Jude Cross References - AUV

¹ [This is being written by] Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ, and a brother of James [Note: This “Jude” was probably not the apostle. See verses 17-18], to those who have been called [by God], who are also loved in [fellowship with] God the Father, and who are kept [safe] in [fellowship with] Jesus Christ. ² May there be mercy toward you people, and may your peace and love increase. ³ Dearly loved ones, as I was very eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we share in common, I felt it necessary [instead] to write urging you to contend earnestly for the faith [i.e., the teaching of Christ] which was once and for all delivered [by the apostles, See verse 17] to the saints [i.e., God’s holy people]. ⁴ For certain men have secretly infiltrated [your ranks]; they are men who had been written about long ago that they should be judged [and condemned] for perverting the unearned favor of our God into [a license for] living unrestrained, indecent lives, and who deny [the identity and work of] our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. ⁵ But, I want to remind you, [even] though you already know the stories about how the Lord delivered His people from Egyptian [bondage], and then [later] destroyed those who did not believe [in Him]. ⁶ And angels, who did not remain within [the bounds of] their proper authority, but left their own realm, God has kept in perpetual bondage, under [thick] darkness, awaiting judgment on the Great Day [when they will be punished]. ⁷ So also, in a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah, and their surrounding towns, which had abandoned themselves to sexual immorality and [sexually] perverted behavior, serve as an example [of people] who [will] suffer the punishment of never ending fire. ⁸ In the same way, these people have dreams of committing physically corruptive practices; they reject authority over them [i.e., by both God and men], and speak against glorious [i.e., heavenly] beings. ⁹ But, when the ruling angel Michael disputed with the devil over [the final disposal of] the body of Moses, [even] he did not dare to bring derogatory charges against him [i.e., the devil], but said, “May the Lord rebuke you.” [Note: Some suggest that this account appeared in an apocryphal book, possibly “The Assumption of Moses”]. ¹⁰ But these people [i.e., the “certain men” of verse 4] speak against whatever they do not understand, and what they do understand naturally, the way animals do, proves to be their ruination. ¹¹ It is too bad for these people, for they have followed the example of Cain [the murderer]; for the sake of money they have rushed into the [same] error as Balaam committed [See Num. 25:1-5; 31:16]; they [will] perish [spiritually] for having rebelled [against God] like Korah did. [See Num. 16:1-3, 31-35]. ¹² These people are like rotten spots [contaminating the food] at your love feasts, while they gorge themselves without fear [i.e., unashamed of their selfish indulgence]. [Note: This passage may mean “like selfish shepherds, looking out only for themselves, they eat the grain set out for the animals”]. They are like clouds that blow over without producing rain; [they are like] trees in the fall that do not produce any fruit and have been uprooted, [thus] being dead twice [i.e., fruitless and rootless]. ¹³ [They are like] raging ocean waves, whose shameful actions bubble up like foam. [They are like] shooting stars [whose light quickly goes out], for whom total darkness has been reserved forever. ¹⁴ And it was also prophesied about [these] people by Enoch, the seventh [descendant] of Adam [Gen. 5:18-24], who said, “Look, the Lord came with thousands upon thousands [Note: The Greek uses the plural form of “myriad,” which means 10,000] of His holy ones [i.e., angels], ¹⁵ to bring judgment upon all [such people], and to convict every person of their ungodly behavior, which they have wickedly committed, and of all the evil things that [such] ungodly sinners have spoken against God.” ¹⁶ These people are gripers and complainers, living according to their own [evil] desires, whose mouths speak boastfully, and who show partiality [toward certain people] to gain some advantage. ¹⁷ But you dearly loved ones, you should remember the message that was previously told to you by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁸ for they were saying to you people, “In the last times [See I John 2:18; Heb. 1:1-2] there will be mockers [arise], who will live according to their [own] ungodly desires.” ¹⁹ These are people who cause divisions [among God’s people]; they follow their natural inclinations [i.e., worldly principles], for they do not have the Holy Spirit [in their lives]. ²⁰ But, you dearly loved ones, build yourselves up [spiritually] on [the foundation of] your most sacred faith; pray in [the power of] the Holy Spirit. ²¹ Keep yourselves in God’s love [i.e., continue to love God], as you look forward to [receiving] the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, [who will grant you] never ending life. ²² And you should show pity toward some people because they have doubts [regarding spiritual matters]; ²³ you should save others [from hell, as though you were] snatching them out of the fire. And you should show pity toward some people, [coupled] with a fear [of the consequences of sin], hating the clothing contaminated by a physical sore [i.e., hating sin so much as to avoid it at all costs]. ²⁴ Now, may there be honor and majesty and power to God, who is able to guard you people from stumbling [and falling away from Him, See Gal. 5:4], and [who is able] to place you before His glorious presence without any [moral] blemish, but with great joy. ²⁵ [May these qualities be attributed] to the only God and our Savior, through [the person and work of] Jesus Christ our Lord, before [the beginning of] time [as well as] now and forever. May it be so.

¹² Be happy and very glad, for your reward in heaven will be great. For they persecuted the prophets [who lived] before you in the same way.

¹³ And do not allow us to fall under temptation, but deliver us from [being harmed by] the evil one.’

²⁹ Suddenly they shouted out, “What do you want with us, you Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before it is time to?” [i.e., before our punishment is due. See II Pet. 2:4; Jude 6].

³ Philip, Bartholomew [i.e., the same as Nathaniel. See John 1:45], Thomas [i.e., the same as Didymus. See John 11:16], Matthew, the tax collector [i.e., the same as Levi. See Mark 2:14], James, the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus [i.e., the same as Judas, son of James. See Luke 6:16],

²¹ [He said] “It will be too bad for you, Chorazin! It will be too bad for you, Bethsaida! For if the powerful miracles had been performed in [the cities of] Tyre and Sidon which were performed in your presence, they would have repented long ago, [demonstrating it] by wearing sackcloth [i.e., a coarse cloth made of goat hair] and throwing ashes [into the air].

²⁴ But I say to you, Sodom will be shown more leniency on the judgment day than you will.”

³¹ Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven of every sin and abusive word spoken [against God]. But abusive words spoken against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. ³² And whoever speaks an [abusive] word against the Son of man will be forgiven [of it], but whoever speaks [an abusive word] against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven [of it], not in this world nor the one to come. ³³ Either be a healthy tree and produce wholesome fruit, or be a diseased tree and produce rotten fruit, for [the quality of] a tree will be recognized by [the quality of] its fruit. ³⁴ You children of snakes! Since you are evil, how do you expect to speak good things? For the mouth speaks what the heart is filled with. ³⁵ The good person produces good things from his storehouse of goodness. But the evil person produces bad things from his storehouse of evil. ³⁶ And I say to you, a person will [have to] give an account [to God] on the day of judgment for every careless word he had spoken [while on earth]. ³⁷ For you will be considered righteous by the words [you speak] and you will be condemned by the words [you speak].”

⁶ But when the sun came up these tender sprouts were scorched and, since they had such tiny roots, they [quickly] withered away.

²⁵ but while his workers were asleep his enemy came and scattered weed seeds throughout his wheat field and then left.

¹³ But He answered and said, “Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted.

²⁷ For the Son of man will return in the splendor of His Father, accompanied by His angels. Then He will reward or punish every person in proportion to what he has done [with his life].

²⁸ Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, [since] you have become my followers, in the time of new beginnings [i.e., the church age], when the Son of man sits on His glorious throne, you apostles will also sit on twelve thrones, judging [i.e., through their writings] the twelve tribes of Israel [i.e., God’s people].

¹⁹ Upon seeing a fig tree along side of the road, He approached it [i.e., expecting to find fruit on it], but found nothing but leaves. He said to the tree, “There will not be fruit on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered up. ²⁰ When His disciples saw this, they marvelled, saying, “How could the fig tree wither up so suddenly?”

¹³ “But it is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! [It is] because you withhold the kingdom of heaven from people, for you do not enter it yourselves, nor [do you] allow those who are trying to enter it to get in. {[{[Verse ¹⁴ is absent from the oldest manuscripts]}]} ¹⁵ “It is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! For you travel over land and sea [in hope of] making one person a proselyte [i.e., a convert to the Jewish religion]. And when you do convert one, you make him twice as deserving of hell as yourselves. ¹⁶ “It is too bad for you blind leaders who say that whoever takes an oath ‘by the Temple,’ it does not [really] mean anything, but whoever takes an oath ‘by the gold of the Temple,’ he is obligated to [fulfill] the oath.

³⁰ Then the sign [i.e., signifying the coming] of the Son of man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will be stricken with grief as they see the Son of man coming in the clouds of the sky [See Acts 1:9-11] with power and great splendor. ³¹ And He will send out His angels [i.e., as messengers] with the sound of a great trumpet [See I Thess. 4:16] to gather His elect [i.e., God’s people] from all directions, [even] from throughout the whole world. [Note: See Mark 13:27, which suggests this thought by its use of ‘earth’ and ‘sky’]

⁴² Therefore be alert, for you do not know on what day the Lord will come. ⁴³ But you should know this: if the owner of a house had known when a thief was coming, he would have been watching so as not to allow his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore, you also should be ready, for the Son of man will come at a time when you least expect Him. ⁴⁵ “Who then, is the trustworthy and sensible slave, to whom his master has assigned the management of his household to provide timely meals for its members? ⁴⁶ That slave will be happy when his master returns to find him doing his job [well]. ⁴⁷ Truly I tell you, he will put that slave in charge of his entire estate. ⁴⁸ But if that slave, with evil intent, should think to himself, ‘My master will not be back very soon,’ ⁴⁹ and then becomes physically abusive to his fellow-slaves, and eats and drinks [at parties] with drunkards, ⁵⁰ that slave’s master will return on a day that he least expects, and at an unknown hour. ⁵¹ And [that master] will whip him to shreds and will turn him over to suffer the same fate as hypocrites do. That fate will involve crying and excruciating pain.”

³¹ “But when the Son of man comes [back] in [all] His splendor, accompanied by all the angels, then He will sit on His throne of splendor.

⁴¹ Then He [i.e., the King] will say to those at His left side, ‘Go away from me, you who are cursed [by God], into the never ending fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels.

¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew [i.e., the same as Nathaniel. See John 1:45], Matthew [i.e., the same as Levi. See Mark 2:14], Thomas [i.e., the same as Didymus. See John 11:16], James, the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus [i.e., the same as Judas, the son of James. See Luke 6:16], Simon the Canaanean [i.e., the same as the Zealot. See Luke 6:15],

⁶ But when the sun came up the newly sprouted plants were scorched, and because they had no roots, [soon] withered away.

⁴³ And if your hand becomes the occasion for falling away [from God], cut it off; it would be better for you to enter [never ending] life disabled, rather than keeping both hands and going to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out [i.e., all because it caused you to fall away from God]. {{Verse 44 is absent from many manuscripts}}. ⁴⁴ (OMITTED TEXT) ⁴⁵ And if your foot becomes the occasion for falling away [from God], cut it off; it would be better for you to enter [never ending] life crippled, rather than keeping both feet and being thrown into hell. {{Verse 46 is absent from many manuscripts}}. ⁴⁶ (OMITTED TEXT) ⁴⁷ And if your eye becomes the occasion for falling away [from God] gouge it out; it would be better for you to enter the kingdom of God with [only] one eye, rather than keeping both eyes and being thrown into hell [i.e., all because one of them caused you to fall away from God]. ⁴⁸ For in hell the worm of those who are there will never die [i.e., their gnawing punishment will never cease] and the fire [there] will never go out. ⁴⁹ For everyone will be salted with fire. [Note: This meant either the suffering “salt” of fiery trials (the sacrifices of verses 43-47 or the punishing “salt” of being thrown into a fiery hell (verse 45-48)].

²⁰ The next morning, [as they returned to the city], they passed by the fig tree and saw that it had withered, clear down to its roots. ²¹ Then Peter remembered [what Jesus had done to the fig tree on a recent occasion], and said to Him, “Rabbi [i.e., Teacher], look, the fig tree you cursed [the other day] has withered up.”

²⁹ And those who passed by the cross shouted abuse at Him and shook their heads [in derision], saying, “Ha, you who said you would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days,

³⁰ Now the Pharisees and their experts in the law of Moses complained to Jesus’ disciples, saying, “Why do you men eat and drink with tax collectors and worldly people?”

¹⁶ Judas, the son of James [i.e., the same as Thaddaeus. See Matt. 10:3] and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor [to Jesus].

⁶ And other [seed] fell on rocky ground and as soon as it started to grow, it [quickly] withered away, because it had no moisture.

²⁶ For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of man will [also] be ashamed of him when He returns in His own splendor and that of the Father and of the holy angels.

⁴² “But it is too bad for you Pharisees! For you give a tenth of your mint, rue and every [other] herb [Note: These were small garden plants used for seasoning or medicine] and [yet] neglect [demonstrating] justice and the love of God [toward others]. But you should have done these things and not neglected to do the other things [as well]. ⁴³ “It is too bad for you Pharisees! For you love [to occupy] the principal seats in the synagogues and [to receive special] greetings in the open shopping markets. ⁴⁴ “It is too bad for you! For you people are like obscure grave sites that people walk over without knowing it.” ⁴⁵ Then one of the teachers of the law of Moses answered Jesus, saying, “Teacher, you insulted us too by saying this.” ⁴⁶ And He replied them, “It is too bad for you teachers of the law of Moses also! For you heap heavy responsibilities on people, which are difficult to bear, while you do not even lift a finger to bear them yourselves. ⁴⁷ “It is too bad for you! For your forefathers killed the prophets and you build grave monuments to them [i.e., the prophets].

¹⁹ And I will say to myself, ‘Soul, you have plenty of goods [i.e., grain and supplies] stored up for many years, [so], take it easy; eat, drink and have fun.’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘You fool! Tonight your life will be taken away from you. And [then] who will get the things you have stored up [for yourself]?’

³⁶ and be like men expecting their master to return from the wedding reception, so that when he does come and knock [at the groom’s house, See note on Matt. 25:1-12], they will immediately open [the door] to him. ³⁷ Those slaves whom their master finds being watchful when he returns are [certainly] blessed. Truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt [i.e., get things ready] and have them recline [at his dinner table] and will come and serve them. ³⁸ And if he comes between nine o’clock and midnight or between midnight and three o’clock in the morning and finds them being watchful, those slaves will be blessed [for doing so]. ³⁹ But you should realize this, if the owner of the house had known exactly when the burglar was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁰ So, you also should be ready, for the Son of man will return at a time when you least expect Him.”

⁴⁵ But if that slave should think to himself, ‘My master will not be back soon,’ and then becomes physically abusive to his men and women servants, and eats and drinks and gets drunk,

² And the Pharisees and experts in the law of Moses both complained, saying, “This man welcomes worldly people and [even] eats with them.”

¹⁹ “Now there was a certain rich man who was dressed in purple [clothing] and soft linen [garments] and who lived every day in pleasure and luxury.

²⁹ But on the day that Lot left Sodom, fire and sulphur rained down from the sky and consumed them all.

⁷ And when the crowd saw this, they began complaining [i.e., because Zacchaeus was a despised tax collector] and said, “He is going to lodge with a sinful man.”

¹⁴ But the citizens [of his newly acquired kingdom] hated him and sent a delegation after him [i.e., to the person who appointed the gentleman king over them], saying, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’

³⁴ “But pay attention to yourselves so that your hearts do not become overburdened by carousing, and drunkenness, and the worries of life. [If you do], that ‘day’ [i.e., Jesus’ second coming and judgment] will arrive suddenly, like a trap [i.e., which catches an animal by surprise].

³⁹ Then one of the criminals, who was hanging [on a cross also] spoke abusively to Him, saying, “Are you not the Christ [i.e., God’s specially chosen one]? [If you are], then save yourself and us.” ⁴⁰ But the other criminal spoke harshly to the first one, saying, “Do you not even have any fear of God [left], since you [too] are experiencing the same sentence of condemnation?

¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; [but] God’s favor and truth came through Jesus Christ.

⁵ Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I tell you, a person cannot enter the kingdom of God unless he is born out of water and the Holy Spirit. ⁶ Whoever is born from human parents is a human being; and whoever is born from the Holy Spirit is a spiritual being.

²² You [Samaritans] do not [really] know what you worship; we [Jews] know what we worship because salvation is from the Jews [i.e., through Jewish prophets, Jewish Scriptures and a Jewish Messiah].

²² For the Father does not judge anyone, but He has given [full responsibility for] judging people to His Son, ²³ so that everyone will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The person who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

²⁷ And He gave His Son authority to carry out judgment [upon mankind] because He is the Son of man [Note: The Greek actually says “a son of man”].

⁴⁴ How can you believe [in me] when you [offer and] accept honors from one another, but do not try to obtain the honor that comes from the only God?

³⁹ And this is what God, who sent me, wants: That I should not lose any of those persons whom He has given me, but should raise them up [from the dead] on the last day [i.e., the judgment day].

⁴¹ So the Jews, [who were assembled in the synagogue. See verse 59] began complaining about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”

⁶¹ But Jesus, knowing within Himself that His disciples were complaining about His teaching, said to them, “Does this [teaching] bother you?

⁴⁴ You belong to your father the devil, and you are [always] wanting to do what your father desires. He was a murderer from the [very] beginning [Note: This is probably a reference to Satan’s influence on Adam, Eve and Cain in the Garden of Eden] and does not stand for the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he only speaks what is part of his nature, because he is a liar and the father of [all] liars.

²⁸ I give them never ending life and they will never be destroyed, and no one will [be able to] steal them out of my hand. ²⁹ What my Father has given me [i.e., my sheep] are greater than everything [else], and no one is able to steal them from the Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”

²⁶ If any person wants to serve me, he should become my follower; and wherever I am, my servant will be there also. If any person serves me, the Father will honor him.

²¹ The person who knows [what] my commandments [are] and obeys them is the one who [truly] loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him. ²² [Then] Judas (not the betrayer) [Note: This was the son of James, See Luke 6:16. He is also called Thaddaeus, See Matt. 10:3], said to Jesus, “Lord, what has happened [i.e., to your original plans to be seen by everyone when you came. See Luke 21:27], that you will reveal yourself to us apostles [only] and not to the [whole] world?”

⁴ Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains united to the vine, so neither can you people [bear fruit] unless you remain united to me. ⁵ “I am the vine; you people are the branches. The person who remains united to me, and I to him, will bear much fruit. For you cannot do anything if [you are] separated from me. ⁶ If a person does not remain united to me, he will be thrown out as a [fruitless] branch and dried up. People gather up such branches and throw them into the fire to be burned [as fuel ?].

⁹ “Just as the Father has loved me, [so] I have also loved you. You should continue to receive [or, respond to] my love. [Note: The next verse tells how this can be done]. ¹⁰ If you obey my commandments, [then] you will continue receiving my love; just as I have obeyed my Father’s commandments and [so] continue receiving His love.

¹⁶ You [apostles] did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you to go and bear much fruit [i.e., through their evangelizing], and that your fruit should last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask Him for in my name [i.e. by my authority].

³ And this is never ending life; that people may know you [as] the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One whom you have sent.

¹¹ And [now] I am coming to you, for I will not be in the world any longer, yet these men are [still] in the world. Holy Father, protect them by [the power of] your name which you have given me. May these men be one, as we are. ¹² I protected them while I was with them by [the power of] your name which you gave me. [See verse 11]. I guarded them so that not one of them was lost except the “son of destruction” [i.e., Judas]. [This was] so that the Scripture would be fulfilled [Psa. 41:9 ?].

¹⁵ I am not praying that you should take them out of the world, but that you should protect them from the evil one [i.e., the devil].

¹⁷ Set them apart [i.e., for your service] through the truth; your word is truth.

¹⁹ And for their sakes I dedicate myself [to you] so that they themselves also may be truly dedicated [to you].

¹³ Upon arriving at the house where they were staying, they went upstairs. [Those present were]: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, the son of Alpheus, Simon the Zealous [one] and Judas, the son of James. [Note: Judas Iscariot, the twelfth apostle, had already committed suicide].

¹² And there is salvation in no other One [than Jesus] for there is no other Name in the whole world, proclaimed by men, by which [a person] can be saved."

⁸ And Stephen [i.e., one of the seven men chosen to minister to widows, verse 5], who was full of [God's] favor and power, performed great wonders and [miraculous] signs in front of the [Jewish] people. ⁹ But several men from the synagogue, made up of freed slaves from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia, began arguing with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they could not stand up to the wisdom and [power of] the Holy Spirit by which Stephen spoke.

²⁷ But the one who was trying to harm his neighbor pushed Moses away saying, 'Who gave you the right to act as a ruler and judge over us?

³⁹ [And yet] our forefathers refused to obey him, but rejected [his leadership] and turned back to Egypt in their hearts.

²² But Saul was strengthened [spiritually] and proceeded to confound the Jews living [there] in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

³¹ So, the church throughout all of Judea, Galilee and Samaria was multiplied in number, enjoyed peace, was built up [spiritually] and lived in awe of the Lord and was comforted by the Holy Spirit.

²³ When he got there and saw how God was favoring the people [with salvation] he was very happy and [stayed on and] encouraged everyone to remain close to the Lord with a heartfelt purpose.

⁴⁶ But Paul and Barnabas [continued to] speak out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the message of God be delivered to you [Jews] first. But since you have rejected it and [thereby] consider yourselves to be unworthy of [receiving] never ending life, we [i.e., Paul and Barnabas] will now begin proclaiming it to the [unconverted] Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For the Lord commanded us to do this by saying, 'I have appointed you to be a light to the [unconverted] Gentiles, so that you should be [the occasion] for [bringing] salvation to the farthest corner of the earth.' "

⁹ And He did not discriminate between us [i.e., Jews] and them [i.e., Gentiles], cleansing their hearts [also] by faith [in Jesus].

²⁴ We have heard that certain [men] who left here have been upsetting you people and [even] undermining [some people's] spiritual lives by what they have been teaching. This was done without our authorization [or approval].

³ explaining and declaring that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and [then] rise again from the dead. Paul was saying, "This Jesus, whom I am proclaiming to you, is the Christ."

³¹ For He has appointed a [certain] day when He will judge the people of the world according to [a standard of] true justice by the man [i.e., Jesus] whom He has appointed [as Judge, See II Tim. 4:8]. [And] He has given assurance to all people [that He will do this] by raising Jesus from the dead."

⁴ Every Sabbath day Paul held discussions in the synagogues, trying to convince [both] Jews and Greeks [i.e., Gentiles, that Jesus was the Messiah]. ⁵ But when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia [i.e., from the town of Berea], Paul began devoting his full time to declaring the message to Jews that Jesus was the Christ. ⁶ When the Jews resisted [Paul's efforts] and spoke against him and his message, he shook out his clothing [i.e., an expression of rejection and contempt] and said to them "Let your blood be on your own heads [i.e., you are responsible for whatever harm comes from your action]; I am not responsible. From now on I will go [and preach] to the Gentiles [only]."

²⁸ For Apollos effectively refuted [the position of] the Jews, publicly proving, by using the [Old Testament] Scriptures, that Jesus was the Christ.

²⁷ For I held nothing back in declaring to you the entire message of God.

²⁹ [Because] I know that after I am gone [from here] there will be vicious wolves [i.e., ravaging false teachers] who will come in among you, and they will not spare the flock [i.e., the congregation].

³² "Now I commit you [elders] to God and to the message of His unearned favor which can build you up [spiritually] and provide you with the inheritance [of never ending life], along with others who are [specially] set apart [for God].

³⁵ I have demonstrated before you a [good] example in all [these] things, so that you [too] will work hard to help those who are [physically] weak. [Also] remember the words of the Lord Jesus who Himself said, 'It is a greater blessing [for you] to give [to people's needs] than to receive [help yourselves].' "

⁵ Paul said, "Brothers, I did not know that he was the head priest, for it is written [Ex. 22:28], 'You shall not speak evil about a leader of your people.' "

¹⁸ to open their eyes [to the truth] so they will turn from darkness to light and from the power [i.e., the influence] of Satan to God. [Then] they can receive the forgiveness of sins and the inheritance [of never ending life], along with [all] those who are set apart [for God] by trusting in Me.'

²³ For an angel from God, to whom I belong and whom I serve, appeared to me last night,

²⁸ Then let it be known to you that salvation from God is [now] being announced to the Gentiles. They will listen [to it]." {{Some ancient manuscripts insert verse

¹ [This letter is from] Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, [who was] called to be an apostle, [and] set apart for [preaching] the Gospel of God.

⁷ All of you there in Rome [i.e., the church there] are also among such obedient believers. You are called Jesus Christ’s [people], loved by God and called to be His holy people. May you have unearned favor and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

²¹ Now they knew who God was, but they did not honor Him as God or thank Him [for their blessings]. Instead they engaged in their useless speculations and their foolish minds were filled with [spiritual] darkness. ²² They claimed to be wise, but became fools,

²⁶ For this reason God allowed [or, abandoned] them to [practice] degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function [i.e., of sex] for what is against nature [i.e., lesbianism]. ²⁷ And men did the same thing, leaving the natural function [i.e., of sex] with women, and burning in their desire for each other. Men committed indecent [sexual] acts with other men [i.e., homosexuality], and [so] brought on themselves the penalty they deserved for this perversion.

⁵ But your stubbornness and refusal to repent are storing up wrath [i.e., punishment] for yourselves, [to be experienced] on the Day of Wrath [i.e., the day of judgment] when God’s just judgment will be revealed.

¹⁶ This will be done on the day when God judges the secrets of men’s [hearts] through Christ Jesus, according to [the teaching of] my Gospel.

¹⁹ Now we [all] know that everything the law says applies to those who are under [obligation to obey] that law, [Note: Here “the law” appears to refer to the Old Testament Scriptures generally, since Psalms and Isaiah are quoted. See verses 10-18]. This is so that the mouth of every objector may be stopped [i.e., from making excuses for his sin], and thereby bring the entire world under God’s judgment [i.e., both Jews and Gentiles]. ²⁰ This is because no human being can be considered right with God by [obeying] the requirements of a law. [Note: It is difficult to determine the exact sense in which “law” is used in these verses. It may be law generally, or the law of Moses specifically. See Bruce, pages 52-58]. For the knowledge of what sin is comes from the law of Moses.

⁵ And [having such] hope keeps us from being disappointed, because God’s love [for us] has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who was given to us [by God].

²¹ This was so that just as sin ruled [over mankind], causing [physical] death, even so God’s unearned favor would rule [over mankind], providing [them with] righteousness, and leading to never ending life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹ What shall we say, then? Should we continue sinning so that more of God’s unearned favor will [have to] be shown? ² Certainly not! How can we, who died to sin [i.e., stopped living under its power], go on living in it [i.e., practicing it] any longer?

²² But now, since you have been freed from [the practice of] sin and have become slaves to God, the benefits you receive are a holy life [here] and never ending life in the future. ²³ For the wages for sinning is [spiritual] death, but God’s free gift is never ending life in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus our Lord.

⁹ But if the Spirit of God [truly] lives in your heart, you are not [being controlled] by the flesh, but by the Holy Spirit. But if any person does not have the Spirit of Christ [living in him], he does not belong to Christ.

¹⁵ For you did not receive the Holy Spirit, to enslave you again to fear, [Note: Some translators take “Holy Spirit” here to be “spirit,” making the verse say “you did not receive the spirit of slavery”], but you received the Holy Spirit [who produces] sonship, so we can call out, “Abba”, [which means] “Father.”

²⁶ And in the same way, the Holy Spirit helps [us in] our weakness; for we do not know what we ought to pray for [Note: Some translators understand this as “how to pray”]. But the Holy Spirit goes to God on our behalf with groanings [in our hearts] that are not expressed [in words]. ²⁷ And God, who searches our hearts, knows what the Holy Spirit [has] in mind, because He [i.e., the Holy Spirit] goes to God on behalf of the saints [i.e., God’s holy people] in harmony with God’s will.

³⁰ And [that class of] persons whom God [so] predetermined, He also called [through the Gospel. See II Thess. 2:14]. And those He called, He also made right with Himself. And those He made right with Himself, He also [determined to be] honored [i.e., in the future life]. ³¹ What then should we conclude from this? [Just this]: If God is on our side, who can [successfully] oppose us?

³⁹ nor [things] above, nor [things] below, nor any [other] created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love [for us], revealed through Christ Jesus our Lord [Note: The idea of this passage is “Regardless of what happens to us, God still loves us”].

²¹ Or, does not the potter have the right to make what he wants to out of the clay? Can he not make both a beautiful vase and a common pot out of the same lump [of clay]? ²² What if God [did] patiently put up with people who deserved His wrath and [who were] ready for destruction, even though He was willing to demonstrate His wrath and power?

²⁴ We were these people, whom He called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles.

¹⁴ in hope that somehow I might stir up jealousy among my fellow-Jews, and thereby save some of them.

³³ O, how deep is the richness of God’s wisdom and knowledge! How difficult [it is for us] to explain His judgments and how impossible [for us] to accurately track how He operates!

³⁶ For everything was created by Him, exists through His [power] and is intended for His [glory]. May He be praised forever. May it be so.

⁴ Who [do you think] you are, to pass judgment on someone else’s household servant? He stands [approved] or falls [into disapproval] before his own Master [only]. Yes, [surely] he will stand [approved], for the Lord is capable of helping him to stand.

¹⁰ But why do you [who eat only certain foods] condemn your brother [who feels he can eat anything]? Or, indeed, why do you [i.e., who feels he can eat anything] look down on your brother [i.e., who eats only certain foods]? For all of us will have to stand before the judgment bar of God.

² [Instead], each of us should do what pleases his neighbor in order to accomplish something good and uplifting [in his life].

¹⁵ But I have written to you quite boldly in some places to remind you [of certain things], because of the favor shown to me by God,

¹⁵ But I have written to you quite boldly in some places to remind you [of certain things], because of the favor shown to me by God, ¹⁶ in appointing me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I am serving like a priest in preaching God’s good news, so that the Gentiles might be like an acceptable sacrifice [to God], dedicated by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ For such men are not serving our Lord Christ but their own [unspiritual] appetites. They are deceiving the minds of innocent people by their smooth talk and flattering words.

²⁵ Now may there be glory for ever, through Jesus Christ, to the only wise God, who is able to make you stand firm [in the faith], according to the good news and proclamation of Jesus Christ. This message is the secret which was [eventually] revealed, after having been kept quiet about for long ages. ²⁶ It is now being made known through the writings of the prophets, as commanded by the eternal God, to [people of] all the nations, in order to bring about their obedience to the faith ²⁷ [i.e., so they will believe and obey the truth]. May it be so.

²⁷ [i.e., so they will believe and obey the truth]. May it be so.

² [it is being sent] to the church of God at Corinth. [You people are] set apart in [the fellowship of] Christ Jesus and called [by God] to be saints [i.e., His holy people], along with all [others] everywhere who call on our Lord Jesus Christ [i.e., in prayer]. He is their Lord and ours [as well].

⁸ He will also make you stand firm [in the faith] to the end [of your lives], so that you will be [considered] without just blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ [returns].

¹⁴ Now the natural person [Note: Since this person is contrasted with the spiritual person of verse 15, it is taken here to mean the person without the Holy Spirit] does not receive the things [i.e., truths] revealed by the Holy Spirit of God, because they are [considered] foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them because they must be discerned by using spiritual judgment [i.e., judgment aided by the Holy Spirit].

¹⁵ But if anyone’s work is burned up [i.e., does not survive the judgment], he will experience loss [i.e., of his converts], but he himself will [still] be saved, like a person escaping from the fire [i.e., of a burning building, which consumes his efforts].

¹⁷ If any person destroys God’s Temple, God will destroy him. For God’s Temple is holy [i.e., set apart for His service], and you people are His [holy] Temple.

⁵ So, do not judge anything until the appointed time, when the Lord returns [i.e., to do the judging]. He will both shed light on the hidden things done in the dark and make known the motives of people’s hearts. Then each person [i.e., who deserves it] will receive praise from God.

³ For although physically absent [from you], I am truly present with you in spirit and have already judged the person who did this [terrible] thing, just as if I were there [in person]. ⁴ [I command you], when you people are assembled together, with my spirit [also present], in the name [i.e., by the authority] and power of our Lord Jesus, ⁵ to turn such a person over to Satan for his body to be destroyed [Note: This probably refers to his removal from their fellowship. See verse 2], in order for his spirit to be saved in the day of the Lord [i.e., the judgment day]. [Note: This implies that his removal from their fellowship will have produced a genuine repentance before that time].

⁹ I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. ¹⁰ I did not mean the sexually immoral people of this world, or with greedy people and swindlers, or with idolaters. For [to do this] you would have to go out of the world. [Note: If taken literally, this implies that there are no sinful people outside our planet]. ¹¹ But I wrote to you not to associate with anyone claiming to be a [Christian] brother who is [guilty of being] sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or who speaks abusively, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Do not even eat [a social meal] with such a person.

¹³ For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? [i.e., non-Christians]; God judges them. But should you not judge those people who are inside? [i.e., Christians]. [So], remove the evil person from your fellowship [See Deut. 17:7].

⁹ Or, do you not know that evil people will not possess God’s kingdom? Do not be misled: neither will sexually immoral people, nor idolaters, nor those who are sexually unfaithful to their mates, nor homosexual perverts. [Note: The Greek uses two words here, denoting both the passive and active partners in male homosexual acts].

¹¹ And some of you have practiced such things, but you were washed [i.e., from your sins. See Acts 22:16]; you were dedicated [i.e., set apart for God’s service]; you were made right with God in the name [i.e., by the authority] of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Holy Spirit of our God.

¹⁹ Or, do you not know that your [physical] body is a temple [i.e., sanctuary] for the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and who was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourselves,

¹ For I want you to be [fully] aware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and all of them passed [safely] through the [Red] Sea. [Note: This refers to God guiding the Israelites through the desert during the daytime by a cloud moving along above them . See Ex. 13:21-22]. ² [In doing this] they were all [actually] immersed into [fellowship with] Moses in the cloud and in the sea. ³ And they all ate the same spiritual food [i.e., the supernatural manna. See Ex. 16:4-5], ⁴ and drank the same spiritual drink [i.e., water coming from a rock supernaturally. See Ex. 17:6]. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. [Note: Besides actual water, they were refreshed from the spiritual presence of Christ]. ⁵ However, God was not pleased with the vast majority of them, for their bodies were scattered over the desert [See Num. 14:29ff]. ⁶ Now these events were examples for us, so that we should not have strong desires for evil things like they did. ⁷ [So], do not worship idols as some of them did, as it is written [Ex. 32:6], “The people sat down to feast and drink, then got up and played.” [Note: This refers to the Israelites engaging in an orgy of dancing and sex. See Ex. 32:17-19]. ⁸ Neither should we commit sexual immorality as some of them did, [with] 23,000 people falling dead in one day. [Note: Num. 25:9 mentions 24,000 people slain, but that number could have included the additional people slain by the judges. See Num. 25:5]. ⁹ Neither should we put the Lord to a test as some of them did, and were killed by snake bites [See Num. 21:5ff]. ¹⁰ Neither should you people complain as some of them did and were killed by the destroying angel [See Ex. 12:23?].

¹⁰ Neither should you people complain as some of them did and were killed by the destroying angel [See Ex. 12:23?]. ¹¹ Now these events happened to those people as examples [to us], and they were written as warnings to us, to whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. [Note: This refers to past ages concluding with the coming of Christ in that day]. ¹² So, the person who thinks he is standing firm [in the faith] should pay attention [to his life], so that he does not fall [away from God].

²³ “Everything is permissible [to do];” but not everything is profitable [See note at 6:12]. “Everything is permissible [to do];” but not everything builds [people] up.

²⁰ So, when you people assemble together [Note: This was a church meeting at which they also shared a common meal prior to the Lord’s Supper], it is not possible to eat the Lord’s Supper [properly]. ²¹ For as you are eating, each one of you partakes of his own supper [ahead of the others], so that one person is [still] hungry while the other gets drunk. ²² Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or, do you despise the church of God and put to shame those people who do not have anything [to eat]? What should I say to you? Should I commend you for doing this? Certainly not!

⁴ The person who speaks in a language [supernaturally], builds up [only] himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. ⁵ Now I would like all of you to speak in languages [supernaturally], but I would rather have you prophecy. For the person who prophesies is more important [i.e., to the church] than those who speak in languages [supernaturally], unless that person interprets [the languages], so the church can be built up [spiritually].

¹⁵ What should I do then? I will pray with my spirit [i.e. from within], and I will pray with my understanding also [i.e., with a knowledge of what I am saying]. I will sing with my spirit, and I will sing with my understanding also.

²⁶ So, what is the conclusion, brothers? When you people assemble together, each one of you has a psalm [to sing], or a lesson [to teach], or a [supernatural] revelation [to give], or a language [to speak supernaturally], or an interpretation [of that language]. Everything that is done should be for the building up [of the church].

³ For I passed on to you the [following] main principles that I received [i.e., by revelation]: Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures;

³³ Do not be fooled; bad company ruins good moral behavior.

¹⁴ We know that God, who raised up the Lord Jesus [from the dead], will also raise us [apostles] up with Jesus and present us with you people [i.e., in the presence of the Father in heaven].

¹⁷ For our insignificant troubles [here on earth], which last only a short time, are producing for us an immeasurable, never ending [counter-] weight of splendor [i.e., in heaven. See Rom. 8:18].

¹⁰ For the sorrow that God desires produces repentance [i.e., a change of heart and life] that leads to salvation, and which brings no regrets. But the sorrow of the world [i.e., sorrow for wrongdoing for reasons unrelated to God or moral principles] produces [spiritual] death. ¹¹ See how the very fact that you were made sorry from a godly motive has produced earnestness in you! [It produced] a desire to vindicate yourselves [i.e., by making amends for your wrongdoing]; an attitude of just anger [i.e., toward the wrongdoers]; a sense of fear [i.e., a fear of God for doing wrong]; an eager desire [i.e., to do the right thing]; a zeal [i.e., to correct problems]; and an attitude of avenging [i.e., that punished the wrongdoer]. You demonstrated in everything [you did] that you were pure [i.e., innocent] in this matter. [Note: This whole description of their conduct appears to be a reference to the incident mentioned in 2:1-11]. ¹² So, although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the person who did the wrong, nor for the one who was wronged, but so that you could realize before God how devoted to us you are.

² For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, that I might present you to Christ as a pure virgin.

⁴ For [certain] false brothers, who were secretly brought in to observe us practicing our liberty in Christ Jesus [i.e., by not having Titus circumcised], attempted to place us [back] under the bondage [of Mosaic law keeping]. ⁵ But we did not submit ourselves to their influence for even an hour, so that you people might be able to continue [following] the truth of the Gospel.

²⁸ [In this relationship] there is to be no [distinction between] Jews or Greeks [i.e., Gentiles], slaves or free persons, men or women; for all of you are united into one [body] because of your relationship with Christ Jesus.

⁶ And because you are [His] children, God sent the Holy Spirit of His Son into our hearts, to call out, “Abba,” [which means] “Father.”

²⁰ But I would like to be present with you and change the tone [of my remarks], because I am very distressed over your condition.

¹³ For you brothers were called [by God] to enjoy your freedom; but do not use this freedom as an excuse for living a sinful life; instead, use it to render loving service to each other.

¹⁶ But, I am saying to you, live in harmony with the Holy Spirit’s [desire for you] and [then] you will not [always] be giving in to the wrong desires of your body.

²⁴ And those persons who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified [i.e., put out of their lives, Col. 3:4ff] the sinful cravings of the body, along with their passionate desires.

¹ Brothers, if any one of you is overwhelmed by a [particular] sin, those of you who are spiritually minded should [attempt to] restore such a person [to faithfulness]. But do it in a gentle way, being very careful that you yourself do not become tempted [to get involved in any sin].

¹¹ Look at how large the letters are that I am using in writing this, and I am writing them myself.

¹ [This letter is from] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, according to God’s will, [and is being sent] to the saints [i.e., God’s holy people] at Ephesus [Note: This was a major city in the western province of Asia Minor, and now a part of Turkey. The words “at Ephesus” are omitted in some manuscripts, suggesting it was a circular letter], and the faithful ones in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus [everywhere else ?].

⁸ which He lavished on us. [He used] wisdom and understanding,

²⁰ [You are] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets [See I Cor. 12:28], with Christ Jesus Himself being the principal stone by which the entire building is aligned.

¹⁰ This was done so that now God’s many-sided wisdom could be made known through the church, to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms [Note: “Heavenly realms” here refers to the world around us, where these angelic beings (good or bad) view the unfolding of God’s wonderful plan],

²⁰ May there be to God, who is able to do infinitely more [for us] than we could [even] ask or think, according to [His] power at work in us --- ²¹ [I say] may there be praise to God in the church and in [or, “for”] Christ Jesus throughout all generations of people for ages and ages. May it be so.

¹¹ And He gave some people [the gift of being] apostles; and some people prophets; and some people evangelists; and some people pastors [i.e., elders] and teachers, ¹² for the purpose of equipping the saints [i.e., God’s holy people] for the work of serving [others], in order to build up the [spiritual] body of Christ [i.e., the church].

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be [spiritual] babies, tossed back and forth [by waves], and blown around by every wind of [false] teaching, [deceived] by the clever trickery of people using deceptive schemes.

¹⁶ From Him all [members of] the body are properly joined together by every supporting ligament, as each part contributes to the growth of the body and builds itself up through [mutual] love.

²⁹ Do not allow unwholesome [Note: The Greek word for “unwholesome” is “rotten, diseased”] language to come from your mouth, but only what is helpful for building up those who need it, so that you can impart favor [i.e., benefit] to those who listen [to you].

²⁶ so that He could dedicate her [to Himself], after cleansing her by means of the washing of water [i.e., immersion], accompanied by the word. [Note: “The word” here refers either to a person’s profession of faith (See Rom. 10:9) or to the Gospel message (See Rom. 10:17), both of which are associated with immersion]. ²⁷ [This is] so He could present the church to Himself in all her splendor, without any kind of stain or wrinkle, but that she should be holy and without [moral] flaw.

¹² For our struggle is not [actually] against human beings, but against rulers and authorities and leaders of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [Note: “Heavenly realms” here refers to the struggle against Satanic powers which permeates life around us].

¹⁸ [Then] offer all kinds of prayers and requests in [harmony with] the Holy Spirit at all times, and be alert constantly in making requests for all the saints [i.e., God’s holy people].

¹ [This letter is from] Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, [and is being sent] to all the saints [i.e., God’s holy people] who are at Philippi [Note: This is a town in present-day northeastern Greece, and the first place in Europe where Paul established Christianity], along with the overseers [Note: These men were also called elders, shepherds or pastors] and deacons.

²⁷ So, [whatever happens], live your daily lives in such a way as to be worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or remain absent from you, I will hear about you, that you are standing firm in one spirit [i.e., united in purpose, and] contending with one mind for the faith of the Gospel [i.e., for the body of Christian teaching].

¹⁴ Do everything without complaining and arguing,

¹⁹ Their [ultimate] end is [spiritual] destruction; their god is their appetite; they boast of what they ought to be ashamed of, and they [constantly] think about worldly things.

² [and is being sent] to the saints [i.e., God’s holy people] and faithful brothers in [fellowship with] Christ [who live] at Colosse. May you have unearned favor and peace from God our Father.

²² yet now God has reconciled [you] to Himself through the death of Christ’s physical body in order to present you holy, without fault and free from just blame before Him [on judgment day].

²⁸ We proclaim Him, warning and teaching every person with all wisdom, so that we may present every person [to God] complete in [their fellowship with] Christ.

⁷ rooted and built up in [your relationship to] Him, established by your faith [or, “in the faith”], just as you were taught, overflowing with thanksgiving.

⁴ [So], when Christ, who is your [or, “our” source of] life, appears [i.e., at His second coming], then you people also will appear with Him in splendor [i.e., in heaven].

² But [even though] we had already suffered and been mistreated at Philippi [See Acts 16:19-24], as you people know, we had the boldness, [with help] from God, to tell you His message in spite of much struggle [i.e., opposition].

¹² and urging you to live up to the standards of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and splendor.

¹³ May the Lord strengthen your hearts so you will be [found] without just blame and holy, in the presence of our God and Father, when our Lord Jesus Christ returns with all of His holy ones [i.e., angels. See Mark 8:38; II Thess. 1:7].

⁵ not in passionate lust, as the [unconverted] Gentiles, who do not know God, do.

⁸ So, the person who rejects [this exhortation] is not [merely] rejecting what man says but God [Himself], who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

¹⁶ For the Lord Himself [i.e., Jesus] will come down from heaven with a commanding shout [Note: This probably refers to Jesus’ voice. See John 5:25, 28], [and] with the archangel’s voice [i.e., Michael. See Jude 9] and with the sound of God’s trumpet; [at this] the dead in [fellowship with] Christ will rise [from the dead] first.

¹⁶ For the Lord Himself [i.e., Jesus] will come down from heaven with a commanding shout [Note: This probably refers to Jesus’ voice. See John 5:25, 28], [and] with the archangel’s voice [i.e., Michael. See Jude 9] and with the sound of God’s trumpet; [at this] the dead in [fellowship with] Christ will rise [from the dead] first. ¹⁷ Then, we who [will still] be alive, that are left, will be caught up together with them into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so [from then on] we will always be with the Lord.

⁶ So then, we should not be [spiritually] asleep, like the rest [i.e., the unsaved world], but we should be alert and sober [i.e., in control of our senses]. ⁷ For people sleep at night, and get drunk at night [i.e., generally speaking].

¹¹ Therefore, [continue to] encourage one another, and build each other up [spiritually], just as you are also doing.

²³ And may God Himself, who gives peace, dedicate you completely, and may your spirit, soul and body [i.e., your entire person] be kept without just blame at [i.e., until] the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷ and to provide [future] rest for you, along with us, who are afflicted. [This will occur] when Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire [i.e., at His second coming], accompanied by His mighty angels. ⁸ He will inflict punishment on those people who do not know God [as Savior], and on those who do not obey the Gospel message of our Lord Jesus.

¹³ But we ought to thank God for you always, brothers [who are] dearly loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning [Note: Some manuscripts use the Greek word for “firstfruits” instead of “beginning” here, but it is difficult to know in what sense the Thessalonian Christians were “first”], in order to be saved through being set apart by the Holy Spirit and through belief of the truth [of the Gospel]. ¹⁴ He called you [to this salvation] through our Gospel message, in order that you could obtain the splendor of our Lord Jesus Christ [in heaven].

⁵ And may the Lord direct your hearts to love [people] as God does, and to be steadfast as Christ was.

¹⁴ And if any person does not obey our instructions, [given] in this letter, you should take note of him so that you do not associate with him, in hope that he will become ashamed [of his conduct].

² [It is being sent] to Timothy, my true son in the faith [i.e., in the realm of Christianity, not in a physical sense]. May you have unearned favor, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

⁴ and not to listen to legends or exhaustive lists of ancestors. These [only] serve to arouse speculations, rather than [promote] God’s plan which is based on faith.

⁹ We [also] know this: Law [or, “the law of Moses”] is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawbreakers and rebels, for ungodly people and sinners, for unholy and irreverent people, for people who kill their parents, for murderers, ¹⁰ for sexually immoral people, for homosexuals, for kidnappers, for liars, and for people who give false testimony. And [law is for] everything else that is against the sound teaching

¹⁷ Now, may there be honor and praise forever and ever to the eternal King, the immortal, invisible, only God. May it be so. ¹⁸ I give you this instruction, my son Timothy, in keeping with the previously spoken prophecies [i.e., predictions] about you, so that by [following] them you will fight the good battle,

³ This is good and acceptable [behavior] in the sight of God our Savior,

¹ Now the Holy Spirit specifically says that in later times [Note: “Later times” in the New Testament usually refers to the period following the first coming of Christ and the establishment of the church], some people will fall away from the faith [i.e., the true teaching of Christianity]. They will pay attention to deceitful spirits [i.e., lying people] and the teaching of evil spirits. ² [Such teaching will be spread] by hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared over as with a hot iron [i.e., making them insensitive to their guilt].

¹⁶ Pay close attention to yourself and to what you teach [people]. Continue doing these things, for in doing them you will both save yourself and those who listen to you.

⁶ But the widow who devotes herself to unrestrained pleasure is [spiritually] dead, even while still living.

⁵ [and] continual wranglings between people with corrupt minds, who are deprived of the truth. They think that [professing] godliness is a way to obtain [financial] gain.

¹² Fight the good battle of the faith; take hold of never ending life, to which you were called [i.e., by the Gospel. See II Thess. 2:14], [when] you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. [Note: This “confession” probably refers to a person’s acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord and Christ prior to his immersion. See Acts 2:36; Rom. 10:9-10].

¹⁵ which God will bring about in its [or, “His”] own time. [For] He is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. ¹⁶ He alone possesses immortality [Note: That is, only God possesses an eternal existence, with neither beginning nor ending. See John 5:26], and lives in unapproachable light. No one has seen Him, or can see Him. May there be honor and never ending power to Him. May it be so.

² [It is being sent] to Timothy, my dearly loved son. May you have unearned favor, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

⁵ I [also] remember the sincere faith you have in your heart, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am convinced, lives in you [too].

⁹ [It is] God who saved us and called us to live holy lives [or, “to be dedicated people”], not as a result of our [good] deeds, but in harmony with His own purpose and unearned favor. [This was] given to us through [the atoning work of] Christ Jesus, before the beginning of time. [Note: Salvation through Christ was planned before time began. See Titus 1:2; Rom. 16:25; Eph. 1:4].

¹³ You should hold on firmly to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, while [maintaining your] faith and love in [harmony with] Christ Jesus.

¹⁶ [But], may the Lord grant mercy to Onesiphorus’ family, for he cheered me up many times and was not ashamed of my [being in] chains.

¹⁸ May the Lord grant that he will find mercy on that day [i.e., the day of judgment]. And you know very well the many things he did to serve [me while I was] at Ephesus.

¹ But you should know this: There will be terrible times in the last days [of the Christian age]. ² For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive talkers, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ lacking in natural affection, unwilling to be reconciled [to their enemies], slanderers, lacking self-control, brutal, haters of what is good, ⁴ treacherous [i.e., betrayers], reckless, conceited, [and] lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. ⁵ [These people] maintain an appearance of being godly, but they have denied its power; [you should] turn away from such people. ⁶ They are the kind of people who enter homes and influence [morally] weak-willed women, loaded down with sins, [and] led on by all kinds of evil desires.

¹³ But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse [in their behavior], deceiving people and being deceived by them.

³ For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound teaching, but will assemble to themselves teachers who will satisfy what their “itching ears” want to hear.

⁷ I have fought the good battle; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith [i.e., I have been true to my commitment]. ⁸ So, now there is a crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, who is a just Judge, will award me on that day [i.e., the judgment day], and not to me only, but also to everyone who has loved [the prospect of] His appearing.

⁸ So, now there is a crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, who is a just Judge, will award me on that day [i.e., the judgment day], and not to me only, but also to everyone who has loved [the prospect of] His appearing.

¹⁸ The Lord will [continue to] rescue me from all harm and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. May He be praised forever and ever. May it be so.

¹ [This letter is from] Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle for [the benefit of] the faith of God’s elect [i.e., His chosen people] and [to spread] the knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness,

³ but at the proper time revealed [it] through the message entrusted to me to proclaim, by the commandment of God our Savior. ⁴ [It is being sent] to Titus, my true son, [who shares] in a common faith. [May you have] unearned favor and peace [which come] from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

⁴ [It is being sent] to Titus, my true son, [who shares] in a common faith. [May you have] unearned favor and peace [which come] from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

¹⁵ Everything is pure [i.e., ceremonially acceptable] to the person who is pure [i.e., who has been cleansed by the blood of Christ], but to those who are [spiritually] corrupt, and do not believe [in Christ], nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted. [Note: This statement was intended to remove the physical restrictions imposed by the law of Moses]. ¹⁶ These people claim to know God [as Savior], but they deny Him by their actions, so they are detestable and disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

¹⁰ or keeping [part of their master’s] property for themselves, but proving to be completely trustworthy, so that they will make the teaching of God our Savior attractive in every way. ¹¹ For God’s unearned favor has appeared, bringing salvation to all people [i.e., in the coming of Christ]. ¹² It instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly desires and to live sensible, righteous and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while looking forward to the blessed hope [i.e., the hope that produces blessings] and the coming splendor of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

¹³ while looking forward to the blessed hope [i.e., the hope that produces blessings] and the coming splendor of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ He gave Himself up for us, to buy us back from [enslavement to] all [kinds of] wickedness and to purify for Himself a group of people who belong to Him and who are eager to do good deeds.

⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward mankind appeared,

¹ Therefore, holy brothers [and sisters], who have been called [by God] to share in heaven, think about Jesus, the Apostle and Head Priest, whom we have confessed [as Savior].

¹⁶ For who were they who heard [God] and provoked [Him]? Was it not everyone who was led out of Egypt by Moses?

⁴ [These are people] who were once enlightened [by the Gospel message], who had experienced the gift from heaven [i.e., forgiveness, never ending life, etc. See Rom. 6:23], who had partaken of the Holy Spirit [See Acts 2:38], ⁵ and who had experienced the good teaching of God and the powers of the coming age [i.e., they had already received some of the blessings of the Christian life, perhaps even miraculous signs]. ⁶ (OMITTED TEXT) ⁷ For God blesses land that has soaked up the rain which has fallen on it, and it produces a profitable crop for those people for whom the land was farmed. ⁸ But if the land produces [only] thorns and thistles, it is worthless and in danger of being cursed [by God], and will end up being burned.

²⁸ so Christ also, who was once [for all] offered [as a sacrifice] to take away the sins of many people, will come back a second time, not to take away sin, [but] to provide salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

²⁵ We should not neglect our assembling together [as a church], as some people are in the habit of doing, but we should encourage one another [spiritually], and [do it] all the more [diligently] as you see the day [of judgment] coming closer.

²⁷ Instead, [there will be] a fearful expectation of [coming] judgment and of [God’s] raging fire which will consume His enemies.

⁴ By [having] faith, Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. [And] because of his faith he was commended by God for being righteous, when God expressed approval of his offerings. By means of his faith, Abel still speaks [to us], even though he is dead. ⁵ By [having] faith, Enoch was taken [to be with God], so that he did not have to die. And he could not be found because God had taken him away. For he had been commended [by God] before he was taken away, that he had pleased God. [Note: The Hebrew of Gen. 5:24 says, “he walked with God”]. ⁶ And unless one has faith, it is impossible for him to be pleasing to God, for the person who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

¹⁵ Look carefully [at how you are living] so that no one falls away from God’s unearned favor, and that no “poisonous plant sprouts up” to cause trouble and corrupt many people [Note: This is an analogy from Deut. 29:16-18 being used as a warning against the evil influence of wicked people], ¹⁶ and that no one becomes immoral or ungodly, like Esau, who sold his right to the firstborn son’s inheritance for a single meal.

⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

¹⁷ [You should] obey your leaders [Note: This probably refers to church elders] and submit to their oversight, for they look out for [the welfare of] your souls as men who will give an accounting [for your spiritual progress]. [Be obedient], so that they will be able to do this joyfully and not with sorrow, for that would be unprofitable to you.

²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep [i.e., the church], through the blood of the never ending Agreement [i.e., Christ’s blood], ²¹ equip you with every good deed for doing God’s will. [May He] work in us [to accomplish] what is very pleasing in His sight through [the power of] Jesus Christ. May there be praise to Him forever and ever. May it be so. ²² But I urge you, brothers [and sisters], listen to these words of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.

¹ [This letter is from] James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, [who sends] greetings to the twelve tribes which are scattered throughout the world. [Note: This refers to Christians, probably of Jewish descent].

¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own evil desire. ¹⁵ Then, when the evil desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. And when sin is fully grown, it produces [spiritual] death.

¹ My brothers, do not hold [views regarding] the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ [i.e., as tenets of Christianity] which show favoritism toward [certain] persons. ² For, suppose a person comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothing and [then another] person comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby clothing. ³ Now if you people show special attention to the one wearing the fine clothing and say [to him], “You can sit here in this good seat,” and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴ are you not making class distinctions among yourselves and judging [people] from evil motives? ⁵ Listen, my dearly loved brothers; did not God choose those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be wealthy in faith and to inherit the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? ⁶ But you people have dishonored the poor person. Are not rich people the ones who oppress you and drag you to court? ⁷ Do they not speak against the honorable name by which you are called? [i.e., the name “Christ” or “Christian”]. ⁸ However, you are doing well if you fulfill [i.e., obey] the royal law found in the Scriptures [Lev. 19:18], “You should love your neighbor the same way that you love yourself.” ⁹ But if you show favoritism toward [certain] persons, you are committing a sin and are convicted by the law [of God] as lawbreakers.

²² [Do you not] see that faith cooperated together with his deeds, and faith was made complete by [his] deeds?

¹⁵ This “wisdom” is not the kind that comes from [God] above, but is earthly, unspiritual and demonic [i.e., it is motivated by an evil spirit and not the Holy Spirit].

⁵ You people have basked in luxury [here] on earth and lived lives devoted to pleasure. You have fattened yourselves [as sacrificial oxen] for the day of slaughter.

¹⁹ My brothers, if anyone among you strays away from the truth [of God’s inspired message], and someone brings him back [to it], ²⁰ that person should know that whoever brings a sinner back from the error of his way will save that soul from [spiritual] death and will cover over a large number of sins [i.e., the many sins of that person will become forgiven].

² These people have been [specially] selected, and [their acceptance was] pre-planned by God the Father, and they were set apart through [the work of] the Holy Spirit. This resulted in their obedience and sprinkling [Note: This is a figurative reference to the Old Testament practice of cleansing, See Exodus 24:7-8] by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God’s unearned favor and peace be continually upon you.

⁵ Through God’s power you are protected by [your] faith, so that you can expect to be saved in the end.

¹⁴ As obedient children, do not pattern your lives after the evil desires you formerly had when you were ignorant,

⁸ [And it also says, Isa. 8:14, that He would be], “A stone that people would stumble over and a rock over which they would trip and fall.” The way they stumble is by disobeying the Gospel message. They were destined [though not forced] to do this. ⁹ But you people are especially chosen [by God]; you are a royal body of priests; you are a nation especially set apart for God’s use; you are a people who belong exclusively to God, that you may express the virtues of the One who called you out of darkness [i.e., of sin and error], and into His marvelous light [i.e., righteousness and truth].

¹¹ My dearly loved ones, I urge you, as a people who are foreigners and strangers [in this world], do not give in to sinful desires, which wage war against the soul.

¹⁶ As servants of God, you should live as free people, but do not use this freedom to cover up your wrongdoing. ¹⁷ Show [proper] respect for everyone. Love your [Christian] brothers [and sisters]. Have an awe-inspiring respect for God. Show honor to the king.

⁹ Do not repay a wrong action with [another] wrong action, nor abusive [language] with [additional] abuse, but rather be a blessing [to one another]. For the purpose of your being called [by God] was so that you could receive a blessing [from Him eventually].

² So then, you should no longer live the rest of your lives [to satisfy] the sinful desires of your body, but to do what God wants.

¹¹ If someone’s gift is speaking, he should [be sure to] say only what God wants him to. If a person’s gift is serving, he should do so by the strength provided by God [who supplies all such gifts]. This is so that, in using all gifts, God may be honored through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs honor and power forever and ever. May it be so.

¹³ You should rejoice that you are sharing some of what Christ has suffered, so that you will get to rejoice all the more when He returns in His splendor.

¹⁸ And if people who are trying to do right [i.e., Christians] are saved through [suffering] such difficulties, where will the ungodly and sinful person end up, [if not in hell]?

¹⁰ And the God who bestows every unearned favor [upon His people], who invited you to partake of His eternal splendor through Christ Jesus, will restore, confirm, strengthen and stabilize you people [in the faith], after you have gone through a brief time of suffering.

¹⁰ And the God who bestows every unearned favor [upon His people], who invited you to partake of His eternal splendor through Christ Jesus, will restore, confirm, strengthen and stabilize you people [in the faith], after you have gone through a brief time of suffering. ¹¹ May God have total authority over everything [including your circumstances] forever. May it be so. ¹² This brief message is being inscribed [or delivered] by Silvanus, whom I consider to be a faithful brother. [In it] I am exhorting you and giving testimony that it is a message about God’s genuine unearned favor upon you. So, continue to follow [and obey] what it says.

¹ [This letter is being written by] Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith just as precious as ours, through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. ² [May God’s] unearned favor and peace be yours in abundance, through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

¹² Therefore, I intend to constantly remind you people about these things [i.e., those mentioned in verses 5-11], even though you [already] know them, and have been established in the truth you now possess.

¹² Therefore, I intend to constantly remind you people about these things [i.e., those mentioned in verses 5-11], even though you [already] know them, and have been established in the truth you now possess. ¹³ But I consider it the right thing to do, as long as I am in this “tent” [Note: This is an allusion to his still being alive], to stir up your memory [of these things],

¹³ But I consider it the right thing to do, as long as I am in this “tent” [Note: This is an allusion to his still being alive], to stir up your memory [of these things], ¹⁴ knowing that [I will] soon put off my “tent” [i.e., I will soon die], even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will make every effort to see that, after I leave [i.e., die], you will always be able to recall the things [I said to you].

¹ But just as there were false prophets among the people before, there will also be false teachers among you [Christians]. They will privately teach harmful doctrines that destroy people [spiritually], by even denying [that Jesus is] the Master, [and thereby] destroying themselves quickly.

¹ But just as there were false prophets among the people before, there will also be false teachers among you [Christians]. They will privately teach harmful doctrines that destroy people [spiritually], by even denying [that Jesus is] the Master, [and thereby] destroying themselves quickly. ² And many people will follow their unrestrained, indecent conduct, which will result in the true way [of God] being spoken against. ³ And through greedy desires and deceptive words they will exploit you [for evil purposes]. But the judgment that they have had coming for a long time, will not delay, but will eventually awaken [i.e., arrive] to bring destruction upon them. ⁴ For if God did not spare sinning angels, but cast them in chains, into deep, dark dungeons to await judgment; ⁵ and if He did not spare the ancient world of Noah’s day, when He brought a flood on those ungodly people (though Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven other people, were saved from it); ⁶ and if God also condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by reducing them to ashes, thereby condemning them to catastrophic destruction, and making them an example to other ungodly people in the future;

⁶ and if God also condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by reducing them to ashes, thereby condemning them to catastrophic destruction, and making them an example to other ungodly people in the future;

⁶ and if God also condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by reducing them to ashes, thereby condemning them to catastrophic destruction, and making them an example to other ungodly people in the future; ⁷ and if He rescued the righteous man Lot, who had become very disturbed by unrestrained wickedness [of the people there in Sodom]. ⁸ (For, being a righteous man living among them, Lot’s righteous spirit was very disturbed every day by the wickedness he heard and saw), ⁹ then the Lord [surely] knows how to rescue godly people from trying situations, and to keep unrighteous people under [a sentence of] punishment [to be received] on the judgment day.

⁹ then the Lord [surely] knows how to rescue godly people from trying situations, and to keep unrighteous people under [a sentence of] punishment [to be received] on the judgment day. ¹⁰ [This fate will come upon] those people especially who corrupt themselves with physical desires and despise being ruled by others. They are daring, self-willed, and are not afraid to speak against glorious beings [i.e., angels],

¹⁰ [This fate will come upon] those people especially who corrupt themselves with physical desires and despise being ruled by others. They are daring, self-willed, and are not afraid to speak against glorious beings [i.e., angels], ¹¹ while [those] angels, who are greater in strength and power than they, refuse to speak against such authorities, in condemnation, before the Lord.

¹¹ while [those] angels, who are greater in strength and power than they, refuse to speak against such authorities, in condemnation, before the Lord. ¹² However, these people are like unreasonable, ignorant creatures of instinct, born as animals which are [to be] caught and destroyed. They speak out against things about which they are ignorant. In [the process of] destroying others, they will certainly be destroyed themselves.

¹² However, these people are like unreasonable, ignorant creatures of instinct, born as animals which are [to be] caught and destroyed. They speak out against things about which they are ignorant. In [the process of] destroying others, they will certainly be destroyed themselves. ¹³ They suffer wrong themselves for doing wrong to other people. They consider it [especially] pleasurable to carry on their drunken revellings, [even] during the daytime. They become blots and blemishes [i.e., like spoiled food] in your fellowship meal, as they revel in their deceitful behavior. ¹⁴ Their eyes are filled with sexual lust, and they are never satisfied when it comes to sinning. They entice unstable people and have hearts trained to be greedy [i.e., they continually desire the possessions of others]. [In this condition] they are under God’s curse. ¹⁵ They strayed away [from God] by taking the wrong road like Balaam, the son of Bosor did, who loved the reward for doing wrong.

¹⁷ Such people are like springs that give no water and clouds driven by the winds. [Only] the blackest darkness awaits them.

¹⁷ Such people are like springs that give no water and clouds driven by the winds. [Only] the blackest darkness awaits them. ¹⁸ [Although] their talk is big, what they say is worthless, and by [offering people] fleshly desires [i.e., sexual gratification], they lead people astray, who are barely escaping from the error of the world.

¹⁸ [Although] their talk is big, what they say is worthless, and by [offering people] fleshly desires [i.e., sexual gratification], they lead people astray, who are barely escaping from the error of the world.

¹⁸ [Although] their talk is big, what they say is worthless, and by [offering people] fleshly desires [i.e., sexual gratification], they lead people astray, who are barely escaping from the error of the world. ¹⁹ [Although] these people promise “liberty,” they themselves are slaves to corrupting influences, for people are slaves to whatever controls them.

¹⁹ [Although] these people promise “liberty,” they themselves are slaves to corrupting influences, for people are slaves to whatever controls them. ²⁰ For if people who have escaped from the defiling practices of the world by coming to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, become tangled up in them again, and are overcome by them, these people are worse off than before they were converted.

²⁰ For if people who have escaped from the defiling practices of the world by coming to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, become tangled up in them again, and are overcome by them, these people are worse off than before they were converted. ²¹ It would have been better for them if they had not known the right way [to God] than, after knowing it, to turn back from the sacred message that had been presented to them. ²² It has happened to them like the true proverb [says], “The dog [throws up, and then] goes back and eats its own vomit,” and “The hog that was all cleaned up [goes back] to wallowing in the mud.”

¹ This is now, my dearly loved ones, the second letter I am writing to you; in both of them, as a reminder, I want to stir up your sincere thoughts

¹ This is now, my dearly loved ones, the second letter I am writing to you; in both of them, as a reminder, I want to stir up your sincere thoughts ² to remember the words spoken to you in the past by the holy prophets, and what the Lord and Savior commanded you through your apostles.

² to remember the words spoken to you in the past by the holy prophets, and what the Lord and Savior commanded you through your apostles. ³ First of all, you should understand that, in the final days, mockers with evil desires will come [to you] saying, mockingly,

⁷ But, by means of the same word [of God], the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, awaiting the judgment and destruction [by God], along with [its] ungodly people.

¹² [while] looking forward to, and earnestly desiring the day of God to come, when the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved by fire and the elements [See verse 10] will melt with intense heat.

¹⁸ But grow in the unearned favor and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May He be honored both now and forever. May it be so.

²² Who is the liar? It is the person who denies that Jesus [truly] is the Christ [i.e., God’s specially chosen One]. This person is the antichrist [See verse 18]; he is the one who denies [the truth about] the Father and the Son.

¹² not [hate each other] the way Cain did, who belonged to the evil one [i.e., Satan], when he murdered his brother [Abel]. And why did he murder him? It was because his [own] actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous [See Heb. 11:4].

¹⁶ Here is how we can know what genuine love really is: It was [demonstrated by] Jesus laying down His life [on the cross] for us. And [because of that] we [too] should [be willing to] lay down our lives for [the sake of helping] our brothers [and sisters]. ¹⁷ Now whoever has [a sufficient amount of] life’s possessions and [then] observes one of his [Christian] brothers who does not have enough to get by on, but does not feel sorry for him [i.e., enough to help him out], surely a love for God does not continue to live in that person’s heart.

⁶ We [who preach the true Gospel] represent God; the person who knows God listens to our message; the one who does not belong to God does not listen to us. This is how we can know [the difference between those speaking by] the Holy Spirit of truth and [those speaking by] the spirit of [Satan’s] error.

¹⁶ And we have known [with certainty] and have believed [with assurance] that God has truly loved us. God’s [very nature] is love and the person who [continually] loves [Him and others] lives in [fellowship with] God [continually], and God [continually] lives in that person’s heart.

⁴ For whoever [Note: The Greek says “whatever”] is [spiritually] conceived [and eventually born] by God will overcome [the evil influence of] the world. And this is [how] that victory can be gained over the world: [It is through] our faith [in God].

¹⁰ The person who [sincerely] believes in God’s Son has the evidence [of it] within his heart, [confirming God’s testimony]. The person who does not believe God [i.e., what He says about Jesus], accuses Him of lying, because he has not accepted the [irrefutable] testimony of God concerning [the identity and mission of] His Son. ¹¹ And this is the testimony [of God]: He gave to us [the hope of] never ending life, and this life is [available through fellowship] in His Son.

¹⁶ If anyone [of you] observes his brother [or sister] sinning [in a way that would not lead] to [spiritual] death, he should ask [God, in prayer, to help that person], and God will give him [spiritual] life, [that is], to such ones, provided their sin is not leading to [spiritual] death. There is such a sin that leads to [spiritual] death. [See Heb. 6:4-6; I Tim. 5:6; Heb. 10:26-27; II Pet. 2:20-22]. I am not suggesting that you should ask [God, in prayer] about such a situation. ¹⁷ All wrongdoing is sinful, and [yet] there is a situation where [a person’s] sin does not lead [him] to [spiritual] death. ¹⁸ We know that every person who has been [spiritually] conceived [by God and eventually born] does not continue in [a life of] sin, but God’s one and only conceived [Son] keeps him [from continuing to sin], and the evil one [i.e., Satan] does not continue to touch him [i.e., continue to control his life].

¹⁸ We know that every person who has been [spiritually] conceived [by God and eventually born] does not continue in [a life of] sin, but God’s one and only conceived [Son] keeps him [from continuing to sin], and the evil one [i.e., Satan] does not continue to touch him [i.e., continue to control his life].

²¹ Little children [i.e., dear ones], protect yourselves from [worshiping] idols.

³ Dearly loved ones, as I was very eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we share in common, I felt it necessary [instead] to write urging you to contend earnestly for the faith [i.e., the teaching of Christ] which was once and for all delivered [by the apostles, See verse 17] to the saints [i.e., God’s holy people]. ⁴ For certain men have secretly infiltrated [your ranks]; they are men who had been written about long ago that they should be judged [and condemned] for perverting the unearned favor of our God into [a license for] living unrestrained, indecent lives, and who deny [the identity and work of] our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. ⁵ But, I want to remind you, [even] though you already know the stories about how the Lord delivered His people from Egyptian [bondage], and then [later] destroyed those who did not believe [in Him]. ⁶ And angels, who did not remain within [the bounds of] their proper authority, but left their own realm, God has kept in perpetual bondage, under [thick] darkness, awaiting judgment on the Great Day [when they will be punished]. ⁷ So also, in a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah, and their surrounding towns, which had abandoned themselves to sexual immorality and [sexually] perverted behavior, serve as an example [of people] who [will] suffer the punishment of never ending fire. ⁸ In the same way, these people have dreams of committing physically corruptive practices; they reject authority over them [i.e., by both God and men], and speak against glorious [i.e., heavenly] beings. ⁹ But, when the ruling angel Michael disputed with the devil over [the final disposal of] the body of Moses, [even] he did not dare to bring derogatory charges against him [i.e., the devil], but said, “May the Lord rebuke you.” [Note: Some suggest that this account appeared in an apocryphal book, possibly “The Assumption of Moses”].

⁹ But, when the ruling angel Michael disputed with the devil over [the final disposal of] the body of Moses, [even] he did not dare to bring derogatory charges against him [i.e., the devil], but said, “May the Lord rebuke you.” [Note: Some suggest that this account appeared in an apocryphal book, possibly “The Assumption of Moses”]. ¹⁰ But these people [i.e., the “certain men” of verse 4] speak against whatever they do not understand, and what they do understand naturally, the way animals do, proves to be their ruination.

¹⁰ But these people [i.e., the “certain men” of verse 4] speak against whatever they do not understand, and what they do understand naturally, the way animals do, proves to be their ruination. ¹¹ It is too bad for these people, for they have followed the example of Cain [the murderer]; for the sake of money they have rushed into the [same] error as Balaam committed [See Num. 25:1-5; 31:16]; they [will] perish [spiritually] for having rebelled [against God] like Korah did. [See Num. 16:1-3, 31-35]. ¹² These people are like rotten spots [contaminating the food] at your love feasts, while they gorge themselves without fear [i.e., unashamed of their selfish indulgence]. [Note: This passage may mean “like selfish shepherds, looking out only for themselves, they eat the grain set out for the animals”]. They are like clouds that blow over without producing rain; [they are like] trees in the fall that do not produce any fruit and have been uprooted, [thus] being dead twice [i.e., fruitless and rootless]. ¹³ [They are like] raging ocean waves, whose shameful actions bubble up like foam. [They are like] shooting stars [whose light quickly goes out], for whom total darkness has been reserved forever.

¹⁵ to bring judgment upon all [such people], and to convict every person of their ungodly behavior, which they have wickedly committed, and of all the evil things that [such] ungodly sinners have spoken against God.” ¹⁶ These people are gripers and complainers, living according to their own [evil] desires, whose mouths speak boastfully, and who show partiality [toward certain people] to gain some advantage. ¹⁷ But you dearly loved ones, you should remember the message that was previously told to you by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁸ for they were saying to you people, “In the last times [See I John 2:18; Heb. 1:1-2] there will be mockers [arise], who will live according to their [own] ungodly desires.”

²⁰ But, you dearly loved ones, build yourselves up [spiritually] on [the foundation of] your most sacred faith; pray in [the power of] the Holy Spirit. ²¹ Keep yourselves in God’s love [i.e., continue to love God], as you look forward to [receiving] the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, [who will grant you] never ending life.

²⁴ Now, may there be honor and majesty and power to God, who is able to guard you people from stumbling [and falling away from Him, See Gal. 5:4], and [who is able] to place you before His glorious presence without any [moral] blemish, but with great joy.

⁴ [This book is from] John [and is being sent] to the seven churches that are in Asia [Note: This refers to the province of Asia Minor, a part of present-day Turkey]. May there be unearned favor and peace to you from God, the One who is [in the present], who was [in the past] and who will come [in the future], and from the seven spirits that are in front of God’s throne [Note: Because the number “seven” was regarded as the number of perfection by the Jews, it is thought that this refers to the Holy Spirit]. ⁵ [It is also] from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness [to the truth], the Firstborn from the dead [i.e., the first One raised never to die again], the Ruler of the kings of the world. May there be honor and power forever and ever to Christ, who loved us and released us from our sins by His blood [Note: Some manuscripts say “washed us” since the two words are spelled almost alike]. ⁶ And He made us to be a kingdom [See 5:10] and priests [See I Pet. 2:5, 9] for [serving] His God and Father. May it be so.

⁶ And He made us to be a kingdom [See 5:10] and priests [See I Pet. 2:5, 9] for [serving] His God and Father. May it be so. ⁷ Look, He [i.e., Jesus] is coming with [i.e., “on”] the clouds! And [then] every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him, and all the peoples of the earth will grieve because of Him [i.e., because of how they had treated Him]. So it will be. May it be so.

¹⁰ Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. [For] look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you may be tested, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. [But], you should be faithful [to God] even to the point of dying [for Him], and I will give you the crown of [never ending] life.

¹⁴ “But I have a few things against you because you have people there [in the church] who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumblingblock in front of the Israelites, [causing them] to eat food sacrificed to idols and to be sexually immoral [See Num. 23-24].

⁴ “But you have a few people [there] in Sardis who have not [spiritually] polluted their clothing, and they will walk with me in [robes of] white [i.e., probably now on earth as well as in heaven], for they are worthy.

¹⁸ [Because of that], I advise you to buy from me gold, refined by fire, so that you will become rich; and white clothing to wear, so that you can cover yourself and not be seen as shamefully naked; and eye drops for your eyes, so that you can see. [Note: The foregoing all refer to taking measures for becoming more spiritual].

⁹ And whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to God, who sits on His throne and who lives forever and ever, ¹⁰ [then] the twenty-four elders fall down in front of Him who sits on His throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. And they will throw their crowns in front of the throne and say, ¹¹ “Our Lord and our God, you deserve to receive the glory and the honor and the power for you created everything, and they exist because you wanted them to, so they were created.”

¹³ And I heard every creature in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the ocean and everything in them, saying [See Note at 4:8], “May there be praise and honor and splendor and power forever and ever, to God who sits on His throne and to the Lamb.” ¹⁴ And the four living beings said, “May it be so.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

¹⁰ [When] the third angel sounded its trumpet [I saw] a huge star, like a flaming torch, falling from heaven. It fell on one third of the rivers and on the springs of water. ¹¹ And the star was called “Wormwood” [Note: The Greek word here means “bitter,” See Lam. 3:15 ASV], and one third of the waters became wormwood [i.e., bitter], and many people died from the waters because they had become bitter.

⁷ Then there was a war in heaven. Michael [See Dan. 10:13; 12:1; Jude 9] and his angels waged war against the dragon [See verse 9]; and the dragon and his angels fought back.

¹¹ And they [i.e., the brothers. See 6:9-11] gained the victory over Satan by the blood of the Lamb, and by [remaining true to] the message of their testimony. And they did not love their lives [so much that they refused] to die [for their faith].

⁵ And the beast was given [by the dragon ?] a mouth for making proud claims and [speaking] blasphemous words, and the authority to act for forty-two months [See 11:2; 12:6]. ⁶ And he opened his mouth to speak slanderous words against God and against His name and His Tabernacle, that is, those living in heaven.

¹⁰ If anyone goes [or “leads others”] into captivity, he will go into captivity [himself]; if anyone is killed [or “kills others”] with the sword, he will be killed with the sword [himself]. Here is [where] God’s holy people [need] perseverance and faith. ¹¹ Then I saw another [i.e., a second] beast coming up from the earth. He had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

⁵ They were found not to be liars; [for] they were without just blame.

¹⁰ he will also [have to] drink the wine of God’s anger, as an undiluted mixture in the cup of His anger. And he will be tortured with burning sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. ¹¹ And the smoke of their suffering will ascend forever and ever and there will not be any rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his statue and who receive the mark of his name.”

⁴ O Lord, who will not fear [you] and honor your name, for only you are holy? [So], all the nations will come and worship in front of you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”

¹⁰ And the devil who [had] deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire, [burning] with sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet also are. [See 19:20]. And [there] these [enemies of God] will be tortured day and night forever and ever.

⁸ But the place for cowards, and unbelievers, and disgusting people [i.e., because of their terrible sins], and murderers, and sexually immoral people, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will be the lake that burns with fire and sulphur. This is the second death.”

¹² “Listen,” [says Jesus], “I am coming quickly! And my reward is with me to pay [back] every person for what he has done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega [See note at 1:8], the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” ¹⁴ Those who wash their robes are blessed because [then] they will have the right to [eat from] the tree of life, and will [be able to] enter the city through the gates. ¹⁵ On the outside [of the city] are the dogs [Note: This probably refers to people who practiced sexual perversions. See Deut. 23:17] and the sorcerers, and the sexually immoral people, and the murderers, and the idolaters and every person who loves and practices falsehood.

²⁰ The One who testifies about these things [i.e., Jesus] says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” May this be so. Come [ahead] Lord Jesus!