2 Corinthians Cross References - Common

¹ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are throughout Achaia: ² grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. ⁶ If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings that we suffer. ⁷ And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. ⁸ For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. ⁹ Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. ¹⁰ He delivered us from so deadly a peril, and he will deliver us; on him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. ¹¹ You also must help us by your prayers, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to the prayers of many. ¹² For our boast is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with holiness and godly sincerity, not in worldly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and still more toward you. ¹³ For we write you nothing but what you can read and understand; and I hope you will understand fully, ¹⁴ as you have understood us in part, that you can be proud of us just as we can be of you, in the day of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁵ Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a double benefit. ¹⁶ I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. ¹⁷ When I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a fleshly manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, Yes" and "No, No"? ¹⁸ But as surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. ¹⁹ For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by usby me and Silvanus and Timothywas not Yes and No, but in him it has always been Yes. ²⁰ For as many as are the promises of God, in him they are Yes. And so through him we speak our Amen to the glory of God. ²¹ Now it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us; ²² he has put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. ²³ But I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. ²⁴ Not that we lord it over your faith; but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.

¹⁷ And behold, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

¹¹ Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

³⁷ Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil.

¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." ¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

⁵ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

⁸ But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master, and you are all brethren. ⁹ And do not call anyone on earth your 'Father,' for you have one Father, he who is in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called 'Teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.

³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

⁴⁹ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,

⁶³ But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." ⁶⁴ Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. But I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."

⁴⁰ and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."

⁵⁴ So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified, and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

¹ The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

³⁵ And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.

⁶⁸ "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people, ⁶⁹ and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, ⁷⁰ as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, ⁷¹ that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, ⁷² To perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, ⁷³ the oath which he swore to our father Abraham: ⁷⁴ to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,

¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!"

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

⁹ Also he told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

²⁸ You are those who have continued with me in my trials. ²⁹ And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as my Father bestowed one on me, ³⁰ so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

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

³⁴ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."

⁴⁹ Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"

⁵ Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

³⁴ For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without measure. ³⁵ The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. ³⁶ He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."

²² For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, ²³ that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

²⁷ Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal."

⁶⁹ And we believe, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."

²⁸ Then Jesus cried out, as he taught in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come on my own, but he who sent me is true, and him you do not know.

¹⁵ You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.

²⁶ I have much to say about you and much to judge; but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him."

⁵⁸ Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."

³⁰ I and the Father are one."

⁶ Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever

¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

⁷ The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God."

¹⁷ Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, "I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

²⁸ Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

³¹ but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

²⁵ You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' ²⁶ For you first, God raised up his servant and sent him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways."

³⁶ And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?"

⁴ And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

²⁰ And immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."

³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

³² And we preach to you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, ³³ he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'You are my Son; today I have begotten you.' ³⁴ As for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to decay, he spoke in this way: 'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.' ³⁵ Therefore he also says in another Psalm, 'You will not let your Holy One see decay.' ³⁶ For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers and saw decay; ³⁷ but he whom God raised did not see decay. ³⁸ Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, ³⁹ and through him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

²² Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren,

¹ And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek,

¹ After this he left Athens and went to Corinth. ² And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He went to see them, ³ and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them, and they worked, for by trade they were tentmakers. ⁴ And every Sabbath he was reasoning in the synagogue, and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. ⁵ When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

⁵ When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. ⁶ But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." ⁷ Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. ⁸ Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with all his household; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. ⁹ And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent; ¹⁰ for I am with you, and no man will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city." ¹¹ And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. ¹² But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack upon Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,

²¹ Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." ²² And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. ²³ About that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way. ²⁴ For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. ²⁵ These he gathered together, with the workmen of similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. ²⁶ And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. ²⁷ Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence." ²⁸ When they heard this, they were enraged and began crying out, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" ²⁹ The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia. ³⁰ Paul wanted to go in among the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. ³¹ Some of the Asiarchs also, who were friends of his, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater. ³² Now some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and most of the people did not know why they had come together. ³³ Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, wishing to make a defense to the people. ³⁴ But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all with one voice shouted, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" ³⁵ And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven?

⁵ And when our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another.

¹ And Paul, looking intently at the council, said, "Brethren, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day."

¹⁶ And so I do my best always to have a clear conscience before God and men.

²¹ For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

¹ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God ² which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures, ³ concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,

³ concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, ⁴ and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.

⁴ and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. ⁵ Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

⁷ To all in Rome who are beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers,

¹¹ For I long to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you ¹² that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.

¹¹ And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be reckoned to them.

¹⁷ (as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations") in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls things that do not exist as though they did. ¹⁸ In hope, he believed against hope, so that he became the father of many nations; as he had been told, "So shall your descendants be." ¹⁹ And he did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. ²⁰ He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹ being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. ²² That is why it was "reckoned to him as righteousness." ²³ But the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake alone, ²⁴ but for us also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, ²⁵ who was delivered to death for our sins and was raised for our justification.

² through whom we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

⁹ But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he does not belong to him.

¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirsheirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, in order that we may also be glorified with him. ¹⁸ I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us.

²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.

¹ I am speaking the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit,

²⁰ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast only by faith. So do not be proud, but stand in awe.

²⁵ I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

³⁶ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

⁵ May the God of patience and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus, ⁶ that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷ Therefore, welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God. ⁸ For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised to show God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs, ⁹ and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name";

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

²⁹ And I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. ³⁰ Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, ³¹ that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,

³¹ that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, ³² so that by God's will I may come to you with joy, and together with you be refreshed.

⁵ greet also the church that meets in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert of Asia for Christ.

¹⁸ For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the simple. ¹⁹ For your obedience has become known to all, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

²¹ Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

²⁵ Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret for long ages

¹ Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, ² to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: ³ grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁸ who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, by whom you were called into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

⁴ and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ so that your faith might not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

¹³ This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

⁵ What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord assigned to each one.

²¹ So then let no one boast of men. For all things are yours, ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future; all belong to you, ²³ and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.

⁴ I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted by this. It is the Lord who judges me.

⁸ You are already filled! You have already become rich! You have become kings without us! And indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you.

¹⁰ We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. ¹¹ To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and we are poorly clothed, and roughly treated, and homeless; ¹² and we toil, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; ¹³ when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

¹⁹ But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out, not the words of these arrogant people, but their power.

²¹ What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

⁵ you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

⁸ Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man. And God is faithful, who will not let you be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

³² Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,

¹⁸ For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

³⁴ If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

¹⁶ Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how can any one in the position of an outsider say the "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?

¹ Now I would remind you, brethren, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,

¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of themyet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

³¹ I protest, brethren, by my pride in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day. ³² If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

⁵ But I will come to you after I go through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia; ⁶ and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. ⁷ For I do not want to see you now just in passing; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.

⁹ for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. ¹⁰ Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you with nothing to fear, for he is doing the work of the Lord, just as I am.

¹⁵ You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. Now I urge you, brethren,

⁴ who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. ⁶ If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings that we suffer.

¹² For our boast is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with holiness and godly sincerity, not in worldly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and still more toward you.

¹⁴ as you have understood us in part, that you can be proud of us just as we can be of you, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

¹⁷ When I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a fleshly manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, Yes" and "No, No"? ¹⁸ But as surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No.

¹⁸ But as surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. ¹⁹ For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by usby me and Silvanus and Timothywas not Yes and No, but in him it has always been Yes. ²⁰ For as many as are the promises of God, in him they are Yes. And so through him we speak our Amen to the glory of God.

²³ But I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.

¹ 1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. ² For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? ³ And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I had confidence in all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all.

⁵ But if any one has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measurenot to put it too severelyto all of you.

¹⁷ For we are not, like so many, peddling the word of God; but as men of sincerity, as from God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

⁵ Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves; but our competence is from God,

² But we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

⁵ For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. ⁶ For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. ⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰ always carrying about in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

¹⁰ always carrying about in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

¹¹ For we who live are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹² So then death is at work in us, but life in you. ¹³ Since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. ¹⁵ For all this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁵ For all this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. ¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, yet our inner nature is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are unseen are eternal.

⁵ Now he who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight.

¹¹ Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. ¹² We are not again commending ourselves to you, but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you may have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.

¹ Working together with him, then, we urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

⁶ But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

⁹ now I rejoice, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance; for you became sorrowful as God intended, so that you suffered no loss through us.

¹³ Therefore we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

⁸ I am not speaking this as a command, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

² for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them.

¹¹ You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. ¹² For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.

¹⁴ while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God in you.

² I beg you that when I am present I may not have to be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

² I beg you that when I am present I may not have to be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

² I beg you that when I am present I may not have to be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. ³ For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war as the flesh does.

³ For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war as the flesh does. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds.

⁶ and we are ready to punish every disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. ⁷ You look at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ's, so also are we. ⁸ For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I shall not be put to shame. ⁹ I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. ¹⁰ For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is weak, and his speech of no account." ¹¹ Let such people realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

³ But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia. ¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

²³ Are they servants of Christ? I am a better oneI am talking like a madmanin far more labors, in far more imprisonments, with more beatings, and often in danger of death. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the open sea. ²⁶ I have been on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, in danger from robbers, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the wilderness, in danger at sea, and in danger from false brethren; ²⁷ I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. ²⁸ Besides such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I do not inwardly burn? ³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

⁷ And to keep me from being too elated because of the abundance of revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should depart from me. ⁹ But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ's sake, I am content in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

¹⁵ I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less?

¹⁵ I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less? ¹⁶ But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! ¹⁷ Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? ¹⁸ I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and walk in the same steps? ¹⁹ Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves before you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. ²⁰ For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you what I wish you to be, and you may not find me what you wish me to be; I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

² I warned those who sinned in the past and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present the second time, that if I come again I will not spare them

⁶ I trust that you will realize that we have not failed the test.

¹⁰ I write these things while I am absent, in order that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority which the Lord gave me for building you up, and not for tearing you down.

¹ Paul, an apostlesent not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead

¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,

²⁰ (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I do not lie.)

² I went up because of a revelation; and I set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who were of reputation, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.

¹⁶ Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ. ¹⁷ What I mean is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

²² But the Scripture has bound everyone under sin, so that that what was promised by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

⁴ But let each one test his own work, and then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in his neighbor.

¹⁶ Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God.

¹ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus:

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

⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

¹² in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ In him, you also have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having also believed, you were sealed in him with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance, until the redemption of those who are God's possessionto the praise of his glory.

¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.

⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

⁸ To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make plain to everyone the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; ¹⁰ so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

¹³ Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.

³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ in addition to all this, taking up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

¹⁸ Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and petition. And with this in view, keep alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, ¹⁹ and also pray for me, that in the opening of my mouth, utterance may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

²³ Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

¹ Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: ² grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁶ For I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

⁶ For I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ⁷ For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. ⁸ For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

¹⁰ so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ;

¹⁴ and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have been encouraged to speak the word of God without fear.

¹⁹ for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, ²⁰ as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be ashamed in anything, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

²⁶ so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

¹ Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

¹⁹ I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news of you. ²⁰ I have no one else like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. ²¹ For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. ²² But you know that he has proved his worth, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

¹⁰ that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like him in his death;

¹ Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, ² to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: grace to you and peace from God our Father.

² to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: grace to you and peace from God our Father.

²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share for the sake of his body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.

²⁷ To them God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

⁷ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with thanksgiving.

³ And pray for us as well, that God may open a door to us for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains,

¹ Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace and peace to you.

³ remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ For we know, brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you;

⁷ so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. ⁸ For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we have no need to say anything.

⁵ For, as you know, we never used flattery nor a pretext for greed God is witness

¹⁰ You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless we behaved toward you believers;

¹⁸ For we wanted to come to you, I, Paul, again and againbut Satan hindered us. ¹⁹ For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.

¹³ so that he may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

²³ Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁵ Brethren, pray for us.

¹ Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: ² grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you are enduring. ⁵ This is evidence of God's righteous judgment, so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. ⁶ For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, ⁷ and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire,

¹⁰ when he comes to be glorified in his saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believedbecause our testimony to you was believed.

⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

¹⁶ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, ¹⁷ comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

¹⁷ comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

¹ Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it did also with you,

³ But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

⁵ But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

¹⁹ holding faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and made shipwreck of their faith. ²⁰ Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.

²⁰ Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.

¹⁰ For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

¹² if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;

¹⁹ Nevertheless, God's firm foundation stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

²⁴ And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, patient when wronged, ²⁵ with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God will grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

¹⁷ But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.

¹ Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness,

⁷ Show yourself in all respects an example of good deeds, and in your teaching show integrity, seriousness,

³ grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁶ and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing that is ours in Christ.

²² At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope through your prayers to be granted to you.

¹¹ they will perish, but you remain; they will all grow old like a garment,

¹² so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. ¹³ For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, ¹⁴ saying, "I will surely bless you and multiply you." ¹⁵ And so Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. ¹⁶ Men swear by one greater than themselves, and in all their disputes the oath is final for confirmation. ¹⁷ So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, ¹⁸ so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. ¹⁹ We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

⁶ But this man whose genealogy is not derived from them received a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

¹⁰ since they relate only to food and drink and various washings regulations for the flesh imposed until the time of reformation. ¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, he entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation. ¹² He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves, but he entered the holy place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. ¹³ For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? ¹⁵ For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

¹⁹ He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

³⁹ And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, ⁴⁰ because God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. ¹¹ For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. ¹² Therefore lift your feeble hands and strengthen your weak knees,

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

¹⁸ Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.

²³ You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I will see you if he comes soon.

² Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

¹² Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his deeds in the humility of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

⁶ But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

¹² But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall under condemnation.

¹⁶ Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. ¹⁸ Then he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain and the earth produced its fruit.

³ Blessed be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has caused us to be born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaventhings into which angels long to look.

¹⁶ and keep a clear conscience, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

²¹ And corresponding to that, baptism now saves younot the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good consciencethrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

³ not as lording it over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

⁸ Be sober, be alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren throughout the world. ¹⁰ And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you.

¹⁷ For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

⁹ then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,

³ that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

²⁰ But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.

²⁴ Let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. ²⁵ And this is what he has promised useternal life.

²⁷ But the anointing which you have received from him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, abide in him.

¹⁹ By this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him ²⁰ whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. ²¹ Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God; ²² and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

⁹ If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God which he has borne witness of his Son. ¹⁰ He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given of his Son. ¹¹ And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

¹¹ And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. ¹³ I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

²⁰ And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

⁴ I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father.

⁹ Anyone who runs ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

⁶ and has made us a kingdom and priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

⁸ "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

¹¹ saying, "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."

¹⁷ And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,

¹⁷ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna. And I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone which no one knows except him who receives it.' ¹⁸ "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze:

⁷ "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'These are the words of him who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens:

¹⁴ "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation:

¹⁸ Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments to clothe you, and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.

³ saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."

¹² saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen."

⁴ They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green growth or any tree, but only those of mankind who have not the seal of God on their foreheads.