1 Corinthians 16 Cross References - WNT

¹ As to the collection for God's people, what I have directed the Churches of Galatia to do, you must do also. ² On the first day of every week let each of you put on one side and store up at his home whatever gain has been granted to him; so that whenever I come, there may then be no collections going on. ³ And when I am with you, whatever brethren you accredit by letter I will send to carry your kind gift to Jerusalem. ⁴ And if it is worth while for me also to make the journey, they shall go as my companions. ⁵ I shall come to you after passing through Macedonia; for my plan will be to pass through Macedonia; ⁶ and I shall make some stay with you perhaps, or even spend the winter with you, in order that you may help me forward, whichever way I travel. ⁷ For I do not wish to see you on this occasion merely in passing; but if the Lord permits, I hope to remain some time with you. ⁸ I shall remain in Ephesus, however, until the time of the Harvest Festival, ⁹ for a wide door stands open before me which demands great efforts, and we have many opponents. ¹⁰ If Timothy pays you a visit, see that he is free from fear in his relations with you; for he is engaged in the Master's work just as I am. ¹¹ Therefore let no one slight him, but all of you should help him forward in peace to join me; for I am waiting for him and others of the brethren. ¹² As for our brother Apollos, I have repeatedly urged him to accompany the brethren who are coming to you: but he is quite resolved not to do so at present. He will come, however, when he has a good opportunity. ¹³ Be on the alert; stand firm in the faith; acquit yourselves like men; be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done from motives of love. ¹⁵ And I beseech you, brethren--you know the household of Stephanas, how they were the earliest Greek converts to Christ, and have devoted themselves to the service of God's people-- ¹⁶ I beseech you, on your part, to show deference to such men, and to every one who participates in their work and toils hard. ¹⁷ It is a joy to me that Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus have now arrived, because what was wanting so far as you are concerned they have supplied. ¹⁸ They have refreshed my spirit, and yours. Acknowledge such men as these. ¹⁹ The Churches in the province of Asia send you greetings; and Aquila and Prisca, in hearty Christian love, do the same, together with the Church which meets at their house. ²⁰ The brethren all send greetings to you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. ²¹ The final greeting of me--Paul--with my own hand. ²² If any one is destitute of love to the Lord, let him be accursed. OUR LORD IS COMING. ²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ²⁴ My love in Christ Jesus be with you all.

¹³ "Lord," answered Ananias, "I have heard about that man from many, and I have heard of the great mischief he has done to Thy people in Jerusalem;

⁴¹ Then, giving her his hand, he raised her to her feet and, calling to him God's people and the widows, he 7 gave her back to them alive.

²⁸ one of whom, named Agabus, being instructed by the Spirit, publicly predicted the speedy coming of a great famine throughout the world. (It came in the reign of Claudius.)

³⁰ This they did, forwarding their contributions to the Elders by Barnabas and Saul.

⁶ Then Paul and his companions passed through Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Message in the province of Asia.

²³ After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out on a tour, visiting the whole of Galatia and Phrygia in order, and strengthening all the disciples.

¹⁷ "Now after an interval of several years I came to bring alms to my nation, and to offer sacrifices.

¹³ Relieve the necessities of God's people; always practise hospitality.

²⁵ But at present I am going to Jerusalem to serve God's people, ²⁶ for Macedonia and Greece have kindly contributed a certain sum in relief of the poor among God's people, in Jerusalem.

¹ But we desire to let you know, brethren, of the grace of God which has been bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia; ² how, while passing through great trouble, their boundless joy even amid their deep poverty has overflowed to increase their generous liberality. ³ For I can testify that to the utmost of their power, and even beyond their power, they have of their own free will given help. ⁴ With earnest entreaty they begged from us the favour of being allowed to share in the service now being rendered to God's people. ⁵ They not only did this, as we had expected, but first of all in obedience to God's will they gave their own selves to the Lord and to us. ⁶ This led us to urge Titus that, as he had previously been the one who commenced the work, so he should now go and complete among you this act of beneficence also. ⁷ Yes, just as you are already very rich in faith, readiness of speech, knowledge, unwearied zeal, and in the love that is in you, implanted by us, see to it that this grace of liberal giving also flourishes in you. ⁸ I am not saying this by way of command, but to test by the standard of other men's earnestness the genuineness of your love also. ⁹ For you know the condescending goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ--how for your sakes He became poor, though He was rich, in order that you through His poverty might grow rich.

¹² For the service rendered in this sacred gift not only helps to relieve the wants of God's people, but it is also rich in its results and awakens a chorus of thanksgiving to God. ¹³ For, by the practical proof of it which you exhibit in this service, you cause God to be extolled for your fidelity to your professed adherence to the Good News of the Christ, and for the liberality of your contributions for them and for all who are in need, ¹⁴ while they themselves also in supplications on your behalf pour out their longing love towards you because of God's surpassing grace which is resting upon you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for His unspeakably precious gift!

² and all the brethren who are with me: To the Churches of Galatia.

¹⁰ Only they urged that we should remember their poor--a thing which was uppermost in my own mind.

⁵ because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have towards the Lord Jesus and which you manifest towards all God's people;

⁷ For I have found great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of God's people have been, and are, refreshed through you, my brother.

¹⁰ For God is not unjust so that He is unmindful of your labour and of the love which you have manifested towards Himself in having rendered services to His people and in still rendering them.

¹⁷ But if any one has this world's wealth and sees that his brother man is in need, and yet hardens his heart against him--how can such a one continue to love God?

⁴¹ Having taken a seat opposite the Treasury, He observed how the people were dropping money into the Treasury, and that many of the wealthy threw in large sums. ⁴² But there came one poor widow and dropped in two farthings, equal in value to a halfpenny. ⁴³ So He called His disciples to Him and said, "In solemn truth I tell you that this widow, poor as she is, has thrown in more than all the other contributors to the Treasury; ⁴⁴ for they have all contributed out of what they could well spare, but she out of her need has thrown in all she possessed--all she had to live on."

⁸ What she could she did: she has perfumed my body in preparation for my burial.

¹⁰ The man who is honest in a very small matter is honest in a great one also; and he who is dishonest in a very small matter is dishonest in a great one also.

¹ And, on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared.

¹⁹ On that same first day of the week, when it was evening and, for fear of the Jews, the doors of the house where the disciples were, were locked, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, "Peace be to you!"

²⁶ A week later the disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them, when Jesus came--though the doors were locked--and stood in their midst, and said, "Peace be to you."

⁷ On the first day of the week, when we had met to break bread, Paul, who was going away the next morning, was preaching to them, and prolonged his discourse till midnight.

¹ But we desire to let you know, brethren, of the grace of God which has been bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia; ² how, while passing through great trouble, their boundless joy even amid their deep poverty has overflowed to increase their generous liberality. ³ For I can testify that to the utmost of their power, and even beyond their power, they have of their own free will given help.

¹¹ And now complete the doing also, in order that, just as there was then the eagerness in desiring, there may now be the accomplishment in proportion to your means. ¹² For, assuming the earnest willingness, the gift is acceptable according to whatever a man has, and not according to what he has not. ¹³ I do not urge you to give in order that others may have relief while you are unduly pressed, ¹⁴ but that, by equalization of burdens, your superfluity having in the present emergency supplied their deficiency, their superfluity may in turn be a supply for your deficiency later on, so that there may be equalization of burdens. ¹⁵ Even as it is written, "HE WHO GATHERED MUCH HAD NOT TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO GATHERED LITTLE HAD NOT TOO LITTLE."

³ Still I send the brethren in order that in this matter our boast about you may not turn out to have been an idle one; so that, as I have said, you may be ready; ⁴ for fear that, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we--not to say you yourselves--should be put to the blush in respect to this confidence. ⁵ I have thought it absolutely necessary therefore to request these brethren to visit you before I myself come, and to make sure beforehand that the gift of love which you have already promised may be ready as a gift of love, and may not seem to have been something which I have extorted from you.

¹⁰ In the Spirit I found myself present on the day of the Lord, and I heard behind me a loud voice which resembled the blast of a trumpet.

¹ About this time, as the number of disciples was increasing, complaints were made by the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebrews because their widows were habitually overlooked in the daily ministration. ² So the Twelve called together the general body of the disciples and said, "It does not seem fitting that we Apostles should neglect the delivery of God's Message and minister at tables. ³ Therefore, brethren, pick out from among yourselves seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them to undertake this duty. ⁴ But, as for us, we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the delivery of the Message." ⁵ The suggestion met with general approval, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch. ⁶ These men they brought to the Apostles, and, after prayer, they laid their hands upon them.

¹⁹ But, if the Lord is willing, I shall come to you without delay; and then I shall know not the fine speeches of these conceited people, but their power. ²⁰ For Apostolic authority is not a thing of words, but of power. ²¹ Which shall it be? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in a loving and tender spirit?

³⁴ If any one is hungry, let him eat at home; so that your coming together may not lead to judgement. The other matters I will deal with whenever I come.

⁴ With earnest entreaty they begged from us the favour of being allowed to share in the service now being rendered to God's people.

⁶ This led us to urge Titus that, as he had previously been the one who commenced the work, so he should now go and complete among you this act of beneficence also.

¹⁸ And we send with him the brother whose praises for his earnestness in proclaiming the Good News are heard throughout all the Churches. ¹⁹ And more than that, he is the one who was chosen by the vote of the Churches to travel with us, sharing our commission in the administration of this generous gift to promote the Lord's glory and gratify our own strong desire. ²⁰ For against one thing we are on our guard--I mean against blame being thrown upon us in respect to these large and liberal contributions which are under our charge. ²¹ For we seek not only God's approval of our integrity, but man's also. ²² And we send with them our brother, of whose zeal we have had frequent proof in many matters, and who is now more zealous than ever through the strong confidence which he has in you. ²³ As for Titus, remember that he is a partner with me, and is my comrade in my labours for you. And as for our brethren, remember that they are delegates from the Churches, and are men in whom Christ is glorified. ²⁴ Exhibit therefore to the Churches a proof of your love, and a justification of our boasting to these brethren about you.

²⁵ But at present I am going to Jerusalem to serve God's people,

¹⁹ And more than that, he is the one who was chosen by the vote of the Churches to travel with us, sharing our commission in the administration of this generous gift to promote the Lord's glory and gratify our own strong desire.

²¹ When matters had reached this point, Paul decided in his own mind to travel through Macedonia and Greece, and go to Jerusalem. "After that," he said, "I must also see Rome."

¹ When the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples; and, after speaking words of encouragement to them, he took his leave, and started for Macedonia. ² Passing through those districts he encouraged the disciples in frequent addresses, and then came into Greece, and spent three months there. ³ The Jews having planned to waylay him whenever he might be on the point of taking ship for Syria, he decided to travel back by way of Macedonia.

¹⁹ But, if the Lord is willing, I shall come to you without delay; and then I shall know not the fine speeches of these conceited people, but their power.

¹⁵ It was because I entertained this confidence that I intended to visit you before going elsewhere--so that you might receive a twofold proof of God's favour-- ¹⁶ and to pass by way of Corinth into Macedonia. Then my plan was to return from Macedonia to you, and be helped forward by you to Judaea. ¹⁷ Did I display any vacillation or caprice in this? Or the purposes which I form--do I form them on worldly principles, now crying "Yes, yes," and now "No, no"?

³ So they set out, being accompanied for a short distance by some other members of the Church; and as they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told the whole story of the conversion of the Gentiles and inspired all the brethren with great joy.

¹⁵ Those who were caring for Paul's safety went with him as far as Athens, and then left him, taking a message from him to Silas and Timothy, asking them to join him as speedily as possible.

³⁸ grieved above all things at his having told them that after that day they were no longer to see his face. And they went with him to the ship.

⁵ When, however, our time was up, we left and went on our way, all the disciples and their wives and children coming to see us off. Then, after kneeling down on the beach and praying,

¹² and as the harbour was inconvenient for wintering in, the majority were in favour of putting out to sea, to try whether they could get to Phoenix--a harbour on the coast of Crete facing north-east and south-east--to winter there.

¹¹ Three months passed before we set sail in an Alexandrian vessel, called the 'Twin Brothers,' which had wintered at the island.

²⁴ I hope, as soon as ever I extend my travels into Spain, to see you on my way and be helped forward by you on my journey, when I have first enjoyed being with you for a time.

¹¹ Therefore let no one slight him, but all of you should help him forward in peace to join me; for I am waiting for him and others of the brethren.

¹⁶ and to pass by way of Corinth into Macedonia. Then my plan was to return from Macedonia to you, and be helped forward by you to Judaea.

¹² After I have sent Artemas or Tychicus to you, lose no time in joining me at Nicopolis; for I have decided to pass the winter there.

⁶ They have testified, in the presence of the Church, to your love; and you will do well to help them on their journey in a manner worthy of your fellowship with God. ⁷ For it is for Christ that they have gone forth, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.

²¹ but took leave of them with the promise, "I will return to you, God willing." So he set sail from Ephesus.

¹⁰ always in my prayers entreating that now, at length, if such be His will, the way may by some means be made clear for me to come to you.

¹⁵ It was because I entertained this confidence that I intended to visit you before going elsewhere--so that you might receive a twofold proof of God's favour--

¹⁵ Instead of that you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we shall live and do this or that."

¹ At length, on the day of the Harvest Festival, they had all met in one place;

¹⁹ They put in at Ephesus, and there Paul left his companions behind. As for himself, he went to the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews.

³² If from merely human motives I have fought with wild beasts in Ephesus, what profit is it to me? If the dead do not rise, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we are to die.

²⁷ Upon their arrival they called the Church together and proceeded to report in detail all that God, working with them, had done, and how He had opened for the Gentiles the door of faith.

⁸ Afterwards he went into the synagogue. There for three months he continued to preach fearlessly, explaining in words which carried conviction the truths which concern the Kingdom of God. ⁹ But some grew obstinate in unbelief and spoke evil of the new faith before all the congregation. So Paul left them, and, taking with him those who were disciples, held discussions daily in Tyrannus's lecture-hall. ¹⁰ This went on for two years, so that all the inhabitants of the province of Asia, Jews as well as Greeks, heard the Lord's Message.

⁸ For as for our troubles which came upon us in the province of Asia, we would have you know, brethren, that we were exceedingly weighed down, and felt overwhelmed, so that we renounced all hope even of life. ⁹ Nay, we had, as we still have, the sentence of death within our own selves, in order that our confidence may repose, not on ourselves, but on God who raised the dead to life. ¹⁰ He it is who rescued us from so imminent a death, and will do so again; and we have a firm hope in Him that He will also rescue us in all the future,

¹² Now when I came into the Troad to spread there the Good News about the Christ, even though in the Lord's providence a door stood open before me,

¹⁸ For there are many whom I have often described to you, and I now even with tears describe them, as being enemies to the Cross of Christ.

³ And pray at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door for preaching, for us to tell the truth concerning Christ for the sake of which I am even a prisoner.

⁷ "To the minister of the Church at Philadelphia write as follows: "'This is what the holy One and the true says--He who has the key of David--He who opens and no one shall shut, and shuts and no one shall open. ⁸ I know your doings. I have put an opened door in front of you, which no one can shut; because you have but a little power, and yet you have guarded My word and have not disowned Me.

¹ He also came to Derbe and to Lystra. At Lystra he found a disciple, Timothy by name--the son of a Christian Jewess, though he had a Greek father.

²² But he sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself remained for a while in Roman Asia.

²¹ Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you greetings, and so do my countrymen Lucius, Jason and Sosipater.

¹⁷ For this reason I have sent Timothy to you. Spiritually he is my dearly-loved and faithful child. He will remind you of my habits as a Christian teacher--the manner in which I teach everywhere in every Church.

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brethren, be firm, unmovable, busily occupied at all times in the Lord's work, knowing that your toil is not fruitless in the Lord.

¹ Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God--and our brother Timothy: To the Church of God in Corinth, with all God's people throughout Greece.

¹ And you also we, as God's fellow workers, entreat not to be found to have received His grace to no purpose.

¹⁹ But, if the Lord permits it, I hope before long to send Timothy to you, that I, in turn, may be cheered by getting news of you. ²⁰ For I have no one likeminded with him, who will cherish a genuine care for you. ²¹ Everybody concerns himself about his own interests, not about those of Jesus Christ. ²² But you know Timothy's approved worth--how, like a child working with his father, he has served with me in furtherance of the Good News.

² and sent Timothy our brother and God's minister in the service of Christ's Good News, that he might help you spiritually and encourage you in your faith;

¹² so as to live worthy lives in relation to outsiders, and not be a burden to any one.

¹⁶ "He who listens to you listens to me; and he who disregards you disregards me, and he who disregards me disregards Him who sent me."

³³ After spending some time there they received an affectionate farewell from the brethren to return to those who had sent them.

⁶ and I shall make some stay with you perhaps, or even spend the winter with you, in order that you may help me forward, whichever way I travel.

¹⁰ If Timothy pays you a visit, see that he is free from fear in his relations with you; for he is engaged in the Master's work just as I am.

⁸ Therefore a defiant spirit in such a case provokes not man but God, who puts His Holy Spirit into your hearts.

¹² Let no one think slightingly of you because you are a young man; but in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, be an example for your fellow Christians to imitate.

¹⁵ Thus speak, exhort, reprove, with all impressiveness. Let no one make light of your authority.

⁶ They have testified, in the presence of the Church, to your love; and you will do well to help them on their journey in a manner worthy of your fellowship with God.

²¹ At length Herodias found her opportunity. Herod on his birthday gave a banquet to the nobles of his court and to the tribunes and the principal people in Galilee,

²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was a native of Alexandria, a man of great learning and well versed in the Scriptures.

²⁵ But when he dealt with the subjects of justice, self-control, and the judgement which was soon to come, Felix became alarmed and said, "For the present leave me, and when I can find a convenient opportunity I will send for you."

¹² What I mean is that each of you is a partisan. One man says "I belong to Paul;" another "I belong to Apollos;" a third "I belong to Peter;" a fourth "I belong to Christ."

⁵ What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are just God's servants, through whose efforts, and as the Lord granted power to each, you accepted the faith.

²² For everything belongs to you--be it Paul or Apollos or Peter, the world or life or death, things present or future--everything belongs to you;

⁴ But when the goodness of God our Saviour, and His love to man, dawned upon us, not in consequence of things which we,

⁴² Be on the alert therefore, for you do not know the day on which your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But of this be assured, that if the master of the house had known the hour at which the robber was coming, he would have kept awake, and not have allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore you also must be ready; for it is at a time when you do not expect Him that the Son of Man will come.

¹³ "Keep awake therefore; for you know neither the day nor the hour.

⁴¹ Keep awake, and pray that you may not enter into temptation: the spirit is right willing, but the body is frail."

³³ Take care, be on the alert, and pray; for you do not know when it will happen. ³⁴ It is like a man living abroad who has left his house, and given the management to his servants--to each one his special duty--and has ordered the porter to keep awake. ³⁵ Be wakeful therefore, for you know not when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at cock-crow, or at dawn. ³⁶ Beware lest He should arrive unexpectedly and find you asleep. ³⁷ Moreover, what I say to you I say to all--Be wakeful!"

³⁷ Then He came and found them asleep, and He said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Had you not strength to keep awake a single hour? ³⁸ Be wakeful, all of you, and keep on praying, that you may not come into temptation: the spirit is right willing, but the body is frail."

³⁵ "Have your girdles on, and let your lamps be alight; ³⁶ and be yourselves like men waiting for their master--on the look-out till he shall return from the wedding feast--that, when he comes and knocks, they may open the door instantly. ³⁷ Blessed are those servants, whom their Master when He comes shall find on the watch. I tell you in solemn truth, that He will tie an apron round Him, and will bid them recline at table while He comes and waits on them. ³⁸ And whether it be in the second watch or in the third that He comes and finds them so, blessed are they. ³⁹ Of this be sure, that if the master of the house had known what time the robber was coming, he would have kept awake and not have allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁰ Be you also ready, for at an hour when you are not expecting Him the Son of Man will come."

³⁶ But beware of slumbering; and every moment pray that you may be fully strengthened to escape from all these coming evils, and to take your stand in the presence of the Son of Man."

²⁵ But every competitor in an athletic contest practices abstemiousness in all directions. They indeed do this for the sake of securing a perishable wreath, but we for the sake of securing one that will not perish. ²⁶ That is how I run, not being in any doubt as to my goal. I am a boxer who does not inflict blows on the air, ²⁷ but I hit hard and straight at my own body and lead it off into slavery, lest possibly, after I have been a herald to others, I should myself be rejected.

²⁰ Brethren, do not prove yourselves to be children in your minds. As regards evil, indeed, be utter babes, but as regards your minds prove yourselves to be men of ripe years.

¹ But let me recall to you, brethren, the Good News which I brought you, which you accepted, and on which you are standing, ² through which also you are obtaining salvation, if you bear in mind the words in which I proclaimed it--unless indeed your faith has been unreal from the very first.

²⁴ Not that we want to lord it over you in respect of your faith--we do, however, desire to help your joy--for in the matter of your faith you are standing firm.

⁹ but His reply has been, "My grace suffices for you, for power matures in weakness." Most gladly therefore will I boast of my infirmities rather than complain of them--in order that Christ's power may overshadow me. ¹⁰ In fact I take pleasure in infirmities, in the bearing of insults, in distress, in persecutions, in grievous difficulties--for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

¹ Christ having made us gloriously free--stand fast and do not again be hampered with the yoke of slavery.

¹⁶ to grant you--in accordance with the wealth of His glorious perfections--to be strengthened by His Spirit with power penetrating to your inmost being.

¹⁰ In conclusion, strengthen yourselves in the Lord and in the power which His supreme might imparts.

¹³ Therefore put on the complete armour of God, so that you may be able to stand your ground on the day of battle, and, having fought to the end, to remain victors on the field. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, first fastening round you the girdle of truth and putting on the breastplate of uprightness ¹⁵ as well as the shoes of the Good News of peace-- a firm foundation for your feet. ¹⁶ And besides all these take the great shield of faith, on which you will be able to quench all the flaming darts of the Wicked one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. ¹⁸ Pray with unceasing prayer and entreaty on every fitting occasion in the Spirit, and be always on the alert to seize opportunities for doing so, with unwearied persistence and entreaty on behalf of all God's people,

²⁷ Only let the lives you live be worthy of the Good News of the Christ, in order that, whether I come and see you or, being absent, only hear of you, I may know that you are standing fast in one spirit and with one mind, fighting shoulder to shoulder for the faith of the Good News.

¹ Therefore, my brethren, dearly loved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, my dearly-loved ones.

¹³ I have strength for anything through Him who gives me power.

¹¹ Since His power is so glorious, may you be strengthened with strength of every kind, and be prepared for cheerfully enduring all things with patience and long-suffering; ¹² and give thanks to the Father who has made us fit to receive our share of the inheritance of God's people in Light.

²³ if, indeed, you are still firmly holding to faith as your foundation, without ever shifting from your hope that rests on the Good News that you have heard, which has been proclaimed in the whole creation under Heaven, and in which I Paul have been appointed to serve.

² Be earnest and unwearied in prayer, being on the alert in it and in your giving of thanks.

¹² Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, sends greetings to you, always wrestling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand firm--Christians of ripe character and of clear conviction as to everything which is God's will.

⁸ For now life is for us life indeed, since you are standing fast in the Lord.

⁶ So then let us not sleep, like the rest of the world, but let us keep awake and be sober.

¹⁵ So then, brethren, stand your ground, and hold fast to the teachings which you have received from us, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

¹² Exert all your strength in the honourable struggle for the faith; lay hold of the Life of the Ages, to which you were called, when you made your noble profession of faith before many witnesses.

¹ You then, my child, must be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

³ As a good soldier of Christ Jesus accept your share of suffering. ⁴ Every one who serves as a soldier keeps himself from becoming entangled in the world's business--so that he may satisfy the officer who enlisted him. ⁵ And if any one takes part in an athletic contest, he gets no prize unless he obeys the rules.

⁵ But as for you, you must exercise habitual self-control, and not live a self-indulgent life, but do the duty of an evangelist and fully discharge the obligations of your office.

⁷ I have gone through the glorious contest; I have run the race; I have guarded the faith.

³² And why need I say more? For time will fail me if I tell the story of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and of David and Samuel and the Prophets; ³³ men who, as the result of faith, conquered whole kingdoms, brought about true justice, obtained promises from God, stopped lions' mouths, ³⁴ deprived fire of its power, escaped being killed by the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put to flight foreign armies.

⁷ But the end of all things is now close at hand: therefore be sober-minded and temperate, so that you may give yourselves to prayer.

⁸ Curb every passion, and be on the alert. Your great accuser, the Devil, is going about like a roaring lion to see whom he can devour.

² Rouse yourself and keep awake, and strengthen those things which remain but have well-nigh perished; for I have found no doings of yours free from imperfection in the sight of My God. ³ Be mindful, therefore, of the lessons you have received and heard. Continually lay them to heart, and repent. If, however, you fail to rouse yourself and keep awake, I shall come upon you suddenly like a thief, and you will certainly not know the hour at which I shall come to judge you.

¹⁵ ("I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the man who keeps awake and guards his raiment for fear he walk about ill-clad, and his uncomeliness become manifest.")

³⁴ A new commandment I give you, to love one another; that as I have loved you, you also may love one another. ³⁵ It is by this that every one will know that you are my disciples--if you love one another."

¹⁷ "Thus I command you to love one another.

⁸ Owe nothing to any one except mutual love; for he who loves his fellow man has satisfied the demands of Law. ⁹ For the precepts, "THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," "THOU SHALT DO NO MURDER," "THOU SHALT NOT STEAL," "THOU SHALT NOT COVET," and all other precepts, are summed up in this one command, "THOU SHALT LOVE THY FELLOW MAN AS MUCH AS THOU LOVEST THYSELF." ¹⁰ Love avoids doing any wrong to one's fellow man, and is therefore complete obedience to Law.

¹⁵ If your brother is pained by the food you are eating, your conduct is no longer controlled by love. Take care lest, by the food you eat, you lead to ruin a man for whom Christ died.

¹ Now as to things which have been sacrificed to idols. This is a subject which we already understand--because we all have knowledge of it. Knowledge, however, tends to make people conceited; it is love that builds us up.

³¹ But always seek to excel in the greater gifts. And now I will point out to you a way of life which transcends all others.

¹³ You however, brethren, were called to freedom. Only do not turn your freedom into an excuse for giving way to your lower natures; but become bondservants to one another in a spirit of love. ¹⁴ For the entire Law has been obeyed when you have kept the single precept, which says, "YOU ARE TO LOVE YOUR FELLOW MAN EQUALLY WITH YOURSELF."

²² The Spirit, on the other hand, brings a harvest of love, joy, peace; patience towards others, kindness, benevolence;

¹ I, then, the prisoner for the Master's sake, entreat you to live and act as becomes those who have received the call that you have received-- ² with all lowliness of mind and unselfishness, and with patience, bearing with one another lovingly, and earnestly striving to maintain, ³ in the uniting bond of peace, the unity given by the Spirit.

¹ If then I can appeal to you as the followers of Christ, if there is any persuasive power in love and any common sharing of the Spirit, or if you have any tender-heartedness and compassion, make my joy complete by being of one mind, ² united by mutual love, with harmony of feeling giving your minds to one and the same object. ³ Do nothing in a spirit of factiousness or of vainglory, but, with true humility, let every one regard the rest as being of more account than himself;

⁶ But now that Timothy has recently come back to us from you, and has brought us the happy tidings of your faith and love, and has told us how you still cherish a constant and affectionate recollection of us, and are longing to see us as we also long to see you--

¹² and as for you, may the Lord teach you to love one another and all men, with a growing and a glowing love, resembling our love for you.

⁹ But on the subject of love for the brotherhood it is unnecessary for me to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; ¹⁰ and indeed you do love all the brethren throughout Macedonia. And we exhort you to do so more and more,

³ Unceasing thanks are due from us to God on your behalf, brethren. They are appropriate because your faith is growing greatly, and the love of every one of you for all the others goes on increasing.

⁵ But the end sought to be secured by exhortation is the love which springs from a pure heart, a clear conscience and a sincere faith.

⁴ Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be unpolluted; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

⁸ Above all continue to love one another fervently, for love throws a veil over a multitude of faults.

⁷ along with power of endurance, godliness; along with godliness, brotherly affection; and along with brotherly affection, love.

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another; for love has its origin in God, and every one who loves has become a child of God and is beginning to know God. ⁸ He who is destitute of love has never had any knowledge of God; because God is love.

³⁶ Among the disciples at Jaffa was a woman called Tabitha, or, as the name may be translated, 'Dorcas.' Her life was wholly devoted to the good and charitable actions which she was constantly doing. ³⁷ But, as it happened, just at that time she was taken ill and died. After washing her body they laid it out in a room upstairs. ³⁸ Lud, however, being near Jaffa, the disciples, who had heard that Peter was at Lud, sent two men to him with an urgent request that he would come across to them without delay. ³⁹ So Peter rose and went with them. On his arrival they took him upstairs, and the widow women all came and stood by his side, weeping and showing him the underclothing and cloaks and garments of all kinds which Dorcas used to make while she was still with them. ⁴⁰ Peter, however, putting every one out of the room, knelt down and prayed, and then turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, rise." Dorcas at once opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, sat up. ⁴¹ Then, giving her his hand, he raised her to her feet and, calling to him God's people and the widows, he 7 gave her back to them alive.

¹² But when Gallio became Proconsul of Greece, the Jews with one accord made a dead set at Paul, and brought him before the court.

³¹ asking that I may escape unhurt from those in Judaea who are disobedient, and that the service which I am going to Jerusalem to render may be well received by the Church there,

² that you may receive her as a fellow Christian in a manner worthy of God's people, and may assist her in any matter in which she may need help. For she has indeed been a kind friend to many, including myself.

⁵ Greetings, too, to the Church that meets at their house. Greetings to my dear Epaenetus, who was the earliest convert to Christ in the province of Asia;

¹⁶ I did, however, baptize Stephanas' household also: but I do not think that I baptized any one else.

¹⁷ It is a joy to me that Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus have now arrived, because what was wanting so far as you are concerned they have supplied.

¹ As to the services which are being rendered to God's people, it is really unnecessary for me to write to you.

¹⁰ She must have been true to her one husband, and well reported of for good deeds, as having brought up children, received strangers hospitably, washed the feet of God's people, given relief to the distressed, and devoted herself to good works of every kind.

¹⁰ Whatever be the gifts which each has received, you must use them for one another's benefit, as good stewards of God's many-sided kindness.

⁴ These are those who had not defiled themselves with women: they are as pure as virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been redeemed from among men, as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

³ Greetings to Prisca and Aquila my fellow labourers in the work of Christ Jesus--

⁶ to Mary who has laboured strenuously among you;

⁹ to Urban, our fellow labourer in Christ, and to my dear Stachys.

¹² Greetings to those Christian workers, Tryphaena and Tryphosa; also to dear Persis, who has laboured strenuously in the Lord's work.

⁹ Apollos and I are simply fellow workers for and with God, and you are *God's* field-- *God's* building.

²⁸ And by God's appointment there are in the Church--first Apostles, secondly Prophets, thirdly teachers. Then come miraculous powers, and then ability to cure diseases or render loving service, or powers of organization, or varieties of the gift of 'tongues.'

²¹ and submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

³ Yes, and I beg you also, my faithful yoke-fellow, to help these women who have shared my toil in connection with the Good News, together with Clement and the rest of my fellow labourers, whose names are recorded in the book of Life.

³ For we never fail to remember your works of faith and labours of love and your persistent and unwavering hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father;

⁹ For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil: how, working night and day so as not to become a burden to any one of you, we came and proclaimed among you God's Good News.

¹² Now we beg you, brethren, to show respect for those who labour among you and are your leaders in Christian work, and are your advisers;

¹⁷ Let the Elders who perform their duties wisely and well be held worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in preaching and teaching.

¹⁷ Obey your leaders and be submissive to them. For they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will have to give account; that they may do this with joy and not with lamentation. For that would be of no advantage to you.

⁵ In the same way you younger men must submit to your elders; and all of you must gird yourselves with humility towards one another, for God sets Himself against the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

⁸ It is therefore our duty to show hospitality to such men, so that we may be fellow workers in promoting the truth.

³ And you endure patiently and have borne burdens for My sake and have never grown weary.

⁹ And when I was with you and my resources failed, there was no one to whom I became a burden--for the brethren when they came from Macedonia fully supplied my wants--and I kept myself from being in the least a burden to you, and will do so still.

³⁰ because it was for the sake of Christ's work that he came so near death, hazarding, as he did, his very life in endeavouring to make good any deficiency that there might be in your gifts to me.

¹³ It was my wish to keep him at my side for him to attend to my wants, as your representative, during my imprisonment for the Good News.

³² in order that if God be willing I may come to you with a glad heart, and may enjoy a time of rest with you.

⁶ But He who comforts the depressed--even God-- comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not by his coming only, ⁷ but also by the fact that he had felt comforted on your account, and by the report which he brought of your eager affection, of your grief, and of your jealousy on my behalf, so that I rejoiced more than ever.

¹³ For this reason we feel comforted; and--in addition to this our comfort--we have been filled with all the deeper joy at Titus's joy, because his spirit has been set at rest by you all.

²⁸ I am therefore all the more eager to send him, in the hope that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have the less sorrow. ²⁹ Receive him therefore with heartfelt Christian joy, and hold in honour men like him;

⁸ And for this very purpose I send him to you that you may know how we are faring; and that he may cheer your hearts.

⁶ But now that Timothy has recently come back to us from you, and has brought us the happy tidings of your faith and love, and has told us how you still cherish a constant and affectionate recollection of us, and are longing to see us as we also long to see you-- ⁷ for this reason in our distress and trouble we have been comforted about you, brethren, by your faith.

²⁰ Yes, brother, do me this favour for the Lord's sake. Refresh my heart in Christ.

⁷ Remember your former leaders--it was they who brought you God's Message. Bear in mind how they ended their lives, and imitate their faith.

⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living in obedience to the truth.

¹¹ My dear friend, do not follow wrong examples, but right ones. He who habitually does what is right is a child of God: he who habitually does what is wrong has not seen God. ¹² The character of Demetrius has the approval of all men, and of the truth itself. We also express our approval of it, and you know that we only give our approval to that which is true.

² Here he found a Jew, a native of Pontus, of the name of Aquila. He and his wife Priscilla had recently come from Italy because of Claudius's edict expelling all the Jews from Rome. So Paul paid them a visit;

¹⁸ After remaining a considerable time longer in Corinth, Paul took leave of the brethren and set sail for Syria; and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had shaved his head at Cenchreae, because he was bound by a vow.

²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, and Priscilla and Aquila, after hearing him, took him home and explained God's way to him more accurately.

¹⁰ This went on for two years, so that all the inhabitants of the province of Asia, Jews as well as Greeks, heard the Lord's Message.

³ Greetings to Prisca and Aquila my fellow labourers in the work of Christ Jesus-- ⁴ friends who have endangered their own lives for mine. I am grateful to them, and not I alone, but all the Gentile Churches also. ⁵ Greetings, too, to the Church that meets at their house. Greetings to my dear Epaenetus, who was the earliest convert to Christ in the province of Asia;

¹⁵ to Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister and Olympas, and to all God's people associated with them.

¹⁵ Christian greetings to the brethren at Laodicea, especially to Nymphas, and to the Church that meets at their house.

¹⁹ Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

² and to our sister Apphia and our comrade Archippus--as well as to the Church in your house.

¹ Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ: To God's own people scattered over the earth, who are living as foreigners in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Roman Asia, and Bithynia,

¹¹ It said, "Write forthwith in a roll an account of what you see, and send it to the seven Churches--to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyateira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."

¹⁶ Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the Churches of Christ send greetings to you.

²³ Gaius, my host, who is also the host of the whole Church, greets you. So do Erastus, the treasurer of the city, and Quartus our brother.

¹² Salute one another with a holy kiss. ¹³ All God's people here send greetings to you.

²² All God's people here greet you--especially the members of Caesar's household.

²⁶ Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

²³ Greetings to you, my brother, from Epaphras my fellow prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus; ²⁴ and from Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

²⁴ Greet all your leaders and all God's people. The brethren from Italy send you greetings.

¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ.

²² I, Tertius, who write this letter, send you Christian greetings.

¹¹ See in what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.

¹⁸ I Paul add with my own hand this final greeting. Be mindful of me in my imprisonment. Grace be with you.

¹⁷ I Paul add the greeting with my own hand, which is the credential in every letter of mine.

¹⁹ I Paul write this with my own hand--I will pay you in full. (I say nothing of the fact that you owe me even your own self.)

³⁷ Any one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and any one who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;

⁴⁰ "But the King will answer them, "'In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you rendered such services to one of the humblest of these my brethren, you rendered them to myself.' ⁴¹ "Then will He say to those at His left, "'Begone from me, with the curse resting upon you, into the Fire of the Ages, which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels.

⁴⁵ "But he will reply, "'In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you withheld such services from one of the humblest of these, you withheld them from me.' ⁴⁶ "And these shall go away into the Punishment of the Ages, but the righteous into the Life of the Ages."

⁴² "If God were your Father," said Jesus, "you would love me; for it is from God that I came and I am now here. I have not come of myself, but *He* sent me.

¹⁵ "If you love me, you will obey my commandments.

²¹ He who has my commandments and obeys them--he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will clearly reveal myself to him."

²³ "If any one loves me," replied Jesus, "he will obey my teaching; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

²⁴ If I had not done among them, as I have, such miracles as no one else ever did, they would have had no sin; but they have in fact seen and also hated both me and my Father.

¹⁴ He will glorify me, because He will take of what is mine and will make it known to you.

¹⁵ When they had finished breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others do?" "Yes, Master," was his answer; "you know that you are dear to me." "Then feed my lambs," replied Jesus. ¹⁶ Again a second time He asked him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Master," he said, "you know that you are dear to me." "Then be a shepherd to my sheep," He said. ¹⁷ A third time Jesus put the question: "Simon, son of John, am I dear to you?" It grieved Peter that Jesus asked him the third time, "Am I dear to you?" "Master," he replied, "you know everything, you can see that you are dear to me." "Then feed my much-loved sheep," said Jesus.

¹⁴ They went to the High Priests and Elders and said to them, "We have bound ourselves under a heavy curse to take no food till we have killed Paul.

³ For I could pray to be accursed from Christ on behalf of my brethren, my human kinsfolk--for such the Israelites are.

³ For this reason I would have you understand that no one speaking under the influence of The Spirit of God ever says, "Jesus is accursed," and that no one is able to say, "Jesus is Lord," except under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

¹⁴ For the love of Christ overmasters us, the conclusion at which we have arrived being this--that One having died for all, His death was their death, ¹⁵ and that He died for all in order that the living may no longer live to themselves, but to Him who died for them and rose again.

⁸ But if even we or an angel from Heaven should bring you a Good News different from that which we have already brought you, let him be accursed. ⁹ What I have just said I repeat--if any one is preaching to you a Good News other than that which you originally received, let him be accursed.

⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any importance; but only faith working through love.

²⁴ May grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with perfect sincerity.

⁸ He will come in flames of fire to take vengeance on those who have no knowledge of God, and do not obey the Good News as to Jesus, our Lord. ⁹ They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, being banished from the presence of the Lord and from His glorious majesty,

⁸ Him you love, though your eyes have never looked on Him. In Him, though at present you cannot see Him, you nevertheless trust, and triumph with a joy which is unspeakable and is crowned with glory,

⁷ To you believers, therefore, that honour belongs; but for unbelievers-- "A STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BEEN MADE THE CORNERSTONE,"

¹⁹ We love because God first loved us.

¹ Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God; and every one who loves the Father loves also Him who is the Father's Child.

¹⁴ It was also about these that Enoch, who belonged to the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "The Lord has come, attended by myriads of His people, to execute judgement upon all, ¹⁵ and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly deeds which in their ungodliness they have committed, and of all the hard words which they, ungodly sinners as they are, have spoken against Him."

²⁰ "He who solemnly declares all this says, "'Yes, I am coming quickly.'" Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

²⁰ And before long, God the giver of peace will crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

¹³ and bring us not into temptation, but rescue us from the Evil one.'

²⁰ and teach them to obey every command which I have given you. And remember, I am with you always, day by day, until the Close of the Age."

¹⁴ I am not writing all this to shame you, but I am offering you advice as my dearly-loved children. ¹⁵ For even if you were to have ten thousand spiritual instructors--for all that you could not have several fathers. It is I who in Christ Jesus became your father through the Good News.

¹⁶ Otherwise, if you bless God in spirit only, how shall he who is in the position of an ungifted man say the 'Amen' to your giving of thanks, when he does not know what your words mean?

¹⁴ Let all that you do be done from motives of love.

¹¹ And why? Because I do not love you? God knows that I do.

¹⁵ And as for me, most gladly will I spend all I have and be utterly spent for your salvation.

⁸ For God is my witness how I yearn over all of you with tender Christian affection.

¹⁹ All whom I hold dear, I reprove and chastise; therefore be in earnest and repent.