Ephesians Cross References - WNT

¹ Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God: To God's people who are in Ephesus--believers in Christ Jesus. ² May grace and peace be granted to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has crowned us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ; ⁴ even as, in His love, He chose us as His own in Christ before the creation of the world, that we might be holy and without blemish in His presence. ⁵ For He pre-destined us to be adopted by Himself as sons through Jesus Christ--such being His gracious will and pleasure-- ⁶ to the praise of the splendour of His grace with which He has enriched us in the beloved One. ⁷ It is in Him, and through the shedding of His blood, that we have our deliverance--the forgiveness of our offences--so abundant was God's grace, ⁸ the grace which He, the possessor of all wisdom and understanding, lavished upon us, ⁹ when He made known to us the secret of His will. And this is in harmony with God's merciful purpose ¹⁰ for the government of the world when the times are ripe for it--the purpose which He has cherished in His own mind of restoring the whole creation to find its one Head in Christ; yes, things in Heaven and things on earth, to find their one Head in Him. ¹¹ In Him we Jews have been made heirs, having been chosen beforehand in accordance with the intention of Him whose might carries out in everything the design of His own will, ¹² so that we should be devoted to the extolling of His glorious attributes--we who were the first to fix our hopes on Christ. ¹³ And in Him you Gentiles also, after listening to the Message of the truth, the Good News of your salvation--having believed in Him--were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit; ¹⁴ that Spirit being a pledge and foretaste of our inheritance, in anticipation of its full redemption--the inheritance which He has purchased to be specially His for the extolling of His glory. ¹⁵ For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which prevails among you, and of your love for all God's people, ¹⁶ offer never ceasing thanks on your behalf while I make mention of you in my prayers. ¹⁷ For I always beseech the God of our Lord Jesus Christ--the Father most glorious--to give you a spirit of wisdom and penetration through an intimate knowledge of Him, ¹⁸ the eyes of your understanding being enlightened so that you may know what is the hope which His call to you inspires, what the wealth of the glory of His inheritance in God's people, ¹⁹ and what the transcendent greatness of His power in us believers as seen in the working of His infinite might ²⁰ when He displayed it in Christ by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His own right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ high above all other government and authority and power and dominion, and every title of sovereignty used either in this Age or in the Age to come. ²² God has put all things under His feet, and has appointed Him universal and supreme Head of the Church, which is His Body, ²³ the completeness of Him who everywhere fills the universe with Himself.

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.

¹⁵ When she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If in your judgement I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she made us go there.

¹ During the stay of Apollos in Corinth, Paul, after passing through the inland districts, came to Ephesus, where he found a few disciples. ² "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you first believed?" he asked them. "No," they replied, "we did not even hear that there is a Holy Spirit." ³ "Into what then were you baptized?" he asked. "Into John's baptism," they replied. ⁴ "John," he said, "administered a baptism of repentance, bidding the people believe on One who was to come after him; namely, on Jesus." ⁵ On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus; ⁶ and when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. ⁷ They numbered in all about twelve men. 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. ¹¹ God also brought about extraordinary miracles through Paul's instrumentality. ¹² Towels or aprons, for instance, which Paul had handled used to be carried to the sick, and they recovered from their ailments, or the evil spirits left them. ¹³ But there were also some wandering Jewish exorcists who undertook to invoke the name of Jesus over those who had the evil spirits, saying, "I command you by that Jesus whom Paul preaches." ¹⁴ There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew of high-priestly family, who were doing this. ¹⁵ "Jesus I know," the evil spirit answered, "and Paul I have heard of, but who are you?" ¹⁶ And the man in whom the evil spirit was sprang on two of them, over-mastered them both, and treated them with such violence, that they fled from the house stripped of their clothes and wounded. ¹⁷ All the people of Ephesus, Jews as well as Greeks, came to know of this. There was widespread terror, and they began to hold the name of the Lord Jesus in high honour. ¹⁸ Many also of those who believed came confessing without reserve what their conduct had been, ¹⁹ and not a few of those who had practised magical arts brought their books together and burnt them in the presence of all. The total value was reckoned and found to be 50,000 silver coins. ²⁰ Thus mightily did the Lord's Message spread and triumph!

¹ Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle, set apart to proclaim God's Good News,

⁷ To all God's loved ones who are in Rome, called to be saints. May grace and peace be granted to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

¹ There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus;

¹ Paul, called to be an Apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God--and our brother Sosthenes: ² To the Church of God in Corinth, men and women consecrated in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-- their Lord as well as ours.

¹² Homes we have none. Wearily we toil, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we bear it patiently;

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.

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 Paul, an Apostle sent not from men nor by any man, but by Jesus Christ and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from among the dead--

⁹ So we see that it is those who possess faith that are blessed with believing Abraham.

²¹ But in order that you also may know how I am doing, Tychicus our dearly-loved brother and faithful helper in the Lord's service will tell you everything.

² To the people of God and the believing brethren at Colossae who are in Christ. May grace and peace be granted to you from God our Father.

¹⁰ Dismiss your fears concerning all that you are about to suffer. I tell you that the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be put to the test, and for ten days you will have to endure persecution. Be faithful to the End, even if you have to die, and then I will give you the victor's Wreath of Life.

¹³ Satan's throne is there; and yet you are true to Me, and did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of Antipas My witness and faithful friend, who was put to death among you, in the place where Satan dwells.

¹⁴ They will make war upon the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them; for He is Lord of lords and King of kings. And those who accompany Him--called, as they are, and chosen, and faithful--shall share in the victory."

² May grace and peace be granted to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ May grace and peace be granted to you from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ To Titus my own true child in our common faith. May grace and peace be granted to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

²⁸ he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

²⁹ What my Father has given me is more precious than all besides; and no one is able to wrest anything from my Father's hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one."

²⁰ At that time you will know that I am in my Father, and that you are in me, and that I am in you.

² Every branch in me--if it bears no fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are cleansed--through the teaching which I have given you. ⁴ Continue in me, and let me continue in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself--that is, if it does not continue in the vine--so neither can you if you do not continue in me. ⁵ I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who continues in me and in whom I continue bears abundant fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

²¹ that they may all be one, even as Thou art in me, O Father, and I am in Thee; that they also may be in us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send me.

¹⁷ "Do not cling to me," said Jesus, "for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But take this message to my brethren: 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

⁵ so collectively we form one body in Christ, while individually we are linked to one another as its members.

⁶ so that with oneness both of heart and voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

³⁰ But you--and it is all God's doing--are in Christ Jesus: He has become for us a wisdom which is from God, consisting of righteousness and sanctification and deliverance;

¹² For just as the human body is one and yet has many parts, and all its parts, many as they are, constitute but one body, so it is with the Church of Christ.

³ Heartfelt thanks be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ--the Father who is full of compassion and the God who gives all comfort.

¹⁷ So that if any one is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old state of things has passed away; a new state of things has come into existence.

²¹ He has made Him who knew nothing of sin to be sin for us, in order that in Him we may become the righteousness of God.

³¹ The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ--He who is blessed throughout the Ages--knows that I am speaking the truth.

¹⁰ for the government of the world when the times are ripe for it--the purpose which He has cherished in His own mind of restoring the whole creation to find its one Head in Christ; yes, things in Heaven and things on earth, to find their one Head in Him.

¹⁷ For I always beseech the God of our Lord Jesus Christ--the Father most glorious--to give you a spirit of wisdom and penetration through an intimate knowledge of Him,

²⁰ when He displayed it in Christ by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His own right hand in the heavenly realms,

⁶ raised us with Him from the dead, and enthroned us with Him in the heavenly realms as being in Christ Jesus,

¹⁰ concealed in order that the Church might now be used to display to the powers and authorities in the heavenly realms the innumerable aspects of God's wisdom.

¹² For ours is not a conflict with mere flesh and blood, but with the despotisms, the empires, the forces that control and govern this dark world--the spiritual hosts of evil arrayed against us in the heavenly warfare.

¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.

⁵ and serve a copy and type of the heavenly things, just as Moses was divinely instructed when about to build the tabernacle. For God said, "SEE THAT YOU MAKE EVERYTHING IN IMITATION OF THE PATTERN SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN."

²³ It was needful therefore that the copies of the things in Heaven should be cleansed in this way, but that the heavenly things themselves should be cleansed with more costly sacrifices.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His great mercy has begotten us anew to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

⁹ And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who is seated on the throne, and lives until the Ages of the Ages, ¹⁰ the twenty-four Elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives until the Ages of the Ages, and they cast their wreaths down in front of the throne, ¹¹ saying, "It is fitting, O our Lord and God, That we should ascribe unto Thee the glory and the honor and the power; For Thou didst create all things, And because it was Thy will they came into existence, and were created."

⁹ And now they sing a new song. "It is fitting," they say, "that Thou shouldst be the One to take the book And break its seals; Because Thou hast been offered in sacrifice, And hast purchased for God with Thine own blood Some out of every tribe and language and people and nation, ¹⁰ And hast formed them into a Kingdom to be priests to our God, And they reign over the earth." ¹¹ And I looked, and heard what seemed to be the voices of countless angels on every side of the throne, and of the living creatures and the Elders. Their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, ¹² and in loud voices they were singing, "It is fitting that the Lamb which has been offered in sacrifice should receive all power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." ¹³ And as for every created thing in Heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and everything that was in any of these, I heard them say, "To Him who is seated on the throne, And to the Lamb, Be ascribed all blessing and honor And glory and might, Until the Ages of the Ages!" ¹⁴ Then the four living creatures said "Amen," and the Elders fell down and worshipped.

²⁵ About that time Jesus exclaimed, "I heartily praise Thee, Father, Lord of Heaven and of earth, that Thou hast hidden these things from sages and men of discernment, and hast unveiled them to babes. ²⁶ Yes, Father, for such has been Thy gracious will.

²² And if those days had not been cut short, no one would escape; but for the sake of God's own People those days will be cut short.

²⁴ For there will rise up false Christs and false prophets, displaying wonderful signs and prodigies, so as to deceive, were it possible, even God's own People.

³¹ And He will send out His angels WITH A LOUD TRUMPET-BLAST, and THEY WILL BRING TOGETHER HIS OWN PEOPLE TO HIM FROM NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST--FROM ONE EXTREMITY OF THE WORLD TO THE OTHER.

³⁴ "Then the King will say to those at His right, "'Come, my Father's blessed ones, receive your inheritance of the Kingdom which has been divinely intended for you ever since the creation of the world.

⁷⁴ To grant us to be rescued from the power of our foes And so render worship to Him free from fear, ⁷⁵ In piety and uprightness before Him all our days.

¹⁶ I have also other sheep--which do not belong to this fold. Those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice; and they shall become one flock under one Shepherd.

¹⁶ It is not you who chose me, but it is I who chose you and appointed you that you might go and be fruitful and that your fruit might remain; so that whatever petition you present to the Father in my name He may give you.

²⁴ "Father, those whom Thou hast given me--I desire that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see the glory--my glory--my gift from Thee, which Thou hast given me because Thou didst love me before the creation of the world.

⁴⁸ The Gentiles listened with delight and extolled the Lord's Message; and all who were pre-destined to the Life of the Ages believed.

¹⁸ SAYS THE LORD, WHO HAS BEEN MAKING THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM AGES LONG PAST.'

¹⁰ I am with you, and no one shall attack you to injure you; for I have very many people in this city."

²⁸ Now we know that for those who love God all things are working together for good--for those, I mean, whom with deliberate purpose He has called. ²⁹ For those whom He has known beforehand He has also pre-destined to bear the likeness of His Son, that He might be the Eldest in a vast family of brothers; ³⁰ and those whom He has pre-destined He also has called; and those whom He has called He has also declared free from guilt; and those whom He has declared free from guilt He has also crowned with glory.

³³ Who shall impeach those whom God has chosen? God declares them free from guilt.

²³ in order to make known His infinite goodness towards the subjects of His mercy whom He has prepared beforehand for glory, ²⁴ even towards us whom He has called not only from among the Jews but also from among the Gentiles?

⁵ In the same way also at the present time there has come to be a remnant whom God in His grace has selected. ⁶ But if it is in His grace that He has selected them, then His choice is no longer determined by human actions. Otherwise grace would be grace no longer.

⁸ who will also keep you stedfast to the very End, so that you will be free from reproach on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

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.

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

¹⁰ For we are God's own handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works which He has pre-destined us to practise.

¹⁷ I pray that Christ may make His home in your hearts through your faith; so that having your roots deep and your foundations strong, in love, you may become mighty to grasp the idea,

² with all lowliness of mind and unselfishness, and with patience, bearing with one another lovingly, and earnestly striving to maintain,

¹⁵ But we shall lovingly hold to the truth, and shall in all respects grow up into union with Him who is our Head, even Christ. ¹⁶ Dependent on Him, the whole body--its various parts closely fitting and firmly adhering to one another-- grows by the aid of every contributory link, with power proportioned to the need of each individual part, so as to build itself up in a spirit of love.

² And live and act lovingly, as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up to death on our behalf as an offering and sacrifice to God, yielding a fragrant odor.

²⁷ that He might present the Church to Himself a glorious bride, without spot or wrinkle or any other defect, but to be holy and unblemished.

¹⁵ so that you may always prove yourselves to be blameless and spotless--irreproachable children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as heavenly lights in the world,

²² He has now, in His human body, reconciled to God by His death, to bring you, holy and faultless and irreproachable, into His presence;

² in order that their hearts may be cheered, they themselves being welded together in love and enjoying all the advantages of a reasonable certainty, till at last they attain the full knowledge of God's truth, which is Christ Himself.

¹² Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own people holy and dearly loved, with tender-heartedness, kindness, lowliness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;

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.

⁷ God has not called us to an unclean life, but to one of purity.

¹³ And from us thanks are always due to God on your behalf--brethren whom the Lord loves--because God from the beginning has chosen you for salvation through the Spirit's sanctifying influence and your belief in the truth. ¹⁴ To this blessing God has called you by our Good News, so that you may have a share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ For He saved us and called us with a holy call, not in accordance with our desserts, but in accordance with His own purpose and the free grace which He bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before the commencement of the Ages,

¹⁰ For this reason I endure all things for the sake of God's own people; so that they also may obtain salvation--even the salvation which is in Christ Jesus--and with it eternal glory.

¹⁹ Yet God's solid foundation stands unmoved, bearing this inscription, "THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO REALLY BELONG TO HIM." And this also, "LET EVERY ONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF THE LORD RENOUNCE ALL WICKEDNESS."

¹ Paul, a bondservant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ for building up the faith of God's own people and spreading a full knowledge of the truths of religion, ² in hope of the Life of the Ages which God, who is never false to His word, promised before the commencement of the Ages.

¹¹ For the grace of God has displayed itself with healing power to all mankind, ¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and all the pleasures of this world, and to live sober, upright, and pious lives at the present time,

⁵ Listen, my dearly-loved brethren. Has not God chosen those whom the world regards as poor to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which He has promised to those that love Him?

² chosen in accordance with the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, with a view to their obedience and to their being sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May more and more grace and peace be granted to you.

²⁰ He was pre-destined indeed to this work, even before the creation of the world, but has been plainly manifested in these last days for the sake of you who, through Him,

⁹ But you are a chosen race, a priesthood of kingly lineage, a holy nation, a people belonging specially to God, that you may make known the perfections of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.

⁵ But for this very reason--adding, on your part, all earnestness-- along with your faith, manifest also a noble character: along with a noble character, knowledge; ⁶ along with knowledge, self-control; along with self-control, power of endurance; ⁷ along with power of endurance, godliness; along with godliness, brotherly affection; and along with brotherly affection, love. ⁸ If these things exist in you, and continually increase, they prevent your being either idle or unfruitful in advancing towards a full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For the man in whom they are lacking is blind and cannot see distant objects, in that he has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his old sins. ¹⁰ For this reason, brethren, be all the more in earnest to make sure that God has called you and chosen you; for it is certain that so long as you practise these things, you will never stumble.

¹⁴ Therefore, dear friends, since you have these expectations, earnestly seek to be found in His presence, free from blemish or reproach, in peace.

¹⁶ And, as for us, we know the love which God has for us, and we confide in it. God is love, and he who continues to love continues in union with God, and God continues in union with him.

⁸ And all the inhabitants of the earth will be found to be worshipping him: every one whose name is not recorded in the Book of Life--the Book of the Lamb who has been offered in sacrifice ever since the creation of the world.

⁸ "The Wild Beast which you have seen was, and is not, and yet is destined to re-ascend, before long, out of the bottomless pit and go his way into perdition. And the inhabitants of the earth will be filled with amazement--all whose names are not in the Book of Life, having been recorded there ever since the creation of the world--when they see the Wild Beast: because he was, and is not, and yet is to come.

²⁵ but did not live with her until she had given birth to a son. The child's name he called JESUS.

²⁶ Yes, Father, for such has been Thy gracious will.

²¹ On that same occasion Jesus was filled by the Holy Spirit with rapturous joy. "I give Thee fervent thanks," He exclaimed, "O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that Thou hast hidden these things from sages and men of understanding, and hast revealed them to babes. Yes, Father, for such has been Thy gracious will.

³² There will stand up men of Nineveh at the Judgement together with the present generation, and will condemn it; because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and mark! One greater than Jonah is here.

¹² But all who have received Him, to them--that is, to those who trust in His name--He has given the privilege of becoming children of God;

⁵² and not for the nation only, but in order to unite into one body all the far-scattered children of God.

¹⁴ For those who are led by God's Spirit are, all of them, God's sons. ¹⁵ You have not for the second time acquired the consciousness of being--a consciousness which fills you with terror. But you have acquired a deep inward conviction of having been adopted as sons--a conviction which prompts us to cry aloud, "Abba! our Father!" ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself bears witness, along with our own spirits, to the fact that we are children of God; ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs too--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ; if indeed we are sharers in Christ's sufferings, in order that we may also be sharers in His glory.

²³ And more than that, we ourselves, though we possess the Spirit as a foretaste and pledge of the glorious future, yet we ourselves inwardly sigh, as we wait and long for open recognition as sons through the deliverance of our bodies.

¹¹ and even then, though they were not then born and had not done anything either good or evil, yet in order that God's electing purpose might not be frustrated, based, as it was, not on their actions but on the will of Him who called them, she was told, ¹² "THE ELDER OF THEM WILL BE BONDSERVANT TO THE YOUNGER." ¹³ This agrees with the other Scripture which says, "JACOB I HAVE LOVED, BUT ESAU I HAVE HATED." ¹⁴ What then are we to infer? That there is injustice in God? ¹⁵ No, indeed; the solution is found in His words to Moses, "WHEREVER I SHOW MERCY IT SHALL BE NOTHING BUT MERCY, AND WHEREVER I SHOW COMPASSION IT SHALL BE SIMPLY COMPASSION." ¹⁶ And from this we learn that everything is dependent not on man's will or endeavour, but upon God who has mercy. For the Scripture said to Pharaoh,

¹ Paul, called to be an Apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God--and our brother Sosthenes:

²¹ For after the world by its wisdom--as God in His wisdom had ordained--had failed to gain the knowledge of God, God was pleased, by the apparent foolishness of the Message which we preach, to save those who accepted it.

¹⁸ AND YOU SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS,' SAYS THE LORD THE RULER OF ALL."

²⁶ You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus;

⁵ in order to purchase the freedom of all who were subject to Law, so that we might receive recognition as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of His Son to enter your hearts and cry "Abba! our Father!"

⁹ when He made known to us the secret of His will. And this is in harmony with God's merciful purpose

¹¹ In Him we Jews have been made heirs, having been chosen beforehand in accordance with the intention of Him whose might carries out in everything the design of His own will,

¹³ For it is God Himself whose power creates within you the desire to do His gracious will and also brings about the accomplishment of the desire.

¹¹ It is with this view also that we continually pray to our God for you, asking that He will count you worthy of His call, and by His mighty power fully gratify your every desire for what is truly good and make your work of faith complete;

¹⁰ For it was fitting that He for whom, and through whom, all things exist, after He had brought many sons to glory, should perfect by suffering the Prince Leader who had saved them. ¹¹ For both He who sanctifies and those whom He is sanctifying have all one Father; and for this reason He is not ashamed to speak of them as His brothers; ¹² as when He says: "I WILL PROCLAIM THY NAME TO MY BROTHERS: IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL HYMN THY PRAISES;" ¹³ and again, "AS FOR ME, I WILL BE ONE WHOSE TRUST REPOSES IN GOD;" and again, "HERE AM I, AND HERE ARE THE CHILDREN GOD HAS GIVEN ME." ¹⁴ Since then the children referred to are all alike sharers in perishable human nature, He Himself also, in the same way, took on Him a share of it, in order that through death He might render powerless him who had authority over death, that is, the Devil, ¹⁵ and might set at liberty all those who through fear of death had been subject to lifelong slavery.

⁵ and you have quite forgotten the encouraging words which are addressed to you as sons, and which say, "MY SON, DO NOT THINK LIGHTLY OF THE LORD'S DISCIPLINE, AND DO NOT FAINT WHEN HE CORRECTS YOU; ⁶ FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES: AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE ACKNOWLEDGES." ⁷ The sufferings that you are enduring are for your discipline. God is dealing with you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ And if you are left without discipline, of which every true son has had a share, that shows that you are bastards, and not true sons. ⁹ Besides this, our earthly fathers used to discipline us and we treated them with respect, and shall we not be still more submissive to the Father of our spirits, and live?

¹ See what marvellous love the Father has bestowed upon us--that we should be called God's children: and that is what we are. For this reason the world does not recognize us--because it has not known Him.

⁷ All this shall be the heritage of him who overcomes, and I will be his God and he shall be one of My sons.

¹⁷ while a voice came from Heaven, saying, "This is My Son, the dearly loved, in whom is My delight."

⁵ He was still speaking when a luminous cloud spread over them; and a voice was heard from within the cloud, which said, "This is My Son dearly beloved, in whom is My delight. Listen to Him."

¹⁴ "Glory be to God in the highest Heavens, And on earth peace among men who please Him!"

³⁵ The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything to His hands.

¹⁷ For this reason my Father loves me, because I am laying down my life in order to receive it back again.

²² a righteousness coming from God, which depends on faith in Jesus Christ and extends to all who believe. No distinction is made; ²³ for all alike have sinned, and all consciously come short of the glory of God, ²⁴ gaining acquittal from guilt by His free unpurchased grace through the deliverance which is found in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ He it is whom God put forward as a Mercy-seat, rendered efficacious through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness-- because of the passing over, in God's forbearance, of the sins previously committed-- ²⁶ with a view to demonstrating, at the present time, His righteousness, that He may be shown to be righteous Himself, and the giver of righteousness to those who believe in Jesus.

¹⁵ But God's free gift immeasurably outweighs the transgression. For if through the transgression of the one individual the mass of mankind have died, infinitely greater is the generosity with which God's grace, and the gift given in His grace which found expression in the one man Jesus Christ, have been bestowed on the mass of mankind. ¹⁶ And it is not with the gift as it was with the results of one individual's sin; for the judgement which one individual provoked resulted in condemnation, whereas the free gift after a multitude of transgressions results in acquittal. ¹⁷ For if, through the transgression of the one individual, Death made use of the one individual to seize the sovereignty, all the more shall those who receive God's overflowing grace and gift of righteousness reign as kings in Life through the one individual, Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ It follows then that just as the result of a single transgression is a condemnation which extends to the whole race, so also the result of a single decree of righteousness is a life-giving acquittal which extends to the whole race. ¹⁹ For as through the disobedience of the one individual the mass of mankind were constituted sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the mass of mankind will be constituted righteous.

¹⁵ For everything is for your sakes, in order that grace, being more richly bestowed because of the thanksgivings of the increased number, may more and more promote the glory of God.

⁷ It is in Him, and through the shedding of His blood, that we have our deliverance--the forgiveness of our offences--so abundant was God's grace, ⁸ the grace which He, the possessor of all wisdom and understanding, lavished upon us,

¹² so that we should be devoted to the extolling of His glorious attributes--we who were the first to fix our hopes on Christ.

¹⁴ that Spirit being a pledge and foretaste of our inheritance, in anticipation of its full redemption--the inheritance which He has purchased to be specially His for the extolling of His glory.

¹⁸ the eyes of your understanding being enlightened so that you may know what is the hope which His call to you inspires, what the wealth of the glory of His inheritance in God's people,

⁷ in order that, by His goodness to us in Christ Jesus, He might display in the Ages to come the transcendent riches of His grace.

¹⁰ concealed in order that the Church might now be used to display to the powers and authorities in the heavenly realms the innumerable aspects of God's wisdom. ¹¹ Such was the eternal purpose which He had formed in Christ Jesus our Lord,

¹¹ being filled with these fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ-- to the glory and praise of God.

⁹ not having a righteousness of my own, derived from the Law, but that which arises from faith in Christ--the righteousness which comes from God through faith.

¹⁹ But my God--so great is His wealth of glory in Christ Jesus--will fully supply every need of yours.

¹³ It is God who has delivered us out of the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us into the Kingdom of His dearly-loved Son,

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, ¹⁰ when He comes on that day to be glorified in His people and to be wondered at among all who have believed, including you--because you believed the testimony which we brought for your acceptance.

¹⁴ and the grace of our Lord came to me in overflowing fulness, conferring faith on me and the love which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Faithful is the saying, and deserving of universal acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; among whom I stand foremost. ¹⁶ But mercy was shown me in order that in me as the foremost of sinners Christ Jesus might display the fulness of His long-suffering patience as an example to encourage those who would afterwards be resting their faith on Him with a view to the Life of the Ages.

⁵ And be yourselves also like living stones that are being built up into a spiritual house, to become a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

¹¹ If any one preaches, let it be as uttering God's truth; if any one renders a service to others, let it be in the strength which God supplies; so that in everything glory may be given to God in the name of Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the might to the Ages of the Ages. Amen.

²⁸ just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as the redemption-price for many."

²⁸ for this is my blood which is to be poured out for many for the remission of sins--the blood which ratifies the Covenant.

²⁴ "This is my blood," He said, "which is to be poured out on behalf of many--the blood which makes the Covenant sure.

⁷⁷ To give to His People a knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,

⁴⁰ In answer to his thoughts Jesus said to him, "Simon, I have a word to say to you." "Rabbi, say on," he replied. ⁴¹ "There were once two men in debt to one money-lender," said Jesus; "one owed him five hundred shillings and the other fifty. ⁴² But neither of them could pay anything; so he freely forgave them both. Tell me, then, which of them will love him most?"

⁴⁷ This is the reason why I tell you that her sins, her many sins, are forgiven--because she has loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." ⁴⁸ And He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." ⁴⁹ Then the other guests began to say to themselves, "Who can this man be who even forgives sins?" ⁵⁰ But He said to the woman, "Your faith has cured you: go, and be at peace."

⁴⁷ and that proclamation would be made, in His name, of repentance and forgiveness of sins to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

²³ If you remit the sins of any persons, they remain remitted to them. If you bind fast the sins of any, they remain bound."

³⁸ "Repent," replied Peter, "and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, with a view to the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

¹⁹ Repent, therefore, and reform your lives, so that the record of your sins may be cancelled, and that there may come seasons of revival from the Lord,

⁴³ To Him all the Prophets bear witness, and testify that through His name all who believe in Him receive the forgiveness of their sins."

³⁸ "Understand therefore, brethren, that through this Jesus forgiveness of sins is announced to you; ³⁹ and in Him every believer is absolved from all offences, from which you could not be absolved under the Law of Moses.

²⁸ "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has placed you to take the oversight for Him and act as shepherds to the Church of God, which He has bought with His own blood.

⁴ Or is it that you think slightingly of His infinite goodness, forbearance and patience, unaware that the goodness of God is gently drawing you to repentance?

²⁴ gaining acquittal from guilt by His free unpurchased grace through the deliverance which is found in Christ Jesus.

⁶ In this way David also tells of the blessedness of the man to whose credit God places righteousness, apart from his actions. ⁷ "BLESSED," he says, "ARE THOSE WHOSE INIQUITIES HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED OVER. ⁸ BLESSED IS THE MAN OF WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE ACCOUNT." ⁹ This declaration of blessedness, then, does it come simply to the circumcised, or to the uncircumcised as well? For ABRAHAM'S FAITH --so we affirm--WAS PLACED TO HIS CREDIT AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

²³ in order to make known His infinite goodness towards the subjects of His mercy whom He has prepared beforehand for glory,

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.

⁶ to the praise of the splendour of His grace with which He has enriched us in the beloved One.

⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of the intense love which He bestowed on us,

⁸ To me who am less than the least of all God's people has this work been graciously entrusted--to proclaim to the Gentiles the Good News of the exhaustless wealth of Christ,

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.

¹⁴ in whom we have our redemption--the forgiveness of our sins.

²⁷ to whom it was His will to make known how vast a wealth of glory for the Gentile world is implied in this truth--the truth that 'Christ is in you, the hope of glory.'

¹³ And to you--dead as you once were in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your natural state--He has nevertheless given Life with Himself, having forgiven us all our transgressions.

⁶ who gave Himself as the redemption price for all--a fact testified to at its own appointed time,

¹⁴ who gave Himself for us to purchase our freedom from all iniquity, and purify for Himself a people who should be specially His own, zealous for doing good works.

⁶ which He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

¹² and once for all entered the Holy place, taking with Him not the blood of goats and calves, but His own blood, and thus procuring eternal redemption for us. ¹³ For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have contracted defilement make them holy so as to bring about ceremonial purity, ¹⁴ how much more certainly shall the blood of Christ, who strengthened by the eternal Spirit offered Himself to God, free from blemish, purify your consciences from lifeless works for you to serve the ever-living God? ¹⁵ And because of this He is the negotiator of a new Covenant, in order that, since a life has been given in atonement for the offences committed under the first Covenant, those who have been called may receive the eternal inheritance which has been promised to them.

²² Indeed we may almost say that in obedience to the Law everything is sprinkled with blood, and that apart from the outpouring of blood there is no remission of sins.

⁴ For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. ⁵ That is why, when He comes into the world, He says, "SACRIFICE AND OFFERING THOU HAS NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY THOU HAST PREPARED FOR ME. ⁶ IN WHOLE BURNT-OFFERINGS AND IN SIN-OFFERINGS THOU HAST TAKEN NO PLEASURE. ⁷ THEN I SAID, 'I HAVE COME--IN THE ROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN CONCERNING ME--TO DO THY WILL, O GOD.'" ⁸ After saying the words I have just quoted, "SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS OR WHOLE BURNT-OFFERINGS AND SIN-OFFERINGS THOU HAST NOT DESIRED OR TAKEN PLEASURE IN" --all such being offered in obedience to the Law-- ⁹ He then adds, "I HAVE COME TO DO THY WILL." He does away with the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰ It is through that divine will that we have been set free from sin, through the offering of Jesus Christ as our sacrifice once for all. ¹¹ And while every priest stands ministering, day after day, and constantly offering the same sacrifices--though such can never rid us of our sins-- ¹² this Priest, on the contrary, after offering for sins a single sacrifice of perpetual efficacy, took His seat at God's right hand,

¹⁷ He adds, "AND THEIR SINS AND OFFENCES I WILL REMEMBER NO LONGER." ¹⁸ But where these have been forgiven no further offering for sin is required.

¹⁸ knowing, as you do, that it was not with a ransom of perishable wealth, such as silver or gold, that you were set free from your frivolous habits of life which had been handed down to you from your forefathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ--as of an unblemished and spotless lamb.

²⁴ The burden of our sins He Himself carried in His own body to the Cross and bore it there, so that we, having died so far as our sins are concerned, may live righteous lives. By His wounds yours have been healed.

¹⁸ because Christ also once for all died for sins, the innocent One for the guilty many, in order to bring us to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,

⁷ But 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. ⁸ If we claim to be already free from sin, we lead ourselves astray and the truth has no place in our hearts. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is so faithful and just that He forgives us our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

² and He is an atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

¹² I am writing to you, dear children, because for His sake your sins are forgiven you.

¹⁰ This is love indeed--we did not love God, but He loved us and sent His Son to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

⁹ And now they sing a new song. "It is fitting," they say, "that Thou shouldst be the One to take the book And break its seals; Because Thou hast been offered in sacrifice, And hast purchased for God with Thine own blood Some out of every tribe and language and people and nation,

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.

¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they exclaim, 'See this man! --given to gluttony and tippling, and a friend of tax-gatherers and notorious sinners!' And yet Wisdom is vindicated by her actions."

¹⁵ But God's free gift immeasurably outweighs the transgression. For if through the transgression of the one individual the mass of mankind have died, infinitely greater is the generosity with which God's grace, and the gift given in His grace which found expression in the one man Jesus Christ, have been bestowed on the mass of mankind.

²⁰ Now Law was brought in later on, so that transgression might increase. But where sin increased, grace has overflowed; ²¹ in order that as sin has exercised kingly sway in inflicting death, so grace, too, may exercise kingly sway in bestowing a righteousness which results in the Life of the Ages through Jesus Christ our Lord.

³³ Oh, how inexhaustible are God's resources and God's wisdom and God's knowledge! How impossible it is to search into His decrees or trace His footsteps!

¹⁹ For so it stands written, "I WILL EXHIBIT THE NOTHINGNESS OF THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE INTELLIGENT I WILL BRING TO NOUGHT." ²⁰ Where is your wise man? Where your expounder of the Law? Where your investigator of the questions of this present age? Has not God shown the world's wisdom to be utter foolishness? ²¹ For after the world by its wisdom--as God in His wisdom had ordained--had failed to gain the knowledge of God, God was pleased, by the apparent foolishness of the Message which we preach, to save those who accepted it. ²² Seeing that Jews demand miracles, and Greeks go in search of wisdom, ²³ while we proclaim a Christ who has been crucified--to the Jews a stumbling-block, to Gentiles foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who have received the Call, whether Jews or Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

⁷ But in dealing with truths hitherto kept secret we speak of God's wisdom--that hidden wisdom which, before the world began, God pre-destined, so that it should result in glory to us;

³ In Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are stored up, hidden from view.

²⁵ to the only God our Saviour--through Jesus Christ our Lord, be ascribed glory, majesty, might, and authority, as it was before all time, is now, and shall be to all the Ages! Amen.

¹² and in loud voices they were singing, "It is fitting that the Lamb which has been offered in sacrifice should receive all power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."

¹¹ "Because," He replied, "while to you it is granted to know the secrets of the Kingdom of the Heavens, to them it is not.

²³ delivered up through God's settled purpose and foreknowledge--you by the hands of Gentiles have nailed to a cross and have put to death.

²⁸ to do all that Thy power and Thy will had predetermined should be done.

²⁸ Now we know that for those who love God all things are working together for good--for those, I mean, whom with deliberate purpose He has called.

²⁵ To Him who has it in His power to make you strong, as declared in the Good News which I am spreading, and the proclamation concerning Jesus Christ, in harmony with the unveiling of the Truth which in the periods of past Ages remained unuttered, ²⁶ but has now been brought fully to light, and by the command of the God of the Ages has been made known by the writings of the Prophets among all the Gentiles to win them to obedience to the faith-- ²⁷ to God, the only wise, through Jesus Christ, even to Him be the glory through all the Ages! Amen.

¹⁰ For us, however, God has drawn aside the veil through the teaching of the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, including the depths of the divine nature. ¹¹ For, among human beings, who knows a man's inner thoughts except the man's own spirit within him? In the same way, also, only God's Spirit is acquainted with God's inner thoughts. ¹² But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which comes forth from God, that we may know the blessings that have been so freely given to us by God.

¹² For, in fact, it was not from man that I received or learnt it, but by a revelation from Jesus Christ.

¹⁶ saw fit to reveal His Son within me in order that I might tell among the Gentiles the Good News concerning Him, at once I did not confer with any human being, ¹⁷ For I always beseech the God of our Lord Jesus Christ--the Father most glorious--to give you a spirit of wisdom and penetration through an intimate knowledge of Him, ¹⁸ the eyes of your understanding being enlightened so that you may know what is the hope which His call to you inspires, what the wealth of the glory of His inheritance in God's people,

³ and that by a revelation the truth hitherto kept secret was made known to me as I have already briefly explained it to you. ⁴ By means of that explanation, as you read it, you can judge of my insight into the truth of Christ ⁵ which in earlier ages was not made known to the human race, as it has now been revealed to His holy Apostles and Prophets through the Spirit-- ⁶ I mean the truth that the Gentiles are joint heirs with us Jews, and that they form one body with us, and have the same interest as we have in the promise which has been made good in Christ Jesus through the Good News, ⁷ in which I have been appointed to serve, in virtue of the work which God, in the exercise of His power within me, has graciously entrusted to me. ⁸ To me who am less than the least of all God's people has this work been graciously entrusted--to proclaim to the Gentiles the Good News of the exhaustless wealth of Christ, ⁹ and to show all men in a clear light what my stewardship is. It is the stewardship of the truth which from all the Ages lay concealed in the mind of God, the Creator of all things--

¹¹ Such was the eternal purpose which He had formed in Christ Jesus our Lord,

²⁶ the truth which has been kept secret from all ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His people, ²⁷ to whom it was His will to make known how vast a wealth of glory for the Gentile world is implied in this truth--the truth that 'Christ is in you, the hope of glory.' ²⁸ Him we preach, admonishing every one and instructing every one, with all possible wisdom, so that we may bring every one into God's presence, made perfect through Christ.

¹⁶ And, beyond controversy, great is the mystery of our religion-- that Christ appeared in human form, and His claims justified by the Spirit, was seen by angels and proclaimed among Gentile nations, was believed on in the world, and received up again into glory.

³² and all the nations will be gathered into His presence. And He will separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

¹⁵ "The time has fully come," He said, "and the Kingdom of God is close at hand: repent, and believe this Good News.

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; ²³ and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

¹¹ All this kept happening to them with a figurative meaning; but it was put on record by way of admonition to us upon whom the ends of the Ages have come.

³ I would have you know, however, that of every man, Christ is the Head, that of a woman her husband is the Head, and that God is Christ's Head.

⁴ But, when the time was fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born subject to Law,

²² God has put all things under His feet, and has appointed Him universal and supreme Head of the Church, which is His Body,

¹⁵ by setting aside the Law with its commandments, expressed, as they were, in definite decrees. His design was to unite the two sections of humanity in Himself so as to form one new man,

¹⁵ from whom the whole family in Heaven and on earth derives its name,

⁹ It is in consequence of this that God has also so highly exalted Him, and has conferred on Him the Name which is supreme above every other, ¹⁰ in order that in the Name of JESUS every knee should bow, of beings in Heaven, of those on the earth, and of those in the underworld,

¹⁶ For in Him was created the universe of things in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, thrones, dominions, princedoms, powers--all were created, and exist through and for Him.

²⁰ And God purposed through Him to reconcile the universe to Himself, making peace through His blood, which was shed upon the Cross--to reconcile to Himself through Him, I say, things on earth and things in Heaven.

¹¹ In that new creation there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free man, but Christ is everything and is in all of us.

² has at the end of these days spoken to us through a Son, who is the pre-destined Lord of the universe, and through whom He made the Ages.

¹⁰ For their efficacy depends only on meats and drinks and various washings, ceremonies pertaining to the body and imposed until a time of reformation.

⁴⁰ for God had provided for them and us something better, so that apart from us they were not to attain to full blessedness.

²² On the contrary you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the ever-living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to countless hosts of angels, ²³ to the great festal gathering and Church of the first-born, whose names are recorded in Heaven, and to a Judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, ²⁴ and to Jesus the negotiator of a new Covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks in more gracious tones than that of Abel.

⁴ When the sealing was finished, I heard how many were sealed out of the tribes of the descendants of Israel. They were 144,000. ⁵ Of the tribe of Judah, 12,000 were sealed; Of the tribe of Reuben, 12,000; Of the tribe of Gad, 12,000; ⁶ Of the tribe of Asher, 12,000; Of the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000; Of the tribe of Manasseh, 12,000; ⁷ Of the tribe of Symeon, 12,000; Of the tribe of Levi, 12,000; Of the tribe of Issachar, 12,000; ⁸ Of the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000; Of the tribe of Joseph, 12,000; Of the tribe of Benjamin, 12,000. ⁹ After this I looked, and a vast host appeared which it was impossible for anyone to count, gathered out of every nation and from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in long white robes, and carrying palm-branches in their hands. ¹⁰ In loud voices they were exclaiming, "It is to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, that we owe our salvation!" ¹¹ All the angels were standing in a circle round the throne and round the Elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces in front of the throne and worshipped God. ¹² "Even so!" they cried: "The blessing and the glory and the wisdom and the thanks and the honor and the power and the might are to be ascribed to our God, until the Ages of the Ages! Even so!"

⁴ And the twenty-four Elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God who sits upon the throne. "Even so," they said; "Hallelujah!" ⁵ And from the throne there came a voice which said, "Praise our God, all you His bondservants--you who fear Him, both the small and the great." ⁶ And I seemed to hear the voices of a great multitude and the sound of many waters and of loud peals of thunder, which said, "Hallelujah! Because the Lord our God, the Ruler of all, has become King.

²⁷ For I have not shrunk from declaring to you God's whole truth.

³² "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace. He is able to build you up and to give you your inheritance among His people.

¹⁸ that they may turn from darkness to light and from the obedience to Satan to God, in order to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified through faith in Me.'

¹⁷ and if children, then heirs too--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ; if indeed we are sharers in Christ's sufferings, in order that we may also be sharers in His glory.

³⁴ "WHO HAS EVER KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR SHARED HIS COUNSELS?"

¹⁸ For if the inheritance comes through obedience to Law, it no longer comes because of a promise. But, as a matter of fact, God has granted it to Abraham in fulfilment of a promise.

⁵ For He pre-destined us to be adopted by Himself as sons through Jesus Christ--such being His gracious will and pleasure--

⁸ the grace which He, the possessor of all wisdom and understanding, lavished upon us,

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.

²⁴ For you know that it is from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. Christ is the Master whose bondservants you are.

⁷ in order that having been declared righteous through His grace we might become heirs to the Life of the Ages in fulfilment of our hopes.

¹⁷ In the same way, since it was God's desire to display more convincingly to the heirs of the promise how unchangeable His purpose was,

⁴ to an inheritance imperishable, undefiled and unfading, which has been reserved in Heaven for you,

⁹ not requiting evil with evil nor abuse with abuse, but, on the contrary, giving a blessing in return, because a blessing is what you have been called by God to inherit.

¹⁸ "THIS IS MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN, MY DEARLY LOVED ONE IN WHOM MY SOUL TAKES PLEASURE. I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE WILL ANNOUNCE JUSTICE TO THE NATIONS. ¹⁹ HE WILL NOT WRANGLE OR RAISE HIS VOICE, NOR WILL HIS VOICE BE HEARD IN THE BROADWAYS. ²⁰ A CRUSHED REED HE WILL NOT UTTERLY BREAK, NOR WILL HE QUENCH THE STILL SMOULDERING WICK, UNTIL HE HAS LED ON JUSTICE TO VICTORY. ²¹ AND ON HIS NAME SHALL THE NATIONS REST THEIR HOPES."

¹ "Let not your hearts be troubled. Trust in God: trust in me also.

¹² And again Isaiah says, "THERE SHALL BE THE ROOT OF JESSE AND ONE WHO RISES UP TO RULE THE GENTILES. ON HIM SHALL THE GENTILES BUILD THEIR HOPES." ¹³ May God, the giver of hope, fill you with continual joy and peace because you trust in Him--so that you may have abundant hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

¹³ And in Him you Gentiles also, after listening to the Message of the truth, the Good News of your salvation--having believed in Him--were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit; ¹⁴ that Spirit being a pledge and foretaste of our inheritance, in anticipation of its full redemption--the inheritance which He has purchased to be specially His for the extolling of His glory.

²¹ to Him be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, world without end! Amen.

¹³ And from us thanks are always due to God on your behalf--brethren whom the Lord loves--because God from the beginning has chosen you for salvation through the Spirit's sanctifying influence and your belief in the truth.

¹² That indeed is the reason why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know in whom my trust reposes, and I am confident that He has it in His power to keep what I have entrusted to Him safe until that day.

¹⁸ In accordance with His will He made us His children through the Message of the truth, so that we might, in a sense, be the Firstfruits of the things which He has created.

²¹ are faithful to God, who raised Him from among the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are resting upon God.

¹⁵ Then He said to them, "Go the whole world over, and proclaim the Good News to all mankind. ¹⁶ He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who disbelieves will be condemned.

¹³ If you then, with all your human frailty, know how to give your children gifts that are good for them, how much more certainly will your Father who is in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

⁴⁹ And remember that I am about to send out my Father's promised gift to rest upon you. But, as for you, wait patiently in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

¹⁷ For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

²⁷ Bestow your pains not on the food which perishes, but on the food that remains unto the Life of the Ages--that food which will be the Son of Man's gift to you; for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal."

¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be for ever with you--the Spirit of truth. ¹⁷ That Spirit the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him. You know Him, because He remains by your side and is in you.

²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will teach you everything, and will bring to your memories all that I have said to you.

²⁶ "When the Advocate is come whom I will send to you from the Father's presence--the Spirit of Truth who comes forth from the Father's presence--He will be a witness concerning me.

⁷ "Yet it is the truth that I am telling you--it is to your advantage that I go away. For unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. ⁸ And He, when He comes, will convict the world in respect of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement; -- ⁹ of sin, because they do not believe in me; ¹⁰ of righteousness, because I am going to the Father, and you will no longer see me; ¹¹ of judgement, because the Prince of this world is under sentence. ¹² "I have much more to say to you, but you are unable at present to bear the burden of it. ¹³ But when He has come--the Spirit of Truth--He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak as Himself originating what He says, but all that He hears He will speak, and He will make known the future to you. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, because He will take of what is mine and will make it known to you. ¹⁵ Everything that the Father has is mine; that is why I said that the Spirit of Truth takes of what is mine and will make it known to you.

⁴ And while in their company He charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father's promised gift. "This you have heard of," He said, "from me.

¹⁶ But that which was predicted through the Prophet Joel has happened: ¹⁷ "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, GOD SAYS, THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL HAVE DREAMS; ¹⁸ AND EVEN UPON MY BONDSERVANTS, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, AT THAT TIME, I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT, AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY. ¹⁹ I WILL DISPLAY MARVELS IN THE SKY ABOVE, AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, BLOOD AND FIRE, AND PILLARS OF SMOKE. ²⁰ THE SUN SHALL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, TO USHER IN THE DAY OF THE LORD-- THAT GREAT AND ILLUSTRIOUS DAY; ²¹ AND EVERY ONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.' ²² "Listen, Israelites, to what I say. Jesus, the Nazarene, a man accredited to you from God by miracles and marvels and signs which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know, Him--

³³ "Being therefore lifted high by the mighty hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out this which you see and hear.

²⁶ "Brethren, descendants of the family of Abraham, and all among you who fear God, to us has this Message of salvation been sent.

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the Good News. It is God's power which is at work for the salvation of every one who believes--the Jew first, and then the Gentile.

¹¹ Before, not after. And he received circumcision as a sign, a mark attesting the reality of the faith-righteousness which was his while still uncircumcised, that he might be the forefather of all those who believe even though they are uncircumcised--in order that this righteousness might be placed to their credit;

¹⁷ But thanks be to God that though you were once in thraldom to Sin, you have now yielded a hearty obedience to that system of truth in which you have been instructed.

¹⁴ But how are they to call on One in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in One whose voice they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how are men to preach unless they have been sent to do so? As it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD!" ¹⁶ But, some will say, they have not all hearkened to the Good News. No, for Isaiah asks, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED THE MESSAGE THEY HAVE HEARD FROM US?" ¹⁷ And this proves that faith comes from a Message heard, and that the Message comes through its having been spoken by Christ.

²² and He has also set His seal upon us, and has put His Spirit into our hearts as a pledge and foretaste of future blessing.

⁷ by the proclamation of the truth, by the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness, wielded in both hands;

¹⁴ Our freedom has been thus purchased in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing belonging to Abraham may come upon the nations, so that through faith we may receive the promised Spirit.

¹¹ Therefore, do not forget that formerly you were Gentiles as to your bodily condition. You were called the Uncircumcision by those who style themselves the Circumcised--their circumcision being one which the knife has effected. ¹² At that time you were living apart from Christ, estranged from the Commonwealth of Israel, with no share by birth in the Covenants which are based on the Promises, and you had no hope and no God, in all the world.

²¹ if at least you have heard His voice and in Him have been taught--and this is true Christian teaching--

³⁰ And beware of grieving the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you have been sealed in preparation for the day of Redemption.

⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you cherish towards all God's people, ⁵ on account of the hope treasured up for you in Heaven. Of this hope you have already heard in the Message of the truth of the Good News. ⁶ For it has reached you, and remains with you, just as it has also spread through the whole world, yielding fruit there and increasing, as it has done among you from the day when first you heard it and came really to know the grace of God,

²¹ And you, estranged as you once were and even hostile in your minds, amidst your evil deeds, ²² He has now, in His human body, reconciled to God by His death, to bring you, holy and faultless and irreproachable, into His presence; 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.

¹³ And for this further reason we render unceasing thanks to God, that when you received God's Message from our lips, it was as no mere message from men that you embraced it, but as--what it really is--God's Message, which also does its work in the hearts of you who believe.

¹⁵ Earnestly seek to commend yourself to God as a servant who, because of his straightforward dealing with the word of truth, has no reason to feel any shame.

¹⁵ and that from infancy you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise to obtain salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

¹¹ For the grace of God has displayed itself with healing power to all mankind,

³ how shall *we* escape if we are indifferent to a salvation as great as that now offered to us? This, after having first of all been announced by the Lord Himself, had its truth made sure to us by those who heard Him,

¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not found mercy, but now you have.

² And I saw another angel coming from the east and carrying a seal belonging to the ever-living God. He called in a loud voice to the four angels whose work it was to injure the earth and the sea.

²⁸ But when all this is beginning to take place, grieve no longer. Lift up your heads, because your deliverance is drawing near."

⁵ And He who formed us with this very end in view is God, who has given us His Spirit as a pledge and foretaste of that bliss.

⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of His Son to enter your hearts and cry "Abba! our Father!"

⁶ to the praise of the splendour of His grace with which He has enriched us in the beloved One. ⁷ It is in Him, and through the shedding of His blood, that we have our deliverance--the forgiveness of our offences--so abundant was God's grace,

³ We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, constantly praying for you as we do, ⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you cherish towards all God's people,

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 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;

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.

¹⁴ and the grace of our Lord came to me in overflowing fulness, conferring faith on me and the love which is in Christ Jesus.

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;

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.

²² Now that, through your obedience to the truth, you have purified your souls for cherishing sincere brotherly love, you must love another heartily and fervently.

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?

²¹ And the command which we have from Him is that he who loves God must love his brother man also.

⁸ First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for what He has done for all of you; for the report of your faith is spreading through the whole world. ⁹ I call God to witness--to whom I render priestly and spiritual service by telling the Good News about His Son-- how unceasingly I make mention of you in His presence,

³ I thank my God at my every remembrance of you-- ⁴ always when offering any prayer on behalf of you all, finding a joy in offering it.

³ We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, constantly praying for you as we do,

⁹ For this reason we also, from the day we first received these tidings, have never ceased to pray for you and to entreat that you may be filled with a clear knowledge of His will accompanied by thorough wisdom and discernment in spiritual things;

² We continually give thanks to God because of you all, while we make mention of you in our prayers.

¹⁷ Be unceasing in prayer.

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

²⁵ About that time Jesus exclaimed, "I heartily praise Thee, Father, Lord of Heaven and of earth, that Thou hast hidden these things from sages and men of discernment, and hast unveiled them to babes.

²⁷ "All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one fully knows the Son except the Father, nor does any one fully know the Father except the Son and all to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.

¹⁷ "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-jonah," said Jesus; "for mere human nature has not revealed this to you, but my Father in Heaven.

¹² for the Holy Spirit shall teach you at that very moment what you must say."

¹⁵ for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to withstand or reply to.

⁵⁴ "Were I to glorify myself," answered Jesus, "I should have no real glory. There is One who glorifies me--namely my Father, who you say is your God. ⁵⁵ You do not know Him, but I know Him perfectly; and were I to deny my knowledge of Him, I should resemble you, and be a liar. On the contrary I do know Him, and I obey His commands.

¹⁷ That Spirit the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him. You know Him, because He remains by your side and is in you.

³ And they will do these things because they have failed to recognize the Father and to discover who I am.

³ And in this consists the Life of the Ages--in knowing Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.

²⁵ And, righteous Father, though the world has failed to recognize Thee, I have known Thee, and these have perceived that Thou didst send me. ²⁶ And I have made known Thy name to them and will make it known, that the love with which Thou hast loved me may be in them, and that I may be in them."

¹⁰ They were quite unable, however, to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

² The reply of Stephen was, "Sirs--brethren and fathers--listen to me. God Most Glorious appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was living in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,

²⁸ And just as they had refused to continue to have a full knowledge of God, so it was to utterly worthless minds that God gave them up, for them to do things which should not be done.

⁸ a wisdom which not one of the leaders of the present age possesses, for if they had possessed it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory.

¹⁰ For us, however, God has drawn aside the veil through the teaching of the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, including the depths of the divine nature.

⁸ To one the utterance of wisdom has been granted through the Spirit; to another the utterance of knowledge in accordance with the will of the same Spirit;

⁶ But, brethren, as things are, if I come to you speaking in 'tongues,' what benefit shall I confer on you, if the utterance is neither in the form of a revelation nor of additional knowledge nor of prophecy nor of teaching?

¹ I am compelled to boast. It is not a profitable employment, but I will proceed to visions and revelations granted me by the Lord.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has crowned us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ;

⁵ which in earlier ages was not made known to the human race, as it has now been revealed to His holy Apostles and Prophets through the Spirit--

¹⁸ as it is grasped by all God's people, of the breadth and length, the height and depth-- ¹⁹ yes, to attain to a knowledge of the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ, so that you may be made complete in accordance with God's own standard of completeness.

⁹ For this reason we also, from the day we first received these tidings, have never ceased to pray for you and to entreat that you may be filled with a clear knowledge of His will accompanied by thorough wisdom and discernment in spiritual things; ¹⁰ so that your lives may be worthy of the Lord and perfectly pleasing to Him, while you exhibit the results of right action of every sort and grow into a fuller knowledge of God.

² in order that their hearts may be cheered, they themselves being welded together in love and enjoying all the advantages of a reasonable certainty, till at last they attain the full knowledge of God's truth, which is Christ Himself. ³ In Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are stored up, hidden from view.

²⁵ He must speak in a gentle tone when correcting the errors of opponents, in the hope that God will at last give them repentance, for them to come to a full knowledge of the truth

¹ Paul, a bondservant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ for building up the faith of God's own people and spreading a full knowledge of the truths of religion,

¹ My brethren, you must not make distinctions between one man and another while you are striving to maintain faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our glory.

¹⁷ The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceful, courteous, not self-willed, full of compassion and kind actions, free from favouritism and from all insincerity. ¹⁸ And peace, for those who strive for peace, is the seed of which the harvest is righteousness.

³ seeing that His divine power has given us all things that are needful for life and godliness, through our knowledge of Him who has appealed to us by His own glorious perfections.

¹⁸ But be always growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be all glory, both now and to the day of Eternity!

³ And by this we may know that we know Him--if we obey His commands. ⁴ He who professes to know Him, and yet does not obey His commands, is a liar, and the truth has no place in his heart.

¹² "Even so!" they cried: "The blessing and the glory and the wisdom and the thanks and the honor and the power and the might are to be ascribed to our God, until the Ages of the Ages! Even so!"

¹⁵ FOR THIS PEOPLE'S MIND IS STUPEFIED, THEIR HEARING HAS BECOME DULL, AND THEIR EYES THEY HAVE CLOSED; TO PREVENT THEIR EVER SEEING WITH THEIR EYES, OR HEARING WITH THEIR EARS, OR UNDERSTANDING WITH THEIR MINDS, AND TURNING BACK, SO THAT I MIGHT HEAL THEM.'

⁴⁵ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

¹⁴ Among our hearers was one named Lydia, a dealer in purple goods. She belonged to the city of Thyateira, and was a worshipper of the true God. The Lord opened her heart, so that she gave attention to what Paul was saying.

⁴ fortitude, ripeness of character; and ripeness of character, hope; ⁵ and that this hope never disappoints, because God's love for us floods our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

²⁴ It is *in hope* that we have been saved. But an object of hope is such no longer when it is present to view; for when a man has a thing before his eyes, how can he be said to hope for it? ²⁵ But if we hope for something which we do not see, then we eagerly and patiently wait for it.

⁴ in whom the god of this present age has blinded their unbelieving minds so as to shut out the sunshine of the Good News of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God.

⁶ For God who said, "Out of darkness let light shine," is He who has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory, which is radiant on the face of Christ.

⁵ *We* have not, for through the Spirit we wait with longing hope for an acceptance with God which is to come through faith.

⁷ It is in Him, and through the shedding of His blood, that we have our deliverance--the forgiveness of our offences--so abundant was God's grace,

¹² At that time you were living apart from Christ, estranged from the Commonwealth of Israel, with no share by birth in the Covenants which are based on the Promises, and you had no hope and no God, in all the world.

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--

⁴ There is but one body and but one Spirit, as also when you were called you had one and the same hope held out to you.

⁸ There was a time when you were nothing but darkness. Now, as Christians, you are Light itself.

¹⁴ with my eyes fixed on the goal I push on to secure the prize of God's heavenward call in Christ Jesus.

⁵ on account of the hope treasured up for you in Heaven. Of this hope you have already heard in the Message of the truth of the Good News.

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.

¹⁵ and let the peace which Christ gives settle all questionings in your hearts, to which peace indeed you were called as belonging to His one Body; and be thankful.

¹² and imploring you to live lives worthy of fellowship with God who is inviting you to share His own Kingship and glory.

⁸ But let us, belonging--as we do--to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

¹⁶ And may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself--and God our Father who has loved us and has given us in His grace eternal consolation and a bright hope--

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.

¹³ in expectation of the fulfilment of our blessed hope--the Appearing in glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ;

⁴ For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once for all been enlightened, and have tasted the sweetness of the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

³² But continually recall to mind the days now past, when on being first enlightened you went through a great conflict and many sufferings.

¹⁰ And God, the giver of all grace, who has called you to share His eternal glory, through Christ, after you have suffered for a short time, will Himself make you perfect, firm, and strong.

¹ See what marvellous love the Father has bestowed upon us--that we should be called God's children: and that is what we are. For this reason the world does not recognize us--because it has not known Him. ² Dear friends, we are now God's children, but what we are to be in the future has not yet been fully revealed. We know that if Christ reappears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. ³ And every man who has this hope fixed on Him, purifies himself so as to be as pure as He is.

⁶ Whatever has been born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever has been born of the Spirit is spirit.

⁷ But we have this treasure in a fragile vase of clay, in order that the surpassing greatness of the power may be seen to belong to God, and not to originate in us.

⁷ in which I have been appointed to serve, in virtue of the work which God, in the exercise of His power within me, has graciously entrusted to me.

²⁰ Now to Him who, in exercise of His power that is at work within us, is able to do infinitely beyond all our highest prayers or thoughts--

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

²⁹ To this end, like an earnest wrestler, I exert all my strength in reliance upon the power of Him who is mightily at work within me.

¹² having been buried with Him in your baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith produced within you by God who raised Him from among the dead.

⁵ The Good News that we brought you did not come to you in words only, but also with power and with the Holy Spirit and with much certainty, for you know the sort of men we became among you, as examples for your sakes.

⁴³ "How then," He asked, "does David, taught by the Spirit, call Him Lord, when he says, ⁴⁴ "'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND UNTIL I HAVE PUT THY FOES BENEATH THY FEET'? ⁴⁵ "If therefore David calls Him Lord, how can He be his son?"

⁶⁴ "I am He," replied Jesus. "But I tell you that, later on, you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND of Omnipotence, AND COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY."

¹⁸ Jesus however came near and said to them, "All power in Heaven and over the earth has been given to me.

⁶² "I am," replied Jesus, "and you and others will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the divine Power, and coming amid the clouds of the sky."

¹⁹ So the Lord Jesus after having thus spoken to them was taken up into Heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

¹⁸ No one is taking it away from me, but I myself am laying it down. I am authorized to lay it down, and I am authorized to receive it back again. This is the command I received from my Father."

³⁰ I and the Father are one."

¹ When Jesus had thus spoken, He raised his eyes towards Heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Thy Son that the Son may glorify Thee; ² even as Thou hast given Him authority over all mankind, so that on all whom Thou hast given Him He may bestow the Life of the Ages. ³ And in this consists the Life of the Ages--in knowing Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. ⁴ I have glorified Thee on earth, having done perfectly the work which by Thine appointment has been mine to do. ⁵ And now, Father, do Thou glorify me in Thine own presence, with the glory that I had in Thy presence before the world existed.

²⁴ But God has raised Him to life, having terminated the throes of death, for in fact it was not possible for Him to be held fast by death. ²⁵ For David says in reference to Him, "'I CONSTANTLY FIXED MY EYES UPON THE LORD, BECAUSE HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND IN ORDER THAT I MAY CONTINUE UNSHAKEN. ²⁶ FOR THIS REASON MY HEART IS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTS. MY BODY ALSO SHALL REST IN HOPE. ²⁷ FOR THOU WILT NOT LEAVE ME IN THE UNSEEN WORLD FORSAKEN, NOR GIVE UP THY HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY. ²⁸ THOU HAST MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE: THOU WILT FILL ME WITH GLADNESS IN THY PRESENCE.' ²⁹ "As to the patriarch David, I need hardly remind you, brethren, that he died and was buried, and that we still have his tomb among us. ³⁰ Being a Prophet, however, and knowing that God had solemnly sworn to him to seat a descendant of his upon his throne, ³¹ with prophetic foresight he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, to the effect that He was not left forsaken in the Unseen World, nor did His body undergo decay. ³² This Jesus, God has raised to life-- a fact to which all of us testify. ³³ "Being therefore lifted high by the mighty hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out this which you see and hear. ³⁴ For David did not ascend into Heaven, but he says himself, "'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND ³⁵ UNTIL I MAKE THY FOES A FOOTSTOOL UNDER THY FEET.' ³⁶ "Therefore let the whole House of Israel know beyond all doubt that God has made Him both LORD and CHRIST--this Jesus whom you crucified."

¹⁰ be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that through the name of Jesus the Anointed, the Nazarene, whom *you* crucified, but whom *God* has raised from among the dead-- through that name this man stands here before you in perfect health.

³¹ God has exalted Him to His right hand as Chief Leader and as Saviour, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.

⁵⁵ But, full of the Holy Spirit and looking up to Heaven, Stephen saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand. ⁵⁶ "I can see Heaven wide open," he said, "and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand."

⁴⁰ That same Jesus God raised to life on the third day, and permitted Him to appear unmistakably,

⁸ Why is it deemed with all of you a thing past belief if God raises the dead to life?

⁴ but as regards the holiness of His Spirit was decisively proved by His Resurrection to be the Son of God--I mean concerning Jesus Christ our Lord,

⁵ For since we have become one with Him by sharing in His death, we shall also be one with Him by sharing in His resurrection. ⁶ This we know--that our old self was nailed to the cross with Him, in order that our sinful nature might be deprived of its power, so that we should no longer be the slaves of sin; ⁷ for he who has paid the penalty of death stands absolved from his sin. ⁸ But, seeing that we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him; ⁹ because we know that Christ, having come back to life, is no longer liable to die. ¹⁰ Death has no longer any power over Him. For by the death which He died He became, once for all, dead in relation to sin; but by the life which He now lives He is alive in relation to God. ¹¹ In the same way you also must regard yourselves as dead in relation to sin, but as alive in relation to God, because you are in Christ Jesus.

³⁴ Who is there to condemn them? Christ Jesus died, or rather has risen to life again. He is also at the right hand of God, and is interceding for us.

⁵ caused us, dead though we were through our offences, to live with Christ--it is by grace that you have been saved-- ⁶ raised us with Him from the dead, and enthroned us with Him in the heavenly realms as being in Christ Jesus,

⁸ For this reason Scripture says: "HE RE-ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND GAVE GIFTS TO MEN." ⁹ (Now this "re-ascended" --what does it mean but that He had first descended into the lower regions of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is the same as He who ascended again far above all the Heavens in order to fill the universe.)

¹⁰ I long to know Christ and the power which is in His resurrection, and to share in His sufferings and die even as He died;

¹ If however you have risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, enthroned at God's right hand.

³ He brightly reflects God's glory and is the exact representation of His being, and upholds the universe by His all-powerful word. After securing man's purification from sin He took His seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

⁹ But Jesus--who was made a little inferior to the angels in order that through God's grace He might taste death for every human being--we already see wearing a crown of glory and honour because of His having suffered death.

¹² this Priest, on the contrary, after offering for sins a single sacrifice of perpetual efficacy, took His seat at God's right hand,

²⁰ Now may God who gives peace, and brought Jesus, our Lord, up again from among the dead--even Him who, by virtue of the blood of the eternal Covenant, is the great Shepherd of the sheep--

¹⁷ When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if I were dead. But He laid His right hand upon me and said, "Do not be afraid: I am the First and the Last, and the ever-living One.

³² And whoever shall speak against the Son of Man may obtain forgiveness; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, neither in this nor in the coming age shall he obtain forgiveness."

³¹ "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then will He sit upon His glorious throne, ³² and all the nations will be gathered into His presence. And He will separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; ³³ and will make the sheep stand at His right hand, and the goats at His left. ³⁴ "Then the King will say to those at His right, "'Come, my Father's blessed ones, receive your inheritance of the Kingdom which has been divinely intended for you ever since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was homeless, you gave me a welcome; ³⁶ when I was ill-clad, you clothed me; when I was sick, you visited me; when I was in prison, you came to see me.'

¹⁸ Jesus however came near and said to them, "All power in Heaven and over the earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations; baptize them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;

²⁵ "In most solemn truth I tell you that a time is coming--nay, has already come--when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear it will live. ²⁶ For just as the Father has life in Himself, so He has also given to the Son to have life in Himself. ²⁷ And He has conferred on Him authority to act as Judge, because He is the Son of Man. ²⁸ Wonder not at this. For a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice and will come forth-- ²⁹ they who have done what is right to the resurrection of Life, and they whose actions have been evil to the resurrection of judgement.

¹² And in no other is the great salvation to be found; for, in fact, there is no second name under Heaven that has been given among men through which we are to be saved."

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither the lower ranks of evil angels nor the higher, neither things present nor things future, nor the forces of nature, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God which rests upon us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

⁹ It is in consequence of this that God has also so highly exalted Him, and has conferred on Him the Name which is supreme above every other, ¹⁰ in order that in the Name of JESUS every knee should bow, of beings in Heaven, of those on the earth, and of those in the underworld, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.

¹⁵ Christ is the visible representation of the invisible God, the Firstborn and Lord of all creation. ¹⁶ For in Him was created the universe of things in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, thrones, dominions, princedoms, powers--all were created, and exist through and for Him.

¹⁰ and He is the Lord of all princes and rulers.

¹⁵ And the hostile princes and rulers He shook off from Himself, and boldly displayed them as His conquests, when by the Cross He triumphed over them.

⁴ having become as far superior to the angels as the Name He possesses by inheritance is more excellent than theirs.

⁵ It is not to angels that God has assigned the sovereignty of that coming world, of which we speak.

¹⁴ Inasmuch, then, as we have in Jesus, the Son of God, a great High Priest who has passed into Heaven itself, let us hold firmly to our profession of faith.

²² who is at God's right hand, having gone into Heaven, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

¹² His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many kingly crowns; and He has a name written upon Him which no one but He Himself knows. ¹³ The outer garment in which He is clad has been dipped in blood and His name is THE WORD OF GOD.

¹⁰ and the Devil, who had been leading them astray, was thrown into the Lake of fire and sulphur where the Wild Beast and the false Prophet were, and day and night they will suffer torture until the Ages of the Ages. ¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and One who was seated on it, from whose presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing in front of the throne. And books were opened; and so was another book--namely, the Book of Life; and the dead were judged by the things recorded in the books in accordance with what their conduct had been. ¹³ Then the sea yielded up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades yielded up the dead who were in them, and each man was judged in accordance with what his conduct had been. ¹⁴ Then Death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of fire; this is the Second Death--the Lake of fire. ¹⁵ And if any one's name was not found recorded in the Book of Life he was thrown into the Lake of fire.

¹⁸ And I declare to you that you are Peter, and that upon this Rock I will build my Church, and the might of Hades shall not triumph over it.

²⁵ For He must continue King until He shall have put all His enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that is to be overthrown is Death; ²⁷ for He will have put all things in subjection under His feet. And when He shall have declared that "All things are in subjection," it will be with the manifest exception of Him who has reduced them all to subjection to Him.

²³ because a husband is the Head of his wife as Christ also is the Head of the Church, being indeed the Saviour of this His Body.

⁸ and moreover he has informed us of your love, which is inspired by the Spirit.

¹⁸ Moreover He is the Head of His Body, the Church. He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, in order that He Himself may in all things occupy the foremost place.

¹⁹ Such a one does not keep his hold upon Christ, the Head, from whom the Body, in all its parts nourished and strengthened by its points of contact and its connections, grows with a divine growth.

¹⁵ But, for fear I may be hindered, I now write, so that you may have rules to guide you in dealing with God's household. For this is what the Church of the ever-living God is, and it is the pillar and foundation-stone of the truth.

⁸ THOU HAST PUT EVERYTHING IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET." For this subjecting of the universe to man implies the leaving nothing not subject to him. But we do not as yet see the universe subject to him.

¹⁶ For He it is from whose fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

⁵ We must obey therefore, not only in order to escape punishment, but also for conscience' sake.

⁶ diversities in work, and yet one and the same God--He who in each person brings about the whole result.

¹² For just as the human body is one and yet has many parts, and all its parts, many as they are, constitute but one body, so it is with the Church of Christ. ¹³ For, in fact, in one Spirit all of us--whether we are Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free men--were baptized to form but one body; and we were all nourished by that one Spirit. ¹⁴ For the human body does not consist of one part, but of many. ¹⁵ Were the foot to say, "Because I am not a hand I am not a part of the body," that would not make it any the less a part of the body. ¹⁶ Or were the ear to say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," that would not make it any the less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the nostrils be? ¹⁸ But, as a matter of fact, God has arranged the parts in the body--every one of them--as He has seen fit. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ But, as a matter of fact, there are many parts and but one body. ²¹ It is also impossible for the eye to say to the hand, "I do not need you;" or again for the head to say to the feet, "I do not need you." ²² No, it is quite otherwise. Even those parts of the body which are apparently somewhat feeble are yet indispensable; ²³ and those which we deem less honorable we clothe with more abundant honor; and so our ungraceful parts come to have a more abundant grace, while our graceful parts have everything they need. ²⁴ But it was God who built up the body, and bestowed more abundant honor on the part that felt the need, ²⁵ that there might be no disunion in the body, but that all the members might entertain the same anxious care for one another's welfare. ²⁶ And if one part is suffering, every other part suffers with it; or if one part is receiving special honor, every other part shares in the joy. ²⁷ As for you, you are the body of Christ, and individually you are members of it.

²⁸ But when the whole universe has been made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also become subject to Him who has made the universe subject to Him, in order that GOD may be all in all.

¹⁶ thus effecting peace, and to reconcile Jews and Gentiles in one body to God, by means of His cross--slaying by it their mutual enmity.

¹⁹ yes, to attain to a knowledge of the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ, so that you may be made complete in accordance with God's own standard of completeness.

¹⁰ He who descended is the same as He who ascended again far above all the Heavens in order to fill the universe.)

¹² in order fully to equip His people for the work of serving--for the building up of Christ's body--

²³ because a husband is the Head of his wife as Christ also is the Head of the Church, being indeed the Saviour of this His Body. ²⁴ And just as the Church submits to Christ, so also married women should be entirely submissive to their husbands. ²⁵ Married men, love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself up to death for her; ²⁶ in order to make her holy, cleansing her with the baptismal water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present the Church to Himself a glorious bride, without spot or wrinkle or any other defect, but to be holy and unblemished. ²⁸ So too married men ought to love their wives as much as they love themselves. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For never yet has a man hated his own body. On the contrary he feeds and cherishes it, just as Christ feeds and cherishes the Church; ³⁰ because we are, as it were, parts of His Body. ³¹ "FOR THIS REASON A MAN IS TO LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER AND BE UNITED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BE AS ONE." ³² That is a great truth hitherto kept secret: I mean the truth concerning Christ and the Church.

¹⁸ Moreover He is the Head of His Body, the Church. He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, in order that He Himself may in all things occupy the foremost place. ¹⁹ For it was the Father's gracious will that the whole of the divine perfections should dwell in Him.

²⁴ Now I can find joy amid my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my own person whatever is lacking in Christ's afflictions on behalf of His Body, the Church.

⁹ For it is in Christ that the fulness of God's nature dwells embodied, and in Him you are made complete, ¹⁰ and He is the Lord of all princes and rulers.