Philippians 1 Cross References - Riverside

¹ PAUL and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the Holy in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with Bishops and Deacons: ² Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ I thank my God for all your remembrance of me, ⁴ always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy ⁵ for your fellowship in spreading the good news from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun the good work in you will carry it on to completion on the day of Christ Jesus. ⁷ So it is right for me to think of you all, because you have me in your hearts, and in my chains and in my defense and in establishing the good news you are all sharers in my privilege. ⁸ For God is my witness how much I long for you all in the affections of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And this is my prayer that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and all insight, ¹⁰ so that you may discriminate between the things that differ, that you may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of knowledge through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. ¹² I wish you to know, brethren, that my affairs have turned out rather to the furtherance of the good news, ¹³ so that my chains have become well known as for Christ to the whole Praetorian Guard and to all the rest, ¹⁴ and the most of the brethren in the Lord, made confident by my chains, are unusually brave in speaking the message fearlessly. ¹⁵ Some indeed proclaim Christ because of envy and rivalry, some also because of good will. ¹⁶ Some announce Christ from love, knowing that I am placed for the defense of the good news, ¹⁷ but others out of partisanship, thinking to add distress to my chains. ¹⁸ What then? Still in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed and in that I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. ¹⁹ For I know that this will make for my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰ according to my earnest expectation and hope that I may be put to shame in nothing, but with all courage, as always, so now Christ may be honored in my body, whether by my life or by my death. ²¹ For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful work for me. I know not which to choose. ²³ I am under pressure both ways, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for it is far better, ²⁴ yet that I should stay in the flesh is more needful on your account. ²⁵ And this I confidently know, that I shall stay and stay near you all for your advancement and joy of faith, ²⁶ that your exultation in Christ Jesus may overflow on my account, because of my presence again with you. ²⁷ Only exercise your citizenship in a manner worthy of the good news of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or in absence hear news of you, I may know that you are standing in one spirit, with one mind wrestling in the faith of the good news ²⁸ and not frightened in anything by your adversaries, which for them is a sign of ruin, but for you of salvation, and that from God; ²⁹ because it has been graciously allowed you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for his sake, ³⁰ and you have the same struggle that you saw in me and now hear of in me.

¹⁰ "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness! For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and say every evil thing against you falsely for my sake! ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for your reward is great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

¹⁶ So let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

²⁸ Do not fear before those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

²⁵ But he knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desolation, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.

³¹ Another illustration he put before them. He said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. ³² It is the least of all the seeds, but when it grows up it is greater than the garden herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and live in its branches." ³³ Another illustration he spoke to them. "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour until it was all leavened."

¹⁷ Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood have not revealed it to you, but my Father in heaven.

²³ But he, turning, said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan; you are a snare to me, for you are not thinking God's thoughts, but men's."

⁶ and whoever causes one of these little ones that believe in me to stumble, it were better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and be cast into the depths of the lake. ⁷ Alas for the world because of the occasions of stumbling! It must be that such occasions come, but alas for the man through whom any one is tripped up!

⁵ All their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and make their tassels large.

¹³ "But alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you shut the kingdom of heaven before men. You yourselves do not enter nor do you permit those who are entering to go in.

³³ Peter answered him, "Though all stumble and fail you, I never will stumble and fail."

³⁸ John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name — a man who does not follow us — and we told him not to do it, because he does not follow us." ³⁹ Jesus said, "Do not tell him not to do it. For no one who does a miracle in my name can quickly speak evil of me. ⁴⁰ For whoever is not against us is for us.

⁴⁰ They eat up widows' houses and hypocritically make long prayers. These men will receive a severer condemnation."

³⁴ It is just as when a man going abroad leaves his house and gives to his servants authority and to each his work and commands the porter to watch.

⁷⁴ To grant that we, saved from the hands of our enemies, may serve him Without fear

⁷⁸ Through the tender compassion of our God, With which the sunrise from on high will shine upon us;

²⁹ "Now, O Lord, thou art letting thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. ³⁰ For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

⁶ and all men shall see the salvation of God."

³⁸ The man from whom the demons had gone out begged him to let him be with him. But he sent him away, saying,

⁴⁵ But they did not understand this remark, and it was hidden from them so that they did not take it in, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him, for he who is not against you is for you."

⁴ I tell you, my friends, never fear those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they can do. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear. Fear him who, after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I say, fear him. ⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. ⁷ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Never fear; you are worth more than many sparrows.

⁵⁰ I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I distressed until it is accomplished!

⁶ He gave this illustration: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard and came looking for fruit on it and found none. ⁷ He said to the gardener, 'See, three years I have been coming, looking for fruit on this fig tree, and I do not find any. Gut it down. Why should we waste land for it?' ⁸ But he answered him, 'Leave it this year too, Sir, until I dig around it and throw on manure. ⁹ Then, if it yields fruit in the future, all right. But if not, then you shall cut it down.'

⁷ I tell you there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner whose heart is changed than over ninety-nine righteous men who have no need to change.

¹⁰ So I tell you there springs joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner whose heart is changed."

¹² Before all these things they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors because of my name. ¹³ It will turn out your opportunity for testimony. ¹⁴ Settle it, then, in your hearts not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves.

¹⁴ Settle it, then, in your hearts not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves. ¹⁵ For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your opponents will be unable to resist or reply to. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death ¹⁷ and you will be hated by all on account of my name. ¹⁸ Yet not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹ By your endurance you will win your lives.

³² But I have prayed for thee that thy faith may not fail. And when you come back to yourself, strengthen your brothers."

⁴³ Jesus said to him, "I tell you truly to-day you will be with me in Paradise."

¹² All who received him — to them he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, ¹³ who were born not of blood nor of the will of flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said, "See, here is a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit."

²⁰ Every one who is doing base things hates the Light and does not come to the Light, that his deeds may not be reproved.

²⁹ Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, to believe in him whom he has sent."

⁴⁴ No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the prophets, 'They will all be taught by God.' Every one who has heard from the Father and has learned comes to me.

²⁶ If any one is serving me, let him follow me and where I am there my servant shall be. If any one is serving me, him my Father will honor. ²⁷ Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this I have come to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify thy name!" There came a voice from heaven, "I have glorified it and will again glorify it."

¹ BEFORE the Feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world loved them to the end.

³ For I am going to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every one that bears fruit he cleanses, that it may bear more fruit.

⁴ Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him — he bears much fruit; but without me you cannot do anything.

⁸ By this is my Father glorified — by your bearing much fruit and becoming my disciples.

¹⁶ It was not you who chose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.

⁷ I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I should go away. For unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

²² And you have grief now, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

²⁴ So far you have asked for nothing in my name; ask and you will obtain, that your joy may be made full.

³³ I have spoken these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you have distress. But he courageous. I have conquered the world."

²⁰ "I pray not for them alone, but also for those who believe in me through their word, ²¹ that all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me and I in thee, that they may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou didst send me.

²⁴ Father, those thou didst give me — I will that they also may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which thou hast given me, for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

¹⁵ When they had breakfasted, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Master, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." ¹⁶ He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Master, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Shepherd my sheep." ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Master, you know all things. You know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.

¹⁹ This he said, indicating the kind of death by which he would glorify God. After saying this he said to him, "Follow me."

²⁰ For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his dwelling become desolate and let there be no one living in it,' and, 'His overseership let another take.'

⁴² These gave constant attention to the teaching of the apostles and to the fellowship and the breaking of bread and the prayers.

⁴⁶ Every day, continuing with one accord in the Temple courts and in breaking bread from house to house, they ate together in joy and simplicity of heart,

¹⁷ "Now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as also your rulers did.

¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves. ²⁰ We, for our part, cannot refrain from saying what we have seen and heard." ²¹ The Council after further threats set them at liberty, not finding any way to punish them on account of the people; for all were giving glory to God because of what had happened. ²² For the man upon whom this miracle of healing had been performed was more than forty years old. ²³ The apostles upon being released came to their friends and told them all that the high priests and the elders had said. ²⁴ They hearing it unitedly lifted up their prayer to God and said, "O Lord, thou who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea and all things that are in them, ²⁵ who through the Holy Spirit by the mouth of our father David, thy servant, didst say, 'Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine vain things? ²⁶ The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers are gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ' — ²⁷ for truly in this city Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered against thy holy servant Jesus, ²⁸ to do all that thy hands and thy will had predetermined should take place — ²⁹ now, Lord, look upon their threats and enable thy servants to speak thy message with all fearlessness, ³⁰ while thou dost stretch out thine hand for healing and while signs and wonders are done through the name of thy holy servant Jesus." ³¹ After this prayer the place in which they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the message of God with courageous freedom. ³² The multitude of those who had believed was of one heart and one soul, and no one said that any part of his property was his own, but they had all things in common.

⁴⁰ They were persuaded by him. So they called in the apostles and gave them a flogging and ordered them not to go on speaking in the name of Jesus, and then set them at liberty; ⁴¹ but they went away from before the Council rejoicing because they were thought worthy to be put to shame for the Name.

⁴¹ but they went away from before the Council rejoicing because they were thought worthy to be put to shame for the Name. ⁴² And every day in the Temple courts and from house to house they unceasingly taught and told the good news of Jesus the Christ.

⁴² And every day in the Temple courts and from house to house they unceasingly taught and told the good news of Jesus the Christ.

¹ IN those days, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Greek-speaking Jews began to grumble at the Hebrew Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily service. ² Then the twelve called the body of disciples together and said, "We do not wish to leave the message of God and wait on tables. ³ Therefore, brethren, pick out seven men from among you, men of reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them to look after this need. ⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the message." ⁵ This proposal pleased the whole body. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch. ⁶ These they presented before the apostles, who after prayer laid their hands upon them. ⁷ The message of God continued to spread and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and even a great body of the priests were obedient to the faith.

⁵⁹ They stoned Stephen as he was praying and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

⁴ Those who were scattered went to various places telling the good news. ⁵ Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.

³⁵ Philip opened his mouth and beginning with that Scripture told him the good news about Jesus.

¹³ Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard about this man from many people — how many wicked things he has done to thy holy ones in Jerusalem,

²⁰ and at once he began to proclaim in the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God.

³⁶ As to the message which he sent to the children of Israel telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ — who is Lord of all —

¹⁸ On hearing this they ceased their criticism and gave glory to God, saying, "Then even to the Gentiles God has granted the change of heart that leads to life." ¹⁹ Those who were scattered abroad by the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen went as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message to none but Jews. ²⁰ Some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, and they on reaching Antioch spoke also to the Greeks, telling them the good news of the Lord Jesus.

²⁰ Some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, and they on reaching Antioch spoke also to the Greeks, telling them the good news of the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number believed and turned to the Lord.

²³ When he arrived and saw the grace of God he was delighted, and he encouraged all to be firmly faithful to the Lord.

³⁹ Yes, every one who believes in him is cleared from all the sins from which you could not be cleared by the Law of Moses.

²² reassuring the minds of the disciples and encouraging them to be steadfast in the faith, saying, "Through many trials we must enter into the kingdom of God."

²⁷ Upon their arrival they assembled the church and narrated all that God, working with them, had done, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

¹ THEY came to Derbe and Lystra. At Lystra there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman, who was a believer, and of a Greek father. ² He had a good reputation among the brethren in Lystra and Iconium. ³ Paul wished to have Timothy go with him. So he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts. For they all knew that his father was a Greek.

⁷ Upon reaching Mysia they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

¹² From there we went to Philippi, which is the first city of that part of Macedonia and is a Roman colony. We remained in that city for a number of days.

¹² From there we went to Philippi, which is the first city of that part of Macedonia and is a Roman colony. We remained in that city for a number of days. ¹³ On the Sabbath day we went outside of the gate to a place on the riverside where it was customary to go for prayer, and we sat down and talked with the women who had gathered there.

¹³ On the Sabbath day we went outside of the gate to a place on the riverside where it was customary to go for prayer, and we sat down and talked with the women who had gathered there. ¹⁴ One woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple, from the city of Thyatira, who reverenced God, was listening. God opened her heart to receive what was said by Paul.

¹⁴ One woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple, from the city of Thyatira, who reverenced God, was listening. God opened her heart to receive what was said by Paul.

¹⁴ One woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple, from the city of Thyatira, who reverenced God, was listening. God opened her heart to receive what was said by Paul. ¹⁵ When she had been baptized along with her household, she begged us, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay," and she insisted on our doing so.

¹⁵ When she had been baptized along with her household, she begged us, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay," and she insisted on our doing so. ¹⁶ It so happened that as we were going to the place of prayer a certain slave girl who had a spirit of divination met us. She was bringing great gain to her masters by divining. ¹⁷ She followed Paul and us and kept calling out, "These men are servants of God Most High, and they are teaching you the way of salvation." ¹⁸ This she kept doing for many days. Paul was annoyed, and turning he said to the spirit, "I tell you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her," and it came out at that very moment. ¹⁹ When her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them into the public square before the authorities. ²⁰ Bringing them in, they said to the magistrates, "These men, who are Jews, are disturbing our city ²¹ and teaching customs which it is not proper for us, who are Romans, to receive or practice." ²² The crowd joined in the attack upon them, and the magistrates tore off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. ²³ After laying many stripes upon them they cast them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them securely.

²³ After laying many stripes upon them they cast them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them securely. ²⁴ He on receiving such an order thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet secure in the stocks.

²⁴ He on receiving such an order thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet secure in the stocks. ²⁵ But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.

²⁵ But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. ²⁶ Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors were opened and every one's fetters were loosed. ²⁷ The jailer, waking from sleep and seeing the doors of the prison open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul said with a loud voice, "Do no harm to yourself, for we are all here." ²⁹ Calling for a light he sprang in and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas, ³⁰ and led them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" ³¹ They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, and your household," ³² and they told the message of God to him and to all who were in his house. ³³ He took them at that hour of the night and washed their stripes. Then he was baptized, he and all of his household, immediately. ³⁴ He brought them into his house and spread the table for them, and rejoiced with his whole family because he had believed in God. ³⁵ When morning came the magistrates sent their orderlies to say, "Set those men at liberty." ³⁶ The jailer told this order to Paul, "The magistrates have sent to have you set at liberty. Now go out and proceed on your journey in peace." ³⁷ But Paul said to them, "After beating us publicly and without a trial, although we are Romans, they cast us into prison. And are they now sending us out secretly? No, let them come themselves and lead us out." ³⁸ The orderlies reported these words to the magistrates. When they heard that they were Romans they were alarmed, ³⁹ and came and begged them, and after leading them out requested them to leave the city. ⁴⁰ They came out of the prison and went into Lydia's house, and after seeing and encouraging the brethren they departed.

²³ except that the Holy Spirit testifies from city to city that chains and trials are waiting for me.

²³ except that the Holy Spirit testifies from city to city that chains and trials are waiting for me. ²⁴ But I do not hold my life as of any account if only I may finish my race and the service which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of the grace of God.

²⁴ But I do not hold my life as of any account if only I may finish my race and the service which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of the grace of God. ²⁵ And now I know that you all, among whom I have gone about heralding the kingdom, will never see my face again.

²⁸ "Be watchful of yourselves and of all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has placed you as overseers. Shepherd the church of God which he bought with his own blood. ²⁹ I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ And from among yourselves men will arise speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after themselves. ³¹ Therefore watch, remembering that for three years I never ceased night nor day to exhort each one of you with tears.

¹¹ He came to see us, and took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So will the Jews in Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.' " ¹² When we heard this, both we and the residents there begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Paul answered, "What are you accomplishing by weeping and breaking my heart? For I hold myself ready not only to be bound, but to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

¹³ Paul answered, "What are you accomplishing by weeping and breaking my heart? For I hold myself ready not only to be bound, but to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

²⁸ shouting, "Men of Israel, help. This is the man who teaches everybody everywhere against our people and the Law and this place, and moreover, he has brought Greeks into the Temple courts and has desecrated this holy place." ²⁹ For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul, and they thought that he had brought him into the Temple courts. ³⁰ The whole city was excited and the people rushed together. Seizing Paul, they drew him out of the Temple courts, and immediately the gates were closed. ³¹ As they were trying to kill him, word went up to the Tribune of the battalion that all Jerusalem was in commotion. ³² He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to the people. They, on seeing the Tribune and the soldiers, stopped beating Paul. ³³ Then the Tribune coming up arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done.

³³ Then the Tribune coming up arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done. ³⁴ Some called out one thing and some another in the crowd. Not being able to find out anything for certain on account of the confusion, he ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. ³⁵ When Paul got upon the stairs, it so happened that he was being carried by the soldiers on account of the violence of the mob. ³⁶ For the crowd of people was following and shouting, "Kill him!"

¹ "BRETHREN and Fathers, listen to the defense I now make to you."

¹ "BRETHREN and Fathers, listen to the defense I now make to you." ² Hearing him speaking to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more quiet. He continued: ³ "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel in exact knowledge of our ancestral Law, and I was zealous for God as you all are to-day. ⁴ I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prison both men and women, ⁵ as the High Priest and all the eldership can testify for me. From them I received letters to the brethren and was journeying to Damascus in order to bring back in chains to Jerusalem for punishment those who had gone there. ⁶ It happened that as I was journeying and nearing Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light flashed from heaven around me. ⁷ I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' ⁸ I asked, 'Who is speaking?' He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' ⁹ My companions saw the light, but did not hear the voice of him who spoke to me. ¹⁰ I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' The Lord said to me, 'Rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all that it has been appointed for you to do.' ¹¹ Since I could not see, owing to the brightness of that light, my companions led me by the hand, and so I entered Damascus. ¹² "Then a man named Ananias, a strict observer of the Law and highly esteemed by all the Jews who lived there, ¹³ came to see me and stood by me and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight,' and I, at that moment, could see him. ¹⁴ He said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One and to hear the voice from his mouth, ¹⁵ for you shall be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now why delay? Rise, be baptized and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.' ¹⁷ "After I had returned to Jerusalem, and was praying in the Temple courts, I fell into a trance ¹⁸ and saw Jesus saying to me, 'Hasten and depart quickly from Jerusalem, for they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' ¹⁹ But I said, 'Lord, they know that I used to imprison and beat from synagogue to synagogue those who believe in thee, ²⁰ and when the blood of Stephen thy martyr was shed I myself was standing by and approving it, and taking care of the cloaks of those who were putting him to death.' ²¹ But he said to me, 'Go, for I will send you far away to Gentiles.' ²² They listened up to this point, but now they broke out, shouting, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! He ought never to have lived!" ²³ While they were shouting and rending their garments and throwing dust into the air, ²⁴ the Tribune ordered him to be led into the barracks and directed that he should be examined with the lash, so that he might know for what crime they were shouting so against him. ²⁵ When they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to the Centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and without a trial?" ²⁶ On hearing that, the Centurion went to the Tribune and told him," What are you going to do? For this man is a Roman." ²⁷ Then the Tribune came to him and said, "Tell me; are you a Roman?" He said, "Yes." ²⁸ The Tribune said, "I obtained this citizenship by paying a great sum of money." Paul said, "But I was born to it." ²⁹ At once those who were about to examine him went away from him, and the Tribune was alarmed when he learned that he was a Roman, because he had chained him. ³⁰ On the next day, wishing to know certainly why he was accused by the Jews, the Tribune loosed Paul and ordered the high priests and all the Council to assemble, and brought Paul down and stood him before them.

¹⁶ And in this I take pains, to have always a clear conscience toward God and toward men.

²⁴ After some days Felix came with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him regarding faith in Christ Jesus.

¹ AGRIPPA said to Paul, "You are at liberty to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

²⁴ While Paul was thus defending himself, Festus said loudly, "You are raving, Paul. Much learning is driving you insane."

²⁹ Paul said, "I would to God that whether with little or with much, not only you, but all who hear me this day, would become such as I am — except for these chains."

³¹ and after withdrawing they said to one another, "This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains."

¹ WHEN we were safe ashore, we found that the island was called Melita. ² The foreign people showed us uncommon kindness. For they kindled a fire and welcomed us all because of the rain that was falling and the cold. ³ Paul had collected a bundle of sticks and laid it on the fire, when a snake came out of the heat and fastened on his hand. ⁴ When the foreigners saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "Certainly this man is a murderer, whom, although he has escaped the sea, Justice does not permit to live." ⁵ He however shook off the creature into the fire and felt no harm. ⁶ They kept watching to see him swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after watching a long time and seeing nothing amiss happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. ⁷ In the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the Governor of the island, whose name was Publius. He welcomed us and for three days hospitably entertained us. ⁸ It happened that the father of Publius was lying ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and prayed and laid his hands on him and healed him. ⁹ After this happened, the rest in the island who had infirmities came also and were healed. ¹⁰ They bestowed many honors on us and when we sailed they put on board supplies for our needs. ¹¹ After three months we sailed in a ship that had wintered in the island. She was from Alexandria and her figure-head was the Twin Brothers. ¹² Landing at Syracuse we remained there three days. ¹³ From there we came around and got to Rhegium. After one day there, a south wind sprang up and we came on the second day to Puteoli. ¹⁴ Here we found brethren and were begged by them to stay seven days. And so we came to Rome. ¹⁵ From there the brethren, when they got news of us, came to meet us as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Taverns. On seeing them Paul thanked God and took courage. ¹⁶ When we reached Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with a soldier who guarded him. ¹⁷ After three days he invited the leading men among the Jews, and when they had assembled, he said to them, "Brethren, although I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs, I was delivered up as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

¹⁷ After three days he invited the leading men among the Jews, and when they had assembled, he said to them, "Brethren, although I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs, I was delivered up as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. ¹⁸ They, after investigating my case, wished to set me free because I had done nothing deserving of death. ¹⁹ But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I have any charge to bring against my own nation. ²⁰ For this reason I have invited you to see me and talk with me; because it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I have this chain around me."

²⁰ For this reason I have invited you to see me and talk with me; because it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I have this chain around me." ²¹ They said to him, "We on our part have received no letters about you from Judaea nor has any one of the brethren come and reported or spoken anything evil of you. ²² We think it well to hear from you what your views are; for as to this sect we know that it is everywhere spoken against." ²³ They appointed a day for him and many came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying to the kingdom of God, trying to persuade them concerning Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from early morning until evening. ²⁴ Some were persuaded by what he said and some did not believe. ²⁵ They dispersed, disagreeing with one another, after Paul had said one word, "Well said the Holy Spirit through Isaiah, the prophet, to your fathers, ²⁶ 'Go to this people and say, You will hear plainly but you will not understand, and you will see plainly but you will not perceive. ²⁷ For the heart of this people has grown fat and with their ears they are hard of hearing and their eyes they have shut, so that they may never see with their eyes nor hear with their ears nor understand with their heart and repent, so that I may heal them.' ²⁸ Therefore be it known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They will listen."

²⁸ Therefore be it known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They will listen." ²⁹ TEXT OMITTED ³⁰ Paul remained two whole years in his own rented lodging and received all who came to him,

³⁰ Paul remained two whole years in his own rented lodging and received all who came to him, ³¹ proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all freedom of speech, unhindered.

¹ PAUL, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart to bear the good news of God,

⁵ through whom we obtained grace and apostleship to promote obedience of faith for the sake of his name,

⁷ to all who are in Rome, beloved by God, called to be holy: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ First of all I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is spoken of through all the world. ⁹ For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the good news of his Son, is my witness how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers

⁹ For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the good news of his Son, is my witness how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers

¹¹ For I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift of grace in order that you may be strengthened, ¹² that is, that I may be encouraged with you and by you through our mutual faith, yours and mine. ¹³ I am not willing that you should be ignorant, brethren, that often I have purposed to come to you (though until now I have been hindered), in order that I might have some fruit among you as among the other Gentiles. ¹⁴ I am a debtor to Greeks and to Barbarians, to wise men and to unthinking men; ¹⁵ so, for my part, I am eager to tell the good news also to you in Rome. ¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the good news. It is the power of God for salvation to every one who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the good news. It is the power of God for salvation to every one who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For a righteousness of God is revealed in it from faith to faith, as it is written, "He who is righteous by faith shall live."

¹⁸ and know his will and are a judge of things that differ, because you have been taught out of the Law

⁹ What then? Have we an advantage? Not at all. We have already brought the charge against both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin,

² Through him we obtained entrance into this grace in which we stand and exult in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we also exult in trials, knowing that trial develops endurance,

⁵ and hope does not disappoint, for the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit granted to us.

¹³ and do not yield your members to sin as the instruments of wickedness; but present yourselves to God as men once dead, but now living, and yield your members to God as the instruments of righteousness.

¹⁵ What then? May we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Never.

¹⁷ Thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin you became obedient from the heart to the type of teaching in which you were instructed.

¹⁹ I am speaking humanly on account of the weakness of your human nature. As you did present your members as servants to impurity and to lawlessness to do lawlessness, so now you have presented your members as servants to righteousness for holy living.

²² But now freed from sin and having become servants of God you have your fruit in holy living and its outcome, life eternal.

¹⁶ But if I do what I do not choose, I agree with the law that it is right.

²² I delight in the Law in my inner man,

⁷ Therefore fleshly mindedness is hostile to God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, nor can it be.

⁹ But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. If any one has not the Spirit of Christ, that man is not his.

¹⁷ And if children, we are also heirs — heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ, since we suffer with him that we may also be glorified with him.

¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creation is waiting for the revelation of the sons of God.

²⁸ We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.

²⁸ We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predetermined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. ³⁰ And those whom he predetermined he also called, and those whom he called he also pronounced righteous, and those whom he pronounced righteous he also glorified.

³⁵ Who shall separate us from Christ's love? Shall trial or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

³⁵ Who shall separate us from Christ's love? Shall trial or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ (As it is written, "For thy sake we are killed all the day. We are counted as sheep for slaughter.")

³⁶ (As it is written, "For thy sake we are killed all the day. We are counted as sheep for slaughter.") ³⁷ On the contrary, in all these we more than conquer through him who loved us.

³⁷ On the contrary, in all these we more than conquer through him who loved us.

³⁷ On the contrary, in all these we more than conquer through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor archangels, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God's love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

¹ I AM speaking the truth in Christ; I am saying nothing false; my conscience bears witness with me in the Holy Spirit

³³ as it is written, "See, I am laying in Zion a stumbling stone, a rock to trip over, but he who has faith in him will never be put to shame."

⁸ But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" — that is, the word of faith which we are proclaiming,

² God has not repudiated his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says in the story of Elijah, how he prays to God against Israel?

¹⁷ If some of the branches were broken off and you, who are a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became a sharer in the root and rich sap of the olive,

¹ I BEG you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, pleasing to God — your rational worship. ² Do not follow the fashions of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds so as to recognize what is the good and pleasing and perfect will of God.

⁴ For as in one body we have many members and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.

⁹ Let your love be without pretense. Abhor what is evil; cling to the good.

¹³ contributing to the needs of the holy, devoted to hospitality.

⁷ For no one of us is living for himself and no one dies for himself. ⁸ If we live we live for the Lord and if we die we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die we are the Lord's. ⁹ For to this end Christ died and lived again, in order that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

²⁰ Do not for the sake of food break down the work of God. All things are pure, but anything is evil to the man who eats it with a feeling of doing wrong. ²¹ It is noble not to eat meat or to drink wine or to do anything over which your brother stumbles.

¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit!

¹⁶ that I may be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, in priestly service of the good news of God, in order that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ For I will not venture to speak except of what Christ has done through me to promote obedience of Gentiles, by word and deed,

²⁶ For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the holy in Jerusalem.

²⁸ So after completing this and sealing to them this fruit, I shall come away and pass by you to Spain. ²⁹ And I know that when I come to you it will be in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

¹⁷ I beg you, brethren, to keep your eye on those who are making divisions and occasions for sin contrary to the teaching which you have learned, and to shun them.

¹⁷ I beg you, brethren, to keep your eye on those who are making divisions and occasions for sin contrary to the teaching which you have learned, and to shun them. ¹⁸ For such persons are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own stomachs, and by their smooth and pleasing talk they mislead the hearts of the innocent.

¹ PAUL called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and Sosthenes our brother, ² to the Church of God in Corinth, made holy in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

⁴ I am always thanking God for you because of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus,

⁸ He will keep you strong to the end and free from reproach on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, and it is by him that you have been called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. ¹⁰ I beg you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, all to say the same thing and not to have divisions among you, but to be united in the same mind and in the same opinion.

²³ but we proclaim Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, to Gentiles folly,

³⁰ By God's act you are in Christ Jesus, who has become to us wisdom from God and righteousness and holiness and deliverance,

³ For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and living in man's way? ⁴ For when one says, "I belong to Paul," and another, "I belong to Apollos," are you not men?

²² Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come — all are yours

⁹ For it seems to me that God has set us apostles out last of all as men doomed to death, that we may be a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men. ¹⁰ We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you have glory, but we are despised. ¹¹ Up to this present hour we are hungry and thirsty and naked and beaten. We wander about ¹² and labor, working with our own hands. When abused we bless, when persecuted we endure it, ¹³ when slandered we entreat. We have come to be, as it were, the sweepings of the world, the riffraff of all things up to now. ¹⁴ I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.

¹⁷ For this very purpose I have sent to you Timothy, who is my loved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ — how I teach everywhere in every church.

²⁰ For you were bought with a price. Glorify God then in your bodies.

³⁴ and his interest is divided. So the unmarried woman or the maiden is anxious about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about the things of the world — how she may please her husband.

¹³ Therefore if food makes my brother stumble I will not eat meat while the world stands, for fear of making my brother stumble.

¹⁶ For although I tell the good news I have nothing to boast of. For a necessity is laid upon me. Alas for me if I do not tell the good news! ¹⁷ If I do it voluntarily I have a reward, but if reluctantly, I have been charged with a responsibility.

²³ I do all things for the sake of the good news that I may become a partner with it.

¹⁹ What then am I saying? That meat sacrificed to idols is anything or that an idol is anything?

³¹ Therefore, if you eat or if you drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ³² Cause no offense either to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God,

¹² For as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ. ¹³ For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and were all made to drink of one Spirit. ¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many. ¹⁵ If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand I am not of the body," it is not for that reason not of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye I am not of the body," it is not for that reason not of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? ¹⁸ But now God has placed the members each one of them in the body as he pleased. ¹⁹ If all were one member, where would be the body? ²⁰ But now the members are many, but the body is one. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," or the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." ²² Indeed, much more those members of the body that seem to be the weaker are necessary, ²³ and those that we deem the less honorable parts of the body we surround with greater honor and our uncomely parts have additional dignity, ²⁴ while our comely parts have no need. But God has organized the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacks, ²⁵ that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have a common concern for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if a member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. ²⁷ You are the body of Christ and individually members. ²⁸ God placed some in the church first as apostles, secondly as prophets, thirdly as teachers, then miracle-workers, then those with gifts of healing, helpers, administrators, speakers of different kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle-workers? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ Seek earnestly for the greater gifts; and yet I will show you a way that surpasses all.

³ And if I distribute all that I have to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

⁷ excuses all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

¹⁵ What then? I will pray with the spirit and with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit and with the understanding.

²⁰ Brethren, be not children in intelligence, but be babes in wickedness. In intelligence be adults.

¹¹ Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you believed.

³⁰ And why do we run risks every hour? ³¹ I die every day, I swear it by the boast I make of you and which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord.

³¹ I die every day, I swear it by the boast I make of you and which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord. ³² If, humanly speaking, I fought wild beasts at Ephesus, what is my gain? If the dead do not rise, "let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die."

⁵⁸ So then, my beloved brethren, be firm, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; since you know that your labor is not fruitless in the Lord.

¹⁰ If Timothy comes, see to it that he becomes free from fear in his relations to you. For he is doing the Lord's work, just as I am.

¹³ Watch, stand firmly in the faith, be manly, be strong, ¹⁴ let all that you do be done in love.

¹ PAUL, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy the brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth with all the holy that are in all Achaia: ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of loving kindness and the God of all encouragement, ⁴ who encourages us in every distress so that we may be able to encourage those who are in every distress by the encouragement by which we ourselves have been encouraged by God. ⁵ Because as the sufferings of Christ are abundant in our case, so through Christ our encouragement is abundant. ⁶ But if we are in distress, it is for your encouragement and salvation. If we are encouraged, it is for your encouragement which is effective in the endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer. ⁷ Our hope is strong regarding you, since we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings so you are of the encouragement.

¹¹ while you help by your prayers for us, so that from many persons thanksgiving may arise for the gift granted to us through the prayers of many for us. ¹² For this is what we boast of, the witness of our conscience that in holiness, and sincerity before God, not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God, we have lived in the world and especially toward you.

¹⁴ as you have partly acknowledged it about us, that we are your ground of boasting and you are ours on the day of our Lord Jesus. ¹⁵ With this confidence I intended to come to you first, so that you might have a second favor,

¹⁹ For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was proclaimed among you by us — myself and Silvanus and Timothy — was not yes and no, but in him was yes.

²⁴ Not that we are lords over your faith, but fellow workers sharing your joy, for you are standing firm in the faith.

³ I am writing this very thing so that I may not come and have grief from those who ought to make me glad, for I am confident in regard to all of you that my joy is yours.

¹⁴ Thanks be to God who always leads us in his triumph in Christ and spreads through us the sweet odor of the knowledge of him in every place. ¹⁵ For we are for God a sweet odor of Christ — in the saved and in the perishing. ¹⁶ To the latter an odor from death to death, to the former an odor from life to life. And who is competent for this? ¹⁷ For we are not, like the most, adulterating the message of God for gain, but in sincerity, as from God, in the presence of God, we speak in Christ.

² You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men,

¹ THEREFORE, having this service through God's mercy, we are not downhearted, ² but we have renounced shameful secret things, not living in craftiness nor adulterating God's message, but by the openness of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

⁴ in whom the god of this world has blinded the thinking of the unbelieving so that the light of the glorious good news of Christ, who is the image of God, may not shine in. ⁵ For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

¹⁰ always bearing about in our bodies the death of Jesus that the life also of Jesus may be manifest in our bodies.

¹ FOR we know that if this tent, our earthly home, is thrown down, we have a building of God, a home not made by hands, eternal in the heavens.

⁶ So being always of good courage and knowing that while living at home in the body we are living in a foreign land away from the Lord —

⁸ I say we are of good courage and wish rather to live in the land foreign to the body and be at home with the Lord.

¹² We are not recommending ourselves again to you, but giving occasion to you for boasting on our behalf, that you may have it to use against those who boast of appearances and not of heart.

¹⁵ and he died for all that the living may no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again.

³ We give no occasion for stumbling to any one that our service may not be blamed,

¹² You find no narrowness in us, the narrowness is in your own sympathies.

³ I am not saying this to condemn you, for I have already said that you have such a place in our hearts that we are ready to die with you or to live with you.

⁶ But God, who encourages the depressed, encouraged us by the coming of Titus,

¹⁴ for if I have made any boast regarding you I have not been put to shame, but as we spoke everything in truth to you so our boasting over Titus turned out the truth. ¹⁵ And his affections go out more strongly to you when he remembers the obedience of you all, how with reverence and trembling you received him. ¹⁶ I am glad to be in every respect of good courage regarding you.

¹ I MUST tell you, brethren, of the grace of God that has been given to the churches of Macedonia,

⁷ But as you excel in every way, in faith and speech and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love you learned from us, be sure to excel in this grace also. ⁸ I speak not by way of command, but testing the genuineness of your love by the earnestness of others.

⁴ and if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to say you, may not be made ashamed of this confidence.

¹⁰ He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and make abundant your seed and will increase the fruits of your righteousness.

¹³ By the proof afforded by this service men are led to glorify God for your fidelity to your profession of faith in the good news of Christ, and for the liberality of your contributions toward them and toward all.

³ For although living in the flesh we do not carry on our warfare according to the flesh,

⁸ For if I boast somewhat excessively of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for pulling you down, I shall not be ashamed.

¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵ So it is no great thing if his servants too disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their deeds.

²⁰ For I am afraid that when I come I shall not find you such as I wish, and I myself may not be found by you such as you wish. I am afraid that there may be strife, jealousy, anger, rivalry, slanders, whisperings, conceit, disorders.

⁹ We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. This we are praying for, your all-round character.

¹¹ Now, brethren, farewell. Be fully equipped; take courage; be of one mind; live in peace; then the God of love and peace will be with you.

⁷ though it is not another good news. But there are some who are perplexing you and wishing to pervert the good news of Christ.

²⁰ In what I am writing to you, before God I am not lying.

⁴ though it was suggested on account of false brethren who had been brought in, who had crept in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.

⁷ But, on the contrary, seeing that I was entrusted with the good news for the uncircumcision as Peter was for the circumcision, ⁸ for he who had worked in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcision had worked in me for the Gentiles,

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ. I am living, yet no longer I, but Christ is living in me. The life that I am now living in flesh I am living by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

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

¹⁹ my children, for whom I again am suffering birth pangs until Christ is formed in you.

⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither has circumcision any value nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.

¹⁰ I am persuaded in regard to you in the Lord that you will have no other mind. He who is troubling you must bear his condemnation, whoever he may be. ¹¹ But I, brethren, if I am still proclaiming circumcision, why am I persecuted? Then the offensiveness of the cross has been done away.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, slowness to anger, kindness, benevolence, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.

¹⁴ But let me never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world is crucified to me and I to the world.

¹ PAUL, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the Holy who are at Ephesus, faithful in Christ Jesus:

¹² and we were made God's heritage in order that we might bring praise to his glory — we who first have fixed our hope on Christ. ¹³ In him you also, after hearing the message of the truth, the good news of your salvation, and putting your faith in him, were sealed by the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ which is the pledge of our inheritance in anticipation of the full redemption of God's own people to the praise of his glory.

¹⁴ which is the pledge of our inheritance in anticipation of the full redemption of God's own people to the praise of his glory. ¹⁵ For this reason I also, since hearing of your faith in Jesus and your love to all the saints,

¹⁵ For this reason I also, since hearing of your faith in Jesus and your love to all the saints,

¹⁵ For this reason I also, since hearing of your faith in Jesus and your love to all the saints, ¹⁶ never cease giving thanks for you when I mention you in my prayers,

¹⁶ never cease giving thanks for you when I mention you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father most glorious, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of himself, ¹⁸ enlightening the eyes of your heart, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the glorious wealth of his inheritance in the holy, ¹⁹ and what the surpassing greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the inworking of his vast might, ²⁰ which he put forth in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him sit at his own right hand in the heavenly heights, ²¹ far above every archangel and authority and power and lordship and every name that is named not only in this world but also in the world to come. ²² He put all things under his feet and placed him as head over all for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in misdeeds, made us alive along with Christ — by grace we have been saved — ⁶ and raised us up with him and made us sit with him in the heavenly heights in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that he might show in the ages to come the surpassing richness of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his work, formed in Christ Jesus for good works in which God had prepared beforehand to have us live.

¹⁰ For we are his work, formed in Christ Jesus for good works in which God had prepared beforehand to have us live.

¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and resident aliens, but fellow citizens with the holy and members of the household of God, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the corner stone. ²¹ In him all the building, framed together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built for a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

¹ FOR this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles, —

⁶ namely, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, fellow sharers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the good news,

¹³ So I beg you not to lose heart because of the distresses that come on me for your sake. They are a high honor to you.

¹ I, THE prisoner of the Lord, beg you, then, to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called,

³ earnest in keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called with one hope that belongs to your calling, ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

¹¹ And he "gave" to some to be apostles, some prophets, some tellers of the good news, some shepherds and teachers, ¹² for the equipment of the saints, for the work of service, for building up the body of Christ,

¹² for the equipment of the saints, for the work of service, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain oneness in the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, and the maturity of manhood and the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

¹⁵ but speaking the truth in love we shall grow wholly into him who is the head, Christ,

⁹ for the fruit of light appears in all generosity and righteousness and truth — ¹⁰ testing what is pleasing to the Lord,

¹⁷ Therefore do not be thoughtless, but understand what is the Lord's will.

²⁷ that he might present to himself the church glorious, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and faultless.

¹¹ Put on the complete armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the cunning arts of the Devil. ¹² For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the arch-angels, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly heights. ¹³ Therefore take the complete armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and, after going through everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand, then, belted with truth, wearing the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ shod with the readiness of the good news of peace. ¹⁶ In every event take up the shield of faith by which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the Evil One, ¹⁷ and accept the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ Pray at all times in the Spirit with all manner of prayer and entreaty; be awake to this with all intentness and with prayer for all the holy

¹⁸ Pray at all times in the Spirit with all manner of prayer and entreaty; be awake to this with all intentness and with prayer for all the holy ¹⁹ and in my behalf, that words may be given to me when I open my month to make known with fearlessness the mystery of the good news,

¹⁹ and in my behalf, that words may be given to me when I open my month to make known with fearlessness the mystery of the good news, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may tell it fearlessly as I ought.

²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may tell it fearlessly as I ought.

²⁴ Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying love!

⁵ for your fellowship in spreading the good news from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun the good work in you will carry it on to completion on the day of Christ Jesus. ⁷ So it is right for me to think of you all, because you have me in your hearts, and in my chains and in my defense and in establishing the good news you are all sharers in my privilege.

⁹ And this is my prayer that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and all insight, ¹⁰ so that you may discriminate between the things that differ, that you may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ,

¹⁰ so that you may discriminate between the things that differ, that you may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of knowledge through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. ¹² I wish you to know, brethren, that my affairs have turned out rather to the furtherance of the good news,

¹⁴ and the most of the brethren in the Lord, made confident by my chains, are unusually brave in speaking the message fearlessly.

¹⁴ and the most of the brethren in the Lord, made confident by my chains, are unusually brave in speaking the message fearlessly. ¹⁵ Some indeed proclaim Christ because of envy and rivalry, some also because of good will. ¹⁶ Some announce Christ from love, knowing that I am placed for the defense of the good news,

¹⁶ Some announce Christ from love, knowing that I am placed for the defense of the good news,

¹⁶ Some announce Christ from love, knowing that I am placed for the defense of the good news, ¹⁷ but others out of partisanship, thinking to add distress to my chains.

¹⁷ but others out of partisanship, thinking to add distress to my chains. ¹⁸ What then? Still in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed and in that I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

²⁰ according to my earnest expectation and hope that I may be put to shame in nothing, but with all courage, as always, so now Christ may be honored in my body, whether by my life or by my death.

²² If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful work for me. I know not which to choose. ²³ I am under pressure both ways, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for it is far better,

²³ I am under pressure both ways, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for it is far better, ²⁴ yet that I should stay in the flesh is more needful on your account.

²⁴ yet that I should stay in the flesh is more needful on your account. ²⁵ And this I confidently know, that I shall stay and stay near you all for your advancement and joy of faith, ²⁶ that your exultation in Christ Jesus may overflow on my account, because of my presence again with you.

²⁹ because it has been graciously allowed you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for his sake,

¹ IF there is any encouragement in Christ, any persuasive power in love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any sympathies and compassions,

¹ IF there is any encouragement in Christ, any persuasive power in love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any sympathies and compassions, ² fill up my joy by having the same love, being of the same mind, thinking the same thing,

² fill up my joy by having the same love, being of the same mind, thinking the same thing, ³ doing nothing in a partisan or vainglorious way, but each modestly regarding the others as of more account than himself.

¹² So then, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with reverence and awe. ¹³ For it is God who is working in you both the willing and the doing because of his kindness.

¹⁶ holding forth the message of life, so that on the day of Christ I can boast that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. ¹⁷ But if I am poured out as a libation on your sacrificial offering of faith, I rejoice and share the joy of you all.

¹⁷ But if I am poured out as a libation on your sacrificial offering of faith, I rejoice and share the joy of you all. ¹⁸ In the same way you must rejoice and share my joy.

²¹ For all pursue their own aims, not those of Christ Jesus.

²⁴ And I trust in the Lord that I myself shall come quickly.

²⁶ since he longs for you all and is troubled because you have heard that he was sick.

¹ TO conclude, my brethren: rejoice in the Lord. To repeat to you the same things is not tiresome to me and it is safe for you.

³ For we are the circumcision, we who worship in the Spirit of God and exult in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

¹⁵ Let us all who are full grown think in this way. If in anything you think differently, even that God will reveal to you, ¹⁶ but so far as we have attained let us walk in the same path.

¹⁸ For many are living as I used often to tell you and now say even weeping that they are enemies of the cross of Christ.

¹⁸ For many are living as I used often to tell you and now say even weeping that they are enemies of the cross of Christ.

¹ SO, my brethren beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, beloved.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice.

¹⁰ I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length your thoughtfulness for me had revived. You were thoughtful for me all along, but lacked opportunity.

¹⁴ Yet you did nobly in sharing with me in my distress.

¹⁴ Yet you did nobly in sharing with me in my distress. ¹⁵ You Philippians know that at the beginning of the good news, when I came away from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you only,

¹⁷ Not that I am seeking for the gift, but I am seeking for the fruit that increases to your credit.

²² All the holy send greetings to you, especially those of Caesar's household.

¹ PAUL, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, ² to the holy and faithful brethren in Christ in Colossae: Grace be to you and peace from God our Father! ³ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in praying for you, ⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have to all the holy

⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have to all the holy

⁶ which has come to you. Just as in all the world it is bearing fruit and growing, so also it is among you since the day that you heard and learned of the grace of God in truth.

⁹ For this reason we also, from the day we heard it, never cease praying for you and asking that you may have full knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual insight, ¹⁰ and that you may live lives worthy of the Lord and please him in every way. May you bear fruit in every good work and grow in the knowledge of God.

²¹ And you who were once alienated and enemies in your minds, living in wicked works, he has reconciled ²² by his body of flesh through death, to present you holy and spotless and blameless before him, ²³ if you remain in the faith, firm and steadfast, never moving from the hope of the good news which you have heard and which has been proclaimed in all the creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a servant. ²⁴ Now I rejoice in what I suffer for your sake, and in my turn am filling up in my flesh what was lacking in the afflictions of Christ for the sake of his body, that is, the church.

²⁹ For this also I labor, wrestling with the energy of him who works powerfully within me.

¹ FOR I wish you to know how I am wrestling for you and for those in Laodicea and for all who have not seen my face in the flesh,

⁵ For even though I am absent in the flesh, yet in the spirit I am with you, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

¹² You were buried with him in baptism and raised again through faith in the inworking of God who raised him from the dead.

⁴ When Christ, our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

¹⁰ and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed into knowledge in the image of its Creator.

¹² Put on, then, as the chosen of God, holy and beloved, sympathies, compassions, kindness, humility, gentleness, slowness to anger,

³ Pray along with us and for us that God may open for us a door for the message, so that I may tell the mystery of Christ for the sake of which I am in chains —

³ Pray along with us and for us that God may open for us a door for the message, so that I may tell the mystery of Christ for the sake of which I am in chains — ⁴ so that I may make it clear, as I ought.

⁴ so that I may make it clear, as I ought. ⁵ Behave wisely towards outsiders, buying up the opportunity. ⁶ Let what you say be always with grace, seasoned with salt. Know how you should answer each one. ⁷ Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful worker and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you everything about me.

⁷ Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful worker and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you everything about me. ⁸ I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know my situation and that he may encourage your hearts. ⁹ And with him I am sending Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you all about affairs here. ¹⁰ Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends his greetings, and so does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (you have received letters about him; if he comes, welcome him), ¹¹ and so does Jesus who is called Justus. These alone of those who are circumcised are my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. ¹² Epaphras, the servant of Christ Jesus, who is one of you, sends his greetings to you. He always wrestles in prayer on your behalf that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. ¹³ I bear witness to the burden that he carries for you and for those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you their greetings. ¹⁵ Give our greeting to the brethren in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house. ¹⁶ When this letter has been read among you, have it read in the church of the Laodiceans, and you are to read the letter that will come from Laodicea. ¹⁷ Say to Archippus, See to it that you fully perform the service which you have accepted in the Lord. ¹⁸ The greeting of Paul, by my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

¹⁸ The greeting of Paul, by my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

¹ PAUL and Silvanus and Timothy, to the Church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. ² We thank God always for you all when we mention you in our prayers,

² We thank God always for you all when we mention you in our prayers,

² We thank God always for you all when we mention you in our prayers, ³ unceasingly remembering your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ before God our Father.

³ unceasingly remembering your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ before God our Father.

³ unceasingly remembering your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ before God our Father. ⁴ We know, brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you ⁵ and that our good news came to you not in word only but in power and in the Holy Spirit and in great assurance, just as you know we acted among you for your benefit.

⁸ For the message of the Lord sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone abroad, so that there is no need for us to speak a word. ⁹ For the people themselves are telling about us, what a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God

¹ YOU yourselves know, brethren, what a reception we had from you, that it was not without result, ² but after we had suffered and been roughly treated, as you know, in Philippi, we made bold in our God to speak to you the good news of God with great wrestling.

⁵ Nor did we ever fall into flattering talk, as you know, nor use any pretext for self-enrichment — God is witness —

⁸ Yearning over you so, we would gladly have imparted to you not only God's good news but our own lives as well, because you had become dear to us.

¹¹ You know that just like a father toward his own children we encouraged each one of you, and warned and conjured you ¹² to live lives worthy of the God who is calling you into his own kingdom and glory. ¹³ For this reason we unceasingly give thanks to God that when you received from us the report of the message of God you accepted it not as the message of men, but, as it truly is, the message of God, which also is doing its work in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you became imitators, brethren, of the churches of God that are in Judaea in Christ Jesus, because you too suffered the same things from your fellow countrymen that they did from the Jews, ¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out and do not please God and are enemies to all men,

¹⁹ For what is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? ²⁰ You are our glory and joy.

² and sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the good news of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, ³ that no one might be disturbed in these trials. For you yourselves know that we are destined to this. ⁴ For when we were with you we told you in advance, "We shall soon have trouble." And so it came to pass, as you know.

⁶ But now that Timothy has come to us from you and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always keep us well in mind and long to see us, just as we long to see you,

⁹ For how can we be grateful enough to God for you in view of all the joy we have because of you,

¹² The Lord make you to abound and overflow in love toward one another and toward all men, just as we do toward you, ¹³ that your hearts may be made firm and you may be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.

¹ TO conclude, brethren, we beg of you and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live to please God, and are living, you will excel still more.

⁹ Regarding brotherly love you have no need for me to write to you. For you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, ¹⁰ and you do the same to all the brethren in the whole of Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still further

¹³ We do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, regarding those who are sleeping, that you may not sorrow as the rest of men who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since, as we believe, Jesus died and rose, so too God will through Jesus bring with him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵ This we tell you by the word of the Lord: We, the living, who have been left until the coming of the Lord, will not have the start of those who have fallen asleep.

¹⁷ Then we, the living, who are left, will be caught up along with them into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall forever be with the Lord.

⁵ You are all sons of light and sons of day. We do not belong to night or to darkness.

²¹ Test all things; hold fast the good.

²³ May the God of peace himself make you completely holy, and may your spirits and souls and bodies be kept faultless and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²³ May the God of peace himself make you completely holy, and may your spirits and souls and bodies be kept faultless and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ He is faithful who calls you and he will do it.

¹ PAUL and Silvanus and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

³ We ought always to thank God for you, brethren, as is fitting, since your faith is growing greatly and the love of each and all of you toward one another is increasing,

⁵ This is a proof of God's righteous judgment. It is to make you worthy of God's kingdom, on behalf of which you are suffering, ⁶ since it is just on God's part to repay with trouble those who are troubling you,

¹⁰ when he comes to be glorified among his holy ones and to be wondered at on that day among all believers — for our testimony to you was believed. ¹¹ To this end we are always praying for you that our God will make you worthy of the call, and will by his power bring to completion every one of your kind purposes and works of faith, ¹² that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

¹³ We ought always to thank God for you, brethren, beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through the Spirit's making you holy and your own faith in the truth. ¹⁴ To this he called you through the good news that we brought, so that you may share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ We are persuaded in the Lord in regard to you that you are doing and will do what we direct.

² to Timothy my true child in faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

¹¹ such as accords with the glorious good news of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

¹⁹ holding to faith and a good conscience, which some have cast aside and thus made shipwreck of their faith.

⁷ To this I was appointed a herald and an apostle — I am telling the truth, I am not lying — a teacher of Gentiles in faith and truth.

¹ THE saying is trustworthy: "If any one aspires to the office of a bishop, he desires a noble work." ² A bishop, then, should be above reproach, true to one woman, temperate, self-controlled, dignified, hospitable, with a gift for teaching,

⁸ Deacons, in the same way, must be dignified, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not eager for base gain,

¹⁰ They must first be tested, and then let them fill the office of deacon if there is nothing against them. ¹¹ Women, in the same way, must be dignified, not slanderers, temperate, trustworthy in everything. ¹² Deacons must be men true to one woman, presiding well over their children and their own houses. ¹³ Those who have filled the office of deacon well win for themselves a high standing and great boldness in the faith in Christ Jesus.

¹⁶ Confessedly great is the mystery of godliness: "Who was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory."

¹² Play the grand hard game of the faith. Lay hold on life eternal, to which you have been called and have made the noble confession before many witnesses.

³ I thank God whom, I serve, following in the steps of my forefathers, with a pure conscience, while I constantly mention you in my prayers night and day, ⁴ remembering your tears and longing to see you, that I may be filled with joy.

⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control. ⁸ Do not be ashamed to testify for our Lord or for me his prisoner, but join in suffering hardships for the good news as God gives power.

⁸ Do not be ashamed to testify for our Lord or for me his prisoner, but join in suffering hardships for the good news as God gives power.

¹¹ For this I was made a herald and an apostle and a teacher, ¹² and for this reason I am suffering these things. But I am not ashamed, for I know in whom I have put my faith, and am confident that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

⁹ In telling it I am suffering hardships even to chains, as if I were an evildoer, but God's message is not chained. ¹⁰ For this reason I am enduring all for the sake of the chosen, that they may gain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. ¹¹ Trustworthy is the saying, "For if we have died with him we shall also live with him; ¹² if we endure we shall also be kings with him; if we disown him, he will disown us;

⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is near.

⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is near. ⁷ I have played the grand hard game, I have finished my race, I have kept the faith.

⁷ I have played the grand hard game, I have finished my race, I have kept the faith.

¹⁶ At my first defense no one came to my help; all deserted me. May it not be laid up against them!

¹ PAUL, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to promote the faith of God's chosen and their knowledge of the truths of religion,

⁷ For a bishop, as God's steward, must be above reproach, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not given to blows, not eager for base gain,

¹⁰ not pilfering, but showing all kindly fidelity, so as to make the teaching about God our Savior seem beautiful in all respects.

⁴ But when the kindness of our Savior, God, and his love to men appeared, ⁵ "not because of works that we had done in righteousness, but out of his own mercy he saved us through the bath of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit ⁶ which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

⁴ I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, ⁵ for I hear of the love and the loyalty that you have to the Lord Jesus Christ and to all the holy.

⁵ for I hear of the love and the loyalty that you have to the Lord Jesus Christ and to all the holy. ⁶ I pray that your fellowship in the faith may become effective in the knowledge of all the good there is in us in our relation to Christ. ⁷ For I have had great joy and encouragement in your love, because the hearts of the holy have been refreshed by you, brother.

¹² I am sending him back to you, though he is my very heart.

¹⁷ If then you hold me for a partner, receive him as you would me.

²⁰ Yes, brother, let me have this help from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹ I am writing to you confident of your obedience and knowing that you will do more than I say.

¹ THEREFORE, holy brethren, sharers in a heavenly call, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus,

¹⁴ For we become sharers with Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance with which we began.

¹² For when, considering the time, you ought to be teachers you need to have some one teach you again the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk and not solid food. ¹³ For every one who takes milk is inexperienced in the doctrine of righteousness, for he is a child. ¹⁴ But solid food is for adults who through practice have their senses exercised in distinguishing good and bad.

¹⁴ But solid food is for adults who through practice have their senses exercised in distinguishing good and bad.

⁹ But we are persuaded of better things regarding you, beloved, things that belong with salvation, though we thus speak. ¹⁰ For God is not so unjust as to forget your work and the love that you have shown to his name as you have served and are still serving the holy.

³² Remember the early days in which, after being enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings, ³³ at one time made a public spectacle by reproaches and distresses, at another time making common cause with those who were thus treated.

³³ at one time made a public spectacle by reproaches and distresses, at another time making common cause with those who were thus treated. ³⁴ For you even suffered with the prisoners and accepted the plundering of your property with joy, knowing that you had a better and enduring possession. ³⁵ Do not, then, cast away your confidence, for it will have a great reward.

² looking to Jesus the beginner and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured a cross, thinking little of the shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

⁴ You have not yet resisted to blood in the contest against sin,

¹¹ All discipline for the time being seems not joyous but grievous, but afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have passed through its training.

⁶ So we may say with courage, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

¹⁵ Through him then let us offer to God always the sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that make confession in his name. ¹⁶ Do not forget kindness and generosity, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

²⁰ May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of an eternal covenant, ²¹ equip you with every good thing for doing his will, doing in you what is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for the ages of the ages. Amen.

²³ I wish you to know that our brother Timothy has been set at liberty. With him, if he comes soon, I will see you.

¹ JAMES, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the Twelve Tribes which are scattered in foreign lands: Greeting. ² Think it all joy, my brethren, when you fall into all sorts of trials,

¹⁶ Make no mistake, my beloved brethren, ¹⁷ every good gift and every perfect boon is from above; it descends from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change or shadow caused by turning. ¹⁸ Of his own will he made us his children through the message of truth, so that we might be a sort of first fruits of his creatures.

¹⁷ But the wisdom from on high is first pure, then peaceable, fair-minded, easily persuaded, full of compassion and good fruits, impartial, sincere. ¹⁸ The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

¹⁸ The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

⁵ Do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose? Does the Spirit which he made dwell in us long enviously? ⁶ But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

² chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and made holy by the Spirit to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace be to you and peace be multiplied.

² chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and made holy by the Spirit to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace be to you and peace be multiplied. ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead —

⁷ so that your tested faith, much more precious than gold that perishes though tested by fire, may be found to your praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed, ⁸ whom you love though you have not seen him; in whom you have faith though now you do not see him, and you rejoice with unspeakable and glorious joy

⁸ whom you love though you have not seen him; in whom you have faith though now you do not see him, and you rejoice with unspeakable and glorious joy ⁹ while you receive the reward of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

¹¹ inquired and searched, trying to find out what time, or what sort of time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them was disclosing when it witnessed beforehand regarding the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

²² Now that you have made your souls holy by obedience to the truth for sincere brotherly love, you must love one another steadily from your hearts,

⁵ you also as living stones are built up, a spiritual house, and become a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

⁹ But you are a chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may proclaim the virtues of him who called you from darkness into his wonderful light.

¹² Keep your daily life among the Gentiles honorable, so that, although they talk against you as if you were wrongdoers, they may, from your noble deeds that they see, glorify God on the day of inspection.

²⁵ For you were going astray like sheep, but have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

² so that he does not go on living what remains of his time in the flesh according to human passions, but according to God's will.

¹⁰ Let each, as he has received a spiritual gift, serve the others in that way, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. ¹¹ If any one speaks, let it be as uttering the oracles of God. If any one serves, let it be from the strength that God supplies. Thus in all things let God be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him be glory and strength for the ages of the ages! Amen. ¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery fury that is among you, which has come to try you, as if some strange thing were happening to you.

¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery fury that is among you, which has come to try you, as if some strange thing were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice since to this extent you are sharing the sufferings of Christ, that when his glory is revealed you may rejoice and exult.

¹³ But rejoice since to this extent you are sharing the sufferings of Christ, that when his glory is revealed you may rejoice and exult.

¹³ But rejoice since to this extent you are sharing the sufferings of Christ, that when his glory is revealed you may rejoice and exult. ¹⁴ If you are reproached for the name of Christ you are blessed, for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

¹⁴ If you are reproached for the name of Christ you are blessed, for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

¹⁴ If you are reproached for the name of Christ you are blessed, for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵ No one of you must suffer as a murderer or as a thief or as a wrongdoer or as a meddler in other men's affairs. ¹⁶ But if he suffers as a Christian he should not be ashamed, but should glorify God by that name.

¹⁶ But if he suffers as a Christian he should not be ashamed, but should glorify God by that name.

¹ THE elders among you I beg — I who am a fellow elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ and a sharer in the glory soon to be revealed — ² I beg you to shepherd the flock of God that is among you, not because you must, but willingly, not for base gain, but eagerly, ³ not lording it over your charges, but becoming examples to the flock. ⁴ Then when the chief Shepherd appears you will be repaid with the never-fading crown of glory.

¹⁰ The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little will equip, establish and strengthen you.

¹ SIMON PETER, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have been allotted a faith as precious as ours:

⁴ and thereby great and precious promises have been granted to us, that through them you may escape the corruption that is in the world through passion and become sharers in the divine nature, ⁵ for this very reason make it your whole endeavor to supply to your faith virtue, and to your virtue knowledge,

⁵ for this very reason make it your whole endeavor to supply to your faith virtue, and to your virtue knowledge, ⁶ and to your knowledge self-control, and to your self-control endurance, and to your endurance reverence,

⁶ and to your knowledge self-control, and to your self-control endurance, and to your endurance reverence, ⁷ and to your reverence brotherliness, and to your brotherliness love. ⁸ For when you have these in abundance they make you to be neither idle nor fruitless regarding the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But he who lacks these is blind, dim-sighted, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

¹² For this reason I shall always keep reminding you of these things, although you know them and are steadfast in the truth that you have. ¹³ I think it right so long as I am in this tent to arouse you by reminding you,

¹³ I think it right so long as I am in this tent to arouse you by reminding you, ¹⁴ since I know that the laying aside of my tent will come soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made plain to me. ¹⁵ I will endeavor also on every occasion to make it so that after my going you shall have these things in memory.

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise and the burning elements will be dissolved and the earth and the things in it will not be found. ¹¹ Since all of these things are to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in holy lives and piety,

¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, since you expect this, endeavor earnestly to be found by him in peace, spotless and faultless,

¹⁸ but grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity!

³ what wo have seen and heard we are telling you also, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

⁷ If we live in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

²⁸ And now, little children, remain in him so that if he appears we may have confidence and not shrink in shame from him at his coming.

¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death into life because we love the brethren. Whoever does not love remains in death.

¹⁷ But if any one has this world's goods and sees his brother in need and shuts away his sympathies from him, how can the love of God remain in him?

¹ BELOVED, do not trust every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are from God. For many false prophets have come out into the world.

⁴ I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children living in truth, as we received command from the Father.

⁹ Every one who goes forward and does not remain in the teaching of Christ is without God. He who remains in the teaching, he has the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If any one comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house and do not bid him welcome. ¹¹ He who bids him welcome becomes a sharer in his wicked works.

³ For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified to your truth — that you are living in the truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are living in the truth.

¹ JUDE, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, to those who are in God the Father, beloved, kept for Jesus Christ and called:

³ Beloved, although I have been making every effort to write to you regarding our common salvation, I now find it necessary to write and urge you to contend vigorously for the faith that was once for all delivered to the holy.

¹ A REVELATION of Jesus Christ which God gave to him, to make known to his servants things which must soon take place. He sent and made it known through his angel to his servant John,

²⁰ the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are seven churches.

² I know your works and your labor and your endurance, and that you cannot bear wicked people, and you have tried those who say that they are apostles though they are not, and you have found them liars.

⁸ "To the Angel of the Church in Smyrna write: "These things says the First and the Last, who died and returned to life:

¹⁰ Do not fear what you are soon to suffer. The Devil will soon cast some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and you will have distress ten days. Be faithful to death and I will give you the crown of life.

¹⁰ Do not fear what you are soon to suffer. The Devil will soon cast some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and you will have distress ten days. Be faithful to death and I will give you the crown of life. ¹¹ Let him who has an ear hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. ¹² "To the Angel of the Church in Pergamum write: "These things says he who has the sharp two-edged sword:

¹⁴ I said to him, "My Lord, you know." He said to me, "These have come out of the great distress and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ For this reason they are before the throne of God and worship him day and night in his Temple, and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. ¹⁶ They will not hunger any more nor thirst any more, nor will the sun strike on them nor any burning heat, ¹⁷ for the Lamb who is in the center before the throne will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

¹¹ But they have conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of testimony to him, and they loved not their lives even to death.

¹³ Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth." "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their toils. For their works follow with them."

¹⁰ Then I fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But he said to me, "No, no. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren who hold the testimony to Jesus. Worship God. For testimony to Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

⁹ But he said to me, "No, no. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren and of the prophets and of those who are keeping the words of this book. Worship God."