2 Corinthians 3 Cross References - NSB

¹ Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some do, letters of commendation to you or from you? ² You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men. ³ It is known that you are a letter of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is not written on tablets of stone, but on tablets of flesh that are of the heart. ⁴ We have such confidence through Christ toward God. ⁵ We are not adequate by ourselves to account for anything. Our adequacy is from God. ⁶ He also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant. This is a covenant not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. ⁷ The ministry of death was written and engraved on stones. Glory came with it so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly upon the face of Moses. And this glory was passing away. ⁸ How shall the ministry of the Spirit not be with glory? ⁹ For if the ministry of condemnation has glory then the ministry of righteousness would exceed in glory. ¹⁰ Even what was glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the greater glory. ¹¹ If that which passes away was with glory, that which remains is even more glorious. ¹² Since we have such a hope we use great boldness of speech. ¹³ We are not like Moses, who put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look steadily on the end of that which was passing away: ¹⁴ Their minds were blinded. Until this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It is not revealed to them that Christ voided it. ¹⁵ But to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their heart. ¹⁶ When one turns to God, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now God is the Spirit and where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty (freedom). ¹⁸ We all, with unveiled face, behold as in a mirror the glory of God and are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, exactly as from God’s Spirit.

²¹ Jehovah God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

¹⁰ Moses said: »O Jehovah I am not a man of words. I have never been so, and am not now, even after what you have said to your servant. Talking is hard for me, and I am slow of tongue.« ¹¹ Jehovah said to him: »Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, Jehovah? ¹² »Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth. I will teach you what you are to say.« ¹³ But Moses said: »Please, Jehovah, send the message by whomever you will.« ¹⁴ Then the anger of Jehovah burned against Moses, and He said: »Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. He is coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. ¹⁵ »You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will be with your mouth and his mouth. I will teach you what you are to do. ¹⁶ Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people. He will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him.

¹⁹ »Listen to the advice I give you. May God be with you! You must be the people’s representative to God and bring their disagreements to him.

¹² »Warn the people that they are forbidden to touch any part of the mountain. Anyone who touches the mountain will be put to death, ¹³ with stones or arrows, and no one must touch the body of a person killed in this way. Even an animal that touches this mountain must be put to death. You may go up the mountain only after a signal is given on the trumpet.« ¹⁴ Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. ¹⁵ He said to the people: »Get ready for the third day. Do not go near a woman for sexual intercourse.« ¹⁶ On the morning of the third day there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain. A very loud trumpet sounded. It caused all the people in the camp to tremble. ¹⁷ Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They stood at the foot of the mountain. ¹⁸ Mount Sinai was all in smoke because Jehovah descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace. The whole mountain quaked violently! ¹⁹ The sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder.

¹⁸ The people heard the thunder and the trumpet blast. They saw the lightning and the smoking mountain. They trembled with fear and stood at a distance. ¹⁹ They said to Moses: »If you speak to us, we will listen. However, we are afraid that if God speaks to us, we will die.«

¹² Jehovah said to Moses: »Come up on the mountain and stay here for a while. I will give you the two stone tablets on which I have written the laws that my people must obey.«

¹⁸ When God finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.

¹⁵ Moses went back down the mountain. He carried the two stone tablets with the commandments written on both sides. ¹⁶ God made the tablets and engraved the commandments on them.

¹⁹ Moses came close enough to the camp at the foot of the mountain to see the bull-calf and to see the people dancing. He became furious! He threw down the tablets he was carrying and broke them.

¹ Jehovah said to Moses: »Cut two more stone tablets like the first ones. I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets that you smashed.

²⁸ Moses was there with Jehovah forty days and forty nights. He did not eat bread or drink water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments (Ten Words). ²⁹ Moses came down from Mount Sinai. The two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he came down from the mountain. Moses did not know that the skin of his face glowed because he spoke with God. ³⁰ Aaron and all the Israelites looked at Moses and saw his face glowing. They were afraid to come near him. ³¹ Moses called to them. Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation came back to him. Then Moses spoke to them. ³² All the other Israelites came near him. He commanded them to do everything Jehovah told him on Mount Sinai. ³³ Moses put a veil over his face when he finished speaking. ³⁴ When Moses went into Jehovah’s presence to speak with him, he took off the veil until he came out. When he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded,

³⁴ When Moses went into Jehovah’s presence to speak with him, he took off the veil until he came out. When he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, ³⁵ they would see that Moses’ face was glowing. Moses would put the veil back on until he went in again to speak with Jehovah.

⁸ »And what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments so righteous as the law I present to you this day?

¹³ »He told you what you must do to keep the covenant he made with you. You must obey the Ten Commandments, which he wrote on two stone tablets.

⁹ »When I went up on the mountain to get the stone tablets, the tablets of the promise that Jehovah made to you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights without food or water. ¹⁰ »Then Jehovah gave me the two stone tablets inscribed by God’s finger (Holy Spirit). On them were written all the words Jehovah spoke to you from the fire on the mountain on the day of the assembly. ¹¹ »At the end of forty days and nights Jehovah gave me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant.

¹⁵ »So I turned and came down from the mountain while the mountain was burning with fire. I carried the two stone tablets of the covenant in my two hands.

¹ »Jehovah said to me: ‘Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone like the former ones. Come up to me on the mountain, and build an ark of wood for yourself. ² »‘I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets that you shattered. You must place them in the Ark.’ ³ »I made an Ark out of acacia wood and cut out two tablets of stone like the first ones. Then I took the two tablets in my hands and went up on the mountain. ⁴ »He wrote on the tablets, like the former writing. It was the Ten Commandments (Ten Words) that Jehovah proclaimed to you on the mountain. It was from the middle of the fire on the day of the assembly. Jehovah gave them to me.

³⁰ »When you are in trouble (distress) and all these things happen to you in the latter days, turn to Jehovah your God and obey his voice.

²² »Jehovah spoke to us when we gathered on the mountain. He spoke with a loud voice from the dark fiery cloud. Jehovah gave us these words, and only these. Then he wrote them on two flat tablets of stone and gave them to me.

²⁶ »‘Cursed is he who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law by obeying them.’ And all the people will say: ‘Amen.’

¹⁰ if you obey Jehovah your God to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to Jehovah your God with all your heart with all your being.

¹⁰ Joshua said: »By this you shall know the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.

²⁶ David asked some soldiers standing nearby: »What will a man get for killing this Philistine and stopping him from insulting our people? Who does that worthless Philistine think he is? He makes fun of the army of the living God!«

¹³ »You came down on Mount Sinai, and your voice came to them from heaven, giving them right decisions and true laws, good rules and orders.

⁵ »If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes,

⁷ The law of Jehovah is perfect. It gives new life. The testimony of Jehovah is dependable. It makes the simple wise. ⁸ The statutes of Jehovah are correct. They make the heart rejoice. The commandments of Jehovah are radiant. They make the eyes shine.

² I thirst for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

²³ Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see. Let their backs be continually bent.

⁸ »I am pleased to do your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.

¹² Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and establish a willing spirit in me.

² How I want to be there! I long to be in Jehovah’s temple. With my whole being I sing for joy to the living God.

¹²⁷ Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more then fine gold. ¹²⁸ That is why I esteem right all your precepts and I hate every false way.

¹⁷⁴ I long for your salvation, O Jehovah. Your law is my delight.

⁹⁷ O How I love your law! It is my meditation all day long.

³ Do not let kindness and truth leave you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

³ Bind them upon your fingers. Write them upon the table of your heart.

¹⁰ »This people’s heart has become calloused. They hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.«(Septuagint)

¹⁸ The deaf will be able to hear the words of the book read to them. The blind will be freed from gloom and darkness.

² The Spirit of Jehovah will rest on him. The spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and respect for Jehovah will be his.

²³ Then the moon will be abashed and the sun ashamed, For Jehovah of Hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, And his glory will be before his elders.

⁷ On this mountain He will destroy the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations.

¹⁰ Grace (favor) is shown to the wicked, but they do not learn righteousness. In a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of Jehovah. ¹¹ O Jehovah, your hand is lifted high, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame. Let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them. ¹² Jehovah, you establish peace for us. All that we have accomplished you have done for us.

¹⁸ Jehovah says: »Hear, you deaf people! Look closely, you who are blind!« ¹⁹ Is anyone more blind than my servant or more deaf than the messenger I send? ²⁰ Israel, you have seen so much, but what has it meant to you? You have ears to hear with, but what have you really heard?

³ »‘I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring. I will give blessing to your descendants.

¹⁸ They do not know or understand anything. Their eyes are plastered shut and cannot see. Their minds are closed and therefore they cannot understand.

¹³ »Your sons will all be taught by Jehovah. Your sons will have an abundance of peace.

¹³ »I bring near my righteousness. It is not far away. My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel.«

¹⁰ Israel’s watchmen are blind. They all lack knowledge they are all mute dogs. They cannot bark. They just lie around and dream, they love to sleep.

¹⁰ We grope like blind men along a wall. We grope like people without eyes. We stumble at noon as if it were evening. We are like dead people among the living.

²¹ »This is my promise to them,«says Jehovah. »My Spirit is on you and my words that I put in your mouth will not leave you. They will be with your children and your grandchildren permanently,« says Jehovah

⁶ I, Jeremiah, said: »Lord Jehovah, I do not know how to speak. I am only a child!« ⁷ Jehovah said to me: »‘Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go wherever I send you. You must say whatever I command you to say. ⁸ »Do not be afraid of people. I am with you. I will rescue you,« says Jehovah. ⁹ Then Jehovah stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. Jehovah said to me: »I have put my words in your mouth. ¹⁰ »Today I have appointed you in charge of nations and kingdoms. You will uproot and tear down. You will destroy and overthrow. You will build and plant.«

²¹ »‘Hear this, you stupid and senseless people! You have eyes, but you cannot see. You have ears, but you cannot hear.’«

¹⁰ Jehovah is the true (faithful) (right) God! He is the living God and the everlasting king. The earth quakes at his wrath. The nations cannot endure his indignation.

¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah is upon me, because Jehovah has anointed me to announce good news to the lowly and meek. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners. ² To proclaim the favorable Year of Jehovah and the day of vengeance of our God. To comfort all who mourn,

¹ Jehovah says: Judah's sin is written with an iron pen. It is engraved with a diamond point on the tablet of their hearts and on the horns (strength) (authority) of their altars.

³¹ »The time is coming,« proclaims Jehovah, »when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

³³ »This is the covenant (agreement) that I will make with Israel after those days,« declares Jehovah. »I will put my teachings (Law) inside them. I will write those teachings (Law) on their hearts (inner man) (mind) (will) (conscience) (understanding). I will be their God, and they will be my people.« ³⁴ »No longer will each person teach his neighbors or his relatives by saying: ‘Know Jehovah.’ »All of them, from the least important to the most important, will know me,« declares Jehovah. »I will forgive their wickedness and I will no longer hold (remember) their sins against them.«

⁶ »In His days Judah will be saved. Israel will dwell securely. This is his name by which he will be called, Jehovah Is Our Righteousness.

⁴⁰ Let us search and put our ways to the test. Let us turn again to Jehovah.

¹⁹ ‘»I will give them one (united) heart, and put a new spirit within them. I will take the heart of stone (unkind attitude) out of them and give them a heart of flesh (loving disposition).

² »Son of man, you are living among rebellious people. They have eyes, but they cannot see. They have ears, but they cannot hear because they are rebellious people.

²⁵ »I will sprinkle clean water on you and make you clean instead of unclean. Then I will cleanse you from all your idols. ²⁶ »I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your stubborn hearts and give you obedient hearts. ²⁷ »I will put my Spirit in you. I will enable you to live by my Laws, and you will obey my rules.

²⁶ »I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble with respect before the God of Daniel. He is the living God, and steadfast forever! His kingdom will not be destroyed. His dominion will be even unto the end.

⁴ For the children of Israel will live many days without king, without prince, without sacrifice, without pillar, and without ephod or teraphim. ⁵ Afterward the children of Israel will return and seek Jehovah their God. David their king will come with trembling to Jehovah and to his goodness in the last days.

²⁸ »In the last days I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions! (Ac 2:17; Isa 44:3) ²⁹ »I will also pour out my Spirit upon the male and female servants in those days. (Ac 10:45; Zec 12:10; Eze 36:27)

³ ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it nothing in your eyes?’

⁷ »I will shake all the nations and make them afraid. The treasures of all the nations will be brought here. I will fill this house with glory. ⁸ »The silver and gold of the world is mine,« said Jehovah of Hosts. ⁹ »The glory of this house will be greater than it was before. I will give my people peace.« Jehovah of Hosts has spoken.

²³ »But if your eye is wicked, your body will be in darkness. If that light in you is really darkness, how great a darkness it must be.

¹⁹ »When they hand you over, do not worry about what to say and how to say it. You will be given the words to speak at that time. ²⁰ »You will not speak on your own. Your Father’s Spirit will speak through you.

¹¹ He responded: »You are allowed to know the divine secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but it is not for others to know. (The Greek word for »you« is plural and is applied to the disciples as a group.)

¹³ »I speak to them in illustrations (stories) (parables) (allegories), because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear. They just do not understand. ¹⁴ »The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled. ‘By hearing, you shall hear, and shall in no way understand. By seeing you shall see, and shall in no way perceive. ¹⁵ »‘The heart of this people is callous and dull. Their ears are plugged. They cannot hear. They closed their eyes and cannot see. They cannot see nor hear nor understand with their heart. They should turn around and I would heal them.’

⁵² And he said to them: »Every scribe (journalist) (writer) who has been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a householder, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.«

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered: »You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!« ¹⁷ Jesus answered him: »Bless you, Simon son of John. This knowledge came from my Father in heaven and not from man.

²⁸ »This is (represents) (means) (exemplifies) my blood of the covenant, poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

²⁴ He said: »This means (represents) my blood of the covenant given for men.

²⁹ While he prayed his appearance changed and his clothes became white and brilliant. ³⁰ Moses and Elijah talked to him. ³¹ They appeared in glory and spoke about the death he was about to experience at Jerusalem.

³¹ He took the twelve to Jerusalem so that the Son of man will accomplish all the things that are written through the prophets: ³² »He will be delivered up to the people of the nations, and will be mocked, and shamefully treated, and spit upon. ³³ »They will beat and kill him. The third day he will rise.« ³⁴ They did not understand for the meaning was hidden from them. They could not perceive the things he said.

¹⁵ »I will give you ability to talk and words of wisdom, which your adversaries shall not be able to resist or refute.

²⁰ Then he took the cup saying: »This represents the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

²⁵ He said to them: »You are foolish men. You are slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ »Did the Christ need to suffer these things and enter into his glory?« ²⁷ He explained to them all the Scriptures about the things concerning him. He spoke about Moses and all the prophets.

⁴⁴ He said: »These are my words that I spoke to you, while I was yet with you. All things must be fulfilled. They are things that are written in the Law of Moses, and the Prophets, and the Psalms, concerning me.« ⁴⁵ He opened their minds that they might understand the scriptures. ⁴⁶ He said: »It is written that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day.

⁴⁹ »You see I send the promise of my Father upon you. You are to wait in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.«

¹⁴ The Word [Jesus] became flesh (a human being) and lived with us. We saw the glory of the only begotten son from the Father. He was full of loving-kindness and truth.

¹⁷ The law came through Moses. Loving-kindness and truth came through Jesus Christ.

²¹ »The Father raises the dead and gives them life. The Son also gives life to those he wills.

⁴⁵ »It is written in the prophets: Jehovah shall teach them all. Every one who hears the Father and has learned comes to me. (Jeremiah 31:34) ⁴⁶ »No one has seen the Father. Only he who is from God, He has seen the Father.

⁶³ »It is the spirit that gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I spoke to you are spirit and life.

³⁹ He spoke this by the Spirit. Those who believed in him were to receive the Spirit. The Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.

¹² Again Jesus spoke to them, saying: »I am the light of the world. He that follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.«

³² »You will know the truth and the truth will make you free!«

³⁹ Jesus said: »I came into the world for this judgment that those not seeing may see and those seeing may become blind.« ⁴⁰ Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him: »Are we also blind?« ⁴¹ Jesus replied: »If you were blind you would have no sin. But you say we see so your sin remains.«

²⁴ The Jews came to him and asked: »How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.«

⁴⁰ »He has blinded their eyes. He hardened their heart. Otherwise they would see with their eyes and perceive with their heart. Then they would turn and I would heal them.« ⁴¹ Isaiah said these things because he saw and spoke about his glory.

⁴⁶ »I have come as a light to the world. Everyone who believes in me will not remain in darkness.

⁵ »I am the vine and you are the branches. He that remains with me, and I with him, the same bears much fruit. You can do nothing apart from me.

²⁵ »I have spoken to you in figurative language (illustrations and proverbs). The hour comes when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language. I will tell you plainly from the Father.

²⁹ His disciples said: »See now you speak plainly and use no figurative language.

²⁴ »Father, I desire that these whom you gave me may be with me where I am. I want them to see the glory you have given me. For you loved me before the creation of the world.

¹⁷ »It will come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out from my Spirit upon all flesh. (Greek: apo, from) Your sons and your daughters will prophesy (proclaim God’s Word). Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. ¹⁸ »And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out (a portion from) (some of) my Spirit in those days and they will prophesy: (Joel 2:28)

³² »God resurrected Jesus and we all witnessed this! ³³ »He is exalted to the right hand of God. He has received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father. So he poured out what you now see and hear.

¹³ They observed the confidence of Peter and John. Yet they thought they were uneducated (not formally educated) and ordinary men. They were amazed and recognized them as having been with Jesus.

²⁹ »Now Jehovah behold their threats and grant that your servants keep speaking your word with boldness. ³⁰ »You extend your hand to heal and signs and wonders appear in the name of your holy servant Jesus.« ³¹ When they prayed, the place where they assembled together was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

²⁷ Barnabas led him to the apostles. He declared to them how he had seen the Lord in The Way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

²⁹ He spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He had a dispute with the Greek speaking Jews and they made attempts to kill him.

¹⁵ All who sat in the council looked intently at him and saw his face was like the face of an angel.

³ The apostles stayed there for a long time. They spoke boldly by the authority of God who proved that their message about his grace was true by giving them the power to perform miracles and wonders.

¹⁴ A woman named Lydia who was a seller of purple came from Thyatira. She worshipped God because God opened her heart to listen to the things spoken by Paul.

²⁷ When he decided to travel to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him. They wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he arrived he was a great help to those who by grace believed.

¹³ »At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven. It was brighter than the sun and shinned all around me. It also shinned around those who journeyed with me.

¹⁸ »To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. They may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

¹⁵ After the public reading of the law and the prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying: »You men and brothers if you have a message of encouragement for the people speak.«

²⁷ »The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not know Jesus. They fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath when they condemned Jesus. ²⁸ »They found no grounds for the death sentence for him. Yet they asked Pilate to put him to death. ²⁹ »When they had fulfilled all that was written about him, they took him down from the stake, and laid him in a tomb.

²⁶ He said, »Go and say to this people, ‘You will listen and listen, but not understand. You will look and look, but not see. ²⁷ ‘»These people have closed their mind and are hard of hearing. They have shut their eyes so that their eyes never see. Their ears never hear. Their minds never understand. They never turn to me for healing.’

⁵ Through whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, respecting his name.

⁸ First, I thank my God for all of you through Jesus Christ, for your faith is reported throughout the whole world.

¹⁷ It reveals the righteousness of God from faith-to-faith for it is written: »The righteous shall live by faith.« ¹⁸ The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

²⁷ The uncircumcised person is by nature, fulfilling the law. He will judge you because you transgress the law with your written code and circumcision. ²⁸ He is not a Jew who is one on the outside. Neither is circumcision that which is on the outside in the flesh. ²⁹ But he is a Jew who is so on the inside with circumcision of the heart, in spirit, not in letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

⁶ We have been discharged (released) from the law. We have died to that by which we were held. So we serve in newness of the Spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

⁹ I was alive apart from the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. ¹⁰ The commandment, which was to life, this I found to be to death.

¹⁰ The commandment, which was to life, this I found to be to death. ¹¹ For sin, finding occasion, through the commandment deceived me, and through it killed me. ¹² The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good. ¹³ Did that which is good become death to me? God forbid! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good. This way sin might be shown to be sin. Through the commandment sin could be recognized. ¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual. But I am fleshly and sold under sin.

²² My inner person delights in the law of God.

² The law of the Spirit gives us life through (with) (because of) Christ Jesus. It has set me free from the law of sin and death. ³ God did what the Law could not do, because human nature was weak. He sent his own son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering and do away with sin. So he condemned sin in sinful human nature. ⁴ God did this so that the righteous requirements of the Law might be fully satisfied in us who live according to the Spirit, and not according to human nature.

⁴ God did this so that the righteous requirements of the Law might be fully satisfied in us who live according to the Spirit, and not according to human nature.

⁷ This is because the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God. It is not subject to the law of God for it cannot be.

⁹ But you are not in flesh but in Spirit, if indeed God’s Spirit dwells in you. If any one does not have the Spirit of Christ he does not belong to him. ¹⁰ If Christ is with you, the body is dead on account of sin, but the Spirit is life on account of righteousness. ¹¹ If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from among the dead dwells with you, he who raised Christ from among the dead shall also make your mortal bodies alive. This is on account of his Spirit that dwells with you. ¹² So then, brothers we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to flesh (human nature), ¹³ for if you live according to flesh, you are about to die. If by the Spirit, you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you have not received a spirit of bondage again causing fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Father, Father! (Chaldee: Abba, meaning father). ¹⁶ The Spirit itself (Greek:autos ho pneuma) (itself the Spirit) bears witness with our spirit (mind and heart), that we are children of God.

²⁹ Those he first recognized, he ordained in advance that they be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

³ They are ignorant of God’s righteousness. They seek to establish their own righteousness and have not submitted to the righteousness of God. ⁴ Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who exerts active faith.

⁴ Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who exerts active faith. ⁵ Moses writes down the righteousness that is of the law. The man who has practiced those things shall live by them. ⁶ But the righteousness of faith speaks this way: »Do not say in your heart: ‘who will ascend to heaven? That is, to bring Christ down; ⁷ or »‘who will descend into the abyss? That is, to bring up Christ from among the dead.’« ⁸ But what does it say? »The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.« It is the »word« of faith, which we preach. (Deuteronomy 30:8-20) ⁹ If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and have active faith in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes for righteousness. And with the mouth one declares for salvation.

⁷ What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks. The chosen ones have obtained it, and the rest were blinded (rendered stupid) (hardened) (made insensitive). ⁸ It is written, »God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear to this very day.« (Deuteronomy 29:4) ⁹ David says, »Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and recompense to them. ¹⁰ »Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always.« (Psalm 69:23)

²³ If they do not continue in unbelief they will be grafted in. For God is able to graft them in again.

²⁵ I do not want you to be ignorant of this secret, lest you should be wise in your own conceits (estimation). Blindness has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the nations comes in.

²⁵ I do not want you to be ignorant of this secret, lest you should be wise in your own conceits (estimation). Blindness has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the nations comes in. ²⁶ In this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: The deliverer will come out of Zion and will remove ungodliness from Jacob. ²⁷ For this is my covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins.

² Do not be conformed to this world (religious, social, political, and economic arrangement). But be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Prove what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

³⁰ It is because of him you are united with Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

²⁰ No flesh will be justified before God by works of the law. Knowledge of sin comes from the law. ²¹ But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. ²² God makes people righteous through their active faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all who believe in Christ, because there is no difference at all.

¹¹ He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had while he was not circumcised. That way he could be the father of all those who believe, though they are not circumcised, that righteousness might be counted to them.

¹⁵ The law produces wrath (violent passion) (indignation). But where there is no law there is no sin.

¹⁷ It is written: »I have made you a father of many nations.« [This was] in the presence of God, the one in whom he believed. He gives life to the dead, and calls into being that which does not exist.

¹⁵ But the two are not the same, because God’s gift (spiritual endowment) is not like Adam’s sin. It is true that many people died because of the sin of that one man. But God’s grace is much greater, and so is his gift to so many people through the loving-kindness of the one man, Jesus Christ. ¹⁶ And there is a difference between God’s gift (spiritual endowment) and the sin of one man. After the one sin, came the guilty judgment; but after so many sins, comes the undeserved gift of righteousness. ¹⁷ It was by the transgression of the one that death ruled as king through that one. Even more so shall those who receive the abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, rule as kings in life by the one, Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ The result of one trespass was condemnation for all men. The result of righteousness was justification (acquittal), which brings life for all men. ¹⁹ Through the disobedience of one man many have been made sinners. Yet through the obedience of one man many will be made righteous. ²⁰ The law came that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased God’s loving kindness increased even more. ²¹ And what for? Just as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness to everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹⁴ Put on (live like) (clothe yourself with) the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not make provision for the desires of the flesh.

⁵ Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? ⁶ I have planted, Apollos watered; but God caused the growth.

¹⁰ According to the grace of God that is given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let every man take heed how he builds.

¹⁶ Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

¹⁵ Though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus I have given birth to you through the good news.

⁵ There are those called gods in heaven or on earth. There are many gods and many lords. ⁶ But to us there is but one God, the Father. All things come from him and we live for him. And there is one Lord Jesus Christ. All things were made through him and we were made through him. ⁷ Not all people know this. Some eat food offered to idols and their conscience being weak is defiled. ⁸ But food will not recommend us to God. If we do not eat we are not worse. If we eat we are not better. ⁹ Be careful that this freedom does not become a stumbling block to those who are weak. ¹⁰ If any man with knowledge sees you having a meal from an idol’s temple, will the conscience of the weak one be emboldened (encouraged) to eat food offered to idols?

¹ Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

²⁵ In the same manner, after supper, he took the cup, saying, »This cup represents (is) the new covenant of my blood. Drink this as often as you do it in remembrance of me.«

⁴ There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are different operations, but it is the same God who works in all. ⁷ The manifestation (expression) of the Spirit is given to everyone for a beneficial purpose. ⁸ For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; ⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the one Spirit; ¹⁰ To another the workings of miracles and to another prophesy. To another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But in all these the same Spirit works, making a distribution to each one as he (God) wills.

²⁸ God has appointed some in the congregation: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helpers, abilities to direct, different tongues.

¹⁰ When the perfect comes, the partial (imperfect) (incomplete) will be done away.

¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, and then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

¹⁹ Yet in the congregation I would rather speak five words with my understanding than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

¹⁰ By the divine influence of God I am what I am. His grace was not given to me in vain for I labored more than all of them. Yet it was not I. It was the divine influence and favor of God in me.

¹⁴ Thanks to God, who always leads us in triumph (triumphal procession) in Christ. He makes known through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place.

¹⁶ To the one an aroma of death leading to death and to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is sufficient for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not as the many, corrupting the word of God; but sincere and from God. We speak in Christ in the sight of God.

³ It is known that you are a letter of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is not written on tablets of stone, but on tablets of flesh that are of the heart.

⁶ He also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant. This is a covenant not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

⁶ He also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant. This is a covenant not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. ⁷ The ministry of death was written and engraved on stones. Glory came with it so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly upon the face of Moses. And this glory was passing away.

⁷ The ministry of death was written and engraved on stones. Glory came with it so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly upon the face of Moses. And this glory was passing away.

⁹ For if the ministry of condemnation has glory then the ministry of righteousness would exceed in glory.

⁹ For if the ministry of condemnation has glory then the ministry of righteousness would exceed in glory. ¹⁰ Even what was glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the greater glory. ¹¹ If that which passes away was with glory, that which remains is even more glorious.

¹³ We are not like Moses, who put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look steadily on the end of that which was passing away: ¹⁴ Their minds were blinded. Until this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It is not revealed to them that Christ voided it.

¹⁴ Their minds were blinded. Until this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It is not revealed to them that Christ voided it.

¹⁷ Now God is the Spirit and where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty (freedom).

¹ We have this ministry to do, even as we obtained mercy, we do not lose heart. ² We have renounced the hidden things of shame. And we do not walk in craftiness and deceit. We do not adulterate the word of God. But by the manifestation of the truth we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. ³ If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who perish.

³ If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who perish. ⁴ The god of this age (world) (religious, social, political, and economic arrangement) has blinded the minds of unbelievers that the light of the good news of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine on them.

⁴ The god of this age (world) (religious, social, political, and economic arrangement) has blinded the minds of unbelievers that the light of the good news of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine on them.

⁶ God said: Light will shine out of darkness. He shined in our hearts. He gave the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face (presence) ((person) of Jesus Christ. ⁷ We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the power beyond what is normal may be from God, and not from ourselves.

¹³ But having the same spirit (attitude) of faith, according to that which is written, I believe, and therefore I speak. We also believe, and therefore we also speak.

¹² We are not again commending ourselves to you. But we are giving you an occasion to be proud of us. That way you may have an answer for those who glory in appearance, and not in heart.

¹⁷ If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things have passed away. Behold, they have become new. ¹⁸ All things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ. He gave the ministry of reconciliation to us. ¹⁹ God was reconciling the world to himself through Christ. He was not imputing their trespasses against them, for he had committed the word of reconciliation to us. ²⁰ We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making entreaty through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ that you be reconciled to God. ²¹ He made the one who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf. That way we might become the righteousness of God in him.

¹⁶ And what agreement does a temple of God have with idols? We are the temple of the living God. God said: I will dwell in them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Leviticus 26:12) (Zechariah 8:8)

³ I say it not to condemn you: for I have said before, that you are in our hearts to die together and live together. ⁴ Great is my confidence in you. Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in our entire affliction.

² If I am not an apostle to others, I most certainly am to you, for you are the seal (stamp) (proof) of my apostleship in the Lord.

³³ Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.

⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars. For one star differs from another star in glory.

⁴⁵ Thus it is written: »The first man Adam was made a living being.« The last Adam became a life giving spirit!

⁴⁹ And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

³ When I come, whomever you approve by your letters, I will send to bring your gift to Jerusalem.

¹ Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you.

⁸ I should boast a great deal concerning the authority the Lord gave us to build you up, and not to tear you down, I would not be put to shame.

¹² For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves. But they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves. They are without understanding.

⁴ If someone comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different good news, which you did not accept, you do well to put up with him.

¹¹ Why? Is it because I do not love you? God knows I do!

² I want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law, or by having faith in what you heard? ³ Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now made perfect (mature) in the flesh? ⁴ Did you suffer so many things in vain? Does it have no purpose? ⁵ He that provides the Spirit, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

¹⁰ Those who are of the works of the Law are under a curse. For it is written, »Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, by obeying them.«

¹⁰ Those who are of the works of the Law are under a curse. For it is written, »Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, by obeying them.« ¹¹ The fact that the Law justifies no man before God is evident. The righteous will live by faith. ¹² The Law is not based on faith. »He that does them will live by them.«

¹⁴ This way the blessing of Abraham might come upon the nations through Christ Jesus and we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

²¹ Is the Law then against the promises of God? God forbid! If a law had been given which could impart life, righteousness would have been from the Law.

²³ But before faith came the Law held us in custody. We were locked up until faith was revealed. ²⁴ The Law was our schoolmaster (Greek: paedagogue: a combination of schoolmaster, instructor, servant and guardian in charge of us) to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

⁶ Because you are sons, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

¹ Christ liberated us for freedom (moral liberty). Stand fast therefore, and do not become entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

⁴ You who seek to be righteous by Law are separated from Christ. You have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.

⁵ For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.

¹³ For you brothers, were called for freedom; only do not use your freedom for an occasion to the flesh. Serve one another through love!

²² The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, ²³ meekness (mildness), self-control; against such there is no law.

¹⁵ For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision anything, but a new creature is.

¹⁷ May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit (mental disposition) of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. ¹⁸ Have the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know the hope of his calling, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the holy ones, ¹⁹ and what the exceeding greatness of his power is toward us who believe, according to the operation of his mighty strength. ²⁰ He operated in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places.

¹ You were once dead because of your trespasses and sins.

⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. For by grace (loving-kindness) you have been saved.

¹⁴ For he is our peace, who made both (Jews and Gentiles) one, and broke down the middle barrier of partition. ¹⁵ Christ abolished in his flesh the enmity (ill will), which the law of commandments contained in ordinances. That [way] he might create one new man, out of the two, with himself establishing peace.

¹⁸ We both have access to the Father by one Spirit through him.

⁷ I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me according to the working of his power.

¹² We have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.

¹¹ He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers. ¹² This is for the perfecting (equipping) (preparing) of the holy ones, for the work of ministering, for the building up of the body of Christ:

²² You put away your former way (course) (behavior) (conversation) of life, the old self that was corrupt with the lusts of deceit. ²³ You are renewed in the spirit (vital principles) (attitude) of your mind (understanding). ²⁴ Put on the new man, that in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

⁷ Things that offered gain to me I count a loss for Christ. ⁸ I count all things to be loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. I suffered the loss of all things. Yet I count them as refuse (garbage) (dung) that I may gain Christ. ⁹ I want to be united with him. I no longer want a righteousness of my own that is gained by obeying the law. The righteousness from God is by faith in Christ.

¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

⁹ He told me: »My grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in weakness.« Most gladly therefore, I would rather glory in my infirmities (frailities), that the power of Christ may rest upon me (cover me like a tent) (descend upon me) (abide with me). (Isaiah 40:29-31)

¹¹ I have become a fool in boasting. You have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended about you: for in nothing am I inferior to the most prominent apostles, though I am nothing.

¹⁵ I will gladly spend and be spent for you. When I love you more abundantly should I be loved less.

¹⁹ Do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for you’re up building.

¹⁹ Pray on my behalf, that ability to speak may be given to me, to make known with boldness the secret of the good news. ²⁰ I am an ambassador in chains who should speak boldly.

⁶ I am confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ. ⁷ It is right for me to feel this way on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart. Both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the good news you are all partakers with me of grace.

²⁰ I will not be put to shame according to my earnest expectation and hope. With all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in me, whether by life or by death.

¹³ It is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

²⁵ God gave me this stewardship to perform for your good. He has made me a servant of the congregation. It is for the task of fully proclaiming the word of God. ²⁶ It is the secret he hid through all past ages from all human beings but has now revealed to his holy ones. ²⁷ It was God’s will to make known his secret to the people of the nations, this rich and glorious secret that he has for people. The secret is that Christ is in union with you, which means that you will share in his glory. ²⁸ We preach Christ to everyone. With all possible wisdom we warn and teach them in order to bring each one to God as a mature individual in union with Christ. ²⁹ I work hard to get this done. I use the mighty strength Christ supplies. It is at work in me.

¹⁷ They are a shadow of the things to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

¹⁰ You put on the new self that is being renewed to a true knowledge (full discernment) according to the image of the one who created him.

⁴ Let me make it known, as I ought to speak.

⁸ For not only did the message about God go out from you throughout Macedonia and Achaia, but the news about your faith in God has gone everywhere. There is nothing that we need to say. ⁹ All those people speak about how you received us when we visited you, and how you turned away from idols to God, to serve the true and living God,

² After we suffered and were mistreated in Philippi, we had the boldness (confidence) in our God to speak the good news of God to you amid much opposition.

¹³ We always have to thank God for you, brothers. Jehovah loves you and we thank God that in the beginning he chose you to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

⁶ If you tell the brothers about these things, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed until now.

⁷ God has not given us a spirit of timidity (fear), but of power and love and discipline.

¹¹ I was appointed to be a messenger of this good news, an apostle, and a teacher.

⁵ Indeed Moses was faithful in His house, as a ministering servant, for a testimony of the things to be spoken afterwards. ⁶ Christ was faithful as a Son over God’s house. We are His house if we hold on to our courage (confidence) and rejoice (speak boldly) about our hope until the end.

¹¹ Sound teaching (doctrine) is according to the good news of the glory of the blessed (happy) God. This was committed to my trust.

¹¹ Sound teaching (doctrine) is according to the good news of the glory of the blessed (happy) God. This was committed to my trust. ¹² I thank him that enabled me and counted me faithful, appointing me to his service, Christ Jesus our Lord.

¹³ For they that have served well as servants gain to themselves a good standing and great confidence (boldness of speech) in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

⁵ not by works done in righteousness, which we did, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration (restoration) (spiritual rebirth) and renewing (renovation) of the Holy Spirit.

²¹ He became a priest with an oath when God said to him: »Jehovah has sworn and he will feel no regret, you are a priest forever.« (Psalm 110:4) ²² Jesus became the guarantee of a better covenant.

²² Jesus became the guarantee of a better covenant. ²³ There have been many priests. This is because they have been prevented from continuing by death. ²⁴ He continues forever and therefore has his priesthood without change. ²⁵ He is able to save completely those who approach God through him, because he is always alive to intercede for them.

⁶ Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry. The covenant that he arranged between God and his people is a better one, because it is based on promises of better things. ⁷ If there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would not have been a need for a second one. ⁸ God finds fault with his people and said to them: »‘The time is coming,’ says Jehovah, ‘when I will draw up a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. (Jeremiah 31:31) ⁹ »‘It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. They were not faithful to the covenant I made with them, and so I paid no attention to them. ¹⁰ »‘This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ said Jehovah: ‘I will put my teachings (laws) in their mind, I will write them upon their hearts (deep thought) (understanding). I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Jeremiah 31:32)

¹⁰ »‘This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ said Jehovah: ‘I will put my teachings (laws) in their mind, I will write them upon their hearts (deep thought) (understanding). I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Jeremiah 31:32)

¹³ By calling this covenant »new,« he has made the first one old (obsolete). That which grows old and aged will soon disappear.

⁴ It had a golden incense burner. The Ark of the Covenant was completely covered with gold. It contained the golden pot that had the manna, and the rod of Aaron that had sprouted, and the tables of the covenant.

¹⁴ The blood of Christ did even more. Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself without blemish to God and cleansed your conscience from dead works. Now we can serve (worship) the living God. ¹⁵ For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant. A death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant. Those called may receive the promise of everlasting inheritance. ¹⁶ A will is used for a person who is dead. It becomes effective only when the person dies. ¹⁷ A will is in force after a person dies. Otherwise it is not in effect at all while the one who provided it lives. ¹⁸ The first covenant was dedicated with blood. ¹⁹ When Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, ²⁰ He said: »This is the blood of the covenant that God has presented to you.«

¹ The Law is a shadow of the good things to come. It is not the actual things. The continual yearly sacrifices can never make those who worship perfect. ² If it could, it would cease to be offered. Once the worshipers were cleansed they would have no awareness of sin anymore. ³ These sacrifices are an annual reminder of sin. ⁴ It is not possible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take away sins. ⁵ When Christ came into the world he said: »‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but you have prepared a body for me. ⁶ »‘You have no pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.’ ⁷ »Then I said: ‘I have come in the scroll of the book. It is written about me, to do your will, O God.’« ⁸ Then he said: »You did not want nor did you approve of sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin;« which are offered by the Law. ⁹ He also said: »I come to do your will, O God.« He takes away the first in order to establish the second.

¹⁶ »‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,’ says Jehovah; ‘I will put my laws in their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.’ (Jeremiah 31:33)

¹⁸ You have not come to a mountain that can be touched, to Mount Sinai with its blazing fire, the darkness and the gloom, the storm. ¹⁹ You have not come to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of a voice. When the people heard the voice, they begged not to hear another word. ²⁰ They could not bear the order: »If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.« ²¹ The sight was so terrible (formidable) (fearful) that Moses said: »I am full of fear and trembling.«

²⁴ You have come to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks in a better way than the blood of Abel. ²⁵ Be careful, then, and do not refuse to hear him who speaks. Those who refused to hear the one who gave the divine message on earth did not escape. How much less shall we escape then, if we turn away from the one who speaks from heaven! ²⁶ His voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised: »I will once more shake not only the earth but also heaven.« ²⁷ The words »once more« plainly show that the created things will be shaken and removed, so that the things that cannot be shaken will remain. ²⁸ Let us be thankful, because we will receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Let us be grateful and worship (serve) (intensely adore) God in a way that will please him, with reverence and awe. ²⁹ Our God is a destroying (consuming) fire.

²⁰ Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus,

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. It comes down from the Father of lights (truth and spiritual purity), with whom there is no variation. He does not change like shifting shadows.

² You who are chosen and foreknown by God the Father. You have been sanctified by the Spirit to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood. Grace and peace be greatly increased to you.

⁶ Include self-control with your knowledge. Supply patience to your self-control. Your patience should be helped by godliness. ⁷ Add brotherly kindness to your godliness. And to your brotherly kindness add love. ⁸ For if these things are yours and abound in you they will keep you from being inactive or unfruitful regarding the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For he who lacks these qualities is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.

¹⁷ He received honor and glory from God the Father when he heard the voice from the Majestic Glory: »This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.«

¹ We have heard that which was from the beginning. We have also seen it with our own eyes. We looked at it and touched it with our hands. It is the Word of life.

²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror.

¹⁸ Because Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.

¹ Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God, and of our Savior Jesus Christ:

⁵ Yes, for this very reason you do your part with all diligence. Supply virtue to your faith. Add knowledge to your virtue.

¹⁹ These cause divisions; they are sensual (worldly-minded) persons not having the Spirit. ²⁰ You, beloved, build yourself up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.

¹ »To the angel of the congregation of Ephesus write: The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands, says:

⁸ »To the angel of the congregation in Smyrna write: This is the message from the one who is the 'First and the Last', who died and came to life again.

¹² »To the angel of the congregation in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword:

¹⁸ »To the angel of the congregation in Thyatira write: This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes blaze like fire, whose feet shine like polished brass.

¹ »To the angel of the congregation in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things: 'I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, and you are [really] dead.

⁷ »To the angel of the congregation in Philadelphia write: He says these things. He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens.

¹⁴ »'To the angel of the congregation in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation says this:

²² »'He who can hear let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregations.'«

²³ The city did not need the sun or the moon to shine on it. For the glory of God and of the Lamb was its light. ²⁴ The nations will walk by means of its light. The kings of the earth bring their glory into it.

⁵ There will be no night there. They need no lamp, neither light of the sun, for Jehovah God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.