren! A Pharisee, son of Pharisees am I. Concerning the expectation and resurrection of the dead am I being judged."


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Now at his saying this, there came to be a commotion of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the multitude is rent.


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For Sadducees, indeed, are saying there is no resurrection, nor messenger, nor spirit; yet Pharisees are avowing both.


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Now a great clamor occurred, and, rising, some of the scribes of the party of the Pharisees fought it out with one another, saying, "Nothing evil are we finding in this man. Now if a spirit or messenger speaks to him -- "


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Yet, much commotion occurring, being afraid, the captain, so Paul should not be pulled to pieces by them, orders the troop to descend and snatch him out of their midst, besides, to lead him into the citadel.


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Now the ensuing night, standing by him, the Lord said, "Courage! For as you certify to that which concerns Me in Jerusalem, thus you must testify in Rome also."


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Now, day coming on, making a conspiracy, the Jews anathematize themselves, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they should kill Paul.


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who, coming to the chief priests and the elders, say, "With an anathema we anathematize ourselves to taste nothing till we should kill Paul.


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Now then, you inform the captain together with the Sanhedrin, so that he may be leading him down to you, as being about to investigate more exactly that which concerns him; yet we, before he draws near, are ready to assassinate him."


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Now the son of Paul's sister, hearing of the ambush, coming along and entering into the citadel, reports it to Paul.


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Now Paul, calling one of the centurions to him, averred, "Lead this young man away to the captain, for he has something to report to him."


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He, indeed, then, taking him along, led him to the captain, and is averring, "The prisoner, Paul, calling me to him, asks me to lead this youth to you, who has something to speak to you."


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Now the captain, taking hold of his hand, and retiring privately, inquired to ascertain, "What is it that you have to report to me?"


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Now he said that "The Jews agreed to ask you, so that you may lead Paul down tomorrow into the Sanhedrin, as being about to ascertain somewhat more exactly concerning him.


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You, then, should not be persuaded by them, for there are ambushing for him more than forty of their men, who anathematize themselves neither to eat nor drink till they may be assassinating him. And now they are ready, anticipating the promise from you."


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Indeed, then, the captain dismisses the youth, charging him, "To no one speak out that you disclose these things to me."


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And calling a certain two of the centurions to him, he said, "Make ready two hundred soldiers, so that they may go as far as Caesarea, and seventy cavalry, and two hundred slingers, from the third hour of the night.


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Besides, present beasts that, mounting Paul, they should be bringing him safely through to Felix, the governor."


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This man, being apprehended by the Jews, and being about to be assassinated by them, standing by with the troop, I extricate, learning that he is a Roman.


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Besides, intending to get to know the charge because of which they indicted him, I led him down into their Sanhedrin.


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Him I found being indicted concerning questions of their law, yet having nothing deserving death or bonds in the indictment.


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Now at its being divulged to me that there will be a plot against the man, forthwith I send him to you, charging the accusers also to speak against him before you. Farewell."


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The soldiers, indeed, then, according to that which has been prescribed to them, taking up Paul, led him through the night to Antipatris.


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"I shall give you a hearing," he averred, "whenever your accusers also may be coming along," ordering him to be guarded in Herod's pretorium.


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Now after five days, Ananias, the chief priest, descended with some elders and an orator, a certain Tertullus, who inform the governor against Paul.


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Now at his being called, Tertullus begins to accuse him, saying, "Happening upon much peace through you, and reforms in this nation coming to be through your providence,


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Now, lest I may be hindering you still more, I am entreating you to hear us concisely in your leniency.


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For, finding this man a pestilence and stirrer of insurrections among all the Jews who are on the inhabited earth, besides a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,


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from whom you yourself will, by examining him, be able to recognize all of these things concerning which we are accusing him."


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Besides, Paul, the governor nodding to him to speak, answered, "Being versed in the fact that for many years you are a judge in this nation, cheerfully am I defending that which concerns myself,


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at your being able to recognize that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.


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And they neither found me in the sanctuary arguing with anyone, or making a concourse of the throng, nor in the synagogues, nor at the city,


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"Yet I am avowing this to you, that, according to the way which they are terming a sect, thus am I offering divine service to the hereditary God, believing all that is written, according to the law and in the prophets,


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having an expectation in God, which these themselves also are anticipating, that there shall be a resurrection which is impending for both the just and the unjust.


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"In this, I am exerting myself also, to have a conscience which is no stumbling block toward God and men, continually.


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"Now after the lapse of more years, I came along doing alms for my nation, and bringing approach presents,


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Now there were some Jews from the province of Asia, on whom it was binding to be present before you and to accuse me, if they may have anything against me.


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or concerning this one voice with which I cry out, standing among them, that, 'Concerning the resurrection of the dead am I being judged today by you.'"


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Now Felix made them postpone, being acquainted more exactly with that which concerns the way, saying, "Whenever captain Lysias may come down, I shall investigate your affairs."


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He prescribes to the centurion that he is to be kept, besides, he is to be having his ease, and to prevent no one of his own to be subservient to him.


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Now after some days, Felix, coming along with Drusilla, his wife (being a Jewess), sends after Paul and hears him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.


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Now as he is arguing concerning righteousness, and self-control, and the impending judgment, Felix, becoming affrighted, answered, "Now go. Yet, given occasion, I shall be calling for you,"


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at the same time expecting also that money will be given him by Paul. Wherefore, sending after him more frequently also, he conversed with him.


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Now, two years being fulfilled, Felix got a successor, Porcius Festus. Besides, wanting to curry favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound.


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Besides, the chief priests and the foremost of the Jews inform him against Paul, and they entreated him,


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requesting a favor against him, so that he should send after him to bring him into Jerusalem, making an ambush to assassinate him by the way.


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Festus, indeed, then, answered that Paul is to be kept in Caesarea, yet he himself was about to be going out quickly.


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"Those, then, among you," he is averring, "who are able, step down with me. If there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him."


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Now, tarrying among them not more than eight or ten days, descending to Caesarea, on the morrow, being seated on the dais, he orders Paul to be led forth.


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Now at his coming along, the Jews who have descended from Jerusalem stand about him, bringing many and heavy charges against him, which they were not strong enough to demonstrate,


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Paul defending that "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the sanctuary, nor against Caesar did I sin."


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Now Festus, wanting to curry favor with the Jews, answering Paul, said, "Are you willing to go up into Jerusalem to be judged there before me concerning these things?"


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Yet Paul said, "At the dais of Caesar am I standing, where I must be judged. The Jews in nothing have I injured, as you also are most ideally recognizing.


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If, indeed, then, I am injuring, and I have committed anything deserving of death, I am not refusing to die. Yet if there is nothing in that of which these are accusing me, no one can surrender me to them as a favor. To Caesar am I appealing!"


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Then Festus, conferring with the council, answered, "To Caesar have you appealed. To Caesar shall you go!"


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Now as they tarried more days there, Festus submitted Paul's affairs to the king, saying, "There is a certain man, left prisoner by Felix,


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concerning whom, at my coming to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews inform, requesting his conviction,


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to whom I answered that it is not the custom for Romans to surrender as a favor any man ere the accused may have the accusers face to face, besides getting a defensive position concerning the indictment.


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"At their coming together in this place, then, making not one postponement, the next day, being seated on the dais, I order the man to be led forth,


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concerning whom the accusers, when they stand up, brought not one charge of the wicked things which I suspected,


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yet they had certain questions concerning their own religion against him, and concerning a certain Jesus, who has died, whom Paul alleged to be alive.


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Now I, being perplexed by the questioning about these things, asked, if he may be intending to go to Jerusalem and to be judged there concerning these things.


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Now at Paul's appealing to be kept for the Imperial investigation, I order him to be kept till I send him up to Caesar."


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Now Agrippa to Festus: "I myself also intended to hear the man." "Tomorrow," he is averring, "you shall hear him."


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On the morrow, then, at Agrippa and Bernice's coming with much pageantry and entering the audience chamber together, besides captains and prominent men of the city, and at Festus' order, Paul was led forth.


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And Festus is averring, "King Agrippa, and all men present with us, you are beholding this man concerning whom the entire multitude of the Jews pled with me, both in Jerusalem and in this place, imploring that he must not by any means be living longer.


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Now I grasped that he has committed nothing deserving of death, yet as he himself appeals to the Imperial judge, I decide to send him --


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concerning whom I haven't anything certain to write to the lord. Wherefore I led him before you, and especially before you, king Agrippa, so that, the examination occurring, I should have something to write.


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Now Agrippa averred to Paul, "It is permitted to you to speak concerning yourself." Then Paul, stretching out his hand, made his defense:


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"Concerning all that which I am being indicted by the Jews, king Agrippa, I have deemed myself happy to be about to make my defense before you today,


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especially as you are an expert, versed in all, both the customs and questions of the Jews. Wherefore I beseech you to hear me patiently.


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"My life, indeed, then, from youth, which came to be from the beginning among my nation, besides in Jerusalem, all the Jews are acquainted with,


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knowing me before, from the very first, if they should be willing to testify, that, according to the strictest sect of this ritual of ours, I live a Pharisee.


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I stand being judged, to which our twelve-tribed people, earnestly offering divine service night and day, is expecting to attain. Concerning which expectation I am being indicted by Jews, O King!


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"I, indeed, then, suppose myself bound to commit much contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazarene, which I do also in Jerusalem.


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And besides, many of the saints I lock up in jails, obtaining authority from the chief priests. Besides, I deposit a ballot to despatch them.


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And at all the synagogues, often punishing them, I compelled them to blaspheme. Besides, being exceedingly maddened against them, I persecuted them as far as the outside cities also.


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at midday, on the road, I perceived, O king, a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining about me and those going together with me.


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Besides, at all of us falling down to the earth, I hear a voice saying to me in the Hebrew vernacular, 'Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting Me? Hard is it for you to be kicking against the goads!'


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But rise and stand on your feet, for I was seen by you for this, to fix upon you before for a deputy and a witness both of what you have perceived and that in which I will be seen by you,


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to open their eyes, to turn them about from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, for them to get a pardon of sins and an allotment among those who have been hallowed by faith that is in Me.'


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but first to those in Damascus, besides in Jerusalem also, besides to the entire province of Judea, and to the nations, I reported that they are to be repenting and turning back to God, engaging in acts worthy of repentance.


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Happening, then, on assistance from God, until this day I stand attesting both to small and to great, saying nothing outside of what both the prophets and Moses speak of impending occurrences -- if it be the suffering Christ --


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if He, the first out of a resurrection of the dead, is about to be announcing light both to the people and to the nations."


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Now, as he is making this defense, Festus is averring with a loud voice, "You are mad, Paul! Much scripture is deranging you to madness!"


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Yet Paul is averring, "Not mad am I, most mighty Festus, but I am declaiming declarations of truth and sanity.


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For the king is adept concerning these things, to whom I am speaking boldly also, for, that any of these things is eluding him, I am not persuaded, for this is not a thing that has been committed in a corner.


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Yet Paul, "May I ever wish to God, that briefly as well as greatly, not only you, but also all who are hearing me today, become such a kind as I am also, outside of these bonds!"


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And retiring, they spoke with one another, saying that, "Nothing deserving of death or of bonds this man is committing."


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Now Agrippa averred to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar."


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Now, as it was decided that we are to sail away to Italy, they gave over both Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Imperial squadron.


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Now, stepping on board a ship of Adramyttium, about to be sailing for places in the province of Asia, we set out, with us being Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica.


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Now, on another day, we were led down to Sidon. Besides, Julius, using Paul humanely, permits him to go to friends for casual care.


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Now, for a considerable number of days, sailing tardily and hardly coming off Cnidus, the wind not leaving us toward it, we sail under the lee of Crete, off Salome.


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Besides, hardly skirting it, we came to a certain place called Ideal Harbors, near which was the city of Lasea.


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Now, considerable time elapsing, and sailing being already hazardous, because of the Fast also having already passed by, Paul exhorted them,


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saying, "Men! I behold that sailing is about to be with damage and much forfeit, not only of the lading and of the ship, but of our souls also."


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Yet the centurion was persuaded by the navigator and the charterer of the ship, rather than by what is being said by Paul.


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Now, the harbor possessing no fitness for wintering, the majority gave counsel to set out thence, if somehow they may be able to arrive at Phoenix to winter, a harbor of Crete, looking toward the southwest and toward the northwest.


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Now, the south wind blowing gently, supposing their purpose to hold, weighing anchor, they skirted close along Crete.


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Now the ship being gripped by it, and not being able to luff to the wind, giving her up, we were carried along.


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hoisting which, they used stays, undergirding the ship. Besides, fearing lest they should be falling into the Syrtis quicksand, lowering the gear, thus they were carried along.


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Now neither sun nor constellations making their advent for more days, and besides, no slight tempest lying on us, all further expectation of our being saved was taken from us.


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Besides, there being much inherent abstinence, then Paul, standing in the midst of them, said, "It was binding on you, indeed, O men, yielding to me, not to have set out from Crete, to gain, besides this damage, also the forfeit.


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And now I am exhorting you to be cheerful, for not one soul from among you will be cast away, more than the ship.


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For there stood beside me this night a messenger of God, Whose I am, to Whom I am offering divine service also,


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saying,'Fear not, Paul! Before Caesar you must stand. And lo! graciously has God granted you all those who are sailing with you.'


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Wherefore, be cheerful, men, for I am believing God that thus it will be even in the manner which has been spoken to me.


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Now as the fourteenth night came, at our cruising about in the Adria, in the middle of the night the mariners suspected some country to be nearing them.


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And sounding, they found twenty fathoms. Now after a bit of an interval, and sounding again, they found fifteen fathoms.


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Besides, fearing lest somewhere we should be falling on rough places, pitching four anchors out of the stern, they wished for the coming of day.


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Now at the mariners seeking to flee out of the ship, and lowering the skiff into the sea under pretense of being about to stretch anchors out of the prow,


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Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "If ever these should not be remaining in the ship, you can not be saved."


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Now, until the day was about to come, Paul entreated all to partake of nourishment, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day; apprehensive, you are constantly abstinent, taking nothing.


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Wherefore I am entreating you to partake of nourishment, for this belongs to this salvation of yours, for not a hair from the head of one of you shall perish."


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Now when the day came, they did not recognize the land, yet considered a certain gulf, having a beach into which they planned, if they may be able, to thrust the ship.


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And, taking the anchors from about it, they left them in the sea, at the same time slacking the lashing of the rudders and hoisting the foresail to the breeze, they kept her course for the beach.


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Now, falling into a place with a channel, they run the craft aground, and the prow, indeed, remains sticking unshakable, yet the stern was broken up by the violence of the billows.


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Now came the soldiers' counsel that they should kill the prisoners, lest anyone, swimming out, may flee away.


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Yet the centurion, intending to bring Paul safely through, prevents them from their intention. Besides, he orders those who are able to swim, diving, to be off to the land first,


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and the rest, these, indeed, on planks, yet those on something from the ship, and thus all came safely through to the land.


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Besides, the barbarians tender us not the casual philanthropy, for, kindling a fire, they took us all in, because of the imminent shower and because of the cold.


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Now at Paul's twisting together a certain quantity of kindling and placing it on the fire, a viper, coming out of the warmth, fastens on his hand.


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Now, as the barbarians perceived the wild beast hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, whom, being safely through out of the sea, Justice lets not live."


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Yet they were apprehensive that he is about to become inflamed or suddenly fall down dead. Yet, after much apprehension, and beholding nothing coming to be amiss with him, retracting, they said he is a god.


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Now in the regions about that place the freeholds belonged to the foremost man of the island, named Publius, who, receiving us, lodges us three days, amiably.


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Now it occurred that the father of Publius was lying down, pressed with fever and dysentery. Paul, entering to him and praying, placing his hands on him, heals him.


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Now at this occurring, the rest also of those in the island having infirmities approached and were cured,


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who honor us with many honors also, and, at our setting out, they placed on board what was for our needs.


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Now, after three months, we set out in an Alexandrian ship with the ensign Dioscuri, which has wintered in the island.


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whence, tacking about, we arrive at Rhegium, and the south wind coming on after one day, we came the second day to Puteoli,


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And thence the brethren, hearing about us, come to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Taverns, perceiving whom, Paul, thanking God, took courage.


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Now when we entered Rome, Paul was permitted to remain by himself together with the soldier who guarded him.


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Now it occurred three days after, that he calls together those who are foremost of the Jews. Now, at their coming together, he said to them "I, men, brethren, doing nothing contrary to the people or to the hereditary customs, was given up a prisoner out of Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,


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Now at the contradicting of the Jews, I am compelled to appeal to Caesar -- not as though having anything of which to accuse my nation.


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For this cause, then, I call for you, to see and speak to you. For on account of the expectation of Israel this chain is lying about me."


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Now they say to him, "Neither do we receive letters concerning you from Judea, nor do any of the brethren coming along report or speak anything wicked concerning you.


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Now we count it worthwhile to hear from you what your disposition is. For, indeed, concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is being contradicted."


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Now setting a day for him, more came to him in the lodging, to whom he expounded, certifying to the kingdom of God, besides persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and the prophets, from morning till dusk.


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Now there being disagreements one with another, they were dismissed, Paul making one declaration, that, "Ideally the holy spirit speaks through Isaiah the prophet, to your fathers,


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saying, 'Go to this people and say, "In hearing, you will be hearing, and may by no means be understanding, And observing, you will be observing, and may by no means be perceiving,"


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Let it be known to you, then, that to the nations was dispatched this salvation of God, and they will hear."


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heralding the kingdom of God, and teaching that which concerns the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, unforbidden.


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Who is designated Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection of the dead),


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Jesus Christ, our Lord, through Whom we obtained grace and apostleship for faith-obedience among all the nations, for His name's sake,


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


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First, indeed, I am thanking my God through Jesus Christ concerning all of you, that your faith is being announced in the whole world.


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For God is my Witness, to Whom I am offering divine service in my spirit in the evangel of His Son, how unintermittingly I am making mention of you always in my prayers


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beseeching, if somehow, sometime, at length I shall be prospered, in the will of God, to come to you.


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For I am longing to see you, that I may be sharing some spiritual grace with you, for you to be established:


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Now I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, that often I purposed to come to you (and was prevented hitherto) that I should be having some fruit among you also, according as among the rest of the nations.


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For not ashamed am I of the evangel, for it is God's power for salvation to everyone who is believing -- to the Jew first, and to the Greek as well.


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For in it God's righteousness is being revealed, out of faith for faith, according as it is written: "Now the just one by faith shall be living."


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For God's indignation is being revealed from heaven on all the irreverence and injustice of men who are retaining the truth in injustice,


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For His invisible attributes are descried from the creation of the world, being apprehended by His achievements, besides His imperceptible power and divinity, for them to be defenseless,


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because, knowing God, not as God do they glorify or thank Him, but vain were they made in their reasonings, and darkened is their unintelligent heart.


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and they change the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of a corruptible human being and flying creatures and quadrupeds and reptiles.


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Wherefore God gives them over, in the lusts of their hearts, to the uncleanness of dishonoring their bodies among themselves,


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those who alter the truth of God into the lie, and are venerated, and offer divine service to the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed for the eons! Amen!


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Therefore God gives them over to dishonorable passions. For their females, besides, alter the natural use into that which is beside nature.


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Likewise also the males, besides, leaving the natural use of the female, were inflamed in their craving for one another, males with males effecting indecency, and getting back in themselves the retribution of their deception which must be.


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And according as they do not test God, to have Him in recognition, God gives them over to a disqualified mind, to do that which is not befitting,


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filled with all injustice, wickedness, evil, greed, distended with envy, murder, strife, guile, depravity, whisperers,


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vilifiers, detesters of God, outragers, proud, ostentatious, inventors of evil things, stubborn to parents,


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those who, recognizing the just statute of God, that those committing such things are deserving of death, not only are doing them, but are endorsing, also, those who are committing them.


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Wherefore, defenseless are you, O man! everyone who is judging, for in what you are judging another, you are condemning yourself, for you who are judging are committing the same things.


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Now we are aware that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who are committing such things.


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Yet are you reckoning on this, O man, who art judging those committing such things, and art doing the same, that you will be escaping the judgment of God?


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Or are you despising the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, being ignorant that the kindness of God is leading you to repentance?


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Yet, in accord with your hardness and unrepentant heart you are hoarding for yourself indignation in the day of indignation and revelation of the just judgment of God,


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to those, indeed, who by endurance in good acts are seeking glory and honor and incorruption, life eonian;


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yet to those of faction and stubborn, indeed, as to the truth, yet persuaded to injustice, indignation and fury,


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affliction and distress, on every human soul which is effecting evil, both of the Jew first and of the Greek,


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for whoever sinned without the law, without law also shall perish, and whoever sinned in law, through law will be judged.


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For whenever they of the nations that have no law, by nature may be doing that which the law demands, these, having no law, are a law to themselves,


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who are displaying the action of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying together and their reckonings between one another, accusing or defending them,


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in the day when God will be judging the hidden things of humanity, according to my evangel, through Jesus Christ.


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a discipliner of the imprudent, a teacher of minors, having the form of knowledge and the truth in the law.


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You, then, who are teaching another, you are not teaching yourself! who are heralding not to be stealing, you are stealing!


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who are saying not to be committing adultery, you are committing adultery! who are abominating idols, you are despoiling the sanctuary!


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For because of you the name of God is being blasphemed among the nations, according as it is written.


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For circumcision, indeed, is benefiting if you should be putting law into practice, yet if you should be a transgressor of law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.


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If the Uncircumcision, then, should be maintaining the just requirements of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision?


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And the Uncircumcision who, by nature, are discharging the law's demands, shall be judging you, who through letter and circumcision, are a transgressor of law.


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but that which is hidden is the Jew, and circumcision is of the heart, in spirit, not in letter, whose applause is not of men, but of God.


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May it not be coming to that! Now let God be true, yet every man a liar, even as it is written: "That so Thou shouldst be justified in Thy sayings, And shalt be conquering when Thou art being judged."


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Now if our injustice is commending God's righteousness, what shall we declare? Not that God Who is bringing on indignation is unjust! (As a man am I saying it.)


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Yet if the truth of God superabounds in my lie, for His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner,


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and why not say, according as we are calumniated and according as some are averring that we are saying, that "We should be doing evil that good may be coming"? -- whose judgment is fair.


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What, then? Are we privileged? Undoubtedly not, for we previously charge both Jews and Greeks to be all under sin,


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"All avoid Him: at the same time they were useless. Not one is doing kindness: there is not even one!"


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"A sepulcher opened is their throat. With their tongues they defraud." "The venom of asps is under their lips."


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Now we are aware that, whatever the law is saying, it is speaking to those under the law, that every mouth may be barred, and the entire world may become subject to the just verdict of God,


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because, by works of law, no flesh at all shall be justified in His sight, for through law is the recognition of sin.


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Yet now, apart from law, a righteousness of God is manifest (being attested by the law and the prophets),


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yet a righteousness of God through Jesus Christ's faith, for all, and on all who are believing, for there is no distinction,


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(Whom God purposed for a Propitiatory shelter, through faith in His blood, for a display of His righteousness because of the passing over of the penalties of sins which occurred before in the forbearance of God),


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toward the display of His righteousness in the current era, for Him to be just and a Justifier of the one who is of the faith of Jesus.


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Of works? No! But through faith's law. For we are reckoning a man to be justified by faith apart from works of law.


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Yes, of the nations also, if so be that God is One, Who will be justifying the Circumcision out of faith and the Uncircumcision through faith.


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Are we, then, nullifying law through faith? May it not be coming to that! Nay, we are sustaining law.


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For what is the scripture saying? Now "Abraham believes God, and it is reckoned to him for righteousness."


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Yet to him who is not working, yet is believing on Him Who is justifying the irreverent, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.


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Even as David also is telling of the happiness of the man to whom God is reckoning righteousness apart from acts:


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This happiness, then, is it for the Circumcision, or for the Uncircumcision also? For we are saying, "To Abraham faith is reckoned for righteousness."


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How then, is it reckoned? Being in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.


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And he obtained the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which was in uncircumcision, for him to be the father of all those who are believing through uncircumcision, for righteousness to be reckoned to them,


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and the father of the Circumcision, not to those of the Circumcision only, but to those also who are observing the elements of the faith in the footprints of our father Abraham, in uncircumcision.


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For not through law is the promise to Abraham, or to his Seed, for him to be enjoyer of the allotment of the world, but through faith's righteousness.


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For if those of law are enjoyers of the allotment, faith has been made void and the promise has been nullified,


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Therefore it is of faith that it may accord with grace, for the promise to be confirmed to the entire seed, not to those of the law only, but to those also of the faith of Abraham, who is father of us all,


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according as it is written that, A father of many nations have I appointed you -- facing which, he believes it of the God Who is vivifying the dead and calling what is not as if it were --


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who, being beyond expectation, believes in expectation, for him to become the father of many nations, according to that which has been declared, "Thus shall be your seed."


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And, not being infirm in faith, he considers his body, already deadened (being inherently somewhere about a hundred years) and the deadening of the matrix of Sarah,


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yet the promise of God was not doubted in unbelief, but he was invigorated by faith, giving glory to God,


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but because of us also, to whom it is about to be reckoned, who are believing on Him Who rouses Jesus our Lord from among the dead.


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through Whom we have the access also, by faith, into this grace in which we stand, and we may be glorying in expectation of the glory of God.


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Yet not only so, but we may be glorying also in afflictions, having perceived that affliction is producing endurance,


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Now expectation is not mortifying, seeing that the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the holy spirit which is being given to us.


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For Christ, while we are still infirm, still in accord with the era, for the sake of the irreverent, died.


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For hardly for the sake of a just man will anyone be dying: for, for the sake of a good man, perhaps someone may even be daring to die,


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yet God is commending this love of His to us, seeing that, while we are still sinners, Christ died for our sakes.


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Much rather, then, being now justified in His blood, we shall be saved from indignation, through Him.


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For if, being enemies, we were conciliated to God through the death of His Son, much rather, being conciliated, we shall be saved in His life.


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Yet not only so, but we are glorying also in God, through our Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom we now obtained the conciliation.


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Therefore, even as through one man sin entered into the world, and through sin death, and thus death passed through into all mankind, on which all sinned --


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nevertheless death reigns from Adam unto Moses, over those also who do not sin in the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him Who is about to be.


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But not as the offense, thus also the grace. For if, by the offense of the one, the many died, much rather the grace of God and the gratuity in grace, which is of the One Man, Jesus Christ, to the many superabounds.


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And not as through one act of sinning is the gratuity. For, indeed, the judgment is out of one into condemnation, yet the grace is out of many offenses into a just award.


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For if, by the offense of the one, death reigns through the one, much rather, those obtaining the superabundance of grace and the gratuity of righteousness shall be reigning in life through the One, Jesus Christ.


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Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for all mankind for condemnation, thus also it is through one just award for all mankind for life's justifying.


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For even as, through the disobedience of the one man, the many were constituted sinners, thus also, through the obedience of the One, the many shall be constituted just.


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Yet law came in by the way, that the offense should be increasing. Yet where sin increases, grace superexceeds,


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that, even as Sin reigns in death, thus Grace also should be reigning through righteousness, for life eonian, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.


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We, then, were entombed together with Him through baptism into death, that, even as Christ was roused from among the dead through the glory of the Father, thus we also should be walking in newness of life.


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For if we have become planted together in the likeness of His death, nevertheless we shall be of the resurrection also,


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knowing this, that our old humanity was crucified together with Him, that the body of Sin may be nullified, for us by no means to be still slaving for Sin,


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having perceived that Christ, being roused from among the dead, is no longer dying. Death is lording it over Him no longer,


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for in that He died, He died to Sin once for all time, yet in that He is living, He is living to God.


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Thus you also, be reckoning yourselves to be dead, indeed, to Sin, yet living to God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.


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Nor yet be presenting your members, as implements of injustice, to Sin, but present yourselves to God as if alive from among the dead, and your members as implements of righteousness to God.


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What then? Should we be sinning, seeing that we are not under law, but under grace? May it not be coming to that!


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Are you not aware that to whom you are presenting yourselves as slaves for obedience, his slaves you are, whom you are obeying, whether of Sin for death, or of Obedience for righteousness?


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Now thanks be to God that you were slaves of Sin, yet you obey from the heart the type of teaching to which you were given over.


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As a man am I saying this, because of the infirmity of your flesh. For even as you present your members as slaves to Uncleanness and to Lawlessness for lawlessness, thus now present your members as slaves to Righteousness for holiness.


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What fruit, then, had you then? -- of which you are now ashamed, for, indeed, the consummation of those things is death.


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Yet, now, being freed from Sin, yet enslaved to God, you have your fruit for holiness. Now the consummation is life eonian.


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For the ration of Sin is death, yet the gracious gift of God is life eonian, in Christ Jesus, our Lord.


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Or are you ignorant, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know law), that the law is lording it over a man for as much time as he is living?


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For a woman in wedlock is bound to a living man by law. Yet if the man should be dying, she is exempt from the law of the man.


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Consequently, then, while the man is living, she will be styled an adulteress if she should be becoming another man's, yet, if the man should be dying, she is free from the law, being no adulteress on becoming another man's.


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So that, my brethren, you also were put to death to the law through the body of Christ, for you to become Another's, Who is roused from among the dead, that we should be bearing fruit to God.


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For, when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were through the law, operated in our members to be bearing fruit to Death.


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Yet now we were exempted from the law, dying in that in which we were retained, so that it is for us to be slaving in newness of spirit and not in oldness of letter.


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What, then, shall we declare? That the law is sin? May it not be coming to that! But sin I knew not except through law. For besides, I had not been aware of coveting except the law said, "You shall not be coveting."


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Now Sin, getting an incentive through the precept, produces in me all manner of coveting. For apart from law Sin is dead.


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Became good, then, death to me? May it not be coming to that! But Sin, that it may be appearing Sin, is producing death to me through good, that Sin may become an inordinate sinner through the precept.


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For what I am effecting I know not, for not what I will, this I am putting into practice, but what I am hating, this I am doing.


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For I am aware that good is not making its home in me (that is, in my flesh), for to will is lying beside me, yet to be effecting the ideal is not.


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For it is not the good that I will that I am doing, but the evil that I am not willing, this I am putting into practice.


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Now if what I am not willing, this I am doing, it is no longer I who am effecting it, but Sin which is making its home in me.


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Consequently, I am finding the law that, at my willing to be doing the ideal, the evil is lying beside me.


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yet I am observing a different law in my members, warring with the law of my mind, and leading me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.


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I thank God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Consequently, then, I myself, with the mind, indeed, am slaving for God's law, yet with the flesh for Sin's law.


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Nothing, consequently, is now condemnation to those in Christ Jesus. Not according to flesh are they walking, but according to spirit,


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For what was impossible to the law, in which it was infirm through the flesh, did God, sending His own Son in the likeness of sin's flesh and concerning sin, He condemns sin in the flesh,


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that the just requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who are not walking in accord with flesh, but in accord with spirit.


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For those who are in accord with flesh are disposed to that which is of the flesh, yet those who are in accord with spirit to that which is of the spirit.


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because the disposition of the flesh is enmity to God, for it is not subject to the law of God, for neither is it able.


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Yet you are not in flesh, but in spirit, if so be that God's spirit is making its home in you. Now if anyone has not Christ's spirit, this one is not His.


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Now if Christ is in you, the body, indeed, is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is life because of righteousness.


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Now if the spirit of Him Who rouses Jesus from among the dead is making its home in you, He Who rouses Christ Jesus from among the dead will also be vivifying your mortal bodies because of His spirit making its home in you.


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for if you are living in accord with flesh, you are about to be dying. Yet if, in spirit, you are putting the practices of the body to death, you will be living.


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For you did not get slavery's spirit to fear again, but you got the spirit of sonship, in which we are crying, "Abba, Father!"


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Yet if children, enjoyers also of an allotment, enjoyers, indeed, of an allotment from God, yet joint enjoyers of Christ's allotment, if so be that we are suffering together, that we should be glorified together also.


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For I am reckoning that the sufferings of the current era do not deserve the glory about to be revealed for us.


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For to vanity was the creation subjected, not voluntarily, but because of Him Who subjects it, in expectation


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that the creation itself, also, shall be freed from the slavery of corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God.


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Yet not only so, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruit of the spirit, we ourselves also, are groaning in ourselves, awaiting the sonship, the deliverance of our body.


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For to expectation were we saved. Now expectation, being observed, is not expectation, for what anyone is observing, why is he expecting it also?


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Now, similarly, the spirit also is aiding our infirmity, for what we should be praying for, to accord with what must be, we are not aware, but the spirit itself is pleading for us with inarticulate groanings.


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Now He Who is searching the hearts is aware what is the disposition of the spirit, for in accord with God is it pleading for the saints.


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Now we are aware that God is working all together for the good of those who are loving God, who are called according to the purpose


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that, whom He foreknew, He designates beforehand, also, to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be Firstborn among many brethren.


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Now whom He designates beforehand, these He calls also, and whom He calls, these He justifies also; now whom He justifies, these He glorifies also.


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Surely, He Who spares not His own Son, but gives Him up for us all, how shall He not, together with Him, also, be graciously granting us all?


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Who is the Condemner? Christ Jesus, the One dying, yet rather being roused, Who is also at God's right hand, Who is pleading also for our sakes?


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What shall be separating us from the love of God in Christ Jesus? Affliction, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?


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According as it is written that "On Thy account we are being put to death the whole day, We are reckoned as sheep for slaughter."


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For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor messengers, nor sovereignties, nor the present, nor what is impending, nor powers,


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


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The truth am I telling in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifying together with me in holy spirit,


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for I myself wished to be anathema from Christ -- for my brethren, my relatives according to the flesh,


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who are Israelites, whose is the sonship and the glory and the covenants and the legislation and the divine service and the promises;


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whose are the fathers, and out of whom is the Christ according to the flesh, Who is over all, God be blessed for the eons. Amen!


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Now it is not such as that the word of God has lapsed, for not all those out of Israel, these are Israel;


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That is, that the children of the flesh, not these are the children of God, but the children of the promise is He reckoning for the seed.


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For the word of the promise is this: At "this season" I shall come "and there will be for Sarah a son."


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For, not as yet being born, nor putting into practice anything good or bad, that the purpose of God may be remaining as a choice, not out of acts, but of Him Who is calling,


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What, then, shall we be declaring? Not that there is injustice with God? May it not be coming to that!


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For to Moses He is saying, "I shall be merciful to whomever I may be merciful, and I shall be pitying whomever I may be pitying."


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Consequently, then, it is not of him who is willing, nor of him who is racing, but of God, the Merciful.


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For the scripture is saying to Pharaoh that "For this selfsame thing I rouse you up, so that I should be displaying in you My power, and so that My name should be published in the entire earth."


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You will be protesting to me, then, "Why, then, is He still blaming? for who has withstood His intention?"


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O man! who are you, to be sure, who are answering again to God? That which is molded will not protest to the molder, "Why do you make me thus?"


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Or has not the potter the right over the clay, out of the same kneading to make one vessel, indeed, for honor, yet one for dishonor?


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Now if God, wanting to display His indignation and to make His powerful doings known, carries, with much patience, the vessels of indignation, adapted for destruction,


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it is that He should also be making known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He makes ready before for glory --


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As He is saying in Hosea also: I shall be calling those who are not My people "My people," And she who is not beloved "Beloved,"


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"And it shall be, in the place where it was declared to them, 'Not My people are you,'" There "they shall be called 'sons of the living God.'"


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Now Isaiah is crying over Israel, If the number of the sons of Israel should be as the sand of the sea, the residue shall be saved,


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And according as Isaiah declared before, "Except the Lord of hosts conserved us a seed, As Sodom would we become, And to Gomorrah would we be likened."


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What, then, shall we be declaring? That the nations who are not pursuing righteousness overtook righteousness, yet a righteousness which is out of faith.


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Wherefore? Seeing that it is not out of faith, but as out of law works, they stumble on the stumbling stone,


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according as it is written: Lo! I am laying in Zion a Stumbling Stone and a Snare Rock, And the one believing on Him shall not be disgraced.


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For they, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, were not subjected to the righteousness of God.


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For Moses is writing of the righteousness which is of law, that a man who does the same shall be living in it.


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Yet the righteousness of faith is saying thus: You may not be saying in your heart, Who will be ascending into heaven? -- that is, to be leading Christ down --


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or Who will be descending into the submerged chaos? -- that is, to be leading Christ up from among the dead.


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But what is it saying? Near you is the declaration, in your mouth and in your heart -- that is, the declaration of faith which we are heralding


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that, if ever you should be avowing with your mouth the declaration that Jesus is Lord, and should be believing in your heart that God rouses Him from among the dead, you shall be saved.


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For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same One is Lord of all, being rich for all who are invoking Him.


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How, then, should they be invoking One in Whom they do not believe? Yet how should they be believing One of Whom they do not hear? Yet how should they be hearing apart from one heralding?


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Yet how should they be heralding if ever they should not be commissioned? According as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those bringing an evangel of good!


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But, I am saying, Do they not hear at all? To be sure! "Into the entire earth came out their utterance, And into the ends of the inhabited earth their declarations."


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But, I am saying, Did not Israel know at all? First Moses is saying, I shall be provoking you to jealousy over those not a nation; Over an unintelligent nation shall I be vexing you.


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Yet Isaiah is very daring and is saying, I was found by those who are not seeking Me; I became disclosed to those who are not inquiring for Me.


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Now to Israel He is saying, The whole day I spread out My hands to a stubborn and contradicting people!


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I am saying, then, Does not God thrust away His people? May it not be coming to that! For I also am an Israelite, out of Abraham's seed, Benjamin's tribe.


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God does not thrust away His people whom He foreknew. Or have you not perceived in Elijah what the scripture is saying, as he is pleading with God against Israel?


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Lord, Thy prophets they kill, Thine altars they dig down, and I was left alone, and they are seeking my soul.


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But what is that which apprises saying to him? I left for Myself seven thousand men who do not bow the knee to the image of Baal.


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Thus, then, in the current era also, there has come to be a remnant according to the choice of grace.


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Now if it is in grace, it is no longer out of works, else the grace is coming to be no longer grace. Now, if it is out of works, it is no longer grace, else the work is no longer work.


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What then? What Israel is seeking for, this she did not encounter, yet the chosen encountered it. Now the rest were calloused,


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even as it is written, God gives them a spirit of stupor, eyes not to be observing, and ears not to be hearing, till this very day.


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I am saying, then, Do they not trip that they should be falling? May it not be coming to that! But in their offense is salvation to the nations, to provoke them to jealousy.


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Now if their offense is the world's riches and their discomfiture the nations' riches, how much rather that which fills them!


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Now to you am I saying, to the nations, in as much as, indeed, then, I am the apostle of the nations, I am glorifying my dispensation,


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For if their casting away is the conciliation of the world, what will the taking back be if not life from among the dead?


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Now if some of the boughs are broken out, yet you, being a wild olive, are grafted among them, and became a joint participant of the root and fatness of the olive,


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be not vaunting over the boughs. Yet if you are vaunting, you are not bearing the root, but the root you.


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Perceive, then, the kindness and severity of God! On those, indeed, who are falling, severity, yet on you, God's kindness, if you should be persisting in the kindness: else you also will be hewn out.


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Now they also, if they should not be persisting in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.


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For if you were hewn out of an olive wild by nature, and, beside nature, are grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much rather shall these, who are in accord with nature, be grafted into their own olive tree!


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For I am not willing for you to be ignorant of this secret, brethren, lest you may be passing for prudent among yourselves, that callousness, in part, on Israel has come, until the complement of the nations may be entering.


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And thus all Israel shall be saved, according as it is written, Arriving out of Zion shall be the Rescuer. He will be turning away irreverence from Jacob.


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As to the evangel, indeed, they are enemies because of you, yet, as to choice, they are beloved because of the fathers.


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O, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How inscrutable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!


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I am entreating you, then, brethren, by the pities of God, to present your bodies a sacrifice, living, holy, well pleasing to God, your logical divine service,


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and not to be configured to this eon, but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for you to be testing what is the will of God, good and well pleasing and perfect.


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For I am saying, through the grace which is given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to be overweening, beyond what your disposition must be, but to be of a sane disposition, as God parts to each the measure of faith.


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Now, having graces excelling, in accord with the grace which is given to us, whether prophecy, exercise it in accord with the analogy of the faith;


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or the entreater, in entreaty; the sharer, with generosity; the presider, with diligence; the merciful one, with glee.


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Let us have fond affection for one another with brotherly fondness, in honor deeming one another first,


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being mutually disposed to one another, not being disposed to that which is high, but being led away to the humble. Do not come to pass for prudent with yourselves.


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you are not avenging yourselves, beloved, but be giving place to His indignation, for it is written, Mine is vengeance! I will repay! the Lord is saying.


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But "If your enemy should be hungering, give him the morsel; if he should be thirsting, give him to drink, for in doing this you will be heaping embers of fire on his head."


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Let every soul be subject to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except under God. Now those which are, have been set under God,


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so that he who is resisting an authority has withstood God's mandate. Now those who have withstood, will be getting judgment for themselves,


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for magistrates are not a fear to the good act, but to the evil. Now you do not want to be fearing the authority. Do good, and you will be having applause from it.


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For it is God's servant for your good. Now if you should be doing evil, fear, for not feignedly is it wearing the sword. For it is God's servant, an avenger for indignation to him who is committing evil.


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Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of indignation, but also because of conscience.


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For therefore you are settling taxes also, for they are God's ministers, perpetuated for this self-same thing.


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Render to all their dues, to whom tax, tax, to whom tribute, tribute, to whom fear, fear, to whom honor, honor.


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To no one owe anything, except to be loving one another, for he who is loving another has fulfilled law.


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For this: "You shall not commit adultery," "you shall not murder," "you shall not steal," "you shall not testify falsely," "you shall not covet," and if there is any other precept, it is summed up in this saying, in this: "You shall love your associate as yourself."


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This, also, do, being aware of the era, that it is already the hour for us to be roused out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believe.


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The night progresses, yet the day is near. We, then, should be putting off the acts of darkness, yet should be putting on the implements of light.


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As in the day, respectably, should we be walking, not in revelries and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy,


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Let not him who is eating be scorning him who is not eating. Yet let not him who is not eating be judging him who is eating, for God took him to Himself.


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Who are you who are judging Another's domestic? To his own Master he is standing or falling. Now he will be made to stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.


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One indeed, is deciding for one day rather than another day, yet one is deciding for every day. Let each one be fully assured in his own mind.


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He who is disposed to the day, is disposed to it to the Lord; and he who is eating, is eating to the Lord, for he is thanking God. And he who is not eating, to the Lord is not eating, and is thanking God.


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For both, if we should be living, to the Lord are we living, and if we should be dying, to the Lord are we dying. Then, both if we should be living and if we should be dying, we are the Lord's.


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Now why are you judging your brother? Or why are you also scorning your brother? For all of us shall be presented at the dais of God,


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for it is written: Living am I, the Lord is saying, For to Me shall bow every knee, And every tongue shall be acclaiming God!


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By no means, then, should we still be judging one another, but rather decide this, not to place a stumbling block for a brother, or a snare.


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I have perceived and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is contaminating of itself, except that the one reckoning anything to be contaminating, to that one it is contaminating.


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For if, because of food, your brother is sorrowing, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not, by your food, destroy that one for whose sake Christ died.


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Consequently, then, we are pursuing that which makes for peace and that which is for edification of one another.


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Not on account of food demolish the work of God. All, indeed, is clean, but it is evil to the man who with stumbling is eating.


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It is ideal not to be eating meat, nor yet to be drinking wine, nor yet to do aught by which your brother is stumbling, or is being snared or weakened.


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The faith which you have, have for yourself in God's sight. Happy is he who is not judging himself in that which he is attesting.


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Now he who is doubting if he should be eating is condemned, seeing that it is not out of faith. Now everything which is not out of faith is sin.


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Now we, the able, ought to be bearing the infirmities of the impotent, and not to be pleasing ourselves.


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For Christ also pleases not Himself, but according as it is written, "The reproaches of those reproaching Thee fall on Me."


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For whatever was written before, was written for this teaching of ours, that through the endurance and the consolation of the scriptures we may have expectation.


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Now may the God of endurance and consolation grant you to be mutually disposed to one another, according to Christ Jesus,


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that, with one accord, with one mouth, you may be glorifying the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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Wherefore be taking one another to yourselves according as Christ also took you to Himself, for the glory of God.


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For I am saying that Christ has become the Servant of the Circumcision, for the sake of the truth of God, to confirm the patriarchal promises.


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Yet the nations are to glorify God for His mercy, according as it is written, "Therefore I shall be acclaiming Thee among the nations," "And to Thy name shall I be playing music."


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And again Isaiah is saying, there will be "the root of Jesse, And He Who is rising to be Chief of the nations: On Him will the nations rely."


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Now may the God of expectation be filling you with all joy and peace in believing, for you to be super-abounding in expectation, in the power of holy spirit.


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Now I myself also am persuaded concerning you, my brethren, that you yourselves also are bulging with goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to be admonishing one another.


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Yet more daringly do I write to you, in part, as prompting you, because of the grace being given to me from God,


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for me to be the minister of Christ Jesus for the nations, acting as a priest of the evangel of God, that the approach present of the nations may be becoming well received, having been hallowed by holy spirit.


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For I am not daring to speak any of what Christ does not effect through me for the obedience of the nations, in word and work,


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in the power of signs and miracles, in the power of God's spirit, so that, from Jerusalem and around unto Illyricum, I have completed the evangel of the Christ.


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Yet thus I am ambitious to be bringing the evangel where Christ is not named lest I may be building on another's foundation,


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but, according as it is written, "They who were not informed concerning Him shall see, And they who have not heard shall understand."


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Yet now, having by no means still place in these regions, yet having for many years a longing to come to you,


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as ever I may be going into Spain (for I am expecting, while going through, to gaze upon you, and by you to be sent forward there, if I should ever first be filled, in part, by you) --


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For it delights Macedonia and Achaia to make some contribution for the poor of the saints who are in Jerusalem.


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For they are delighted, and they are their debtors, for if the nations participate in their spiritual things, they ought to minister to them in fleshly things also.


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When, then, performing this, and sealing to them this fruit, I shall be coming away through you into Spain.


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Now I am entreating you, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the spirit, to struggle together with me in prayers to God for me,


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that I should be rescued from the stubborn in Judea, and my dispensation for Jerusalem may be becoming well received by the saints,


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that I may be coming to you with joy through the will of God, and I should be resting together with you.


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that you should be receiving her in the Lord worthily of the saints, and may stand by her in whatever matter she may be needing you, for she became a patroness of many, as well as of myself.


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(who, for the sake of my soul, jeopardize their own necks, whom not only I am thanking, but all the ecclesias of the nations also)


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and the ecclesia at their house. Greet Epanetus, my beloved, who is the firstfruit of the province of Asia for Christ.


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Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives and my fellow captives who are notable among the apostles, who also came to be in Christ before me.


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Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who are toiling in the Lord. Greet Persis, the beloved, who toils much in the Lord.


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Now I am entreating you, brethren, to be noting those who are making dissensions and snares beside the teaching which you learned, and avoid them,


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for such for our Lord Christ are not slaving, but for their own bowels, and through compliments and adulation are deluding the hearts of the innocent.


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For your obedience reached out to all. Over you, then, am I rejoicing. Now I am wanting you to be wise, indeed, for good, yet artless for evil.


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Now the God of peace will be crushing Satan under your feet swiftly. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you!


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Greeting you is Gaius, my host, and of the whole ecclesia. Greeting you is Erastus, the administrator of the city, and Quartus, the brother.


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Now to Him Who is able to establish you in accord with my evangel, and the heralding of Christ Jesus in accord with the revelation of a secret hushed in times eonian,


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yet manifested now and through prophetic scriptures, according to the injunction of the eonian God being made known to all nations for faith-obedience --


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to the ecclesia of God which is in Corinth, hallowed in Christ Jesus, called saints, together with all in every place who are invoking the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, both theirs and ours:


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I am thanking my God always concerning you over the grace of God which is being given you in Christ Jesus,


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Who will be confirming you also until the consummation, unimpeachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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Faithful is God, through Whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.


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Now I am entreating you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all may be saying the same thing, and there may be no schisms among you, but you may be attuned to the same mind and to the same opinion.


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For it was made evident to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe, that there are strifes among you.


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Now I am saying this, that each of you is saying, "I, indeed, am of Paul," yet "I of Apollos," yet "I of Cephas," yet "I of Christ."


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For Christ does not commission me to be baptizing, but to be bringing the evangel, not in wisdom of word, lest the cross of Christ may be made void.


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For the word of the cross is stupidity, indeed, to those who are perishing, yet to us who are being saved it is the power of God.


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For it is written, I shall be destroying the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of the intelligent shall I be repudiating.


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Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the discusser of this eon? Does not God make stupid the wisdom of this world?


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For since, in fact, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom knew not God, God delights, through the stupidity of the heralding, to save those who are believing,


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For you are observing your calling, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh; not many powerful, not many noble,


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but the stupidity of the world God chooses, that He may be disgracing the wise, and the weakness of the world God chooses, that He may be disgracing the strong,


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and the ignoble and the contemptible things of the world God chooses, and that which is not, that He should be discarding that which is,


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Yet you, of Him, are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us wisdom from God, besides righteousness and holiness and deliverance,


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And I, coming to you, brethren, came not with superiority of word or of wisdom, announcing to you the testimony of God,


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and my word and my heralding were not with the persuasive words of human wisdom, but with demonstration of spirit and of power,


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Yet wisdom are we speaking among the mature, yet a wisdom not of this eon, neither of the chief men of this eon, who are being discarded,


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but we are speaking God's wisdom in a secret, wisdom which has been concealed, which God designates before -- before the eons, for our glory,


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which not one of the chief men of this eon knows, for if they know, they would not crucify the Lord of glory.


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But, according as it is written, That which the eye did not perceive, and the ear did not hear, and to which the heart of man did not ascend -- whatever God makes ready for those who are loving Him.


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Yet to us God reveals them through His spirit, for the spirit is searching all, even the depths of God.


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For is any of humanity acquainted with that which is human except the spirit of humanity which is in it? Thus also, that which is of God no one knows, except the spirit of God.


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Now we obtained, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God, that we may be perceiving that which is being graciously given to us by God,


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which we are speaking also, not with words taught by human wisdom, but with those taught by the spirit, matching spiritual blessings with spiritual words.


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Now the soulish man is not receiving those things which are of the spirit of God, for they are stupidity to him, and he is not able to know them, seeing that they are spiritually examined.


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Milk I give you to drink, not solid food, for not as yet were you able. Nay, still, not even now are you able,


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for you are still fleshly. For where there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and walking according to man?


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For whenever anyone may be saying, "I, indeed, am of Paul," yet another, "I, of Apollos," will he not be fleshly?


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What, then, is Apollos? Now what is Paul? Servants are they, through whom you believe, and as the Lord gives to each.


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So that, neither is he who is planting anything, nor he who is irrigating, but God Who makes it grow up.


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Now he who is planting and he who is irrigating are for one thing. Yet each will be getting his own wages according to his own toil.


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According to the grace of God which is being granted to me, as a wise foreman I lay a foundation, yet another is building on it. Yet let each one beware how he is building on it.


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each one's work will become apparent, for the day will make it evident, for it is being revealed by fire. And the fire, it will be testing each one's work -- what kind it is.


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If anyone's work shall be burned up, he will forfeit it, yet he shall be saved, yet thus, as through fire.


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If anyone is corrupting the temple of God, God will be corrupting him, for the temple of God is holy, which you are.


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Let no one be deluding himself. If anyone among you is presuming to be wise in this eon, let him become stupid, that he may be becoming wise,


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for the wisdom of this world is stupidity with God. For it is written, "He is clutching the wise in their craftiness."


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whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or the present, or that which is impending -- all is yours,


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Now to me it is the least trifle that I may be being examined by you or by man's day. But neither am I examining myself.


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For of nothing am I conscious as to myself, but not by this am I justified. Now He Who is examining me is the Lord.


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So that, be not judging anything before the season, till the Lord should be coming, Who will also illuminate the hidden things of darkness and manifest the counsels of the hearts. And then applause will be coming to each one from God.


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Now these things, brethren, I transfer in a figure to myself and Apollos because of you, that in us you may be learning not to be disposed above what is written, that you may not be puffed up, one over the one, against the other.


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For who is making you to discriminate? Now what have you which you did not obtain? Now if you obtained it also, why are you boasting as though not obtaining?


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Already are you sated, already are you rich, apart from us you reign. And would that you surely reign, that we also should be reigning together with you!


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For I suppose that God demonstrates with us, the last apostles, as death-doomed, for we became a theater to the world and to messengers and to men.


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We are stupid because of Christ, yet you are prudent in Christ. We are weak, yet you are strong. You are glorious, yet we are dishonored.


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Until the present hour we are hungering also and thirsting, and are naked and are buffeted and unsettled and toiling, working with our own hands.


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being calumniated, we are entreating. As the offscourings of the world we became, the scum of all things, hitherto.


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For if you should be having ten thousand escorts in Christ, nevertheless not many fathers, for in Christ Jesus, through the evangel, I beget you.


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Therefore I send to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will be reminding you of my ways which are in Christ Jesus, according as I am teaching everywhere in every ecclesia.


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Yet I shall be coming to you swiftly, if ever the Lord should be willing, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.


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Absolutely, it is heard that there is prostitution among you, and such prostitution (which is not even named among the nations), so that someone has his father's wife.


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And you are puffed up, and mourn not rather, that the one who commits this act may be taken away from your midst.


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For I, indeed, being absent in body, yet present in spirit, have already, as if present, thus judged the one effecting this,


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in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (you being gathered, and my spirit, together with the power of our Lord Jesus),


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to give up such a one to Satan for the extermination of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.


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Clean out, then, the old leaven, that you may be a fresh kneading, according as you are unleavened. For our Passover also, Christ, was sacrificed for our sakes


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so that we may be keeping the festival, not with old leaven, nor yet with the leaven of evil and wickedness, but with unleavened sincerity and truth.


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And undoubtedly it is not as to the paramours of this world, or the greedy and extortionate, or idolaters, else, consequently, you ought to come out of the world.


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Yet now I write to you not to be commingling with anyone named a brother, if he should be a paramour, or greedy, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. With such a one you are not even to be eating.


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Dare any of you, having business with another, be judged before the unjust, and not before the saints?


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Or are you not aware that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world is being judged by you, are you unworthy of the least tribunals?


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If indeed, then, you should have tribunals for life's affairs, the contemptible in the ecclesia, these you are seating?


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To abash you am I saying this. Thus is there not among you one wise man who will be able to adjudicate amidst his brethren,


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Already, indeed, then, it is absolutely a discomfiture for you that you are having lawsuits among yourselves. Wherefore are you not rather being injured? Wherefore are you not rather being cheated?


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Or are you not aware that the unjust shall not be enjoying the allotment of God's kingdom? Be not deceived. Neither paramours, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor catamites, nor sodomites,


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nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards; no revilers, no extortioners shall be enjoying the allotment of God's kingdom.


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And some of you were these, but you are bathed off, but you are hallowed, but you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God.


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All is allowed me, but not all is expedient. All is allowed me, but I will not be put under its authority by anything.


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Foods for the bowels and the bowels for foods, yet God will be discarding these as well as those. Now the body is not for prostitution, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.


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Are you not aware that your bodies are members of Christ? Taking, then, the members of Christ away, should I be making them members of a prostitute? May it not be coming to that!


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Or are you not aware that he who joins a prostitute is one body? For, He is averring, the two will be one flesh.


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Flee from prostitution. The penalty of every sin, whatsoever a man should be doing, is outside of the body, yet he who is committing prostitution is sinning against his own body.


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Or are you not aware that your body is a temple of the holy spirit in you, which you have from God, and you are not your own?


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Yet, because of prostitutions, let each man have a wife for himself and each woman have her own husband.


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The wife has not the jurisdiction of her own body, but the husband, yet likewise the husband also has not the jurisdiction of his own body, but the wife.


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Do not deprive one another, except sometime it should be by agreement for a period, that you should have leisure for prayer, and you may be the same again, lest Satan may be trying you because of your incontinence.


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For I want all men to be as I myself also, but each has his own gracious gift from God, one indeed, thus, yet one thus.


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Now I am saying to the unmarried and the widows, that it is ideal for them if ever they should be remaining even as I.


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Yet if they are not controlling themselves, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to be on fire.


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Now to the married I am charging, not I, but the Lord: A wife is not to be separated from her husband.


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Yet if she should be separated also, let her remain unmarried or be conciliated to her husband. And a husband is not to leave his wife.


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Now to the rest am I speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she approves of making a home with him, let him not leave her.


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And a wife who has an unbelieving husband, and he approves of making a home with her, let her not leave her husband.


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For the unbelieving husband is hallowed by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is hallowed by the brother, else, consequently, your children are unclean. Yet now they are holy.


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Yet if the unbeliever is separating, let him separate. A brother or a sister is not enslaved in such a case. Now God has called us in peace.


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For of what are you aware, O wife -- will you be saving your husband -- or of what are you aware, O husband -- will you be saving your wife --


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except as the Lord parts it to each? Each as God has called him, thus let him be walking. And thus am I prescribing in all the ecclesias.


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Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not be de-circumcised. Is anyone called in uncircumcision? Let him not circumcise.


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Were you called a slave? Let it not be causing you care. But if you are able to become free also, use it rather.


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For, in the Lord, he who is being called a slave, is the Lord's freedman. Likewise, he who is being called, being free, is a slave of Christ.


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Now concerning the celibates or virgins, I have no injunction of the Lord. Yet an opinion am I giving, as one who has enjoyed mercy by the Lord to be faithful.


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I am inferring, then, this ideal to be inherent, because of the present necessity, for it is ideal for humanity to be thus.


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You are bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. You have been loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.


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Yet if you ever should be marrying, also, you did not sin. And if the virgin should be marrying, she did not sin. Yet affliction in the flesh will such be having. Yet I am sparing you.


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Now this I am averring, brethren, the era is limited; that, furthermore, those also having wives may be as not having them,


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and those lamenting as not lamenting, and those rejoicing as not rejoicing, and those buying as not retaining,


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Now I want you to be without worry. The unmarried one is solicitous about the things of the Lord, how he should be pleasing the Lord.


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and is parted. The unmarried woman as well as the virgin: the unmarried one is solicitous about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy in body as well as in spirit, yet she who marries is solicitous about the things of the world, how she should be pleasing her husband.


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Now this I am saying for your own expedience, not that I should be casting a noose over you, but for that which is respectable and assiduous -- to be undistractedly for the Lord.


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Now if anyone is inferring it to be indecent for his virgin, if she should be over her meridian, and thus it ought to occur, what he will, let him do. He is not sinning. Let them marry.


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Yet he who stands settled in his heart, having no necessity, yet has authority as to his own will, and has decided this in his own heart (to be keeping his virgin) ideally will be doing.


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So that he also who is taking his virgin in marriage, ideally will be doing, yet he who is not taking out in marriage will be doing better.


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A wife is bound by law for whatever time her husband is living. Yet if the husband should be reposing, she is free to be married to whom she will, only in the Lord.


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Yet happier is she if ever she should be remaining thus, according to my opinion. Now I presume that I also have God's spirit.


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Now concerning the idol sacrifices: We are aware that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, yet love builds up.


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Then, concerning the feeding on the idol sacrifices: We are aware that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God except One.


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For even if so be that there are those being termed gods, whether in heaven or on earth, even as there are many gods and many lords,


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nevertheless for us there is one God, the Father, out of Whom all is, and we for Him, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom all is, and we through Him.


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But not in all is there this knowledge. Now some, used hitherto to the idol, are eating of it as an idol sacrifice, and their conscience, being weak, is being polluted.


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Now food will not give us a standing with God, neither, if we should not be eating are we in want, nor if we should be eating are we cloyed.


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For if anyone should be seeing you, who has knowledge, lying down in an idol's shrine, will not the conscience of him who is weak be inured to the eating of the idol sacrifices?


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Now in thus sinning against brethren, and beating their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ.


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Wherefore, if food is snaring my brother, I may under no circumstances be eating meat for the eon, lest I should be snaring my brother.


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


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If to others I am not an apostle, nevertheless I surely am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.


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Have we no right at all to be leading about a sister as a wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?


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Who is warring at any time supplying his own rations? Who is planting a vineyard and not eating of its fruit? Or who is tending a flock and not eating of the milk of the flock?


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For in the law of Moses it is written: "You shall not muzzle the threshing ox." Not for oxen is the care of God!


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Or is He undoubtedly saying it because of us? Because of us, for it was written that the plower ought to be plowing in expectation, and the thresher to partake of his expectation.


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If, in expectation, we sow the spiritual in you, is it a great thing if we shall reap of your fleshly things?


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If others are partaking of this right from you, are not rather we? Nevertheless we do not use this right, but we are forgoing all, lest we may be giving any hindrance to the evangel of Christ


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Are you not aware that the workers at the sacred things are eating of the things of the sanctuary? Those settling beside the altar have their portion with the altar.


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Thus the Lord also prescribes that those who are announcing the evangel are to be living of the evangel.


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Yet I do not use any of these things. Now I do not write these things that it may be becoming thus with me, for it is my ideal rather to be dying, than that anyone shall be making my boast void.


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For if I should be bringing the evangel, it is not for me to boast in, for necessity is lying upon me, for it were woe to me if I should not be bringing the evangel!


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For if I am engaging in this voluntarily, I have wages, yet if involuntarily, I have been entrusted with an administration.


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What, then, is my wage? That, in bringing the evangel, I should be placing the evangel without expense, so as not to use up my authority in the evangel.


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And I became to the Jews as a Jew, that I should be gaining Jews; to those under law as under law (not being myself under law), that I should be gaining those under law;


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to those without law as without law (not being without God's law, but legally Christ's), that I should be gaining those without law.


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I became as weak to the weak, that I should be gaining the weak. To all have I become all, that I should undoubtedly be saving some.


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Are you not aware that those racing in a stadium are, indeed, all racing, yet one is obtaining the prize? Thus be racing that you may be grasping it.


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Now every contender is controlling himself in all things; they, indeed, then, that they may be obtaining a corruptible wreath, yet we an incorruptible.


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but I am belaboring my body and leading it into slavery, lest somehow, when heralding to others, I myself may become disqualified.


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For I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, that our fathers all were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,


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and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank of the spiritual Rock which followed. Now the Rock was Christ.


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according as they also lust. Nor yet be becoming idolaters, according as some of them, even as it is written, "Seated are the people to eat and drink, and they rise to sport."


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Nor yet may we be committing prostitution, according as some of them commit prostitution, and fall in one day twenty-three thousand.


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Nor yet may we be putting the Lord on trial, according as some of them put Him on trial, and perished by serpents.


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Now all this befalls them typically. Yet it was written for our admonition, to whom the consummations of the eons have attained.


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No trial has taken you except what is human. Now, faithful is God, Who will not be leaving you to be tried above what you are able, but, together with the trial, will be making the sequel also, to enable you to undergo it.


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The cup of blessing which we are blessing, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we are breaking, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?


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Observe Israel according to the flesh. Are not those eating the sacrifices participants with the altar?


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But that that which the nations are sacrificing, they are sacrificing to demons and not to God. Now I do not want you to become participants with the demons.


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You can not drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can not be partaking of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.


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If anyone of the unbelievers is inviting you, and you want to go, be eating everything that is placed before you, examining nothing because of conscience.


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Yet if anyone should be saying to you, "This is a sacred sacrifice," do not eat, because of that one who divulges it, and conscience.


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Yet conscience, I am saying, not that of yourself, but that of another. For why is my freedom being decided by another's conscience?


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If I, with gratitude, am partaking, why am I being calumniated for that for which I am giving thanks?


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according as I also am pleasing all in all things, not seeking my own expedience, but that of the many, that they may be saved.


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Now I am applauding you that you remember all of mine, and are retaining the traditions according as I give them over to you.


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Now I want you to be aware that the Head of every man is Christ, yet the head of the woman is the man, yet the Head of Christ is God.


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Yet every woman praying or prophesying with uncovered head, is disgracing her head, for it is one and the same as being shaven.


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For if a woman is not covering, let her be shorn also. Now if it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covering.


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For a man, indeed, ought not to be covering his head, being inherently the image and glory of God. Yet the woman is the glory of the man.


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Is not even nature itself teaching you that if a man, indeed, should have tresses, it is a dishonor to him,


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yet if a woman should have tresses, it is her glory, seeing that tresses have been given her instead of clothing?


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Now in giving this charge I am not applauding, for you are coming together, not for the better, but for discomfiture.


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For first, indeed, at your coming together in the ecclesia, I am hearing of schisms inhering among you, and some part I am believing.


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For it must be that there are sects also among you, that those also who are qualified may be becoming apparent among you.


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for each one is getting his own dinner before in the eating, and one, indeed, is hungry, yet one is drunk.


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For have you no homes at all in which to eat and drink? Or are you despising the ecclesia of God, and mortifying those who have nothing? What may I be saying to you? Shall I be applauding you in this? I am not applauding.


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For I accepted from the Lord, what I give over also to you, that the Lord Jesus, in the night in which He was given up, took bread,


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and giving thanks, breaks it and said, "This is My body, broken for your sakes. This do for a recollection of Me."


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Similarly, the cup also, after dining, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you are drinking, for a recollection of Me."


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For as often as you are eating this bread and drinking this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until He should be coming.


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So that, whoever should be eating the bread or drinking the cup of the Lord unworthily, will be liable for the body and the blood of the Lord.


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For he who is eating and drinking unworthily is eating and drinking judgment to himself, not discriminating the body of the Lord.


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Yet, being judged, we are being disciplined by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.


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Now if anyone may be hungry, let him eat at home, that you may not be coming together for judgment. Now the rest I shall be prescribing as soon as I should be coming.


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You are aware that when you were of the nations, you were led away to the voiceless idols, as ever you were led.


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Wherefore I am making known to you that no one, speaking by God's spirit, is saying, "Anathema is Jesus." And no one is able to say "Lord is Jesus" except by holy spirit.


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For to one, indeed, through the spirit, is being given the word of wisdom, yet to another the word of knowledge, according to the same spirit


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yet to another operations of powerful deeds, yet to another prophecy, yet to another discrimination of spirits, yet to another species of languages, yet to another translation of languages.


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Now all these one and the same spirit is operating, apportioning to each his own, according as He is intending.


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For even as the body is one and has many members, yet all the members of the one body, being many, are one body, thus also is the Christ.


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For in one spirit also we all are baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and all are made to imbibe one spirit.


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If the foot should be saying, "Seeing that I am not a hand, I am not of the body," not for this is it not of the body.


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And if the ear should be saying, "Seeing that I am not an eye, I am not of the body" not for this is it not of the body.


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Yet the eye can not say to the hand, "I have no need of you," or, again, the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."


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and which we suppose to be a more dishonored part of the body, these we are investing with more exceeding honor, and our indecent members have more exceeding respectability.


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Now our respectable members have no need, but God blends the body together, giving to that which is deficient more exceeding honor,


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that there may be no schism in the body, but the members may be mutually solicitous for one another.


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And whether one member is suffering, all the members are sympathizing, or one member is being esteemed, all the members are rejoicing with it.


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whom also God, indeed, placed in the ecclesia, first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers, thereupon powers, thereupon graces of healing, supports, pilotage, species of languages.


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If I should be speaking in the languages of men and of the messengers, yet should have no love, I have become resounding copper or a clanging cymbal.


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And if I should have prophecy and should be perceiving all secrets and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so as to transport mountains, yet have no love, I am nothing.


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And if ever I should be morselling out all my possessions, and if I should be giving up my body, that I should be boasting, yet may have no love, in nothing do I benefit.


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Love is never lapsing: yet, whether prophecies, they will be discarded, or languages, they will cease, or knowledge, it will be discarded.


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When I was a minor, I spoke as a minor, I was disposed as a minor, I took account of things as a minor. Yet when I have become a man, I have discarded that which is a minor's.


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For at present we are observing by means of a mirror, in an enigma, yet then, face to face. At present I know out of an instalment, yet then I shall recognize according as I am recognized also.


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For he who is speaking in a language is not speaking to men, but to God, for no one is hearing, yet in spirit he is speaking secrets.


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He who is speaking in a language is edifying himself, yet he who is prophesying is edifying the ecclesia.


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Now I want you all to be speaking in languages, yet rather that you may be prophesying, for greater is he who is prophesying than he who is speaking in languages, outside and except he may be interpreting, that the ecclesia may be getting edification.


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Yet now, brethren, if I should be coming to you speaking in languages, what shall I be benefiting you if ever I should not be speaking to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching?


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Likewise, soulless things, giving a sound, whether flute or lyre, if they should not be giving a distinction to the utterances, how will the fluting or the lyre playing be known?


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Thus, you also, if you should not be giving an intelligible expression through the language, how will it be known what is being spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.


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If, then, I should not be perceiving the import of the sound, I shall be a barbarian to the one speaking, and the one speaking a barbarian to me.


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Thus you also, since you are zealots for spiritual endowments, seek that you may be superabounding to the edification of the ecclesia.


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What is it, then? Should I be praying in the spirit, yet I will be praying with the mind also. In the spirit will I be playing music, yet I will be playing with the mind also.


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Else, if you should be blessing in the spirit, how shall he who is filling up the place of a plain person be declaring "Amen!" at your giving of thanks, since, in fact, he is not aware what you are saying?


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But, in the ecclesia, do I want to speak five words with my mind, that I should be instructing others also, or ten thousand words in a language?


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Brethren, do not become little children in disposition. But in evil be minors, yet in disposition become mature.


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In the law it is written that, In different languages and by different lips shall I speak to this people, and neither thus will they be hearkening to Me, the Lord is saying.


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So that languages are for a sign, not to the believers, but to the unbelievers. Yet prophecy is not for the unbelievers, but for believers.


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If then, the whole ecclesia should be coming together in the same place, and all should be speaking in languages, yet should plain persons or unbelievers be entering, will they not be declaring that you are mad?


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Now if all should be prophesying, yet some unbeliever or plain person be entering, he is being exposed by all, he is being examined by all.


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The hidden things of his heart are becoming apparent, and thus, falling on his face, he will be worshiping God, reporting that God really is among you.


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What, then, is it, brethren? Whenever you may be coming together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a language, has a translation. Let all occur to edification.


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Besides, if anyone is speaking in a language, by two, or, at the most, three, and by instalments, let one also interpret.


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Now if there should be no interpreter, let him hush in the ecclesia, yet let him speak to himself and to God.


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Let the women in the ecclesias hush, for it is not permitted to them to speak, but let them be subject, according as the law, also is saying.


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Now, if they want to learn anything, let them be inquiring of their own husbands at home, for it is a shame for a woman to be speaking in the ecclesia.


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If anyone is presuming to be a prophet or spiritual, let him be recognizing that what I am writing to you is a precept of the Lord.


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Now I am making known to you, brethren, the evangel which I bring to you, which also you accepted, in which also you stand,


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through which also you are saved, if you are retaining what I said in bringing the evangel to you, outside and except you believe feignedly.


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For I give over to you among the first what also I accepted, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,


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Thereupon He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the majority are remaining hitherto, yet some were put to repose also.


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For I am the least of the apostles, who am not competent to be called an apostle, because I persecute the ecclesia of God.


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Yet, in the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace, which is in me, did not come to be for naught, but more exceedingly than all of them toil I -- yet not I, but the grace of God which is with me.


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Now if Christ is being heralded that He has been roused from among the dead, how are some among you saying that there is no resurrection of the dead?


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Now if Christ has not been roused, for naught, consequently, is our heralding, and for naught is your faith.


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Now we are being found false witnesses also of God, seeing that we testify by God that He rouses Christ, Whom, consequently, He rouses not, if so be that the dead are not being roused.


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For since, in fact, through a man came death, through a Man, also, comes the resurrection of the dead.


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Yet each in his own class: the Firstfruit, Christ; thereupon those who are Christ's in His presence;


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thereafter the consummation, whenever He may be giving up the kingdom to His God and Father, whenever He should be nullifying all sovereignty and all authority and power.


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For He subjects all under His feet. Now whenever He may be saying that all is subject, it is evident that it is outside of Him Who subjects all to Him.


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Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all.)


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Else what shall those be doing who are baptizing? It is for the sake of the dead absolutely if the dead are not being roused. Why are they baptizing also for their sake?


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if, as a man, I fight wild beasts in Ephesus, what is the benefit to me? If the dead are not being roused, "we may be eating and drinking, for tomorrow we are dying."


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Sober up justly and do not be sinning, for some have an ignorance of God. To abash you am I saying it.


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But someone will be protesting, "How are the dead being roused? Now with what body are they coming?"


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And, what you are sowing, you are not sowing the body which shall come to be, but a naked kernel, perchance of wheat or some of the rest.


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Not all flesh is the same flesh, but there is one, indeed, of men, yet another flesh of beasts, yet another flesh of flyers, yet another of fishes.


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There are bodies celestial as well as bodies terrestrial. But a different glory, indeed, is that of the celestial, yet a different that of the terrestrial,


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another glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars, for star is excelling star in glory.


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If there is a soulish body, there is a spiritual also. Thus it is written also, The first man, Adam, "became a living soul:" the last Adam a vivifying Spirit.


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Such as the soilish one is, such are those also who are soilish, and such as the Celestial One, such are those also who are celestials.


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And according as we wear the image of the soilish, we should be wearing the image also of the Celestial.


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Now this I am averring, brethren, that flesh and blood is not able to enjoy an allotment in the kingdom of God, neither is corruption enjoying the allotment of incorruption.


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Lo! a secret to you am I telling! We all, indeed, shall not be put to repose, yet we all shall be changed,


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in an instant, in the twinkle of an eye, at the last trump. For He will be trumpeting, and the dead will be roused incorruptible, and we shall be changed.


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Now, whenever this corruptible should be putting on incorruption and this mortal should be putting on immortality, then shall come to pass the word which is written, Swallowed up was Death by Victory.


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So that, my beloved brethren, become settled, unmovable, superabounding in the work of the Lord always, being aware that your toil is not for naught in the Lord.


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Now, concerning the collection for the saints, even as I prescribe to the ecclesias of Galatia, thus do you also.


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On one of the sabbaths let each of you lay aside by himself in store that in which he should be prospered, that no collections may be occurring then, whenever I may come.


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Now whenever I may be coming along, whomsoever you should be attesting through letters, these shall I be sending to carry away your grace to Jerusalem.


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Now I shall be coming to you whenever I may pass through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia.


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Now, perchance, I shall be abiding with you, or wintering also, that you should be sending me forward wheresoever I may be going.


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For I do not want to see you at present on the way, for I am expecting to stay some time with you, if ever the Lord should permit.


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Now if Timothy should be coming, look to it that he should be with you fearlessly, for he is working at the work of the Lord, as I also.


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No one, then, should be scorning him. Now send him forward in peace, that he may be coming to me, for I am awaiting him with the brethren.


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Now concerning brother Apollos, I entreat him much that he may be coming to you with the brethren, and it was undoubtedly not his will that he should come now, yet he will come whenever he should have an opportunity.


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Now I am entreating you, brethren -- you are acquainted with the house of Stephanas and Fortunatus, that it is the firstfruit of Achaia, and they set themselves to the service for the saints --


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Now I am rejoicing at the presence of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, for this deficiency of yours, these men fill up,


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Greeting you are the ecclesias of the province of Asia. Greeting you much in the Lord are Aquila and Prisca, together with the ecclesia of their house.


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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, through the will of God, and brother Timothy, to the ecclesia of God which is in Corinth, together with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:


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Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of pities and God of all consolation,


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Who is consoling us in our every affliction to enable us to be consoling those in every affliction, through the consolation with which we ourselves are being consoled by God,


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seeing that, according as the sufferings of Christ are superabounding in us, thus, through Christ, our consolation also is superabounding.


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Now, whether we are being afflicted for your consolation and salvation, or whether we are being consoled for your consolation, which is operating in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also are suffering,


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our expectation, also, is confirmed over you, being aware that, as you are participants of the sufferings, thus of the consolation also.


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For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which came to us in the province of Asia, that we were inordinately burdened, over our ability, so that we were despairing of life also.


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But we have the rescript of death in ourselves, that we may be having no confidence in ourselves, but in God, Who rouses the dead,


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Who rescues us from a death of such proportions, and will be rescuing; on Whom we rely that He will still be rescuing also;


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you also assisting together by a petition for us, in order that, from many faces He may be thanked by many for us for the gracious gift given to us.


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For our boasting is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, yet more superabundantly toward you.


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For no other things are we writing to you than what you are reading or recognizing also. Now I am expecting that you will recognize ultimately,


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according as you also recognized us in part, for we are your glorying (even as you also are ours) in the day of our Lord Jesus.


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And in this confidence I intended formerly to come to you, that you should be having a second grace,


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and through you to pass through into Macedonia, and to come again from Macedonia to you, and by you to be sent forward into Judea.


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Intending this, then, consequently do I not use lightness? Or what I am planning, am I planning according to the flesh, that it may be with me "Yes, yes," and "No, no"?


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For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, Who is being heralded among you through us -- through me and Silvanus and Timothy -- became not "Yes" and "No," but in Him has become "Yes."


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For whatever promises are of God, are in Him "Yes." Wherefore through Him also is the "Amen" to God, for glory, through us.


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Not that we are lording it over your faith, but are fellow workers of your joy, for you stand fast in the faith.


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And I write this same thing to you, lest, coming, I may have sorrow from those on whom it was binding to be causing me to rejoice; having confidence in you all,


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for my joy is that of you all. For out of much affliction and pressure of heart I write to you, through many tears, not that you may be made sorrowful, but that you may know the love which I have for you more superabundantly.


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Now if anyone has caused sorrow, he has not made me sorry, but in part (lest I may be burdening), you all.


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So that, on the contrary, you are rather to deal graciously and console, lest somehow such may be swallowed up by the more excessive sorrow.


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Now, with whom you are dealing graciously in anything, I, also. For in what I also have dealt graciously (if I have dealt graciously in anything), it is because of you in the face of Christ,


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I have no ease in my spirit at my not finding Titus, my brother, but taking leave of them, I came away into Macedonia.


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Now thanks be to God, Who always gives us a triumph in Christ, and is manifesting the odor of His knowledge through us in every place,


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for we are a fragrance of Christ to God, in those who are being saved and in those who are perishing:


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to these, indeed, an odor of death for death, yet to those an odor of life for life. And for this who is competent?


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For we are not as the majority, who are peddling the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God in Christ, are we speaking.


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Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or need we not, even as some, commendatory letters to you or from you?


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for you are manifesting a letter of Christ, dispensed by us, and engraven, not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets, but on the fleshy tablets of the heart.


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(not that we are competent of ourselves, to reckon anything as of ourselves, but our competency is of God),


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Who also makes us competent dispensers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the spirit, for the letter is killing, yet the spirit is vivifying.


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(Now if the dispensation of death, by letters chiseled in stone, came in glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look intently into the face of Moses, because of the glory of his face, which was being nullified,


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For if in the dispensation of condemnation is glory, much rather the dispensation of righteousness is exceeding in glory.


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For that also which has been glorified has not been glorified in this particular, on account of the glory transcendent.


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For if that which is being nullified was nullified through glory, much rather that which is remaining, remains in glory.


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and are not even as Moses. He placed a covering over his face, so that the sons of Israel were not to look intently to the consummation of that which is being nullified.


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But their apprehensions were calloused, for until this very day the same covering is remaining at the reading of the old covenant, not being uncovered.


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for only in Christ is it being nullified. But till today, if ever the reading of Moses should be reached, a covering is lying on their heart.


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Now we all, with uncovered face, mirroring the Lord's glory, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the spirit.


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But we spurn the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor yet adulterating the word of God, but, by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in God's sight.


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in whom the god of this eon blinds the apprehensions of the unbelieving so that the illumination of the evangel of the glory of Christ, Who is the Image of the invisible God, does not irradiate them.


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For we are not heralding ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, yet ourselves your slaves because of Jesus,


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for the God Who says that, out of darkness light shall be shining, is He Who shines in our hearts, with a view to the illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.


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Now we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the transcendence of the power may be of God and not of us.


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always carrying about in the body the deadening of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.


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For we who are living are ever being given up to death because of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.


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Now having the same spirit of faith, in accord with what is written, "I believe, wherefore I speak also," we also are believing, wherefore we are speaking also,


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being aware that He Who rouses the Lord Jesus will be rousing us also, through Jesus, and will be presenting us together with you.


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For all is because of you, that the grace, increasing through the majority, should be superabounding in thanksgiving to the glory of God.


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Wherefore we are not despondent, but even if our outward man is decaying, nevertheless that within us is being renewed day by day.


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For the momentary lightness of our affliction is producing for us a transcendently transcendent eonian burden of glory,


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at our not noting what is being observed, but what is not being observed, for what is being observed is temporary, yet what is not being observed is eonian.


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For we are aware that, if our terrestrial tabernacle house should be demolished, we have a building of God, a house not made by hands, eonian, in the heavens.


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For we also, who are in the tabernacle, are groaning, being burdened, on which we are not wanting to be stripped, but to be dressed, that the mortal may be swallowed up by life.


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Now He Who produces us for this same longing is God, Who is also giving us the earnest of the spirit.


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Being, then, courageous always, and aware that, being at home in the body, we are away from home from the Lord


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yet we are encouraged, and are delighting rather to be away from home out of the body and to be at home with the Lord.


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For all of us must be manifested in front of the dais of Christ, that each should be requited for that which he puts into practice through the body, whether good or bad.


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Being aware, then, of the fear of the Lord, we are persuading men, yet we are manifest to God. Now I am expecting to be manifest in your consciences also.


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Not again are we commending ourselves to you, but are giving an incentive to you by boasting over you, that you may have it for those who are boasting in personal appearance and not in heart.


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For the love of Christ is constraining us, judging this, that, if One died for the sake of all, consequently all died.


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And He died for the sake of all that those who are living should by no means still be living to themselves, but to the One dying and being roused for their sakes.


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So that we, from now on, are acquainted with no one according to flesh. Yet even if we have known Christ according to flesh, nevertheless now we know Him so no longer.


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So that, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the primitive passed by. Lo! there has come new!


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Yet all is of God, Who conciliates us to Himself through Christ, and is giving us the dispensation of the conciliation,


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how that God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them, and placing in us the word of the conciliation.


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For Christ, then, are we ambassadors, as of God entreating through us. We are beseeching for Christ's sake, "Be conciliated to God!"


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For the One not knowing sin, He makes to be a sin offering for our sakes that we may be becoming God's righteousness in Him.


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For He is saying, "In a season acceptable I reply to you, And in a day of salvation I help you." Lo! Now is a most acceptable era! Lo! Now is a day of salvation!


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but in everything we are commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,


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in the word of truth, in the power of God, through the implements of righteousness of the right hand and of the left,


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as sorrowing, yet ever rejoicing, as poor, yet enriching many, as having nothing, and retaining all.


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Do not become diversely yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? Or what communion has light with darkness?


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Now what concurrence has a temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, according as God said, that I will be making My home and will be walking in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.


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Wherefore, Come out of their midst and be severed, the Lord is saying. And touch not the unclean, and I will admit you,


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Having, then, these promises, beloved, we should be cleansing ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, completing holiness in the fear of God.


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I am not saying this with a view to condemnation, for I have declared before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.


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I am superexceeding in joy in all our affliction. For even at our coming into Macedonia, our flesh has no ease, but we are afflicted in everything: outside fightings; inside fears.


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yet not only by his presence, but by the consolation also with which he was consoled over you, informing us of your longing, your anguish, your zeal for my sake; so that I rather rejoice that,


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even if I make you sorry by an epistle, I am not regretting it, even if I did regret. For I am observing that that epistle makes you sorry, even if it is for an hour.


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Now I am rejoicing, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry to repentance. For you were made sorry according to God, that in nothing you may suffer forfeit by us.


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For sorrow according to God is producing repentance for unregretted salvation, yet the sorrow of the world is producing death.


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For lo! this same thing – for you to be made sorry according to God – how much it produces in you of diligence, nay, defense, nay, resentment, nay, fear, nay, longing, nay, zeal, nay, avenging! In everything you commend yourselves to be pure in this matter.


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Consequently, even if I write to you, it is not on account of the one who injures, but neither on account of the one being injured, but on account of manifesting to you your diligence for our sake in God's sight.


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Therefore we are consoled, yet in our consolation we rather rejoiced more exceedingly in the joy of Titus, for his spirit has been soothed by you all,


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for, if I have boasted any to him over you, I was not disgraced, but as we speak all in truth to you, thus also our boasting before Titus came to be truth.


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And his compassions for you are superabundantly more, having a recollection of the obedience of you all, as, with fear and trembling, you receive him.


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Now we are making known to you, brethren, the grace of God which has been bestowed in the ecclesias of Macedonia,


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for, in a test of much affliction, the superabundance of their joy and the corresponding depth of their poverty superabounds to the riches of their generosity,


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and not according as we expect, but themselves they give first to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.


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So that we entreat Titus that, according as he undertakes before, thus also should he be completing in you this grace also.


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But, even as you are superabounding in everything -- in faith and word and knowledge and all diligence and the love that flows out of you into us -- that you may be superabounding in this grace also.


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I am not saying this as an injunction, but, through the diligence of others, testing also the genuineness of this love of yours.


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For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, being rich, because of you He became poor, that you, by His poverty, should be rich.


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And in this I am giving an opinion, for this is expedient for you, who, for a year past, undertake before, not only the doing but the willing also.


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Yet now complete the doing also, so that, even as the eagerness to will, thus also may be the completion, out of what you have.


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For if eagerness lies before, it is most acceptable according to whatever one may have, not according to what he has not.


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but by an equality, in the current occasion, your superabundance is for their want, that their superabundance also may be coming to be for your want, so that there may be coming to be an equality,


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for he, indeed, receives the entreaty, yet being inherenty more diligent, of his own accord he came out to you.


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Now we send together with him the brother whose applause in the evangel is through all the ecclesias,


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yet not only so, but who was selected also by the ecclesias to be our fellow traveler with this grace which is being dispensed by us to the glory of the Lord Himself; our eagerness,


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also, putting this so that no one should find flaws in us in this exuberance which is being dispensed by us,


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Now we send together with them our brother, whom we test in many things, often, being diligent, yet now much more diligent, yet with much confidence in you,


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whether for the sake of Titus, my mate and fellow worker for you, or our brethren, the apostles of the ecclesias, the glory of Christ.


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Then the display of your love and our boasting over you to them is being displayed in the face of the ecclesias.


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For, indeed, concerning the dispensation for the saints, it is superfluous for me to be writing to you.


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For I am aware of your eagerness, of which I am boasting over you to the Macedonians, that "Achaia has been prepared a year past." And your zeal provokes the majority.


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Yet I send the brethren, lest our boasting over you may be made void in this particular, that you may be prepared according as I said,


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lest somehow, if the Macedonians should be coming together with me and finding you unprepared, we may be disgraced (not that we should say you!) in this assumption of boasting.


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I deem it necessary, then, to entreat the brethren that they may be coming before to you and should be adjusting beforehand your bounty as promised before. This to be ready thus, as a bounty and not as greed,


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yet as this: who is sowing sparingly, sparingly shall be reaping also, and who is sowing bountifully, bountifully shall be reaping also,


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each according as he has proposed in his heart, not sorrowfully, nor of compulsion, for the gleeful giver is loved by God.


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Now God is able to lavish all grace on you, that, having all contentment in everything always, you may be superabounding in every good work,


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according as it is written, He scatters, He gives to the drudges, His righteousness remains for the eon.


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Now may He Who is supplying seed to the sower, and bread for food, be furnishing and multiplying your seed and be making the product of your righteousness grow,


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being enriched in everything, for all the generosity, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God,


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for the dispensation of this ministry not only is replenishing the wants of the saints, but is superabounding also through much thanksgiving, to God,


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through the testedness of this dispensation, glorifying God at the subjection of your avowal to the evangel of Christ, and in the generosity of the contribution for them and for all,


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and in their petition for you, longing to be acquainted with you, because of the transcendent grace of God on you.


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Now I, Paul, myself am entreating you, through the meekness and leniency of Christ, who, as to personal appearance, indeed, am humble among you, yet, being absent, have courage toward you.


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Yet I am beseeching, that I may not, being present, have to have courage with the confidence with which I am reckoning to dare any who reckon us as walking according to the flesh,


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For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful to God toward the pulling down of bulwarks;


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pulling down reckonings and every height elevating itself against the knowledge of God, and leading into captivity every apprehension into the obedience of Christ,


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Are you looking at that on the surface? If anyone is presuming to have confidence in himself to be Christ's, let him be reckoning this again with himself, that, according as he is Christ's, thus also are we.


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For if ever I, besides, should also be boasting somewhat more excessively concerning our authority (which the Lord gives us for building you up and not for pulling you down), I shall not be put to shame,


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seeing that he is averring, "His epistles, indeed, are weighty and strong, yet his bodily presence is weak and his expression to be scorned."


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Let such a one be reckoning this, that such as we are in word, through epistles, being absent, such also, being present, are we in act.


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For we are not daring to judge ourselves by, or compare ourselves with, some who are commending themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, do not understand.


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Now we shall not be boasting immeasurably, but according to the measure of our range -- which measure God parts to us -- to reach on as far as you also


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(for it is not as though, not reaching on to you, we are overstretching ourselves, for we outstrip others even as far as you in the evangel of Christ),


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not boasting immeasurably in others' toils, yet having the expectation, your faith growing, to be magnified among you superabundantly,


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according to our range, so as to bring the evangel beyond you, not to boast in another's range over that which is ready.


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for I am jealous over you with a jealousy of God. For I betroth you to one Man, to present a chaste virgin to Christ.


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Yet I fear lest somehow, as the serpent deludes Eve by its craftiness, your apprehensions should be corrupted from the singleness and pureness which is in Christ.


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For if, indeed, he who is coming is heralding another Jesus whom we do not herald, or you are obtaining a different spirit, which you did not obtain, or a different evangel, which you do not receive, you are bearing with him ideally.


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Yet even if I am plain in expression, nevertheless I am not in knowledge, but in everything being made manifest in all for you.


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Or do I sin in humbling myself that you may be exalted, seeing that I bring the evangel of God to you gratuitously?


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And, being present with you and in want, I am not an encumberance to anyone (for the brethren coming from Macedonia replenish my wants), and in everything I keep and shall be keeping myself that I be not burdensome to you.


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The truth of Christ is in me, for this boasting shall not be barred from me in the regions of Achaia.


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Now what I am doing and will be doing is that I should strike off the incentive from those wanting an incentive, that in what they are boasting they may be found according as we also.


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It is no great thing, then, if his servants also are being transfigured as dispensers of righteousness -- whose consummation shall be according to their acts.


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Again I am saying, no one should presume me to be imprudent. Otherwise surely, even if it should be as imprudent, receive me, that I also should boast some little!


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What I speak, I am not speaking in accord with the Lord, but as in imprudence, in this assumption of boasting.


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For you are bearing with it if anyone is enslaving you, if anyone is devouring, if anyone is obtaining, if anyone is elevating himself, if anyone is lashing you in the face.


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By way of dishonor am I saying this, as that we are weakened. Now in whatever anyone is daring (in imprudence am I saying it), I also am daring.


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Servants of Christ are they? (Being insane, I am speaking.) Above them am I! In weariness more exceedingly, in jails more exceedingly, in blows inordinatley, in deaths often.


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Thrice am I flogged with rods, once am I stoned, thrice am I shipwrecked, a night and a day have I spent in a swamp,


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in journeys often, in dangers of rivers, in dangers of robbers, in dangers of my race, in dangers of the nations, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers in the sea, in dangers among false brethren;


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apart from what is outside, that which is coming upon me daily, the solicitude for all the ecclesias.


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In Damascus the ethnarch of Aretas, the king, garrisoned the city of the Damascenes, wanting to arrest me,


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If boasting must be, though it is not expedient, indeed, yet I shall also be coming to apparitions and revelations of the Lord.


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I am acquainted with a man in Christ, fourteen years before this, (whether in a body I am not aware, or outside of the body, I am not aware -- God is aware) such a one was snatched away to the third heaven.


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And I am acquainted with such a man (whether in a body or outside of the body I am not aware -- God is aware)


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that he was snatched away into paradise and hears ineffable declarations, which it is not allowed a man to speak.


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Over such a one I shall be boasting; yet over myself I shall not be boasting, except in my infirmities.


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For, if ever I should be wanting to boast, I shall not be imprudent, for I shall be declaring the truth. Yet I am reticent. No one should be reckoning me to be above what he is observing of me or anything he is hearing of me.


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Wherefore also, lest I should be lifted up by the transcendence of the revelations, there was given to me a splinter in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, that he may be buffeting me, lest I may be lifted up.


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And He has protested to me, "Sufficient for you is My grace, for My power in infirmity is being perfected." With the greatest relish, then, will I rather be glorying in my infirmities, that the power of Christ should be tabernacling over me.


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Wherefore I delight in infirmities, in outrages, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake, for, whenever I may be weak, then I am powerful.


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I have become imprudent; you compel me. For I ought to be commended by you, for I am not deficient in anything pertaining to the paramount apostles, even if I am nothing.


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Indeed, the signs of an apostle are produced among you in all endurance, besides in signs and miracles and powerful deeds.


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For is there anything in which you were discomfited above the rest of the ecclesias, except that I myself am not an encumbrance to you? Deal graciously with me for this injustice!


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Lo! this third time I hold myself ready to come to you and I shall not be an encumberance, for I am not seeking yours but you. For the children ought not to be hoarding for the parents, but the parents for the children.


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Yet with the greatest relish shall I spend and be bankrupted for the sake of your souls, even if loving you more exceedingly diminishes your love for me.


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I entreat Titus, and dispatch together with him a brother. Does Titus not overreach you? Walk we not in the same spirit? Not in the same footprints?


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Again, you are presuming that we are defending ourselves to you. Facing God, in Christ, are we speaking, yet all, beloved, for the sake of your edification.


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For I fear, lest somehow, on coming, I may not be finding you such as I want, and I may be found by you such as you do not want; lest somehow there be strife, jealousy, fury, factions, vilifications, whisperings, puffing up, turbulences.


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Not again at my coming will my God be humbling me toward you, and I shall be mourning for many who have sinned before and are not repenting of the uncleanness and prostitution and wantonness which they commit.


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Lo! This is the third time I am coming to you. At the mouth of two witnesses, and three, shall every declaration be made to stand.


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I have declared before, and am predicting as when being present the second time, and now, being absent, to those having sinned before and to all the rest, that if I should be coming again, I shall not spare,


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since you are seeking a test of Christ speaking in me, Who is not weak for you, but powerful among you.


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For even if He was crucified out of weakness, nevertheless He is living by the power of God. For we also are weak together with Him, but we shall be living together with Him by the power of God for you.


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Try yourselves, if you are in the faith; test yourselves. Or are you not recognizing yourselves that Christ Jesus is in you, except you are somewhat disqualified?


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Now we are wishing to God that you do not do anything evil, not that we may be appearing qualified, but that you may be doing that which is ideal, yet we may be as disqualified.


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For we are rejoicing whenever we may be weak, yet you may be powerful. Now this are we wishing also: your adjustment.


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Therefore I am writing these things, being absent, that, being present, I should not be using severity, according to the authority which the Lord gives me for building up and not for pulling down.


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Furthermore, brethren, rejoice, adjust, be entreated, be mutually disposed, be at peace, and the God of love and of peace will be with you.


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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the holy spirit be with you all! Amen!


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Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through a man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, Who rouses Him from among the dead),


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Who gives Himself for our sins, so that He might extricate us out of the present wicked eon, according to the will of our God and Father,


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I am marveling that thus, swiftly, you are transferred from that which calls you in the grace of Christ, to a different evangel,


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which is not another, except it be that some who are disturbing you want also to distort the evangel of Christ.


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But if ever we also, or a messenger out of heaven, should be bringing an evangel to you beside that which we bring to you, let him be anathema!


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As we have declared before and at present I am saying again, if anyone is bringing you an evangel beside that which you accepted, let him be anathema!


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For, at present, am I persuading men or God? Or am I seeking to please men? If I still pleased men, I were not a slave of Christ.


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For I am making known to you, brethren, as to the evangel which is being brought by me, that it is not in accord with man.


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For neither did I accept it from a man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.


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For you hear of my behavior once, in Judaism, that I inordinately persecuted the ecclesia of God and ravaged it.


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And I progressed in Judaism above many contemporaries in my race, being inherently exceedingly more zealous for the traditions of my fathers.


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to unveil His Son in me that I may be evangelizing Him among the nations, I did not immediately submit it to flesh and blood,


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neither came I up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I came away into Arabia, and I return again to Damascus.


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Thereupon, after three years, I came up to Jerusalem to relate my story to Cephas, and I stay with him fifteen days.


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Yet I became acquainted with no one different from the apostles, except James, the brother of the Lord.


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Yet only they were hearing that "He who once was persecuting us, now is evangelizing the faith which once he ravaged."


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Thereupon, after the lapse of fourteen years, I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also along with me.


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Now I went up in accord with a revelation, and submitted to them the evangel which I am heralding among the nations, yet privately to those of repute, lest somehow I should be racing or ran for naught.


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Yet, it was because of the false brethren who were smuggled in, who came in by the way to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that they shall be enslaving us-


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to whom, not even for an hour do we simulate by subjection, that the truth of the evangel should be continuing with you.


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Now from those reputed to be somewhat-what kind they once were is of no consequence to me (God is not taking up the human aspect)-for to me those of repute submitted nothing.


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according as Peter of the Circumcision (for He Who operates in Peter for the apostleship of the Circumcision operates in me also for the nations),


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and, knowing the grace which is being given to me, James and Cephas and John, who are supposed to be pillars, give to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we, indeed, are to be for the nations, yet they for the Circumcision-


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For, before the coming of some from James, he ate together with those of the nations. Yet when they came, he shrank back, and severed himself, fearing those of the Circumcision.


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And the rest of the Jews also play the hypocrite with him, so that Barnabas also was led away with their hypocrisy.


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But when I perceived that they are not correct in their attitude toward the truth of the evangel, I said to Cephas in front of all, "If you, being inherently a Jew, are living as the nations, and not as the Jews, how are you compelling the nations to be judaizing?"


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having perceived that a man is not being justified by works of law, except alone through the faith of Christ Jesus, we also believe in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by the faith of Christ and not by works of law, seeing that by works of law shall no flesh at all be justified.


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Now if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ, consequently, a dispenser of sin? May it not be coming to that!


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With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no longer I, but living in me is Christ. Now that which I am now living in flesh, I am living in faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me.


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I am not repudiating the grace of God, for if righteousness is through law, consequently Christ died gratuitously.


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He, then, who is supplying you with the spirit, and operating works of power among you-did you get the spirit by works of law or by the hearing of faith,


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Now the scripture, perceiving before that God is justifying the nations by faith, brings before an evangel to Abraham, that In you shall all the nations be blessed.


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For whoever are of works of law are under a curse, for it is written that, Accursed is everyone who is not remaining in all things written in the scroll of the law to do them.


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Now that in law no one is being justified with God is evident, for the just one by faith shall be living.


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Christ reclaims us from the curse of the law, becoming a curse for our sakes, for it is written, Accursed is everyone hanging on a pole,


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that the blessing of Abraham may be coming to the nations in Christ Jesus, that we may be obtaining the promise of the spirit through faith.


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Brethren (I am saying this as a man), a human covenant likewise having been ratified, no one is repudiating or modifying it.


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Now to Abraham the promises were declared, and to his Seed. He is not saying "And to seeds," as of many, but as of One: And to "your Seed," which is Christ.


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Now this am I saying: a covenant, having been ratified before by God, the law, having come four hundred and thirty years afterward, does not invalidate,


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so as to nullify the promise. For if the enjoyment of the allotment is of law, it is no longer of promise. Yet God has graciously granted it to Abraham through the promise.


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What, then, is the law? On behalf of transgressions was it added, until the Seed should come to Whom He has promised, being prescribed through messengers in the hand of a mediator.


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Is the law, then, against the promises of God? May it not be coming to that! For if a law were given that is able to vivify, really, righteousness were out of law.


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But the scripture locks up all together under sin, that the promise out of Jesus Christ's faith may be given to those who are believing.


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Now before the coming of faith we were garrisoned under law, being locked up together for the faith about to be revealed.


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in Whom there is no Jew nor yet Greek, there is no slave nor yet free, there is no male and female, for you all are one in Christ Jesus.


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Now if you are Christ's, consequently you are of Abraham's seed, enjoyers of the allotment according to the promise.


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Now I am saying, for as much time as the enjoyer of an allotment is a minor, in nothing is he of more consequence than a slave, being master of all,


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Now, seeing that you are sons, God delegates the spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying "Abba! Father!"


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So that you are no longer a slave, but a son. Now if a son, an enjoyer also of an allotment from God, through Christ.


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But then, indeed, having no perception of God, you were slaves of those who, by nature, are not gods.


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Yet now, knowing God, yet rather being known by God, how are you turning back again to the infirm and poor elements for which you want to slave again anew?


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And your trial, in my flesh, you do not scorn, neither do you loathe it, but as a messenger of God you receive me, as Christ Jesus.


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Where, then, is your happiness? For I am testifying to you, that, if possible, gouging out your eyes, you would give them to me.


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They are jealous over you, not ideally, but they want to debar you that you may be jealous over them.


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But the one, indeed, out of the maid is begotten according to flesh, yet the one out of the free woman through the promise:


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which is allegorizing, for these women are two covenants; one, indeed, from mount Sinai, generating into slavery, which is Hagar.


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Yet Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia; it is in line with the Jerusalem which now is, for she is in slavery with her children.


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For it is written, "Be glad, barren one, who art not bringing forth! Burst forth and implore, thou who art not travailing! For many are the children of the desolate, Rather than of her who has the husband."


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But even as then, the one generated according to flesh persecuted the one according to spirit, thus also it is now.


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But what is the scripture saying? Cast out this maid and her son, for by no means shall the son of the maid be enjoying the allotment with the son of the free woman.


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For freedom Christ frees us! Stand firm, then, and be not again enthralled with the yoke of slavery.


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For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision is availing anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith, operating through love.


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I have confidence in you in the Lord that in nothing you will be disposed otherwise. Now he who is disturbing you shall be bearing his judgment, whosoever he may be.


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Now I, brethren, if I am still heralding circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? Consequently the snare of the cross of Christ has been nullified.


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For you were called for freedom, brethren, only use not the freedom for an incentive to the flesh, but through love be slaving for one another.


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Now if you are biting and devouring one another, beware that you may not be consumed by one another.


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Now I am saying, Walk in spirit, and you should under no circumstances be consummating the lust of the flesh.


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For the flesh is lusting against the spirit, yet the spirit against the flesh. Now these are opposing one another, lest you should be doing whatever you may want.


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envies, murders, drunkennesses, revelries, and the like of these, which, I am predicting to you, according as I predicted also, that those committing such things shall not be enjoying the allotment of the kingdom of God.


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Brethren, if a man should be precipitated, also, in some offense, you, who are spiritual, be attuning such a one, in a spirit of meekness, noting yourself, that you, also, may not be tried.


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Now let each one be testing his own work, and then he shall be having his boast for himself alone, and not for another,


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Now let him who is being instructed in the word be contributing to him who is instructing, in all good things.


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Be not deceived, God is not to be sneered at, for whatsoever a man may be sowing, this shall he be reaping also,


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for he who is sowing for his own flesh, from the flesh shall be reaping corruption, yet he who is sowing for the spirit, from the spirit shall be reaping life eonian.


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Now we may not be despondent in ideal doing, for in due season we shall be reaping, if we do not faint.


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Consequently, then, as we have occasion, we are working for the good of all, yet specially for the family of faith.


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Whoever are wanting to put on a fair face in the flesh, these are compelling you to circumcise only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ Jesus.


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For not even they who are circumcising are maintaining law, but they want you to be circumcised that they should be boasting in that flesh of yours.


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Now may it not be mine to be boasting, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.


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And whoever shall observe the elements by this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, also on the Israel of God.


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For the rest, let no one afford me weariness, for I am bearing in my body the brand marks of the Lord Jesus Christ.


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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to all the saints who are also believers in Christ Jesus:


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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who blesses us with every spiritual blessing among the celestials, in Christ,


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according as He chooses us in Him before the disruption of the world, we to be holy and flawless in His sight,


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in love designating us beforehand for the place of a son for Him through Christ Jesus; in accord with the delight of His will,


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in Whom we are having the deliverance through His blood, the forgiveness of offenses in accord with the riches of His grace,


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to have an administration of the complement of the eras, to head up all in the Christ -- both that in the heavens and that on the earth --


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in Him in Whom our lot was cast also, being designated beforehand according to the purpose of the One Who is operating all in accord with the counsel of His will,


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In Whom you also -- on hearing the word of truth, the evangel of your salvation -- in Whom on believing also, you are sealed with the holy spirit of promise


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(which is an earnest of the enjoyment of our allotment, to the deliverance of that which has been procured) for the laud of His glory!


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Therefore, I also, on hearing of this faith of yours in the Lord Jesus, and that for all the saints,


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that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may be giving you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the realization of Him,


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the eyes of your heart having been enlightened, for you to perceive what is the expectation of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of the enjoyment of His allotment among the saints,


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and what the transcendent greatness of His power for us who are believing, in accord with the operation of the might of His strength,


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which is operative in the Christ, rousing Him from among the dead and seating Him at His right hand among the celestials,


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up over every sovereignty and authority and power and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this eon, but also in that which is impending:


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and subjects all under His feet, and gives Him, as Head over all, to the ecclesia which is His body, the complement of the One completing the all in all.


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in which once you walked, in accord with the eon of this world, in accord with the chief of the jurisdiction of the air, the spirit now operating in the sons of stubbornness


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(among whom we also all behaved ourselves once in the lusts of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and of the comprehension, and were, in our nature, children of indignation, even as the rest),


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(we also being dead to the offenses and the lusts), vivifies us together in Christ (in grace are you saved!)


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that, in the oncoming eons, He should be displaying the transcendent riches of His grace in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.


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For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is God's approach present,


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For His achievement are we, being created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God makes ready beforehand, that we should be walking in them.


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Wherefore, remember that once you, the nations in flesh -- who are termed 'Uncircumcision' by those termed 'Circumcision,' in flesh, made by hands --


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that you were, in that era, apart from Christ, being alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and guests of the promise covenants, having no expectation, and without God in the world.


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(the enmity in His flesh), nullifying the law of precepts in decrees, that He should be creating the two, in Himself, into one new humanity, making peace;


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Consequently, then, no longer are you guests and sojourners, but are fellow-citizens of the saints and belong to God's family,


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being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the capstone of the corner being Christ Jesus Himself,


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which, in other generations, is not made known to the sons of humanity as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets): in spirit


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the nations are to be joint enjoyers of an allotment, and a joint body, and joint partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus, through the evangel


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of which I became the dispenser, in accord with the gratuity of the grace of God, which is granted to me in accord with His powerful operation.


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To me, less than the least of all saints, was granted this grace: to bring the evangel of the untraceable riches of Christ to the nations,


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and to enlighten all as to what is the administration of the secret, which has been concealed from the eons in God, Who creates all,


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that now may be made known to the sovereignties and the authorities among the celestials, through the ecclesia, the multifarious wisdom of God,


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Wherefore I am requesting you not to be despondent at those of my afflictions for your sake which are your glory.


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that He may be giving you, in accord with the riches of His glory, to be made staunch with power, through His spirit, in the man within,


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should be strong to grasp, together with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and depth and height --


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to know the love of Christ as well which transcends knowledge -- that you may be completed for the entire complement of God.


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Now to Him Who is able to do superexcessively above all that we are requesting or apprehending, according to the power that is operating in us,


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to Him be glory in the ecclesia and in Christ Jesus for all the generations of the eon of the eons! Amen!


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I am entreating you, then, I, the prisoner in the Lord, to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,


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Now the 'He ascended,' what is it except that He first descended also into the lower parts of the earth?


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He Who descends is the Same Who ascends also, up over all who are of the heavens, that He should be completing all.


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And the same One gives these, indeed, as apostles, yet these as prophets, yet these as evangelists, yet these as pastors and teachers,


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toward the adjusting of the saints for the work of dispensing, for the upbuilding of the body of Christ,


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unto the end that we should all attain to the unity of the faith and of the realization of the son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature of the complement of the Christ,


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that we may by no means still be minors, surging hither and thither and being carried about by every wind of teaching, by human caprice, by craftiness with a view to the systematizing of the deception.


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out of Whom the entire body, being articulated together and united through every assimilation of the supply, in accord with the operation in measure of each one's part, is making for the growth of the body, for the upbuilding of itself in love.


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This, then, I am saying and attesting in the Lord: By no means are you still to be walking according as those of the nations also are walking, in the vanity of their mind,


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their comprehension being darkened, being estranged from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the callousness of their hearts,


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who, being past feeling, in greed give themselves up with wantonness to all uncleanness as a vocation.


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to put off from you, as regards your former behavior, the old humanity which is corrupted in accord with its seductive desires,


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and to put on the new humanity which, in accord with God, is being created in righteousness and benignity of the truth.


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Wherefore, putting off the false, let each be speaking the truth with his associate, for we are members of one another.


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Let him who steals by no means still be stealing: yet rather let him be toiling, working with his hands at what is good, that he may have to share with one who has need.


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Let no tainted word at all be issuing out of your mouth, but if any is good toward needful edification, that it may be giving grace to those hearing.


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And do not be causing sorrow to the holy spirit of God by which you are sealed for the day of deliverance.


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Let all bitterness and fury and anger and clamor and calumny be taken away from you with all malice,


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yet become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate, dealing graciously among yourselves, according as God also, in Christ, deals graciously with you.


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and be walking in love, according as Christ also loves you, and gives Himself up for us, an approach present and a sacrifice to God, for a fragrant odor.


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Now, all prostitution and uncleanness or greed -- let it not even be named among you, according as is becoming in saints --


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For this you perceive, knowing that no paramour at all or unclean or greedy person, who is an idolater, has any enjoyment of the allotment in the kingdom of Christ and of God.


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Let no one be seducing you with empty words, for because of these things the indignation of God is coming on the sons of stubbornness.


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As children of light be walking (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),


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Now all that which is being exposed, by the light is made manifest, for everything which is making manifest is light.


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Wherefore He is saying, 'Rouse! O drowsy one, and rise from among the dead, and Christ shall dawn upon you!'


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speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing music in your hearts to the Lord,


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for the husband is head of the wife even as Christ is Head of the ecclesia, and He is the Saviour of the body.


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Nevertheless, as the ecclesia is subject to Christ, thus are the wives also to their husbands in everything.


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Husbands, be loving your wives according as Christ also loves the ecclesia, and gives Himself up for its sake,


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that He should be presenting to Himself a glorious ecclesia, not having spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that it may be holy and flawless.


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Thus, the husbands also ought to be loving their own wives as their own bodies. He who is loving his own wife is loving himself.


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For no one at any time hates his own flesh, but is nurturing and cherishing it, according as Christ also the ecclesia,


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For this "a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh."


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Moreover, you also individually, each be loving his own wife thus, as himself, yet that the wife may be fearing the husband.


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And fathers, do not be vexing your children, but be nurturing them in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.


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Slaves, be obeying your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in the singleness of your heart, as to Christ,


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not with eye-slavery, as man-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul,


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being aware that, whatsoever good each one should be doing, for this he will be requited by the Lord, whether slave or free.


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And, masters, be doing the same toward them, being lax in threatening, being aware that their Master as well as yours is in the heavens, and there is no partiality with Him.


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for it is not ours to wrestle with blood and flesh, but with the sovereignties, with the authorities, with the world-mights of this darkness, with the spiritual forces of wickedness among the celestials.


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Therefore take up the panoply of God that you may be enabled to withstand in the wicked day, and having effected all, to stand.


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with all taking up the large shield of faith, by which you will be able to extinguish all the fiery arrows of the wicked one.


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During every prayer and petition be praying on every occasion (in spirit being vigilant also for it with all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints,


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and for me), that to me expression may be granted, in the opening of my mouth with boldness, to make known the secret of the evangel,


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for which I am conducting an embassy in a chain, that in it I should be speaking boldly, as I must speak.


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Now that you also may be acquainted with my affairs, and what is engaging me, all will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord,


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whom I send to you for this same thing, that you may know our concerns, and he should be consoling your hearts.


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Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, together with the supervisors and servants:


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having this same confidence, that He Who undertakes a good work among you, will be performing it until the day of Jesus Christ:


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according as it is just for me to be disposed in this way over you all, because you, having me in heart, both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the evangel, you all are joint participants with me of grace,


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And this I am praying, that your love may be superabounding still more and more in realization and all sensibility,


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for you to be testing what things are of consequence, that you may be sincere and no stumbling block for the day of Christ,


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Now I am intending you to know, brethren, that my affairs have rather come to be for the progress of the evangel,


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and the majority of the brethren, having confidence in the Lord as to my bonds, are more exceedingly daring to speak the word of God fearlessly.


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Some, indeed, are even heralding Christ because of envy and strife, yet some because of delight also;


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yet those are announcing Christ out of faction, not purely, surmising to rouse affliction in my bonds.


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What then? -- Moreover, seeing that, by every method, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being announced, I am rejoicing in this also, and will be rejoicing nevertheless.


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For I am aware that, for me, this will be eventuating in salvation through your petition and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ,


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in accord with my premonition and expectation, that in nothing shall I be put to shame, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether through life or through death.


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Now if it is to be living in flesh, this to me means fruit from work, and what I shall be preferring I am not making known.


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(Yet I am being pressed out of the two, having a yearning for the solution and to be together with Christ, for it, rather, is much better.)


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And, having this confidence, I am aware that I shall be remaining and shall be abiding with you all for your progress and joy of faith,


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Only be citizens walking worthily of the evangel of Christ, that, whether coming and making your acquaintance, or being absent, I should be hearing of your concerns, that you are standing firm in one spirit, one soul, competing together in the faith of the evangel,


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and not being startled by those who are opposing in anything, which is to them a proof of destruction, yet of your salvation, and this from God,


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for to you it is graciously granted, for Christ's sake, not only to be believing on Him, but to be suffering for His sake also,


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If, then, there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any communion of spirit, if any compassion and pity,


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fill my joy full, that you may be mutually disposed, having mutual love, joined in soul, being disposed to one thing --


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nothing according with faction, nor yet according with vainglory -- but with humility, deeming one another superior to one's self,


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and, being found in fashion as a human, He humbles Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.


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So that, my beloved, according as you always obey, not as in my presence only, but now much rather in my absence, with fear and trembling, be carrying your own salvation into effect,


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that you may become blameless and artless, children of God, flawless, in the midst of a generation crooked and perverse among whom you are appearing as luminaries in the world,


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having on the word of life, for my glorying in the day of Christ, that I did not run for naught, neither that I toil for naught.


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But even if I am a libation on the sacrifice and ministration of your faith, I am rejoicing myself and rejoicing together with you all.


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Now I am expecting, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you quickly, that I also may be of good cheer when I know of your concerns.


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This one, indeed, then, I am expecting to send -- as ever I may be perceiving my course from the things about me -- forthwith.


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Now I deem it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, yet your apostle and minister for my need,


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For he is infirm, also, very nigh death, but God is merciful to him, yet not to him only, but to me also, lest I should be having sorrow on sorrow.


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The more diligently, then, I send him, that seeing him again, you may be rejoicing and I may be more sorrow-free.


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seeing that because of the work of the Lord he draws near unto death, risking his soul that he should fill up your want of ministration toward me.


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For the rest, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To be writing the same to you is not, indeed irksome for me, yet it is your security.


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for we are the circumcision who are offering divine service in the spirit of God, and are glorying in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in flesh.


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And am I having confidence in flesh, also? If any other one is presuming to have confidence in flesh, I rather:


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in circumcision the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, in relation to law, a Pharisee,


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in relation to zeal, persecuting the ecclesia, in relation to the righteousness which is in law, becoming blameless.


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But, to be sure, I am also deeming all to be a forfeit because of the superiority of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, because of Whom I forfeited all, and am deeming it to be refuse, that I should be gaining Christ,


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and may be found in Him, not having my righteousness, which is of law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is from God for faith:


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to know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, conforming to His death,


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Not that I already obtained, or am already perfected. Yet I am pursuing, if I may be grasping also that for which I was grasped also by Christ Jesus.


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Brethren, not as yet am I reckoning myself to have grasped, yet one thing -- forgetting, indeed, those things which are behind, yet stretching out to those in front --


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Whoever, then, are mature, may be disposed to this, and if in anything you are differently disposed, this also shall God reveal to you.


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Moreover, in what we outstrip others, there is to be a mutual disposition to be observing the elements by the same rule.


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Become imitators together of me, brethren, and be noting those who are walking thus, according as you have us for a model,


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for many are walking, of whom I often told you, yet now am lamenting also as I tell it, who are enemies of the cross of Christ,


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whose consummation is destruction, whose god is their bowels, and whose glory is in their shame, who to the terrestial are disposed.


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For our realm is inherent in the heavens, out of which we are awaiting a Saviour also, the Lord, Jesus Christ,


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Who will transfigure the body of our humiliation, to conform it to the body of His glory, in accord with the operation which enables Him even to subject all to Himself.


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So that, my brethren, beloved and longed for, my joy and wreath, be standing firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.


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Yes, I am asking you also, genuine yokefellow, be aiding them, these women who compete together with me in the evangel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the scroll of life.


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Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God,


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and the peace of God, that is superior to every frame of mind, shall be garrisoning your hearts and your apprehensions in Christ Jesus.


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For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is grave, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is agreeable, whatever is renowned -- if there is any virtue, and if any applause, be taking these into account.


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What you learned also, and accepted and hear and perceived in me, these be putting into practice, and the God of peace will be with you.


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Now I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that at length, for once your disposition toward me blossomed, to which you were disposed also, yet you lacked occasion.


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I am aware what it is to be humbled as well as aware what it is to be superabounding. In everything and among all am I initiated, to be satisfied as well as to be hungering, to be superabounding as well as to be in want.


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Now you Philippians also are aware that, in the beginning of the evangel, when I came out from Macedonia, not one ecclesia participates with me in the matter of giving and getting, except you only,


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Now I am collecting all, and am superabounding. I have been filled full, receiving from Epaphroditus the things from you, an odor fragrant, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.


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to the saints and believing brethren in Christ in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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because of the expectation reserved for you in the heavens, which you hear before in the word of truth of the evangel,


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which, being present with you, according as in the entire world also, is bearing fruit and growing, according as it is among you also, from the day on which you hear and realized the grace of God in truth,


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according as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow slave, who is a faithful dispenser of Christ for us,


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Therefore we also, from the day on which we hear, do not cease praying for you and requesting that you may be filled full with the realization of His will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,


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you to walk worthily of the Lord for all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in the realization of God;


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being endued with all power, in accord with the might of His glory, for all endurance and patience with joy;


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at the same time giving thanks to the Father, Who makes you competent for a part of the allotment of the saints, in light,


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Who rescues us out of the jurisdiction of Darkness, and transports us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,


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for in Him is all created, that in the heavens and that on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or sovereignties, or authorities, all is created through Him and for Him,


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And He is the Head of the body, the ecclesia, Who is Sovereign, Firstborn from among the dead, that in all He may be becoming first,


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and through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens.


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by His body of flesh, through His death, to present you holy and flawless and unimpeachable in His sight,


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since surely you are persisting in the faith, grounded and settled and are not being removed from the expectation of the evangel which you hear which is being heralded in the entire creation which is under heaven of which I, Paul, became the dispenser.


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I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for you, and am filling up in my flesh, in His stead, the deficiencies of the afflictions of Christ, for His body, which is the ecclesia


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of which I became a dispenser, in accord with the administration of God, which is granted to me for you, to complete the word of God --


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the secret which has been concealed from the eons and from the generations, yet now was made manifest to His saints,


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to whom God wills to make known what are the glorious riches of this secret among the nations, which is: Christ among you, the expectation of glory --


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Whom we are announcing, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we should be presenting every man mature in Christ Jesus;


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for which I am toiling also, struggling in accord with His operation, which is operating in me with power.


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For I want you to perceive what the struggle amounts to which I am having for your sakes and for those in Laodicea, and whoever have not seen my face in flesh,


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that their hearts may be consoled, being united in love, and to all the riches of the assurance of understanding, unto a realization of the secret of the God and Father, of Christ,


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For even if, in flesh, I am absent, nevertheless, in spirit, I am with you, rejoicing and observing your order and the stability of your faith in Christ.


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having been rooted and being built up in Him, and being confirmed in the faith according as you were taught, superabounding in it with thanksgiving.


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Beware that no one shall be despoiling you through philosophy and empty seduction, in accord with human tradition, in accord with the elements of the world, and not in accord with Christ,


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in Whom you were circumcised also with a circumcision not made by hands, in the stripping off of the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ.


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Being entombed together with Him in baptism, in Whom you were roused together also through faith in the operation of God,


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Who rouses Him from among the dead, you also being dead to the offenses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He vivifies us together jointly with Him, dealing graciously with all our offenses,


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erasing the handwriting of the decrees against us, which was hostile to us, and has taken it away out of the midst, nailing it to the cross,


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stripping off the sovereignties and authorities, with boldness He makes a show of them, triumphing over them in it.


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Let no one, then, be judging you in food or in drink or in the particulars of a festival, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths,


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Let no one be arbitrating against you, who wants, in humility and the ritual of the messengers, to parade what he has seen, feignedly, puffed up by his fleshly mind,


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and not holding the Head, out of Whom the entire body, being supplied and united through the assimilation and ligaments, is growing in the growth of God.


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If, then, you died together with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as living in the world, are you subject to decrees:


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(which things are all for corruption from use), in accord with the directions and teachings of men? --


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which are (having, indeed, an expression of wisdom in a willful ritual and humility and asceticism) not of any value toward the surfeiting of the flesh.


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If, then, you were roused together with Christ, be seeking that which is above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.


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Whenever Christ, our Life, should be manifested, then you also shall be manifested together with Him in glory.


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Deaden, then, your members that are on the earth: prostitution, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and greed, which is idolatry,


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Yet now you also be putting away all these: anger, fury, malice, calumny, obscenity out of your mouth.


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and putting on the young, which is being renewed into recognition, to accord with the Image of the One Who creates it,


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wherein there is no Greek and Jew, Circumcision and Uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, freeman, but all and in all is Christ.


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Put on, then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, pitiful compassions, kindness, humility, meekness, patience,


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bearing with one another and dealing graciously among yourselves, if anyone should be having a complaint against any. According as the Lord also deals graciously with you, thus also you.


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And let the peace of Christ be arbitrating in your hearts, for which you were called also in one body; and become thankful.


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Let the word of Christ be making its home in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing yourselves; in psalms, in hymns, in spiritual songs, singing, with grace in your hearts to God.


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And everything, whatsoever you may be doing, in word or in act, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God, the Father, through Him.


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Slaves, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye-slavery, as manpleasers, but with singleness of heart, fearing the Lord.


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Being aware that from the Lord you will be getting the compensation of the enjoyment of an allotment: for the Lord Christ are you slaving.


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Masters, tender that which is just and equitable to your slaves, being aware that you also have a Master in the heavens.


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praying at the same time concerning us also, that God should be opening for us a door of the word, to speak the secret of Christ, because of which I am bound also,


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All my affairs shall be made known to you by Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow slave in the Lord,


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whom I send to you for this same thing, that you may know that which concerns you and he should be consoling your hearts,


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together with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known to you all things here.


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Greeting you is Aristarchus, my fellow captive, and Mark, cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you obtained directions: if he should be coming to you, receive him),


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and Jesus, termed Justus, who are of the Circumcision. These are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who became a solace to me.


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Greeting you is Epaphras, who is one of you, a slave of Christ Jesus, always struggling for you in prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.


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For I am testifying of him that he has much misery over you and those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.


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And whenever the epistle should be read to you, cause that it should be read in the Laodicean ecclesia also, and that you also may be reading that out of Laodicea.


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And say to Archippus: "Look to the service which you accepted in the Lord, that you may be fulfilling it."


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Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the ecclesia of the Thessalonians, in God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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unintermittingly remembering your work of faith and toil of love and endurance of expectation of our Lord Jesus Christ, in front of our God and Father,


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for the evangel of our God did not come to you in word only, but in power also, and in holy spirit and much assurance, according as you are aware. Such we became among you, because of you.


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And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in much affliction with joy of holy spirit,


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For from you has been sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has come out, so that we have no need to be speaking of anything,


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for they are reporting concerning us, what kind of an entrance we have had to you, and how you turn back to God from idols, to be slaving for the living and true God,


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and to be waiting for His Son out of the heavens, Whom He rouses from among the dead, Jesus, our Rescuer out of the coming indignation.


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but, though suffering before and being outraged in Philippi, according as you are aware, we are bold in our God to speak the evangel of God to you with a vast struggle.


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but, according as we have been tested by God to be entrusted with the evangel, thus are we speaking, not as pleasing men, but God, Who is testing our hearts.


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For neither did we at any time become flattering in expression, according as you are aware; neither with a pretense for greed, God is witness;


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neither seeking glory from men, neither from you, nor from others, when we could be a burden as Christ's apostles.


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Thus being ardently attached to you, we are delighting to share with you not only the evangel of God, but our own souls also, because you came to be beloved by us.


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For you remember, brethren, our toil and labor: working night and day so as not to be burdensome to any of you, we herald to you the evangel of God.


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You are witnesses, and God, how benignly and justly and blamelessly we became to you who are believing,


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even as you are aware how we were to each one of you, as a father to his own children, consoling and comforting you and attesting unto you


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And therefore we also are thanking God unintermittingly that, in accepting the word heard from us, from God you receive, not the word of men, but, according as it truly is, the word of God, which is operating also in you who are believing.


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For you became imitators, brethren, of the ecclesias of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you suffered the same, even you by your own fellowtribesmen, according as they also by the Jews,


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who kill the Lord Jesus as well as the prophets, and banish us, and are not pleasing to God, and are contrary to all men,


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forbidding us to speak to the nations that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always. Yet the indignation outstrips to them to a consummation.


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Now we, brethren, being bereaved of you for the period of an hour, in face, not in heart, endeavor the more exceedingly to see your face, with much yearning,


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For who is our expectation, or joy, or wreath of glorying? Or is it not even you, in front of our Lord Jesus, in His presence?


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Wherefore, when we could by no means longer refrain, it seems well for us to be left in Athens alone,


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and we send Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the evangel of Christ, to establish and to console you for the sake of your faith.


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No one is to be swayed by these afflictions, for you yourselves are aware that we are located for this.


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For even when we were with you, we predicted to you that "we are about to be afflicted," according as it came to be also, and you are aware.


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Therefore, when I also could by no means longer refrain, I send to know of your faith, lest somehow the trier tries you and our toil may be coming to be for naught.


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Yet at present, because of Timothy's coming to us from you, and bringing us the evangel of your faith and your love, and that you have a good remembrance of us always, longing to see us even as we also you --


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therefore we were consoled, brethren, over you in all our necessity and affliction, through your faith,


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For what thanksgiving are we able to repay to God concerning you for all the joy with which we are rejoicing because of you in front of our God,


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night and day superexcessively beseeching to see your face and to adjust the deficiencies of your faith?


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Now may the Lord cause you to increase and superabound in love for one another and for all, even as we also for you,


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to establish your hearts unblamable in holiness in front of our God and Father, in the presence of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.


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For the rest, then, brethren, we are asking you and entreating in the Lord Jesus, that, according as you accepted from us how you must be walking and pleasing God (according as you are walking also), that you may be superabounding yet more,


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No one is to be circumventing and overreaching his brother in the matter, because the Lord is the Avenger of all these, according as we said to you before also, and certify,


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Surely, in consequence, then, he who is repudiating is not repudiating man, but God, Who is also giving His holy spirit to you.


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Now, concerning brotherly fondness, we have no need to be writing to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to be loving one another,


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for you are doing it also to all the brethren who are in the whole of Macedonia. Now we are entreating you, brethren, to be superabounding yet more,


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and that you be ambitious to be quiet, and to be engaged in your own affairs, and to be working with your hands, according as we charge you,


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Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are reposing, lest you may sorrow according as the rest, also, who have no expectation.


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For, if we are believing that Jesus died and rose, thus also, those who are put to repose, will God, through Jesus, lead forth together with Him.


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For this we are saying to you by the word of the Lord, that we, the living, who are surviving to the presence of the Lord, should by no means outstrip those who are put to repose,


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for the Lord Himself will be descending from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the Chief Messenger, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall be rising first.


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Thereupon we, the living who are surviving, shall at the same time be snatched away together with them in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And thus shall we always be together with the Lord.


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for you yourselves are accurately aware that the day of the Lord is as a thief in the night -- thus is it coming!


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Now whenever they may be saying "Peace and security," then extermination is standing by them unawares, even as a pang over the pregnant, and they may by no means escape.


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Yet we, being of the day, may be sober, putting on the cuirass of faith and love, and the helmet, the expectation of salvation,


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for God did not appoint us to indignation, but to the procuring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,


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Who died for our sakes, that, whether we may be watching or drowsing, we should be living at the same time together with Him.


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Now we are asking you, brethren, to perceive those who are toiling among you and presiding over you in the Lord and admonishing you,


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and to deem them exceedingly distinguished in love, because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.


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Now we are entreating you, brethren; admonish the disorderly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the infirm, be patient toward all.


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See that no one may be rendering evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue that which is good for one another as well as for all.


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Now may the God of peace Himself be hallowing you wholly; and may your unimpaired spirit and soul and body be kept blameless in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ!


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Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the ecclesia of the Thessalonians, in God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ:


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We ought to be thanking God always concerning you, brethren, according as it is meet; seeing that your faith is flourishing and the love of each one of you all for one another is increasing,


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so that we ourselves glory in you in the ecclesias of God, for your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions with which you are bearing --


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a display of the just judging of God, to deem you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering also,


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and to you who are being afflicted, ease, with us, at the unveiling of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His powerful messengers,


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in flaming fire, dealing out vengeance to those who are not acquainted with God and those who are not obeying the evangel of our Lord Jesus Christ --


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who shall incur the justice of eonian extermination from the face of the Lord, and from the glory of His strength --


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whenever He may be coming to be glorified in His saints and to be marveled at in all who believe (seeing that our testimony to you was believed) in that day.


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For which we are always praying also concerning you, that our God should be counting you worthy of the calling, and should be fulfilling every delight of goodness and work of faith in power,


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so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, in accord with the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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Now we are asking you, brethren, for the sake of the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to Him,


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that you be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be alarmed, either through spirit, or through word, or through an epistle as through us, as that the day of the Lord is present.


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No one should be deluding you by any method, for, should not the apostasy be coming first and the man of lawlessness be unveiled, the son of destruction,


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who is opposing and lifting himself up over everyone termed a god or an object of veneration, so that he is seated in the temple of God, demonstrating that he himself is God?


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For the secret of lawlessness is already operating. Only when the present detainer may be coming to be out of the midst,


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then will be unveiled the lawless one (whom the Lord Jesus will despatch with the spirit of His mouth and will discard by the advent of His presence),


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whose presence is in accord with the operation of Satan, with all power and signs and false miracles


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and with every seduction of injustice among those who are perishing, because they do not receive the love of the truth for their salvation.


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And therefore God will be sending them an operation of deception, for them to believe the falsehood,


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Now we ought to be thanking God always concerning you, brethren, beloved by the Lord, seeing that God prefers you from the beginning for salvation, in holiness of the spirit and faith in the truth,


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into which He also calls us through our evangel, for the procuring of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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Consequently, then, brethren, stand firm, and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, whether through word or our epistle.


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Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, our Father, Who loves us, and is giving us an eonian consolation and a good expectation in grace,


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Furthermore, pray, brethren, concerning us, that the word of the Lord may race and be glorified, according as it is with you also,


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Now we have confidence in you in the Lord that what we are charging, you are doing also and will be doing.


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Now we are charging you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to be putting yourselves from every brother who is walking disorderly and not in accord with the tradition which they accepted from us.


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neither did we eat bread gratuitously from anyone, but, with toil and labor, we are working night and day, so as not to be burdensome to any of you.


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Not that we have not the right, but that we may be giving you ourselves as a model for you to be imitating us.


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For even when we were with you, we gave this charge to you: that "If anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat."


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For we are hearing that some among you are walking disorderly, working at nothing, but are meddling.


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Now such we are charging and entreating in the Lord Jesus Christ, that, working with quietness, they may be eating their own bread.


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Now if anyone is not obeying our word through this epistle, let it be a sign to you as to this man, not to commingle with him, that he may be abashed;


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Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace continually by every means. The Lord be with you all!


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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, according to the injunction of God, our Saviour, and the Lord Jesus Christ, our Expectation,


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to Timothy, a genuine child in faith: Grace, mercy, peace, from God, our Father, and Christ Jesus, our Lord.


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According as I entreat you, remain with them in Ephesus, when going into Macedonia, that you should be charging some not to be teaching differently,


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nor yet to be heeding myths and endless genealogies, which are affording exactions rather than God's administration which is in faith.


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Now the consummation of the charge is love out of a clean heart and a good conscience and unfeigned faith,


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wanting to be teachers of the law, not apprehending either what they are saying, or that concerning which they are insisting.


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being aware of this, that law is not laid down for the just, yet it is for the lawless and insubordinate, the irreverent and sinners, the malign and profane, thrashers of fathers and thrashers of mothers, homicides,


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paramours, sodomites, kidnapers, liars, perjurers, and if any other thing is opposing sound teaching,


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Grateful am I to Him Who invigorates me, Christ Jesus, our Lord, for He deems me faithful, assigning me a service,


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I, who formerly was a calumniator and a persecutor and an outrager: but I was shown mercy, seeing that I do it being ignorant, in unbelief.


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Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all welcome, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, foremost of whom am I.


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But therefore was I shown mercy, that in me, the foremost, Jesus Christ should be displaying all His patience, for a pattern of those who are about to be believing on Him for life eonian.


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Now to the King of the eons, the incorruptible, invisible, only, and wise God, be honor and glory for the eons of the eons! Amen!


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This charge I am committing to you, child Timothy, according to the preceding prophecies over you, that in them you may be warring the ideal warfare,


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having faith and a good conscience, which some, thrusting away, have made shipwreck as to the faith;


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of whom are Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I give up to Satan, that they may be trained not to calumniate.


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I am entreating, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, pleadings, thanksgiving be made for all mankind,


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for kings and all those being in a superior station, that we may be leading a mild and quiet life in all devoutness and gravity,


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for which I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the nations in knowledge and truth.


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I am intending, then, that men pray in every place, lifting up benign hands, apart from anger and reasoning.


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Similarly, women also are to be adorning themselves in raiment, decorously, with modesty and sanity, not with braids and gold, or pearls or costly vesture,


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Now I am not permitting a woman to be teaching nor yet to be domineering over a man, but to be in quietness


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Yet she shall be saved through the child bearing, if ever they should be remaining in faith and love and holiness with sanity.


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The supervisor, then, must be irreprehensible, the husband of one wife, sober, sane, decorous, hospitable, apt to teach,


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now if anyone is not aware how to control his own household, how will he care for the ecclesia of God? --


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Yet he must have an ideal testimony also from those outside, that he should not be falling into the reproach and trap of the Adversary.


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Servants, similarly, are to be grave, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not avaricious,


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for those who serve ideally are procuring for themselves an ideal rank and much boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.


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yet, if I should be tardy, that you may be perceiving how one must behave in God's house, which is the ecclesia of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth.


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And avowedly great is the secret of devoutness, which was manifested in flesh, justified in spirit, seen by messengers, heralded among the nations, believed in the world, taken up in glory.


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Now the spirit is saying explicitly, that in subsequent eras some will be withdrawing from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons,


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forbidding to marry, abstaining from foods, which God creates to be partaken of with thanksgiving by those who believe and realize the truth,


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seeing that every creature of God is ideal and nothing is to be cast away, being taken with thanksgiving,


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By suggesting these things to the brethren, you should be an ideal servant of Christ Jesus, fostering with the words of faith and of the ideal teaching which you have fully followed.


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for bodily exercise is beneficial for a few things, yet devoutness is beneficial for all, having promise for the life which now is, and that which is impending.


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(for for this are we toiling and being reproached), that we rely on the living God, Who is the Saviour of all mankind, especially of believers.


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Let no one be despising your youth, but become a model for the believers, in word, in behavior, in love, in faith, in purity.


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Neglect not the gracious gift which is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the imposition of the hands of the eldership.


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Attend to yourself and to the teaching. Be persisting in them, for in doing this you will save yourself as well as those hearing you.


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An elderly man you should not be upbraiding, but be entreating him as a father, the younger men as brethren,


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Now if any widow has children or descendants, let them learn to be devoted to their own household first and reciprocate by paying their progenitors, for this is welcome in God's sight.


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Now one really a widow, and alone, relies on God and is remaining in petitions and prayers night and day.


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Now if anyone is not providing for his own, and especially his family, he has disowned the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.


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attested by ideal acts: if she nourishes children, if she is hospitable, if she washes the saints' feet, if she relieves the afflicted, if she follows up with every good work.


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Yet the younger widows refuse, for whenever they should be restive against Christ, they are wanting to marry;


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Yet at the same time they are learning to be idle also, wandering about the homes. Yet not only are they idle, but gossips also, and meddlers, speaking what they must not.


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I am intending, then, that younger widows are to be marrying, bearing children, managing the household, giving an opposer nothing as an incentive favoring reviling,


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If any believing woman has widows with her, let her be relieving them and let not the ecclesia be burdened, that it should be relieving those who are really widows.


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Let elders who have presided ideally be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who are toiling in word and teaching,


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for the scripture is saying: "A threshing ox you shall not be muzzling," and "Worthy is the worker of his wages."


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I am conjuring, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the chosen messengers, that you should guard these things, apart from prejudice,


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doing nothing from bias. On no one place hands too quickly, nor yet be participating in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.


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No longer drink water only, but be using a sip of wine for your stomach and your frequent infirmities.


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Whoever are slaves under the yoke, let them deem their own owners worthy of all honor, lest the name of God and the teaching may be blasphemed.


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Yet let those having believing owners not be despising them seeing that they are brethren, but rather let them slave for them, seeing that they are believing and beloved, being supported by the slave's benefaction. These things teach and entreat.


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If anyone is teaching differently and is not approaching with sound words, even those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the teaching in accord with devoutness,


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he is conceited, versed in nothing, but morbid about questionings and controversies, out of which is coming envy, strife, calumnies, wicked suspicions,


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altercations of men of a decadent mind and deprived of the truth, inferring that devoutness is capital.


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Now, those intending to be rich are falling into a trial and a trap and the many foolish and harmful desires which are swamping men in extermination and destruction.


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For a root of all of the evils is the fondness for money, which some, craving, were led astray from the faith and try themselves on all sides with much pain.


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Now you, O man of God, flee from these things: yet pursue righteousness, devoutness, faith, love, with endurance, suffering, and meekness.


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Contend the ideal contest of the faith. Get hold of eonian life, for which you were called, and you avow the ideal avowal in the sight of many witnesses.


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I am charging you in the sight of God, Who is vivifying all, and of Jesus Christ, Who testifies in the ideal avowal before Pontius Pilate,


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which, to its own eras, the happy and only Potentate will be showing: He is King of kings and Lord of lords,


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Who alone has immortality, making His home in light inaccessible, Whom not one of mankind perceived nor can be perceiving, to Whom be honor and might eonian! Amen!


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Those who are rich in the current eon be charging not to be haughty, nor yet to rely on the dubiousness of riches, but on God, Who is tendering us all things richly for our enjoyment;


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treasuring up for themselves an ideal foundation for that which is impending, that they may get hold of life really.


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O Timothy, that which is committed to you, guard, turning aside from the profane prattlings and antipathies of falsely named "knowledge,"


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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, through the will of God, in accord with the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,


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Grateful am I to God, to Whom I am offering divine service from my ancestors with a clear conscience, as I have an unintermittent remembrance concerning you in my petitions, night and day,


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getting a reminder of the unfeigned faith which is in you, which first makes its home in your grandmother Lois, and in your mother Eunice. Now, I am persuaded that it is in you also.


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For which cause I am reminding you to be rekindling the gracious gift of God which is in you through the imposition of my hands,


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You may not be ashamed, then, of the testimony of our Lord, nor yet of me, His prisoner, but suffer evil with the evangel in accord with the power of God,


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Who saves us and calls us with a holy calling, not in accord with our acts, but in accord with His own purpose and the grace which is given to us in Christ Jesus before times eonian,


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yet now is being manifested through the advent of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, Who, indeed, abolishes death, yet illuminates life and incorruption through the evangel


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For which cause I am suffering these things also, but I am not ashamed, for I am aware Whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to guard what is committed to me, for that day.


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Of this you are aware, that all those in the province of Asia were turned from me, of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.


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May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshes me and was not ashamed of my chain,


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May the Lord grant to him to be finding mercy from the Lord in that day! And how much he serves in Ephesus you know quite well.


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And what things you hear from me through many witnesses, these commit to faithful men, who shall be competent to teach others also.


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No one who is warring is involved in the business of a livelihood, that he should be pleasing the one who enlists him.


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Now if anyone should be competing in the games also, he is not given a wreath if ever he should not be competing lawfully.


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Remember Jesus Christ, Who has been roused from among the dead, is of the seed of David, according to my evangel,


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Therefore I am enduring all because of those who are chosen, that they also may be happening upon the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with glory eonian.


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if we are enduring, we shall be reigning together also; if we are disowning, He also will be disowning us;


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Of these things be reminding them, conjuring them in the Lord's sight not to engage in controversy for nothing useful, to the upsetting of those who are hearing.


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Endeavor to present yourself to God qualified, an unashamed worker, correctly cutting the word of truth.


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who swerve as to truth, saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and are subverting the faith of some.


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Howbeit, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: The Lord knew those who are His, and, Let everyone who is naming the name of the Lord withdraw from injustice.


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Now in a great house there are not only gold and silver utensils, but wooden and earthenware also, and some indeed for honor, yet some for dishonor.


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If, then, anyone should ever be purging himself from these, he will be a utensil for honor, hallowed, and useful to the Owner, made ready for every good act.


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Now youthful desires flee: yet pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with all who are invoking the Lord out of a clean heart.


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Now a slave of the Lord must not be fighting, but be gentle toward all, apt to teach, bearing with evil,


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with meekness training those who are antagonizing, seeing whether God may be giving them repentance to come into a realization of the truth,


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and they will be sobering up out of the trap of the Adversary, having been caught alive by him, for that one's will.


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for men will be selfish, fond of money, ostentatious, proud, calumniators, stubborn to parents, ungrateful, malign,


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These, also, shun. For of these are those who are slipping into homes and are leading into captivity little women, heaped with sins, being led by various lusts and gratifications,


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Now, by the method by which Jannes and Jambres withstand Moses, thus these also are withstanding the truth, men of a depraved mind, disqualified as to the faith.


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But they shall not be progressing more, for their folly shall be obvious to all, as that of those also became.


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persecutions, sufferings, such as occurred to me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra: persecutions such as I undergo, and out of them all the Lord rescues me.


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and that from a babe you are acquainted with the sacred scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.


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All scripture is inspired by God, and is beneficial for teaching, for exposure, for correction, for discipline in righteousness,


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I am conjuring you in the sight of God and Christ Jesus, Who is about to be judging the living and the dead, in accord with His advent and His kingdom:


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Herald the word. Stand by it, opportunely, inopportunely, expose, rebuke, entreat, with all patience and teaching.


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For the era will be when they will not tolerate sound teaching, but, their hearing being tickled, they will heap up for themselves teachers in accord with their own desires,


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and, indeed, they will be turning their hearing away from the truth, yet will be turned aside to myths.


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Yet you be sober in all things; suffer evil as an ideal soldier of Christ Jesus; do the work of an evangelist; fully discharge your service.


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Furthermore, there is reserved for me the wreath of righteousness, which the Lord, the just Judge, will be paying to me in that day; yet not to me only, but also to all who love His advent.


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for Demas, loving the current eon, forsook me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.


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When you come, bring the traveling cloak which I left in Troas with Carpus, and the scrolls, especially the vellums.


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Alexander the coppersmith displayed to me much evil: the Lord will be paying him in accord with his acts --


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May it not be reckoned against them! Yet the Lord stood beside me, and He invigorates me, that through me the heralding may be fully discharged, and all the nations should hear; and I am rescued out of the mouth of the lion.


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The Lord will be rescuing me from every wicked work and will be saving me for His celestial kingdom: to Whom be glory for the eons of the eons. Amen!


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I left in Miletus. Endeavor to come before winter. Greeting you is Eubulus and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren.


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Paul, a slave of God, yet an apostle of Jesus Christ, in accord with the faith of God's chosen, and a realization of the truth, which accords with devoutness,


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yet manifests His word in its own eras by heralding, with which I was entrusted, according to the injunction of God, our Saviour,


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to Titus, a genuine child according to the common faith: Grace and peace from God, the Father, and Christ Jesus, our Saviour.


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On this behalf I left you in Crete, that you should amend what is lacking and constitute elders city by city, as I prescribe to you.


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If anyone is unimpeachable, the husband of one wife, having believing children, not under the accusation of profligacy or insubordinate --


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for the supervisor must be unimpeachable as an administrator of God, not given to self-gratification, not irritable, no toper, not quarrelsome, not avaricious;


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upholding the faithful word according to the teaching, that he may be able to entreat with sound teaching as well as to expose those who contradict.


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who must be gagged, who are subverting whole households, teaching what they must not, on behalf of sordid gain.


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This testimony is true. For which cause be exposing them severely, that they may be sound in the faith,


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All, indeed, is clean to the clean, yet to the defiled and unbelieving nothing is clean, but their mind as well as conscience is defiled.


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They are avowing an acquaintance with God, yet by their acts are denying it, being abominable and stubborn, and disqualified for every good act.


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the aged women, similarly, in demeanor as becomes the sacred, not adversaries, nor enslaved by much wine, teachers of the ideal,


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that they may bring the young wives to a sense of their duty to be fond of their husbands, fond of their children,


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sane, chaste, domestic, good, subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.


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with words sound, uncensurable, that the contrary one may be abashed, having nothing bad to say concerning us.


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not embezzling, but displaying all good faithfulness, that they may be adorning the teaching that is of God, our Saviour, in all things.


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training us that, disowning irreverence and worldly desires, we should be living sanely and justly and devoutly in the current eon,


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anticipating that happy expectation, even the advent of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ,


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Who gives Himself for us, that He should be redeeming us from all lawlessness and be cleansing for Himself a people to be about Him, zealous for ideal acts.


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Remind them to be subject to sovereignties, to authorities; to be yielding, and to be ready for every good work,


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For we also were once foolish, stubborn, deceived, slaves of various desires and gratifications, leading a life in malice and envy, detestable, hating one another.


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not for works which are wrought in righteousness which we do, but according to His mercy, He saves us, through the bath of renascence and renewal of holy spirit,


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that, being justified in that One's grace, we may be becoming enjoyers, in expectation, of the allotment of life eonian.


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Faithful is the saying, and I am intending you to be insistent concerning these things, that those who have believed God may be concerned to preside for ideal acts. These things are ideal and beneficial for humanity.


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Yet stand aloof from stupid questioning and genealogies and strifes and fightings about law, for they are without benefit and vain.


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Whenever I shall be sending Artemas to you, or Tychicus, endeavor to come to me in Nicopolis, for there have I decided to winter.


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Now let those who are ours also be learning to preside over ideal acts for necessary needs, that they may not be unfruitful.


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Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and brother Timothy, to Philemon, the beloved, and our fellow worker,


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so that the fellowship of your faith may become operative in the realization of every good thing which is in us for Christ Jesus.


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For much joy have I had and consolation in your love, seeing that the compassions of the saints are soothed through you, brother.


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because of love I am rather entreating, being such a one as Paul the aged, yet now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus.


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whom I intended to be retaining for myself that, for your sake, he may be serving me in the bonds of the evangel.


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Yet apart from your opinion I want to do nothing, that your good may not be as of compulsion but voluntary.


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For perhaps therefore is he separated for an hour, that you may be collecting him as an eonian repayment,


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no longer as a slave, but above a slave, a brother beloved, especially to me, yet how much rather to you, in the flesh as well as in the Lord!


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I, Paul (I write with my own hand), I will refund it. (Not that I may say to you that you are owing me even yourself!)


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Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, being aware that you will do even above what I say.


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Now, at the same time, make ready also a lodging for me, for I am expecting that, through your prayers, I shall be graciously granted to you.


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in the last of these days speaks to us in a Son, Whom He appoints enjoyer of the allotment of all, through Whom He also makes the eons;


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Who, being the Effulgence of His glory and Emblem of His assumption, besides carrying on all by His powerful declaration, making a cleansing of sins, is seated at the right hand of the Majesty in the heights;


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becoming so much better than the messengers as He enjoys the allotment of a more excellent name than they.


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For to whom of the messengers said He at any time, "My Son art Thou! I, today, have begotten Thee"? And again, "I shall be to Him for a Father And He shall be to Me for a Son"?


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Now, whenever He may again be leading the Firstborn into the inhabited earth, He is saying: And worship Him, all the messengers of God!


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And, indeed, to the messengers He is saying, "Who is making His messengers blasts, And His ministers a flame of fire."


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Yet to the Son: "Thy throne, O God, is for the eon of the eon, And a scepter of rectitude is the scepter of Thy kingdom.


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Thou lovest righteousness and hatest injustice; Therefore Thou art anointed by God, Thy God, with the oil of exultation beyond Thy partners."


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And, as if clothing, wilt Thou be rolling them up. As a cloak also shall they change. Yet Thou art the same, And Thy years shall not be defaulting.


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Now to which of the messengers has He declared at any time, "Sit at My right, till I should be placing Thine enemies for a footstool for Thy feet"?


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Are they not all ministering spirits commissioned for service because of those who are about to be enjoying the allotment of salvation?


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Therefore we must more exceedingly be heeding what is being heard, lest at some time we may be drifting by.


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For if the word spoken through messengers came to be confirmed, and every transgression and disobedience obtained a fair reward,


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how shall we be escaping when neglecting a salvation of such proportions which, obtaining a beginning through the speaking of the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who hear Him,


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God corroborating, both by signs and miracles and by various powerful deeds and partings of holy spirit, according to His will?


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For not to messengers does He subject the impending inhabited earth, concerning which we are speaking.


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Yet somewhere someone certifies, saying, "What is man, that Thou art mindful of him, Or a son of mankind, that Thou art visiting him?


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Thou makest him some bit inferior to messengers, With glory and honor Thou wreathest him, And dost place him over the works of Thy hands.


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All dost Thou subject underneath his feet." For in the subjection of all to him, He leaves nothing unsubject to him. Yet now we are not as yet seeing all subject to him.


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Yet we are observing Jesus, Who has been made some bit inferior to messengers (because of the suffering of death, wreathed with glory and honor), so that in the grace of God, He should be tasting death for the sake of everyone.


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For it became Him, because of Whom all is, and through Whom all is, in leading many sons into glory, to perfect the Inaugurator of their salvation through sufferings.


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For both He Who is hallowing and those who are being hallowed are all of One, for which cause He is not ashamed to be calling them brethren,


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saying, I shall be reporting Thy name to My brethren, In the midst of the ecclesia shall I be singing hymns to Thee.


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And again, I shall have confidence in Him. And again, Lo! I and the little children who are given Me by God!


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Since, then, the little children have participated in blood and flesh, He also was very nigh by partaking of the same, that, through death, He should be discarding him who has the might of death, that is, the Adversary,


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and should be clearing those whoever, in fear of death, were through their entire life liable to slavery.


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Whence He ought, in all things, to be made like the brethren, that He may be becoming a merciful and faithful Chief Priest in that which is toward God, to make a propitiatory shelter for the sins of the people.


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Whence, holy brethren, partners of a celestial calling, consider the Apostle and Chief Priest of our avowal, Jesus,


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For this One is counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by as much as He Who constructs it has more honor than the house.


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And Moses, indeed, was faithful in His whole house as an attendant, for a testimony of that which shall be spoken.


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Yet Christ, as a Son over His house-Whose house we are, that is, if we should be retaining the boldness and the glorying of the expectation confirmed unto the consummation.


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You should not be hardening your hearts as in the embitterment, In the day of trial in the wilderness,


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Wherefore, "I am disgusted with this generation, and said, 'Ever are they straying in heart; Yet they know not My ways.'


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Beware, brethren, lest at some time there shall be in any one of you a wicked heart of unbelief, in withdrawing from the living God.


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But entreat yourselves each day, until what is called "today," lest anyone of you may be hardened by the seduction of sin.


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For we have become partners of Christ, that is, if we should be retaining the beginning of the assumption confirmed unto the consummation,


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while it is being said, "Today, if ever His voice you should be hearing, You should not be hardening your hearts as in the embitterment."


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Now with whom is He disgusted forty years? Was it not with those who sin, whose carcasses fall in the wilderness?


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We may be afraid then, lest at some time, a promise being left of entering into His stopping, anyone of you may be seeming to be deficient.


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For we also have been evangelized, even as those also. But the word heard does not benefit those hearers, not having been blended together with faith in those who hear.


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Then we who believe are entering into the stopping, according as He has declared, "As I swear in My indignation, 'If they shall be entering into My stopping-!'" although the works occur from the disruption of the world.


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For He has declared somewhere concerning the seventh thus: And God stops "on the seventh day from all His works."


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Since, then, it is left for some to be entering into it, and those to whom the evangel was formerly brought did not enter because of stubbornness,


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He is again specifying a certain day, "Today"-saying in David after so much time, according as has been declared before, "Today, if ever His voice you should be hearing, You should not be hardening your hearts."


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For if Joshua causes them to stop, He would not have spoken concerning another day after these things.


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We should be endeavoring, then, to be entering into that stopping, lest anyone should be falling into the same example of stubbornness.


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For the word of God is living and operative, and keen above any two-edged sword, and penetrating up to the parting of soul and spirit, both of the articulations and marrow, and is a judge of the sentiments and thoughts of the heart.


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And there is not a creature which is not apparent in its sight. Now all is naked and bare to the eyes of Him to Whom we are accountable.


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Having, then, a great Chief Priest, Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, we may be holding to the avowal.


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For we have not a Chief Priest not able to sympathize with our infirmities, but One Who has been tried in all respects like us, apart from sin.


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We may be coming, then, with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may be obtaining mercy and finding grace for opportune help.


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For every chief priest obtained from among men is constituted for men in that which is toward God, that he may be offering both approach presents and sacrifices for sins,


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and because of it he ought, according as for the people, thus for himself also, be offering for sins.


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Thus Christ also does not glorify Himself by becoming a chief priest, but He Who speaks to Him, "My Son art Thou! I, today, have begotten Thee,"


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according as in a different place also He is saying, "Thou art a priest for the eon according to the order of Melchizedek,"


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Who, in the days of His flesh, offering both petitions and supplications with strong clamor and tears to Him Who is able to save Him out of death, being hearkened to also for His piety,


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concerning whom there are words, many and abstruse, for us to say, since you have become dull of hearing.


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For when also, because of the time, you ought to be teachers, you have need again of one to teach you what are the rudimentary elements of the oracles of God, and you have come to have need of milk, and not of solid nourishment.


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Now solid nourishment is for the mature, who, because of habit, have faculties exercised for discriminating between the ideal and the evil.


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Wherefore, leaving the word dealing with the rudiments of Christ, we should be brought on to maturity, (not again disrupting the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith on God,


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of the teaching of baptizings, besides the imposition of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and of judgment eonian).


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For it is impossible for those once enlightened, besides tasting the celestial gratuity and becoming partakers of holy spirit,


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and falling aside, to be renewing them again to repentance while crucifying for themselves the Son of God again and holding Him up to infamy.


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For land which is drinking the shower coming often on it, and bringing forth herbage fit for those because of whom it is being farmed also, is partaking of blessing from God;


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yet, bringing forth thorns and star thistles, it is disqualified and near a curse, whose consummation is burning.


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Yet we are persuaded of better things concerning you, beloved, and those which have to do with salvation, even if we are speaking thus.


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For God is not unjust, to be forgetting your work and the love which you display for His name when you serve the saints, and are serving.


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Now we are yearning for each one of you to be displaying the same diligence toward the assurance of the expectation until the consummation,


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that you may not be becoming dull. Now be imitators of those who through faith and patience are enjoying the allotment of the promises.


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saying, "If, in sooth, it is blessing, I shall be blessing you, and multiplying, I shall be multiplying" you!


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For men are swearing by a greater, and to them an oath for confirmation is an end of all contradiction,


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in which God, intending more superabundantly to exhibit to the enjoyers of the allotment of the promise the immutability of His counsel, interposes with an oath,


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that by two immutable matters, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong consolation, who are fleeing for refuge to lay hold of the expectation lying before us,


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which we have as an anchor of the soul, both secure and confirmed, and entering into the interior beyond the curtain,


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where the Forerunner, Jesus, entered for our sakes, becoming Chief Priest according to the order of Melchizedek for the eon.


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For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who meets with Abraham returning from the combat with the kings and blesses him,


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to whom Abraham parts a tithe also, from all; being first, indeed, translated king of righteousness," yet thereupon king of Salem, also, which is "king of Peace";


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fatherless, motherless, without a genealogy, having neither a beginning of days nor consummation of life, yet picturing the Son of God is remaining a priest to a finality.


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Now, behold how eminent this one is to whom the patriarch Abraham gives a tithe also of the best of the booty.


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And, indeed, those of the sons of Levi who obtain the priestly office have a direction to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, their brethren even those who also have come out of the loins of Abraham.


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And here, indeed, dying men are obtaining tithes, yet there, one of whom it is attested that he is living.


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If, indeed, then, perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for the people have been placed under law with it), what need is there still for a different priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not said to be according to the order of Aaron?


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For, the priesthood being transferred, of necessity there is coming to be a transference of law also,


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for He of Whom these things are said partakes of a different tribe, from which no one has given heed to the altar.


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For it is taken for granted that our Lord has risen out of Judah, to which tribe Moses speaks nothing concerning priests,


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And it is still more superabundantly sure, if a different priest is rising according to the likeness of Melchizedek,


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Who has not come to be according to the law of a fleshy precept, but according to the power of an indissoluble life.


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For, indeed, there is coming to be a repudiation of the preceding precept because it is weak and without benefit;


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for the law perfects nothing, yet it is the superinduction of a better expectation, through which we are drawing near to God.


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(For these, indeed, are priests, having become so apart from the swearing of an oath, yet that One with the swearing of an oath by Him Who is saying to Him, "The Lord swears and will not be regretting it, 'Thou art a priest for the eon according to the order of Melchizedek.'")


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And these indeed, are more than one, having become priests because death prevents them from abiding;


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Whence, also, He is able to save to the uttermost those coming to God through Him, always being alive to be pleading for their sake.


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For such a Chief Priest also became us, benign, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and coming to be higher than those of the heavens,


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Who has no necessity daily, even as the chief priests, to be offering up sacrifices previously for their own sins, thereupon for those of the people, for this He does once for all time, offering up Himself.


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For the law is appointing men chief priests who have infirmity, yet the word sworn in the oath which is after the law, appoints the Son, perfected, for the eon.


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Now this is the sum of what is being said: Such a Chief Priest have we, Who is seated at the right of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,


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For every chief priest is constituted to offer both approach presents and sacrifices. Whence it is necessary for This One also to have something which He may offer.


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Indeed, then, if He were on earth He would not even be a priest, there being those who offer approach presents according to the law


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who, by an example and shadow, are offering the divine service of the celestials, according as Moses has been apprized when about to be completing the tabernacle. For see, He is averring, that you shall be making all "in accord with the model shown to you in the mountain."


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Yet now He has happened upon a more excellent ministry, in as much as He is the Mediator, also, of a better covenant, which has been instituted on better promises.


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For, blaming them, He is saying, "Lo! the days are coming," the Lord is saying, "And I shall be concluding with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant,


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Not in accord with the covenant which I make with their fathers In the day of My taking hold of their hand To be leading them out of the land of Egypt, Seeing that they do not remain in My covenant, And I neglect them," the Lord is saying,


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"For this is the covenant which I shall be covenanting with the house of Israel after those days," the Lord is saying: "Imparting My laws to their comprehension, On their hearts, also, shall I be inscribing them, And I shall be to them for a God, And they shall be to Me for a people.


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And by no means should each be teaching his fellow citizen, And each his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord!' For all shall be acquainted with Me, From their little to their great,


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For I shall be propitious to their injustices, And of their sins and their lawlessnesses should I under no circumstances still be reminded."


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In saying "new," He has made the former old. Now that which is growing old and decrepit is near its disappearance.


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For the tabernacle is constructed, the front part (in which was, besides the lampstand, the table also, and the showbread), which is termed the holy place.


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having the golden censer and the ark of the covenant, covered about everywhere with gold, in which was the golden urn having the manna, and Aaron's staff which germinates, and the tablets of the covenant.


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Now up over it were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the propitiatory shelter, concerning which there is nothing in particular to say now.


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Now these having been constructed thus, the priests, indeed, are passing continually into the front tabernacle, performing the divine service;


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yet into the second, the chief priest only, once a year, not apart from blood, which he is offering for himself and the errors of the people,


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by this the holy spirit making it evident that the way of the holy places is not as yet manifest while the front tabernacle still has a standing:


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which is a parable for the present period, according to which both approach presents and sacrifices are being offered, which can not make the one offering divine service perfect as to the conscience,


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only in foods and drinks and baptizings excelling, and just statutes for the flesh, lying on them unto the period of reformation.


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Now Christ, coming along a Chief Priest of the impending good things through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not of this creation;


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not even through the blood of he-goats and calves, but through His own blood, entered once for all time into the holy places, finding eonian redemption.


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For if the blood of he-goats and of bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the contaminated, is hallowing to the cleanness of the flesh,


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how much rather shall the blood of Christ, Who, through the eonian spirit offers Himself flawless to God, be cleansing your conscience from dead works to be offering divine service to the living and true God?


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And therefore He is the Mediator of a new covenant, so that at a death occurring for the deliverance of the transgressions of those under the first covenant, those who are called may be obtaining the promise of the eonian enjoyment of the allotment.


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for a covenant is confirmed over the dead, since it is not availing at any time when the covenant victim is living.


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For, every precept being spoken by Moses to the entire people according to the law, taking the blood of calves and of he-goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, he sprinkles both the scroll itself and the entire people,


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And almost all is being cleansed in blood according to the law, and apart from bloodshedding is coming no pardon.


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It was necessary, then, for the examples, indeed, of that in the heavens to be cleansed with these, yet the celestial things themselves with better sacrifices than these.


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For Christ entered not into holy places made by hands, representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to be disclosed to the face of God for our sakes.


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Nor yet is it that He may be offering Himself often, even as the chief priest is entering into the holies of holies year by year by the blood of others,


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since then He must often be suffering from the disruption of the world, yet now, once, at the conclusion of the eons, for the repudiation of sin through His sacrifice, is He manifest.


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thus Christ also, being offered once for the bearing of the sins of many, will be seen a second time, by those awaiting Him, apart from sin, for salvation, through faith.


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For the law, having a shadow of the impending good things, not the selfsame image of the matters, they, with their same sacrifices which they are offering year by year, are never able to perfect to a finality those approaching.


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Else would they not cease being offered, because those offering divine service, having been once cleansed, are having no longer any consciousness of sins?


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Wherefore, entering into the world, He is saying, Sacrifice and approach present Thou dost not will, Yet a body dost Thou adapt to Me.


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Then said I, "Lo! I am arriving-In the summary of the scroll it is written concerning Me-To do Thy will, O God."


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Further up, when saying that "Sacrifice and approach present and ascent approaches and those concerning sin Thou dost not will, neither dost Thou delight in them" (which are being offered according to law),


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then He has declared, "Lo! I am arriving to do Thy will, O God!" He is despatching the first, that He should be establishing the second.


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By which will we are hallowed through the approach present of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.


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And every chief priest, indeed, stands ministering day by day, and offering often the same sacrifices, which never can take sins from about us.


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Yet This One, when offering one sacrifice for sins, is seated to a finality at the right hand of God,


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"'This is the covenant which I shall be covenanting with them after those days,' the Lord is saying, 'imparting My laws to their hearts, I shall be inscribing them on their comprehension also,


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by a recently slain and living way which He dedicates for us, through the curtain, that is, His flesh,


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we may be approaching with a true heart, in the assurance of faith, with hearts sprinkled from a wicked conscience, and a body bathed in clean water.


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We may be retaining the avowal of the expectation without wavering, for faithful is He Who promises.


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not forsaking the assembling of ourselves, according as the custom of some is, but entreating, and so much rather as you are observing the day drawing near.


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For at our sinning voluntarily after obtaining the recognition of the truth, it is no longer leaving a sacrifice concerned with sins,


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Of how much worse punishment, are you supposing, will he be counted worthy who tramples on the Son of God, and deems the blood of the covenant by which he is hallowed contaminating, and outrages the spirit of grace?


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For we are acquainted with Him Who is saying, Mine is vengeance! I will repay! the Lord is saying, and again, "The Lord will be judging His people"


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Now recollect the former days in which, being enlightened, you endure a vast competition of sufferings,


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in this, indeed, being a gazing stock both of reproaches and afflictions, yet in this, becoming participants of those behaving thus.


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For you sympathize with my prisoners also, and anticipate the pillage of your possessions with joy, knowing you yourselves have better and permanent property in the heavens.


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for you have need of endurance that, doing the will of God, you should be requited with the promise.


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Now My "just one by faith shall be living," and "If he should ever be shrinking, My soul is not delighting in him."


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Now faith is an assumption of what is being expected, a conviction concerning matters which are not being observed;


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By faith we are apprehending the eons to adjust to a declaration of God, so that what is being observed has not come out of what is appearing.


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By faith Abel offers to God more of a sacrifice than Cain, through which he was testified to that he is just at God's testifying to his approach presents, and through it, dying, he is still speaking.


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By faith Enoch was transferred, so as not to be acquainted with death, and was not found, because God transfers him. For before his transference he is attested to have pleased God well.


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Now apart from faith it is impossible to be well pleasing, for he who is coming to God must believe that He is, and is becoming a Rewarder of those who are seeking Him out.


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By faith Noah, being apprized concerning that which is not as yet being observed, being pious, constructs an ark for the salvation of his house, through which he condemns the world, and became an enjoyer of the allotment of the righteousness which accords with faith.


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By faith Abraham, being called, obeys, coming out into the place which he was about to obtain to enjoy as an allotment, and came out, not versed in where he is coming.


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By faith he sojourns in the land of promise as in an alien land, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the joint enjoyers of the allotment of the same promise.


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By faith Sarah herself also obtained power for the disruption of seed, and brought forth beyond the period of her prime, since she deems the Promiser faithful;


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wherefore, also, were begotten by one, and these of one who is deadened, according as the constellations of heaven in multitude, and as the sand beside the sea shore innumerable.


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In faith died all these, not being requited with the promises, but perceiving them ahead and saluting them, and avowing that they are strangers and expatriates on the earth.


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For those who are saying such things are disclosing that they are seeking for a country of their own.


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And, if, indeed, they remembered that from which they came out, they might have had occasion to go back.


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Yet now they are craving a better, that is, a celestial; wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be invoked as their God, for He makes ready for them a city.


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By faith Abraham, when undergoing trial, has offered Isaac, and he who receives the promises offered the only-begotten,


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reckoning that God is able to be rousing him from among the dead also; whence he recovers him in a parable also.


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By faith Jacob, when dying, blesses each of the sons of Joseph, and worships, leaning on the top of his staff.


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By faith Joseph, at his decease, remembers concerning the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gives directions concerning his bones.


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By faith Moses, being born, was hid three months by his fathers, because they perceived that the little boy was handsome, and they were not afraid of the mandate of the king.


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preferring rather to be maltreated with the people of God than to have a temporary enjoyment of sin,


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deeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked away to the reward.


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By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the fury of the king, for he is staunch as seeing the Invisible.


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By faith he has the passover made and the pouring of blood against the door jambs, lest the exterminator of the first-born may come into contact with them.


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By faith they crossed the Red Sea as through dry land, attempting which, the Egyptians were swallowed up.


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And what still may I be saying? For the time will be lacking for me to relate concerning Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, besides Samuel also, and the prophets,


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who, through faith, subdue kingdoms, work righteousness, happened on promises, bar the mouths of lions,


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quench the power of fire, fled from the edge of the sword, were invigorated from infirmity, became strong in battle, rout the camps of aliens,


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women obtained their dead by resurrection. Now others are flogged, not anticipating deliverance, that they may be happening upon a better resurrection.


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They are stoned, they are sawn, they are tried, they died, murdered by the sword; they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, in want, afflicted, maltreated


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(of whom the world was not worthy), straying in wildernesses and mountains and caves and the holes of the earth.


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And these all, being testified to through faith, are not requited with the promise of God concerning us


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Surely, in consequence, then, we also, having so vast a cloud of witnesses encompassing us, putting off every impediment and the popular sin, may be racing with endurance the contest lying before us,


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looking off to the Inaugurator and Perfecter of faith, Jesus, Who, for the joy lying before Him, endures a cross, despising the shame, besides is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.


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For take into account the One Who has endured such contradiction by sinners while among them, lest you should be faltering, fainting in your souls.


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And you have been oblivious of the entreaty which is arguing with you as with sons: My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord, Nor yet faint when being exposed by Him.


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For whom the Lord is loving He is disciplining, Yet He is scourging every son to whom He is assenting.


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For discipline are you enduring. As to sons is God bringing it to you, for what son is there whom the father is not disciplining?


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Now if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, consequently you are bastards and not sons.


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Thereafter, indeed, we had the fathers of our flesh as discipliners, and we respected them. Yet shall we not much rather be subjected to the Father of spirits and be living.


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For these, indeed, disciplined for a few days as it seemed best to them, yet that One for our expedience, for us to be partaking of His holiness.


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Now all discipline, indeed, for the present is not seeming to be a thing of joy, but of sorrow, yet subsequently it is rendering the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those exercised through it.


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and make upright tracks for your feet, that the lame one may not turn aside, yet rather may be healed.


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supervising, that no one be wanting of the grace of God, nor any root of bitterness, sprouting up, may be annoying you, and through this the majority may be defiled,


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For you are aware that afterwards also, wanting to enjoy the allotment blessing, he is rejected, for he did not find a place of repentance, even seeking it out with tears.


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For you have not come to that which may be handled and burned with fire, and to murkiness, and gloom, and tornado, and the blare of a trumpet,


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For they did not carry out the assignment: And if a wild beast should come in contact with the mountain, it shall be pelted with stones.


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But you have come to mount Zion, and the city of the living God, celestial Jerusalem, and to ten thousand messengers,


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to a universal convocation, and to the ecclesia of the firstborn, registered in the heavens, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the just perfected,


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and to Jesus, the Mediator of a fresh covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling which is speaking better than Abel.


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Beware! You should not be refusing Him Who is speaking! For if those escaped not, refusing the One apprizing on earth, much rather we, who are turning from the One from the heavens,


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Whose voice then shakes the earth. Yet now He has promised, saying, Still once more shall I be quaking, not only the earth, but heaven also.


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Now the "Still once more" is making evident the transference of that which is being shaken, as of that having been made, that what is not being shaken should be remaining.


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Wherefore, accepting an unshakable kingdom, we may have grace through which we may be offering divine service in a way well pleasing to God, with piety and dread,


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Be mindful of those bound, as bound together with them; of those maltreated, as being yourselves also in the body.


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May matrimony be honorable in all, and the bed undefiled, for paramours and adulterers will God be judging.


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May fondness for money not be your manner, being sufficed with what is present, for He has declared: Under no circumstances may I be lax regarding you, Neither by any means may I be forsaking you.


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So that we have courage to say, "The Lord is my Helper, and I shall not be afraid of what man shall be doing to me!"


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Be remembering those of your leaders who speak to you the word of God, contemplating the sequel of their behavior, whose faith be imitating.


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By varied and strange teachings be not carried aside, for it is ideal to be confirming the heart by grace, not by foods, by which those who walk were not benefitted.


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We have an altar from which they have no right to be eating, who offer divine service in the tabernacle.


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For the animals whose blood is carried into the holy places by the chief priest concerning sin, of these the bodies are burned up outside the camp.


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Wherefore Jesus also, that He should be hallowing the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.


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Through Him, then, we may be offering up the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips avowing His name.


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Be persuaded by your leaders, and be deferring to them, for they are vigilant for the sake of your souls, as having to render an account, that they may be doing this with joy, and not with groaning, for this is disadvantageous for you.


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Pray concerning us, for we are persuaded that we have an ideal conscience, in all wanting to behave ideally.


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Now may the God of peace, Who is leading up our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, from among the dead by the blood of the eonian covenant,


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be adapting you to every good work to do His will, doing in us what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory for the eons of the eons. Amen!


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Now I am entreating you, brethren, bear with the word of entreaty, for I write the epistle to you by bits also.


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Know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he should be coming more quickly, I shall be seeing you.


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James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion. Rejoice!


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Now let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and unimpaired, lacking in nothing.


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Now if anyone of you is lacking wisdom, let him be requesting it from God, Who is giving to all generously and is not reproaching, and it shall be given to him.


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Yet let him be requesting in faith, doubting nothing, for he who is doubting simulates a surge of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.


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For the sun rises, together with the scorching heat, and withers the grass, and its flower falls off, and the comeliness of its aspect perished. Thus the rich also in his goings shall be caused to fade.


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Happy is the man who is enduring trial, for, becoming qualified, he will be obtaining the wreath of life, which He promises to those loving Him.


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Let no one, undergoing trial, be saying that "From God am I undergoing trial," for God is not tried by evils, yet He is trying no one.


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Thereafter, the desire, conceiving, is bringing forth sin. Now sin, fully consummated, is teeming forth death.


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All good giving and every perfect gratuity is from above, descending from the Father of lights, in Whom there is no mutation or shadow from revolving motion.


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By intention, He teems forth us by the word of truth, for us to be some firstfruit of His own creatures.


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Now you are aware, my beloved brethren! Yet let every man be swift to hear, tardy to speak, tardy to anger,


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Wherefore, putting off all filthiness and superabundance of evil, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.


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For if anyone is a listener to the word and not a doer, this one simulates a man considering the face he inherited in a mirror;


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Now he who peers into the perfect law, that of freedom, and abides, not becoming a forgetful listener, but a doer of the work, this one will be happy in his doing.


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If anyone is seeming to be a ritualist, not bridling his tongue, but seducing his heart, the ritual of this one is vain,


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for ritual clean and undefiled with God the Father is this: to be visiting the bereaved and widowed in their affliction, to be keeping oneself unspotted from the world.


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For if there should be entering into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in splendid attire, yet there should be entering a poor man also, in filthy attire,


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and you should be looking on the one wearing the splendid attire and be saying, "You sit ideally here," and to the poor one be saying, "You stand there," or, "Sit here under my footstool,"


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Hear, my beloved brethren! Does not God choose the poor in the world, rich in faith and enjoyers of the allotment of the kingdom which He promises to those who are loving Him?


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Yet you dishonor the poor one. Are not the rich tyrannizing over you? And they are drawing you to tribunals.


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Howbeit, if you are discharging the royal law, according to the scripture, "You shall be loving your associate as yourself," you are doing ideally.


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For anyone who should be keeping the whole law, yet should be tripping in one thing, has become liable for all.


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For He Who is saying, You should not be committing adultery, said, You should not be murdering, also. Now if you are not committing adultery, yet are murdering, you have become a transgressor of law.


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What is the benefit, my brethren, if anyone should be saying he has faith, yet may have no works? That faith can not save him.


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yet someone from among you may be saying to them, "Go away in peace, be warmed and satisfied," yet you may not be giving them the requisites for the body, what is the benefit?


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But someone will be declaring, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from the works and I shall be showing you my faith by my works.


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You are believing that God is one. Ideally are you doing. The demons also are believing and are shuddering.


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And fulfilled was the scripture which is saying, Now "Abraham believes God, and it is reckoned to him for righteousness," and he was called "the friend of God."


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Now likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when entertaining the messengers and ejecting them by a different way?


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Not many should become teachers, my brethren, being aware that we shall be getting greater judgment.


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For we all are tripping much. If anyone is not tripping in word, this one is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.


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Now if we are thrusting the horses' bits into their mouths, so that they are yielding to us, we are steering their whole body also with it.


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Lo! the ships also, being of such proportions, and driven by hard winds, are being steered by the least rudder, wherever the impulse of the helmsman is intending.


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Thus the tongue, also, is a little member and is grandiloquent. Lo! What amount of fire is kindling what amount of material!


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And the tongue is a fire, a world of injustice. The tongue is constituted among our members that which is spotting the whole body, and setting the wheel of our lineage aflame, and is set aflame by Gehenna.


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For every nature, both of wild beasts and flying creatures, both of reptiles and those of the salt sea, is tamed and has been tamed by human nature.


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With it we are blessing the Lord and Father, and with it we are cursing men who have come to be in accord with God's likeness.


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Out of the same mouth is coming forth blessing and cursing. There is no need, my brethren, for this to become thus.


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No fig tree, my brethren, can produce olives, nor a grapevine figs. Thus neither does brine produce sweet water.


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Who is wise and an adept among you? Let him show his works by an ideal behavior in meekness of wisdom.


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Now if you are having bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, are you not vaunting against and falsifying the truth?


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Now the wisdom from above is first, indeed, pure, thereupon peaceable, lenient, compliant, bulging with mercy and good fruits, undiscriminating, unfeigned.


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Whence are the battles and whence the fightings among you? Are they not hence: from your gratifications warring in your members?


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You are coveting and have not. You are murdering and are jealous, and you can not encounter it. You are fighting and battling, and you have not, because of not requesting.


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You are requesting and not obtaining, because you are requesting evilly, that you should be spending it on your gratifications.


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Adulterers and adulteresses! Are you not aware that the friendship of this world is enmity with God? Whosoever, then should intend to be a friend of the world is constituted an enemy of God.


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Or are you supposing that the scripture is saying this for naught? Is the spirit which dwells in us longing to envy?


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Yet greater is the grace He is giving. Wherefore He is saying, God "the proud is resisting, yet to the humble He is giving grace."


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Draw near to God, and He will be drawing near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, double-souled!


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Be wretched and mourn and lament. Let your laughter be converted into mourning, and joy into dejection.


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Do not be speaking against one another, brethren. He who is speaking against a brother, or judging his brother, is speaking against law and is judging law. Now if you are judging law, you are not a doer of law, but a judge.


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One is Lawgiver and Judge, Who is able to save and to destroy. Now who are you who are judging an associate?


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Come now, you who are saying, "Today or tomorrow we will be going into this or that city and should be spending a year there, and we will be trafficking and getting gain" --


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who are not versed in that which is the morrow's, for what is your life? For a vapor are you, which is appearing briefly and thereupon disappearing--


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instead of your saying, "If the Lord should ever be willing, and we shall be living, we also shall be doing this or that."


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Your gold and silver corrode and their venom will be for a testimony against you, and the venom will be eating your flesh as fire. You hoard in the last days.


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Lo! the wage of the workers, who mow your country places, which has been withheld by you, is crying, and the imploring of the reapers has entered into the ears of the Lord of hosts.


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Be patient, then, brethren, till the presence of the Lord. Lo! the farmer is waiting for the precious fruit of the land, being patient about it, till it should be getting the early and late showers.


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Be not groaning, brethren, against one another, lest you may be judged. Lo! the Judge stands before the doors.


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Be taking, my brethren, the example of suffering evil and patience you have: the prophets who speak in the name of the Lord.


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Lo! we are counting those happy who endure. You hear of the endurance of Job, and you perceived the consummation of the Lord, for very compassionate and pitiful is the Lord.


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Now before all, my brethren, do not be swearing, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor any other oath. Now let your "yes" be "yes," and "no" be "no," lest you should be falling under judging.


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Is anyone infirm among you? Let him call to him the elders of the ecclesia, and let them pray over him, rubbing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord.


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And the vow of faith will be saving the faltering and the Lord will be rousing him up, and, if he should have done sins, it will be forgiven him.


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Then confess sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The operative petition of the just is availing much.


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Elijah was a man of like emotions with us, and he prays in prayer for it not to rain, and it does not rain on the land three years and six months.


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My brethren, if anyone among you should be led astray from the way of the truth, and someone should be turning him back,


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let him know that he who turns back a sinner out of the deception of his way will be saving his soul from death and will be covering a multitude of sins.


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Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen expatriates of the dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia,


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according to the foreknowledge of God, the Father, in holiness of spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you!


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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, according to His vast mercy, regenerates us into a living expectation, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from among the dead,


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for the enjoyment of an allotment incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, kept in the heavens for you,


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who are garrisoned by the power of God, through faith, for salvation ready to be revealed in the last era,


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that the testing of your faith, much more precious than gold which is perishing, yet, being tested by fire, may be found for applause and glory and honor at the unveiling of Jesus Christ,


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Whom, not perceiving, you are loving; in Whom, not seeing at present, yet believing, you are exulting with joy unspeakable and glorious,


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Concerning which salvation the prophets seek out and search out, who prophesy concerning the grace which is for you,


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searching into what or what manner of era the spirit of Christ in them made evident, when testifying beforehand to the sufferings pertaining to Christ and the glories after these.


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To whom it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to you they dispensed them, of which you were now informed through those who are bringing the evangel to you by holy spirit dispatched from heaven, into which messengers are yearning to peer.


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Wherefore, girding up the loins of your comprehension, being sober, expect perfectly the grace which is being brought to you at the unveiling of Jesus Christ.


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And if you are invoking the Father, Who is judging impartially according to each one's work, you may behave, for the time of your sojourn, with fear,


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being aware that not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, were you ransomed from your vain behavior, handed down by tradition from the fathers,


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foreknown, indeed, before the disruption of the world, yet manifested in the last times because of you, who through Him are believing in God,


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Who rouses Him from among the dead and is giving Him glory, so that your faith and expectation is to be in God.


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Having purified your souls, by the obedience of truth, for unfeigned fondness for the brethren, love one another out of a true heart earnestly,


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having been regenerated, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, living and permanent,


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because All flesh is grass, And all its glory is as the flower of grass. Withered is the grass, And the flower falls off...


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Yet the declaration of the Lord is remaining for the eon. Now this is the declaration which is being brought to you in the evangel.


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as recently born babes, long for the unadulterated milk of the word that by it you may be growing into salvation,


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Whom approaching, a living Stone, having been rejected indeed by men, yet chosen by God, held in honor,


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you, also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, into a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, most acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.


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Because of this it is included in the scripture: Lo! I am laying in Zion a corner capstone, chosen, held in honor, and he who is believing on it may by no means be disgraced.


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To you, then, who are believing, is the honor, yet to the unbelieving: "A Stone which is rejected by the builders, this came to be for the head of the corner,"


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and a stumbling stone and a snare rock; who are stumbling also at the word, being stubborn, to which they were appointed also.


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Yet you are a chosen race, a "royal priesthood," a "holy nation," a procured people, so that you should be recounting the virtues of Him Who calls you out of darkness into His marvelous light,


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who once were "not a people" yet now are the people of God, who "have not enjoyed mercy," yet now are "being shown mercy."


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Beloved, I am entreating you, as sojourners and expatriates, to be abstaining from the fleshly lusts which are warring against the soul,


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having your behavior among the nations ideal, that in that in which they are speaking against you as of evildoers, by being spectators of ideal acts they should be glorifying God in the day of visitation.


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or to governors, as being sent by him for vengeance on evildoers, yet for the applause of doers of good.


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Domestics may do it by being subject to your owners, with all fear, not only to the good and lenient, but to the crooked also;


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for this is grace, if, because of consciousness of God, anyone is undergoing sorrows, suffering unjustly.


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For what credit is it if, sinning and being buffeted, you will be enduring it? But if, doing good and suffering, you will be enduring, this is grace with God.


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For for this were you called, seeing that Christ also suffered for your sakes, leaving you a copy, that you should be following up in the footprints of Him


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Who, being reviled, reviled not again; suffering, threatened not, yet gave it over to Him Who is judging justly,


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Who Himself carries up our sins in His body on to the pole, that, coming away from sins, we should be living for righteousness; by Whose welt you were healed.


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For you were as straying sheep, but now you turned back to the Shepherd and Supervisor of your souls.


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Likewise wives may do it by being subject to their own husbands, that, if any are stubborn also, as to the word, they will be gained without a word, through the behavior of their wives,


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whose adornment, let it not be the outside, of braiding aught into the hair and of decking with gold, or putting on of garments,


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but the hidden human of the heart, in the incorruptibility of a meek and quiet spirit, which, in God's sight, is costly.


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For thus once the holy women also, whose expectation was in God, adorned themselves, being subject to their own husbands


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(as Sarah obeys Abraham, calling him "lord," whose children you became), doing good and not fearing dismay in anything.


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Husbands, likewise, may do it by making a home with them according to knowledge, awarding honor to the feminine as to the weaker vessel, as to those who are also joint enjoyers of the allotment of the varied grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.


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Now the finish; Be all of a like disposition, sympathetic, fond of the brethren, tenderly compassionate, of a humble disposition,


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not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling, but, on the contrary, blessing, seeing that you were called for this, that you should be enjoying the allotment of blessing,


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for He who is wanting to love life and be acquainted with good days, Let his tongue cease from evil And his lips speak no guile.


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For the eyes of the Lord are on the just And His ears are for their petition, Yet the face of the Lord is on evil doers.


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Yet if you may be suffering also because of righteousness, happy are you. Now you may not be afraid with their fear, nor yet be disturbed,


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yet hallow the Lord Christ in your hearts, ever ready with a defense for everyone who is demanding from you an account concerning the expectation in you, but with meekness and fear,


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having a good conscience, that, in what they are speaking against you as of evildoers, they may be mortified, who traduce your good behavior in Christ.


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For it is better to be suffering for doing good, if the will of God may be willing, than for doing evil,


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seeing that Christ also, for our sakes, once died concerning sins, the just for the sake of the unjust, that He may be leading us to God; being put to death, indeed, in flesh, yet vivified in spirit,


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He heralds to those once stubborn, when the patience of God awaited in the days of Noah while the ark was being constructed, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were brought safely through water,


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the representation of which, baptism, is now saving you also (not the putting off of the filth of the flesh, but the inquiry of a good conscience to God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,


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Who is at God's right hand, being gone into heaven, messengers and authorities and powers being subjected to Him.


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Christ, then, having suffered for our sakes in flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same thought, for he who is suffering in flesh has ceased his sins,


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by no means still to spend the rest of his lifetime in the flesh in human desires, but in the will of God.


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For sufficient is the time which has passed by to have effected the intention of the nations, having gone on in wantonness, lusts, debauches, revelries, drinking bouts, and illicit idolatries,


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while they are thinking it strange of you not to race together into the same puddle of profligacy, calumniating you;


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who shall be rendering an account to Him Who is holding Himself in readiness to judge the living and the dead.


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For for this an evangel is brought to the dead also, that they may be judged, indeed, according to men in flesh, yet should be living according to God, in spirit.


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Each, according as he obtained a gracious gift, be dispensing it among yourselves, as ideal administrators of the varied grace of God;


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if anyone is speaking, as the oracles of God; if anyone is dispensing, as out of the strength which God is furnishing; that in all God may be glorified, through Jesus Christ, to Whom is the glory and the might for the eons of the eons. Amen!


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Beloved, do not think strange the conflagration among you, which is becoming a trial to you, as of something strange befalling you,


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but, according as you are participating in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, that you may be rejoicing, exulting in the unveiling of His glory also.


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If you are being reproached in the name of Christ, happy are you, for the spirit of glory and power, and that of God, has come to rest on you.


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For let not any of you be suffering as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or as an interferer in other's affairs;


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seeing that it is the era for the judgment to begin from the house of God. Now if first from us, what is the consummation of those who are stubborn as to God's evangel?


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So that, let those also who are suffering according to the will of God commit their souls to a faithful Creator in the doing of good.


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The elders, then, among you I am entreating (who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a participant of the glory about to be revealed),


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Shepherd the flocklet of God among you, supervising, not of compulsion, but voluntarily, according to God; nor yet avariciously, but eagerly;


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Likewise, younger men may be subject to the elder, yet all wear the servile apron of humility with one another, for God "is resisting the proud, yet is giving grace to the humble."


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Be sober! Watch! For your plaintiff, the Adversary, is walking about as a roaring lion, seeking someone to swallow up;


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whom withstand, solid in the faith, having perceived the same sufferings being completed in your brotherhood in the world.


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Now the God of all grace, Who calls you into His eonian glory in Christ, while briefly suffering, He will be adjusting, establishing, firming, founding you.


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Through Silvanus, a faithful brother, as I am reckoning, I write briefly to you, entreating and deposing that this is the true grace of God, in which you are to stand.


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Simeon Peter, a slave and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who are chancing upon an equally precious faith with us, in the righteousness of our God, and the Saviour, Jesus Christ:


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So has all of His divine power, that tends to life and devoutness, been presented to us through the recognition of Him Who calls us to His own glory and virtue;


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through which have been presented to us the precious and greatest promises, that through these you may become participants of the divine nature, fleeing from the corruption which is in the world by lust.


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Now for this same thing also, employing all diligence, in your faith supply virtue, yet in virtue knowledge,


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For your possessing these and increasing is constituting you not idle nor yet unfruitful in the recognition of our Lord, Jesus Christ.


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For he in whom these are not present is blind, closing his eyes, getting oblivious of the cleansing from the penalties of his sins of old.


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Wherefore, rather, brethren, endeavor through ideal acts to confirm your calling and choice; for, doing these things you should under no circumstances be tripping at any time.


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For thus will be richly supplied to you the entrance into the eonian kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.


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Wherefore I shall ever be about to be reminding you concerning these things, even though you are aware of, and have been established in, the present truth.


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Now I am deeming it just, for as much time as I am in this tabernacle, to be rousing you by a reminder,


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being aware that my tabernacle is to be put off swiftly according as our Lord, Jesus Christ, also makes evident to me.


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Yet I shall endeavor to have you, after my exodus, to make mention of these things, ever and anon, also.


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For not by following wisely made myths do we make known to you the power and presence of our Lord, Jesus Christ, but by becoming spectators of His magnificence.


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For He got from God, the Father, the honor and glory of the voice, being carried to Him in such a way by the Glory Magnifical: "This is My Son, the Beloved, in Whom I delight!"


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And we are having the prophetic word more confirmed, which you, doing ideally, are heeding (as to a lamp appearing in a dingy place, till the day should be breaking and the morning star should be rising) in your hearts,


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For not by the will of man was prophecy carried on at any time, but, being carried on by holy spirit, holy men of God speak.


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Yet there came to be false prophets also among the people, as among you also there will be false teachers who will be smuggling in destructive sects, even disowning the Owner Who buys them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.


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And many will be following out their wantonness, because of whom the glory of the truth will be calumniated,


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and in greed, with suave words, they will traffic in you, whose judgment of old is not idling, and their destruction is not nodding.


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For if God spares not sinning messengers, but thrusting them into the gloomy caverns of Tartarus, gives them up to be kept for chastening judging;


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and spares not the ancient world, but guards Noah, an eighth, a herald of righteousness, bringing a deluge on the world of the irreverent;


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and condemns the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, reducing them to cinders by an overthrow, having placed them as an example for those about to be irreverent:


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(for the just man dwelling among them, in observing and hearing from day to day, tormented his just soul by their lawless acts),


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the Lord is acquainted with the rescue of the devout out of trial, yet is keeping the unjust for chastening in the day of judging,


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yet specially those going after the flesh in defiling lust and despising lordship. Audacious, given to self-gratification, they are not trembling when calumniating glories,


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where messengers, being greater in strength and power, are not bringing against them a calumniating judging before the Lord.


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Now these, as irrational animals, born naturally for capture and corruption, calumniating that in which they are ignorant in their corruption, also shall be corrupted,


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being requited with the wages of injustice. Deeming gratification by day a luxury, they are spots and flaws, luxuriating in their love feasts, carousing together with you,


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having the distended eyes of an adulteress, and that do not stop from sin, luring unstable souls, having a heart exercised by greed, children of a curse.


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Leaving the straight path, they were led astray, following out the path of Balaam of Beor, who loves the wages of injustice,


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yet was exposed for his own outlawry. A voiceless yoke-beast, uttering with a human voice, forbids the insanity of the prophet.


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These are waterless springs, and mists driven by a storm, for whom the gloom of darkness has been kept.


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For, uttering pompous vanity, they are luring by the lusts of the flesh, in wantonness, those who are scarcely fleeing from those who are behaving with deception;


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promising them freedom, they are inherently slaves of corruption; for by whom anyone is discomfited, to this one he has been enslaved also.


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For if, while fleeing from the defilements of the world by the recognition of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, yet, being again involved in these, they are being discomfited, their last state has become worse than the first.


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For it were better for them not to have recognized the way of righteousness, than, recognizing it, to go back to what was behind, from the holy precept given over to them.


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Now that in the true proverb has befallen them: "A cur turning to its own vomit," and "A bathed sow to her wallowing in the mire."


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This is already, beloved, the second epistle I am writing to you in which I am rousing your sincere comprehension by a reminder


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to remind you of the declarations which have been declared before by the holy prophets, and of the precept of your apostles of the Lord and Saviour,


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knowing this first, that in the last days scoffers will be coming with scoffing, going according to their own desires


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and saying, "Where is the promise of His presence? For since the fathers were put to repose, all is continuing thus from the beginning of creation."


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For they want to be oblivious of this, that there were heavens of old, and an earth cohering out of water and through water, by the word of God;


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Yet the heavens now, and the earth, by the same word, are stored with fire, being kept for the day of the judging and destruction of irreverent men.


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Now of this one thing you are not to be oblivious, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.


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The Lord is not tardy as to the promise, as some are deeming tardiness, but is patient because of you, not intending any to perish, but all to make room for repentance.


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Now the day of the Lord will be arriving as a thief, in which the heavens shall be passing by with a booming noise, yet the elements shall be dissolved by combustion, and the earth and the works in it shall be found.


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At these all, then, dissolving, to what manner of men must you belong in holy behavior and devoutness,


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hoping for and hurrying the presence of God's day, because of which the heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and the elements decompose by combustion!


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Yet we, according to His promises, are hoping for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness is dwelling.


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Wherefore, beloved, hoping for these things, endeavor to be found by Him in peace, unspotted and flawless.


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And be deeming the patience of our Lord salvation, according as our beloved brother Paul also writes to you, according to the wisdom given to him,


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as also in all the epistles, speaking in them concerning these things, in which are some things hard to apprehend, which the unlearned and unstable are twisting, as the rest of the scriptures also, to their own destruction.


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You, then, beloved, knowing this before, be on your guard lest, being led away with the deception of the dissolute, you should be falling from your own steadfastness.


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Yet be growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory now, as well as for the day of the eon. Amen!


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That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, at which we gaze and our hands handle, is concerned with the word of life.


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And the life was manifested, and we have seen and are testifying and reporting to you the life eonian which was toward the Father and was manifested to us.


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That which we have seen and heard we are reporting to you also, that you too may be having fellowship with us, and yet this fellowship of ours 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 are informing you, that God is light, and darkness in Him there is none.


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If we should be saying that we are having fellowship with Him and should be walking in darkness, we are lying and are not doing the truth.


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Yet if we should be walking in the light as He is in the light, we are having fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, is cleansing us from every sin.


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If we should be avowing our sins, He is faithful and just that He may be pardoning us our sins and should be cleansing us from all injustice.


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If we should be saying that we have not sinned, we are making Him a liar, and His word is not in us.


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My little children, these things am I writing to you that you may not be sinning. And if anyone should be sinning, we have an Entreater with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Just.


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And He is the propitiatory shelter concerned with our sins, yet not concerned with ours only, but concerned with the whole world also.


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He who is saying that "I know Him" and is not keeping His precepts, is a liar, and the truth of God is not in this one.


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In this we know that we are in Him: he who is saying that he is remaining in Him ought also himself to be walking according as He walks.


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Beloved, I am not writing a new precept to you, but an old precept, which you had from the beginning. The old precept is the word which you hear.


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Again, a new precept am I writing to you, which is true in Him and in you, for the darkness is passing by, and the true light already is appearing.


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He who is saying that he is in the light and is hating his brother is a liar and is in darkness hitherto.


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Yet he who is hating his brother is in darkness and in darkness is walking, and is not aware whither he is going, for the darkness blinds his eyes.


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I am writing to you, little children, seeing that your sins have been forgiven you through His name.


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I am writing to you, fathers, seeing that you know Him Who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, youths, seeing that you have conquered the wicked one. I write to you, little children, seeing that you know the Father.


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I write to you, fathers, seeing that you know Him Who is from the beginning. I write to you, youths, seeing that you are strong and the word of God is remaining in you, and you have conquered the wicked one.


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Be not loving the world, neither that which is in the world. If ever anyone is loving the world, the love of the Father is not in him,


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for everything that is in the world, the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the ostentation of living, is not of the Father, but is of the world.


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And the world is passing by, and its desire, yet he who is doing the will of God is remaining for the eon.


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Little children, it is the last hour, and, according as you hear that the antichrist is coming, now also there have come to be many antichrists, whence we know that it is the last hour.


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Out of us they come, but they were not of us, for if they were of us, they would have remained with us. But it was that they may be manifested that they are not all of us.


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I write not to you seeing that you are not acquainted with the truth, but that you are acquainted with it, and that no lie at all is of the truth.


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Who is the liar, if not he who is denying, saying that "Jesus is not the Christ"? This one is the antichrist, who is disowning the Father and the Son.


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Everyone who is disowning the Son, neither has the Father. He who is avowing the Son has the Father also.


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Let that which you hear from the beginning be remaining in you. If ever that which you hear from the beginning should be remaining in you, you, also, will be remaining in the Son and in the Father.


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And the anointing which you obtained from Him is remaining in you, and you have no need that anyone may be teaching you, but as His anointing is teaching you concerning all, and is true, and is no lie, according as it teaches you also, remain in Him.


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And now, little children, remain in Him, that, if He should be manifested, we should be having boldness and not be put to shame by Him in His presence.


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If you should be perceiving that He is just, you know that everyone also who is doing righteousness is begotten of Him.


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Perceive what manner of love the Father has given us, that we may be called children of God! And we are! Therefore the world does not know us, for it did not know Him.


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Beloved, now are we children of God, and it was not as yet manifested what we shall be. We are aware that, if He should be manifested, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him according as He is.


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And you are aware that He was manifested that He should be taking away our sins, and in Him is no sin.


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Everyone who is remaining in Him is not sinning. Everyone who is sinning sees Him not, neither knows Him.


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Little children, let no one be deceiving you. He who is doing righteousness is just, according as He is just.


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Yet he who is doing sin is of the Adversary, for from the beginning is the Adversary sinning. For this was the Son of God manifested, that He should be annulling the acts of the Adversary.


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Everyone who is begotten of God is not doing sin, for His seed is remaining in him, and he can not be sinning, for he is begotten of God.


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In this are apparent the children of God and the children of the Adversary: everyone who is not doing righteousness is not of God, and who is not loving his brother.


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that we may be loving one another, not according as Cain was of the wicked one and slays his brother. And on behalf of what does he slay him? Seeing that his acts were wicked, yet those of his brother, just.


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We are aware that we have proceeded out of death into life, for we are loving our brethren. He who is not loving is remaining in death.


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Everyone who is hating his brother is a man-killer, and you are aware that no man-killer at all has life eonian remaining in him.


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By this we know love, seeing that He, for our sakes, lays down His soul. We also ought to lay down our souls for the sake of the brethren.


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Now whoever may be having a livelihood in this world, and may be beholding his brother having need, and should be locking his compassions from him -- how is the love of God remaining in him?


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And in this shall we be knowing that we are of the truth and shall be persuading our hearts in front of Him,


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and whatsoever we may be requesting, we are obtaining from Him, for we are keeping His precepts and are doing what is pleasing in His sight.


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And this is His precept, that we should be believing in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and may be loving one another according as He gives us a precept.


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And he who is keeping His precepts is remaining in Him, and He in him. And in this we know that He is remaining in us, by the spirit which He gives us.


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Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are of God, for many false prophets have come out into the world.


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In this you know the spirit of God: every spirit which is avowing Jesus Christ, having come in flesh, is of God,


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and every spirit which is not avowing Jesus the Lord having come in flesh is not of God. And this is that of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and is now already in the world.


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You are of God, little children, and you have conquered them, for greater is He Who is in you than he who is in the world.


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We are of God. He who knows God is hearing us. He who is not of God is not hearing us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.


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Beloved, we should be loving one another, for love is of God, and everyone who is loving God is begotten of God, and knows God.


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In this was manifested the love of God among us, that God has dispatched His only-begotten Son into the world that we should be living through Him.


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In this is love, not that we love God, but that He loves us, and dispatches His son, a propitiatory shelter concerned with our sins.


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No one has ever gazed upon God. If we should be loving one another, God is remaining in us, and His love is perfected in us.


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And we have gazed upon Him, and are testifying that the Father has dispatched the Son, the Saviour of the world.


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And we know and believe the love which God has in us. God is love, and he who is remaining in love is remaining in God, and God is remaining in him.


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In this is love perfected with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judging, seeing that, according as He is, so are we also in this world.


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Fear is not in love, but perfect love is casting out fear, for fear has chastening. Now he who is fearing is not perfected in love.


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If anyone should be saying that "I am loving God," and should be hating his brother, he is a liar; for he who is not loving his brother whom he has seen can not be loving God Whom he has not seen.


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Everyone who is believing that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God. And everyone who is loving Him Who begets is loving him also who is begotten by Him.


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In this we know that we are loving the children of God, whenever we may be loving God and may be doing His precepts.


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for all that is begotten of God is conquering the world. And this is the conquest that conquers the world: our faith.


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This is He Who is coming through water and blood and spirit -- Jesus Christ -- not in the water only, but in the water and in the blood. And the spirit it is which is testifying, for the spirit is the truth,


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If we are obtaining the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God, that He has testified concerning His Son.


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He who is believing in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; he who is not believing God has made Him a liar, for he has not believed in the testimony which God has testified concerning His Son.


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These things I write to you that you who are believing in the name of the son of God may be perceiving that you have life eonian.


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And this is the boldness which we have toward Him, that if we should be requesting anything according to His will, He is hearing us.


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And if ever we are aware that He is hearing us, whatever we may be requesting, we are aware that we have the requests which we have requested from Him.


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If anyone should be perceiving his brother sinning a sin not to death, he shall be requesting, and He will be giving him life for those sinning not to death. There is a sin to death: I am not saying that he should be asking concerning that.


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We are aware that everyone who has been begotten of God is not sinning, but he who is begotten of God is keeping himself, and the wicked one is not touching him.


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Yet we are aware that the Son of God is arriving, and has given us a comprehension, that we know the True One, and we are in the True One, in His Son, Jesus Christ. This One is the true God and life eonian.


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The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I am loving in truth, and not I only, but all also who know the truth,


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With us will be grace, mercy, peace 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 very much that I have found your children walking in truth, according as we obtained a precept from the Father.


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And now I am asking you, lady, not as writing a new precept to you, but a precept which we have from the beginning, that we may be loving one another.


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And this is love, that we may be walking according to His precepts. This is the precept, according as you hear from the beginning, that you may be walking in it;


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for many deceivers came out into the world, who are not avowing Jesus Christ coming in flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.


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Be looking to yourselves, that you should not be destroying that for which you work, but you may be getting full wages.


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Everyone who is taking the lead and not remaining in the teaching of Christ has not God. He who is remaining in the teaching, this one has the Father as well as the Son.


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If anyone is coming to you and is not bringing this teaching, be not taking him into your home, and say not to him, "Rejoice!"


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Having much to write to you, I resolved not to do it with paper and ink, but I am expecting to come to you and to speak mouth to mouth, that your joy may be full.


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Beloved, concerning all I am wishing that you be prospering and sound, according as your soul is prospering.


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For I rejoiced very much at the brethren's coming and testifying to your truth, according as you are walking in truth.


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Beloved, you are doing a faithful thing whatsoever you should work for the brethren, and this for strangers,


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who testify to your love in the sight of the ecclesia, to whom you will be doing ideally by sending them forward worthily of God,


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I write somewhat to the ecclesia, but Diotrephes, who is fond of being foremost among them, is not receiving us.


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Therefore, if I should be coming, I shall be reminding him of his acts which he is doing, with wicked words gossiping about us, and not being sufficed with these, neither is he receiving the brethren, and those who are intending to he is forbidding, and is casting them out of the ecclesia.


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Beloved, do not be imitating the evil, but the good. He who is doing good is of God. He who is doing evil has not seen God.


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Demetrius has been attested by all, and by the truth itself. Now we also are testifying, and you are aware that our testimony is true.


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Judas, a slave of Jesus Christ, yet a brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept by Jesus Christ:


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Beloved, giving all diligence to be writing to you concerning our common salvation and life, I have had the necessity to write to you, entreating you to be contending for the faith once given over to the saints.


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For some men slip in who long ago have been written beforehand for this judgment; irreverent, bartering the grace of our God for wantonness, and disowning our only Owner and Lord, Jesus Christ.


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Now I am intending to remind you, you who once are aware of all, that the Lord, when saving the people out of the land of Egypt, secondly destroys those who believe not.


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Besides, messengers who keep not their own sovereignty, but leave their own habitation, He has kept in imperceptible bonds under gloom for the judging of the great day.


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As Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities about them in like manner to these committing ultra-prostitution, and coming away after other flesh, are lying before us, a specimen, experiencing the justice of fire eonian.


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Howbeit, these dreamers also, likewise are indeed defiling the flesh, yet are repudiating lordship and calumniating glories.


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Now when Michael, the chief messenger, doubting the Adversary, argued concerning the body of Moses, he dares not bring on a calumniating judging, but said,


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"May the Lord rebuke you!" Yet these indeed are calumniating whatever they are not acquainted with, yet in whatever they are naturally adept, as the irrational animals, in these things they are being corrupted.


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Woe to them! for they went in the way of Cain, and in the deception of Balaam's wages were they poured out, and in the contradiction of Korah they perished.


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These are the reefs in your love feasts, carousing with you fearlessly, shepherding themselves; waterless clouds carried aside by winds; trees that are sear, unfruitful, twice dying, uprooted;


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wild billows of the sea, frothing forth their own shame; straying stars, for whom the gloom of darkness has been kept for an eon.


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Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesies to these also, saying, "Lo! the Lord came among ten thousand of His saints,


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to do judging against all, and to expose all the irreverent concerning all their irreverent acts in which they are irreverent, and concerning all the hard words which irreverent sinners speak against Him."


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These are murmurers, complainers, going according to their desires, and their mouth is speaking pompous things, marveling at the aspect of things, on behalf of benefit.


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Yet you, beloved, remember the declarations which have been declared before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,


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that they said to you, In the last time will be coming scoffers, going according to their own irreverent desires.


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keep yourselves in the love of God, anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for life eonian.


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yet others be saving, snatching them out of the fire, yet to others be merciful with fear, hating even the tunic spotted by the flesh.


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Now to Him Who is able to guard you from tripping, and to stand you flawless in sight of His glory, in exultation,


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to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, might and authority before the entire eon, now, as well as for all the eons. Amen!


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The Unveiling of Jesus Christ, which God gives to Him, to show to His slaves what must occur swiftly; and He signifies it, dispatching through His messenger to His slave John,


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Happy is he who is reading and those who are hearing the word of the prophecy, and who are keeping that which is written in it, for the era is near.


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John, to the seven ecclesias which are in the province of Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him Who is and Who was and Who is coming, 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 Suzerain of the kings of the earth. To Him Who is loving us and looses us from our sins by His blood


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and makes us a kingdom and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and might for the eons of the eons! Amen!


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Lo! He is coming with clouds, and every eye shall be seeing Him-those, also, who stab Him-and all the tribes of the land shall be grieving over Him. Yea! Amen!


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"I am the Alpha and the Omega," is saying the Lord God, Who is and Who was and Who is coming, the Almighty.


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I, John, your brother and joint participant in the affliction and kingdom and endurance in Jesus Christ, came to be in the island called Patmos, because of the word of God, and because of the testimony of Jesus Christ.


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saying, "What you are observing write into a scroll and send it to the seven ecclesias: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."


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And I turn about to look for the voice which spoke with me. And, turning about, I perceived seven golden lampstands,


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and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like a son of mankind, dressed in a garment reaching to the feet, and girded about at the breasts with a golden girdle.


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and His feet like white bronze, as fired in a furnace, and His voice is as the sound of many waters.


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And He has in His right hand seven stars, and out of His mouth a sharp two-edged blade is issuing, and His countenance is as the sun appearing in its power.


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And when I perceived Him, I fall at His feet as dead. And He places His right hand on me, saying, "Do not fear! I am the First and the Last,


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and the Living One: and I became dead, and lo! living am I for the eons of the eons. (Amen!) And I have the keys of death and of the unseen.


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Write then, what you perceived, and what they are, and what is about to be occurring after these things:


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the secret of the seven stars which you perceived in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are messengers of the seven ecclesias, and the seven lampstands are seven ecclesias.


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"To the messenger of the ecclesia in Ephesus write: `Now this He is saying Who is holding the seven stars in His right hand, Who is walking in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:


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""I am aware of your acts, and your toil, and your endurance, and that you can not bear evil men, and you try those saying that they themselves are apostles, and they are not, and you found them false;


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Remember, then, whence you have fallen, and repent, and do the former acts. Yet if not, I am coming to you, and shall be moving your lampstand out of its place, if ever you should not be repenting.


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"'"Who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit is saying to the ecclesias. "'"To the one who is conquering, to him will I be granting to be eating of the log of life which is in the center of the paradise of God."'


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"And to the messenger of the ecclesia in Smyrna write: `Now, this He is saying Who is the First and the Last, Who became dead, and lives:


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"'"I am aware of your acts and affliction and poverty (but you are rich) and the calumny of those saying that they themselves are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.


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Fear nothing that you are about to be suffering. Lo! the Adversary is about to be casting some of you into jail that you may be tried, and you will be having affliction ten days. Become faithful until death, and I shall be giving you the wreath of life.


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"'"Who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit is saying to the ecclesias. "'"The one who is conquering may under no circumstances be injured by the second death."


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"And to the messenger of the ecclesia in Pergamum write: `Now this He is saying Who has the sharp two-edged blade:


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"'"I am aware where you are dwelling-where the throne of Satan is-and you are holding My name, and do not disown My faith in the days in which Antipas, My faithful witness, was killed among you, where Satan is dwelling.


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But I have a few things against you, that you have there those holding the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a snare before the sons of Israel, to be eating idol sacrifices, and to commit prostitution.


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Repent then! Yet if not, I am coming to you swiftly and shall be battling with them with the blade of My mouth.


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"'"Who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit is saying to the ecclesias. "'"To the one who is conquering, to him will I be giving of the hidden manna, and I shall be giving him a white pebble and on the pebble a new name written, of which no one is aware except the one who is obtaining it."'


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"And to the messenger of the ecclesia in Thyatira write: `Now this the Son of God is saying, Who has His eyes as a flame of fire, and His feet like white bronze:


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"'"I am aware of your acts and love and faith and service and your endurance, and your last acts are more than the former.


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But I have much against you, seeing that you pardon that woman of yours, Jezebel, who says that she is a prophetess, and is teaching and deceiving My slaves so as to commit prostitution and to be eating idol sacrifices.


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And I give her time that she should be repenting, and she is not willing to repent of her prostitution.


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Lo! I will cast her into a couch, and those committing adultery with her into great affliction, if ever they will not be repenting of her acts.


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And her children shall I be killing with death, and all the ecclesias shall know that I am He Who is searching the kidneys and hearts. And I will be giving to each of you in accord with your acts.


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Now to you am I saying, to the rest in Thyatira, whoever have not this teaching, who do not know the deep things of Satan,' as they are saying, that I will be casting on you no other burden.


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"'"And to the one who is conquering and keeping My acts until the consummation, to him will I be giving authority over the nations;


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and he shall be shepherding them with an iron club, as vessels of pottery are being crushed, as I also have obtained from My Father.


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"And to the messenger of the ecclesia in Sardis write: 'Now this He is saying Who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: "'"I am aware of your acts, that you have a name that you are living, and are dead.


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Become watchful, and establish the rest who were about to be dying; for I have not found your acts completed in the sight of My God.


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Remember, then, how you have obtained, and hear; keep it and repent. If ever, then, you should not be watching, I shall be arriving on you as a thief, and under no circumstances will you be knowing what hour I shall be arriving on you.


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But you have a few names in Sardis which do not pollute their garments, and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.


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"'"The one who is conquering, he shall be clothed in white garments, and under no circumstances will I be erasing his name from the scroll of life, and I will be avowing his name in front of My Father and before His messengers.


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"And to the messenger of the ecclesia in Philadelphia write: "Now this is saying the True, the Holy One, Who has the key of David, and Who is opening and no one shall be locking, and locking and no one shall be opening:


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"'"I am aware of your acts. Lo! Before you have I granted an open door, which no one is able to lock, for you have a little power, and you keep My word and you do not disown My name.


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Lo! I have granted to those of the synagogue of Satan, (who are saying that they themselves are Jews, and are not, but are lying) - Lo! I shall be making them that they will be arriving and worshiping, before your feet, and they may know that I love you.


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Seeing that you keep the word of My endurance, I, also, will be keeping you out of the hour of trial which is about to be coming on the whole inhabited earth to try those dwelling on the earth.


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"'"The one who is conquering, him will I be making a pillar in the temple of My God, and he may be coming out nevermore, and I will be writing on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which is descending out of heaven from My God, and My new name.


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"And to the messenger of the ecclesia in Laodicea write: 'Now this is saying the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, and God's Creative Original:


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"'"I am aware of your acts, that neither cool are you nor zealous! Would that you were cool or zealous!


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Thus, seeing that you are indifferent, and are neither zealous nor cool, I am about to spew you out of My mouth.


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Seeing that you are saying that 'Rich am I!' and 'Rich have I become, and of nothing have I need!' and you are not aware that you are wretched and forlorn and poor and blind and naked,


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I am advising you to buy of Me gold refined by the fire, that you should be rich, and white garments, that you may be clothed and the shame of your nakedness may not be made manifest, and eye-salve to anoint your eyes, that you may be observing.


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Lo! I stand at the door and am knocking. If ever anyone should be hearing My voice and opening the door, I will also be coming in to him and dining with him, and he with Me.


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"'"The one who is conquering, to him will I be granting to be seated with Me on My throne as I, also, conquer, and am seated with My Father on His throne.


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After these things I perceived, and lo! a door is open in heaven, and lo! the first sound which I hear is as a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here! and I will be showing you what must be occurring after these things."


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Now immediately I came to be in spirit, and lo! a throne, located in heaven, and on the throne One sitting.


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And He Who is sitting is, to my vision, like a jasper stone and a carnelian. And a rainbow around the throne is, to my vision, like an emerald.


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And around the throne I perceived twenty-four thrones, and on the twenty-four thrones elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and on their heads golden wreaths.


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And out of the throne are issuing lightnings and voices and thunders. And seven torches of fire are burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.


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And before the throne it is as a glassy sea, like crystal. And in the center of the throne and around the throne are four animals replete with eyes in front and behind.


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And the first animal is like a lion, and the second animal is like a calf, and the third animal has a face like as a human being, and the fourth animal is like a flying vulture.


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And the four animals, each one of them having six wings apiece, around and inside are replete with eyes. And they have no rest day and night, saying, "Holy! holy! holy! Lord God Almighty, Who wast and Who art and Who art coming!"


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And whenever the animals should be giving glory and honor and thanks to Him Who is sitting on the throne, Who is living for the eons of the eons (Amen!),


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the twenty-four elders, also, will be falling before Him Who is sitting on the throne and will be worshiping Him Who is living for the eons of the eons (Amen!). And they are casting their wreaths before the throne, saying,


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"Worthy art Thou, O Lord, our Lord and God, To get glory and honor and power; For Thou dost create all, And because of Thy will they were, and are created."


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And I perceived on the right hand of Him Who is sitting on the throne a scroll, written in front and on the back, and sealed up with seven seals.


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And I perceived a strong messenger heralding with a loud voice: "Who is worthy to open the scroll, and to loose its seals?"


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And no one in heaven, nor yet on earth, nor yet underneath the earth, was able to open the scroll, neither to look at it.


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And one of the elders is saying to me, "Do not lament! Lo! He conquers! The Lion out of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, is to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals!"


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And I perceived, in the center of the throne and of the four animals, and in the center of the elders, a Lambkin standing, as though slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God, commissioned for the entire earth.


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And when It took the scroll, the four animals and the twenty-four elders fall before the Lambkin, each having a lyre, and golden bowls brimming with incenses, which are the prayers of the saints.


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And they are singing a new song, saying, "Worthy art Thou to be taking the scroll and to open its seals, For Thou wast slain and dost buy us for God by Thy blood. Out of every tribe and language and people and nation.


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Thou dost also make them a kingdom and a priesthood for our God, And they shall be reigning on the earth."


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And I perceived, and I hear a sound as of many messengers around the throne and the animals and the elders, and their number was ten thousand ten thousand and a thousand thousand,


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saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lambkin slain To get power and riches and wisdom and strength And honor and glory and blessing!"


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And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and underneath the earth and on the sea, and all in them, I hear also saying, "To Him Who is sitting on the throne-To the Lambkin-Be blessing and honor and glory and might For the eons of the eons!"


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And I perceived when the Lambkin opens one of the seven seals; and I hear one of the four animals saying, as with a voice of thunder, "Come!"


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And I perceived, and lo! a white horse, and he who is sitting on it has a bow, and to him was given a wreath. And he came forth conquering and that he should be conquering.


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And forth came another horse, fiery-red, and to him who is sitting on it was given to take peace out of the earth, and that they should be slaying one another. And a huge sword was given to him.


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And when It opens the third seal, I hear the third animal saying, "Come!" And I perceived and lo! a black horse, and he who is sitting on it has a pair of balances in his hand.


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And I hear as it were a voice in the midst of the four animals saying, "A choenix of wheat a denarius, and three choenix of barley a denarius, and the oil and the wine you should not be injuring!"


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And I perceived, and lo! a greenish horse, and the name of him who is sitting upon it is Death, and the Unseen followed him. And jurisdiction was given them over the fourth of the earth, to kill with the blade and with famine and with death and by the wild beasts of the earth.


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And when It opens the fifth seal, I perceived underneath the altar the souls of those who have been slain because of the word of God and because of the testimony which they had.


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And they cry with a loud voice, saying, "Till when, O Owner, holy and true, art Thou not judging and avenging our blood on those dwelling on the earth?"


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And to each of them was given a white robe, and it was declared to them that they should be resting still a little time, till their number should be completed by their fellow slaves also, and their brethren, who are about to be killed even as they were.


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And I perceived, when It opens the sixth seal, and a great cataclysm occurred, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood,


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and the stars of heaven fall on the earth as a fig tree is casting its shriveled figs, quaking under a great wind.


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And heaven recoils as a scroll rolling up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.


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And the kings of the earth, and the magnates, and the captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every slave and freeman, hide themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains.


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And they are saying to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him Who is sitting on the throne, and from the indignation of the Lambkin,


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And after this I perceived four messengers standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind may not be blowing on the land, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.


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And I perceived another messenger ascending from the orient, having the seal of the living God. And he cries with a loud voice to the four messengers to whom it was given for them to injure the land and the sea,


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saying, "You shall not be injuring the land, nor yet the sea, nor yet the trees, until we should be sealing the slaves of our God on their foreheads."


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And I hear the number of those sealed: a hundred forty-four thousand. Sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel are:


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out of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand are sealed; out of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand;


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out of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand;


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out of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand;


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out of the tribe of Zebulon twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand are sealed.


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After these things I perceived, and lo! a vast throng which no one was able to number, out of every nation and out of the tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lambkin, clothed in white robes and with palm fronds in their hands.


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And they are crying with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation be our God's, Who is sitting on the throne, And the Lambkin's!"


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And all the messengers stood around the throne and the elders and the four animals. And they fall on their faces before the throne and worship God,


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saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be our God's for the eons of the eons. Amen!"


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And one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These clothed in white robes, who are they, and whence came they?"


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And I have declared to him: "My lord, you are aware." And he said to me, "These are those coming out of the great affliction. And they rinse their robes, and they whiten them in the blood of the Lambkin.


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Therefore they are before the throne of God and are offering divine service to Him day and night in His temple. And He Who is sitting on the throne will be tabernacling over them.


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They shall not be hungering longer, nor yet shall they be thirsting any longer; no, neither should the sun be falling on them, nor any heat,


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seeing that the throne-centered Lambkin shall be shepherding them, and shall be guiding them to living springs of water, and every tear shall God be brushing away from their eyes."


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And another messenger came and was standing at the altar, having a golden thurible. And much incense was given him that he shall be imparting to the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.


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And the fumes of the incense with the prayers of the saints ascended out of the messenger's hand before God.


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And the messenger has taken the thurible, and he crams it with the fire of the altar and casts it into the earth. And thunders and voices and lightnings and an earthquake occurred.


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And the seven messengers who have the seven trumpets make themselves ready that they should be trumpeting.


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And the first trumpets. And there came to be hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was cast into the earth, and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.


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And the second messenger trumpets. And as it were a huge mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood,


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And the third messenger trumpets. And a large star falls out of heaven, burning as a torch. And it falls on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.


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And the name of the star is said to be Absinth. And a third of the waters became absinth, and many of mankind died of the waters, seeing that they were made bitter.


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And the fourth messenger trumpets. And a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were eclipsed, that a third of them may be darkened, and the day may not be appearing for a third of it, and the night likewise.


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And I perceived, and I hear one vulture flying in mid-heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe! woe! woe! to those dwelling on the earth as a result of the rest of the soundings of the trumpets of the three messengers who are about to be trumpeting!"


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And the fifth messenger trumpets. And I perceived a star fallen out of heaven into the earth. And to him was given the key of the well of the submerged chaos.


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And he opens the well of the submerged chaos, and fumes ascended out of the well as the smoke of a large furnace, and the sun and the air are darkened by the fumes of the well.


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And out of the fumes came out locusts into the earth, and license was granted them as the scorpions of the earth have license.


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And it was declared to them that they should not be injuring the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, except those of mankind who have not the seal of God on their foreheads.


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And it was granted to them, not that they should be killing them, but that they shall be tormented five months; and their torment is as the torment of a scorpion, whenever it should be striking a man.


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And in those days men will be seeking death, and under no circumstances shall they be finding it. And they will be yearning to die, and death is fleeing from them.


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And the likenesses of the locusts are like horses made ready for battle, and on their heads are as it were wreaths like gold, and their faces are as it were human faces,


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And they had cuirasses, as it were cuirasses of iron, and the sound of their wings is as the sound of many chariot horses racing into battle.


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And they have tails like scorpions, and stings, and their license is to injure mankind five months with their tails.


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They have a king over them-the messenger of the submerged chaos. His Hebrew name is Abaddon, and in Greek he has the name Apollyon.


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And the sixth messenger trumpets. And I hear one voice out of the horns of the golden altar which is before God,


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saying to the sixth messenger who has the trumpet, "Loose the four messengers who are bound at the great river Euphrates."


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And loosed were the four messengers, made ready for the hour, and day, and month, and year, that they should be killing a third of mankind.


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And thus I perceived the horses in the vision, and those sitting on them, having cuirasses fiery and amethystine and sulphurous; and the heads of the horses are as the heads of lions, and out of their mouths is issuing fire and fumes and sulphur.


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By these three calamities were killed a third of mankind: by the fire and the fumes and the sulphur which is issuing out of their mouths.


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For the license of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads, and with them they are injuring.


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And the rest of mankind, who were not killed in these calamities, repent not of the acts of their hands- that they will not be worshiping the demons and idols of gold and silver and copper and stone and wood, which are neither able to be observing nor to be hearing nor to be walking-


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and they repent not of their murders, nor of their enchantments, nor of their prostitution, nor of their thefts.


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And I perceived another strong messenger descending out of heaven, clothed with a cloud, and the rainbow on his head, and his face as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire,


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and having in his hand a tiny open scroll. And he places his right foot on the sea, yet the left on the land.


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And he cries with a loud voice, even as a lion is bellowing. And when he cries, the seven thunders speak with their own voices.


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And when the seven thunders speak, I was about to be writing. And I hear a voice out of heaven saying, "Seal what things the seven thunders speak," and "Them you should not be writing."


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And the messenger whom I perceived standing on the sea and on the land lifts his right hand to heaven


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and swears by Him Who is living for the eons of the eons, Who creates heaven and that which is in it, and the earth and that which is in it, and the sea and that which is in it, that there will be no longer a time of delay,


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but in the days of the seventh messenger's voice, whenever he may be about to be trumpeting, the secret of God is consummated also, as He evangelizes to His own slaves and the prophets.


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And the voice which I hear out of heaven speaks again with me, and is saying, "Go, get the tiny scroll open in the hand of the messenger standing on the sea and on the land."


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And I came away to the messenger, saying to him to give me the tiny scroll. And he is saying to me, "Take it and devour it; and it will be making your bowels bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey."


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And I got the tiny scroll out of the hand of the messenger, and devoured it. And in my mouth it was sweet as honey. And when I ate it, my bowels were made bitter.


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And they are saying to me, "You must prophesy again over peoples and nations and languages and many kings."


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And a reed like a rod was given me, and one said, "Rouse, measure the temple of God and the altar and those worshiping in it.


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And the court outside of the temple cast outside, and you should not be measuring it, for it was given to the nations, and the holy city will they be treading forty-two months.


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And I will be endowing My two witnesses and they will be prophesying a thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."


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And if anyone is wanting to injure them, fire is issuing out of their mouth and is devouring their enemies. And if anyone should be wanting to injure them, thus must he be killed.


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These have authority to lock heaven, that there may be no shower of rain for the days of their prophecy. And they have authority over the waters to be turning them into blood, and to smite the land with every calamity, as often as they will.


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And whenever they should be finishing their testimony, the wild beast which is ascending out of the submerged chaos will be doing battle with them and will be conquering them and killing them.


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And their corpses will be at the square of the great city which, spiritually, is being called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord, also, was crucified.


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And those out of the peoples and tribes and languages and nations are observing their corpses three days and a half, and they are not letting their corpses be placed into a tomb.


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And those dwelling on the earth are rejoicing over them and are making merry, and will be sending approach presents to one another, seeing that these two prophets torment those dwelling on the earth.


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And after the three days and a half the spirit of life out of God entered into them, and they stand on their feet. And great fear falls on those beholding them.


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And they hear a loud voice out of heaven saying to them, "Ascend here!" And they ascended into heaven in a cloud, and their enemies behold them.


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And in that hour occurred a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city falls, and there were seven thousand names of the men killed in the earthquake. And the rest became affrighted and give glory to the God of heaven.


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And the seventh messenger trumpets. And loud voices occurred in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of this world became our Lord's and His Christ's, and He shall be reigning for the eons of the eons! Amen!"


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And the twenty-four elders who are sitting on their thrones before God fall on their faces and worship God,


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saying, "We are thanking Thee, Lord God Almighty, Who art and Who wast, for Thou hast taken Thy great power and dost reign.


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And the nations are angered, and Thy indignation came, and the era for the dead to be judged, and to give their wages to Thy slaves, the prophets, and to the saints and to those fearing Thy name, the small and the great, and to blight those who are blighting the earth."


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And opened was the temple of God in heaven, and seen was the ark of God's covenant in His temple, and lightnings and voices and thunders and an earthquake and a great hail occurred.


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And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon underneath her feet, and on her head a wreath of twelve stars.


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And seen was another sign in heaven, and lo! a great fiery-red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads seven diadems.


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And its tail is dragging a third of the stars of heaven, and casts them into the earth. And the dragon stands before the woman who is about to be bringing forth, that it may be devouring her child whenever she may be bringing forth


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And she brought forth a son, a male, who is about to be shepherding all the nations with an iron club. And her child is snatched away to God and to His throne.


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And the woman fled into the wilderness, there where she has a place made ready by God, that there they may be nourishing her a thousand two hundred sixty days.


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And a battle occurred in heaven. Michael and his messengers battle with the dragon, and the dragon battles, and its messengers.


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And the great dragon was cast out, the ancient serpent called Adversary and Satan, who is deceiving the whole inhabited earth. It was cast into the earth, and its messengers were cast with it.


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And I hear a loud voice in heaven saying, "Just now came the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ, for the accuser of our brethren was cast out, who was accusing them before our God day and night.


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And they conquer him through the blood of the Lambkin, and through the word of their testimony, and they love not their soul, until death.


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Therefore, make merry, ye heavens, and those tabernacling in them! Woe to the land and the sea, for the Adversary descended to you having great fury, being aware that brief is the season that he has."


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And when the dragon perceived that it was cast into the earth, it persecutes the woman who brought forth the male.


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And given to the woman were the two wings of a large vulture, that she may be flying into the wilderness into her place, there where she is nourished a season, and seasons, and half a season, from the face of the serpent.


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And the serpent casts water as a river out of its mouth after the woman, that she should be carried away by its current.


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And the earth helps the woman, and the earth opens its mouth and swallowed the river which the dragon casts out of its mouth.


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And the dragon is angry with the woman, and came away to do battle with the rest of her seed, who are keeping the precepts of God and who have the testimony of Jesus.


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And it was standing on the sand of the sea. And I perceived a wild beast ascending out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns ten diadems, and on its heads blasphemous names.


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And the wild beast which I perceived was like a leopardess, and its feet were as a bear's, and its mouth as the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gives it its power and its throne and great authority.


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And I perceived one of its heads as if it had been slain to death, and its death blow was cured, and the whole earth marvels after the wild beast.


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And they worship the dragon, seeing that it gives authority to the wild beast. And they worship the wild beast, saying, "Who is like the wild beast?" and "Who is able to battle with it?"


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And to it was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. And to it was given authority to do what it wills forty-two months.


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And it opens its mouth in blasphemies toward God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, and those tabernacling in heaven.


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And to it was given to do battle with the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given to it over every tribe and people and language and nation.


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And all who are dwelling on the earth will be worshiping it, everyone whose name is not written in the scroll of life of the Lambkin slain from the disruption of the world.


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If anyone is for captivity, into captivity he is going. If anyone will be killing with the sword, he must with the sword be killed. Here is the endurance and faith of the saints.


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And I perceived another wild beast ascending out of the land, and it had two horns like a lambkin's, and it spoke as a dragon.


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And it is exercising all the authority of the first wild beast in its sight, and making the earth and those dwelling in it to be worshiping the first wild beast, whose death blow was cured.


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And it is doing great signs, that it may be making fire, also, descend out of heaven into the earth in the sight of mankind.


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And it is deceiving those dwelling on the earth because of the signs which were given it to do in the sight of the wild beast, saying to those dwelling on the earth to make an image to the wild beast which has the blow of the sword and lives.


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And it was given to it to give spirit to the image of the wild beast, that the image of the wild beast should be speaking also, and should be causing that whosoever should not be worshiping the image of the wild beast may be killed.


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And it is causing all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, that they may be giving them an emblem on their right hand, or on their forehead,


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and that no one may be able to buy or sell except the one having the emblem of the wild beast, or its name, or the number of its name.


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Here is wisdom. Let him who has a mind calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is the number of mankind, and its number is six hundred sixty-six.


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And I perceived, and lo! the Lambkin standing on mount Zion, and with It a hundred forty-four thousand, having Its name and Its Father's name written on their foreheads.


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And I hear a sound out of heaven as the sound of many waters and as the sound of loud thunder, and the sound which I hear is as lyre singers playing on their lyres.


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And they are singing a new song before the throne and before the four animals and before the elders. And no one was able to learn the song except the hundred forty-four thousand, who have been bought from the earth.


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These are they who were not polluted with women, for they are celibates. These are those who are following the Lambkin wherever It should be going. These are bought from mankind, a firstfruit to God and the Lambkin.


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And I perceived another messenger flying in mid-heaven, having an eonian evangel to bring to those situated on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and language and people,


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saying with a loud voice, "Be ye afraid of God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judging came; and worship the Maker of heaven and the land and the sea and the springs of water."


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And another, a second messenger, follows, saying, "It falls! It falls! Babylon the great has made all nations drink of the wine of the fury of her prostitution!"


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And another, a third messenger, follows them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone is worshiping the wild beast and its image, and is getting an emblem on his forehead or on his hand,


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he, also, is drinking of the wine of the fury of God, blended undiluted in the cup of His indignation, and he shall be tormented in fire and sulphur in the sight of the holy messengers and in the sight of the Lambkin.


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And the fumes of their torment are ascending for the eons of the eons. And they are having no rest day and night, those worshiping the wild beast and its image, and if anyone is getting the emblem of its name.


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And I hear a voice out of heaven, saying, "Write: 'Happy are the dead who are dying in the Lord henceforth! Yea, the spirit is saying that they will be resting from their toil, for their acts are following with them.'"


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And I perceived, and lo! a white cloud, and on the cloud One sitting like a son of mankind, having a golden wreath on His head, and a sharp sickle in His hand.


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And another messenger came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him Who is sitting on the cloud, "Send in Thy sickle and reap! for the hour came to reap, for the harvest of the earth is dried.


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And another messenger came out of the altar, having jurisdiction over the fire. And he shouts with a loud voice to him who has the sharp sickle, saying, "Send in your sharp sickle, and pick the clusters of the earth's grapevine, for its grapes are dead ripe."


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And the messenger casts his sickle into the earth, and picks the grapevine of the earth, and he casts them into the great trough of the fury of God.


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And the trough was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the trough up to the bits of the horses, for a thousand six hundred stadia.


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And I perceived another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven messengers having the last seven calamities-for in them is consummated the fury of God.


