1 Corinthians 7 Cross References - Twentieth_Century

¹ With reference to the subjects about which you wrote to me: It would be well for a man to remain single. ² But, owing to the prevalence of immorality, I advise every man to have his own wife, and every woman her husband. ³ A husband should give his wife her due, and a wife her husband. ⁴ It is not the wife, but the husband, who exercises power over her body; and so, too, it is not the husband, but the wife, who exercises power over his body. ⁵ Do not deprive each other of what is due-unless it is only for a time and by mutual consent, so that your minds may be free for prayer till you again live as man and wife-lest Satan should take advantage of your want of self-control and tempt you. ⁶ I say this, however, as a concession, not as a command. ⁷ I should wish every one to be just what I am myself. But every one has his own gift from God-one in one way, and one in another. ⁸ My advice, then, to those who are not married, and to widows, is this: It would be well for them to remain as I am myself. ⁹ But, if they cannot control themselves, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to be consumed with passion. ¹⁰ To those who are married my direction is-yet it is not mine, but the Master's-that a woman is not to leave her husband ¹¹ (If she has done so, let her remain as she is, or else be reconciled to her husband) and also that a man is not to divorce his wife. ¹² To all others I say-I, not the Master-If a Brother is married to a woman, who is an unbeliever but willing to live with him, he should not divorce her; ¹³ And a woman who is married to a man, who is an unbeliever but willing to live with her, should not divorce her husband. ¹⁴ For, through his wife, the husband who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ's People; and the wife who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ's People through our Brother whom she has married. Otherwise your children would be 'defiled,' but, as it is, they belong to Christ's People. ¹⁵ However, if the unbeliever wishes to be separated, let him be so. Under such circumstances neither the Brother nor the Sister is bound; God has called you to live in peace. ¹⁶ How can you tell, wife, whether you may not save your husband? and how can you tell, husband, whether you may not save your wife? ¹⁷ In any case, a man should continue to live in the condition which the Lord has allotted to him, and in which he was when God called him. This is the rule that I lay down in every Church. ¹⁸ Was a man already circumcised when he was called? Then he should not efface his circumcision. Has a man been called when uncircumcised? Then he should not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing; the want of it is nothing; but to keep the commands of God is everything. ²⁰ Let every one remain in that condition of life in which he was when the Call came to him. ²¹ Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that trouble you. No, even if you are able to gain your freedom, still do your best. ²² For the man who was a slave when he was called to the master's service is the Master's freed-man; so, too, the man who was free when called is Christ's slave. ²³ You were bought, and the price was paid. Do not let yourselves become slaves to men. ²⁴ Brothers, let every one remain in the condition in which he was when he was called, in close communion with God. ²⁵ With regard to unmarried women, I have no command from the Master to give you, but I tell you my opinion, and it is that of a man whom the Master in his mercy has made worthy to be trusted. ²⁶ I think, then, that, in view of the time of suffering that has now come upon us, what I have already said is best-that a man should remain as he is. ²⁷ Are you married to a wife? Then do not seek to be separated. Are you separated from a wife? Then do not seek for a wife. ²⁸ still, if you should marry, that is not wrong; nor, if a young woman marries, is that wrong. But those who marry will have much trouble to bear, and my wish is to spare you. ²⁹ What I mean, Brothers, is this-The time is short. Meanwhile, let those who have wives live as if they had none, ³⁰ Those who are weeping as if not weeping, those who are rejoicing as if not rejoicing, those who buy as if not possessing, ³¹ And those who use the good things of the world as using them sparingly; for this world as we see it is passing away. ³² I want you to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is anxious about the Master's Cause, desiring to please him; ³³ While the married man is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please his wife; ³⁴ And so his interests are divided. Again, the unmarried woman, whether she is old or young, is anxious about the Master's Cause, striving to be pure both in body and in spirit, while the married woman is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please her husband. ³⁵ I say this for your own benefit, not with any intention of putting a halter round your necks, but in order to secure for the Master seemly and constant devotion, free from all distraction. ³⁶ If, however, a father thinks that he is not acting fairly by his unmarried daughter, when she is past her youth, and if under these circumstances her marriage ought to take place, let him act as he thinks right. He is doing nothing wrong-let the marriage take place. ³⁷ On the other hand, a father, who has definitely made up his mind, and is under no compulsion, but is free to carry out his own wishes, and who has come to the decision, in his own mind, to keep his unmarried daughter at home will be doing right. ³⁸ In short, the one who consents to his daughter's marriage is doing right, and yet the other will be doing better. ³⁹ A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives; but, if the husband should pass to his rest, the widow is free to marry any one she wishes, provided he is a believer. ⁴⁰ Yet she will be happier if she remains as she is-in my opinion, for I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him: "Begone, Satan! for Scripture says-- 'Thou shalt do homage to the Lord thy God, and worship him only.'"

¹⁹ Whoever, therefore, breaks one of these commandments, even the least of them, and teaches others to do so, will be the least- esteemed in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever keeps them, and teaches others to do so, will be esteemed great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

³² I, however, say to you that any one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of her unchastity, leads to her committing adultery; while any one who marries her after her divorce is guilty of adultery.

²⁵ That is why I say to you, Do not be anxious about your life here--what you can get to eat or drink; nor yet about your body-- what you can get to wear. Is not life more than food, and the body than its clothing? ²⁶ Look at the wild birds--they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns; and yet your heavenly Father feeds them! And are not you more precious than they? ²⁷ But which of you, by being anxious, can prolong his life a single moment? ²⁸ And why be anxious about clothing? Study the wild lilies, and how they grow. They neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ Yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his splendor was not robed like one of these. ³⁰ If God so clothes even the grass of the field, which is living to-day and to-morrow will be thrown into the oven, will not he much more clothe you, O men of little faith? ³¹ Do not then ask anxiously 'What can we get to eat?' or 'What can we get to drink?' or 'What can we get to wear?' ³² All these are the things for which the nations are seeking, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³ But first seek his Kingdom and the righteousness that he requires, and then all these things shall be added for you. ³⁴ Therefore do not be anxious about to-morrow, for to-morrow will bring its own anxieties. Every day has trouble enough of its own.

⁵⁰ For any one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

²² By the seed which was sown among the brambles is meant the man who hears the Message, but the cares of life and the glamour of wealth completely choke the Message, so that it gives no return.

³ Presently some Pharisees came up to him, and, to test him, said: "Has a man the right to divorce his wife for every cause?" ⁴ "Have not you read," replied Jesus, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' ⁵ And said--'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and be united to his wife, and the man and his wife shall become one'? ⁶ So that they are no longer two, but one. What God himself, then, has yoked together man must not separate." ⁷ "Why, then," they said, "did Moses direct that a man should 'serve his wife with a notice of separation and divorce her'?" ⁸ "Moses, owing to the hardness of your hearts," answered Jesus, "permitted you to divorce your wives, but that was not so at the beginning. ⁹ But I tell you that any one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of her unchastity, and marries another woman, is guilty of adultery."

⁹ But I tell you that any one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of her unchastity, and marries another woman, is guilty of adultery." ¹⁰ "If that," said the disciples, "is the position of a man with regard to his wife, it is better not to marry." ¹¹ "It is not every one," replied Jesus, "who can accept this teaching, but only those who have been enabled to do so.

¹¹ "It is not every one," replied Jesus, "who can accept this teaching, but only those who have been enabled to do so.

¹¹ "It is not every one," replied Jesus, "who can accept this teaching, but only those who have been enabled to do so. ¹² Some men, it is true, have from birth been disabled for marriage, while others have been disabled by their fellow men, and others again have disabled themselves for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let him accept it who can."

¹² Some men, it is true, have from birth been disabled for marriage, while others have been disabled by their fellow men, and others again have disabled themselves for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let him accept it who can."

⁸ But do not allow yourselves to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Father, the heavenly Father. ⁹ And do not call any one Father, the heavenly Father. ¹⁰ Nor must you allow yourselves to be called 'Leaders,' for you have only one Leader, the Christ. ¹¹ The man who would be the greatest among you must be your servant.

¹⁹ And alas for the women that are with child, and for those that are nursing infants in those days!

⁴⁸ But, should he be a bad servant, and say to himself 'My master is a long time in coming,' ⁴⁹ And begin to beat his fellow-servants, and eat and drink with drunkards, ⁵⁰ That servant's master will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour of which he is unaware,

¹⁴ For it is as though a man, going on his travels, called his servants, and gave his property into their charge. ¹⁵ He gave three thousand pounds to one, twelve hundred to another, and six hundred to a third, in proportion to the ability of each. Then he set out on his travels. ¹⁶ The man who had received the three thousand pounds went at once and traded with it, and made another three thousand. ¹⁷ So, too, the man who had received the twelve hundred pounds made another twelve hundred. ¹⁸ But the man who had received the six hundred went and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. ¹⁹ After a long time the master of those servants returned, and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The man who had received the three thousand pounds came up and brought three thousand more. 'Sir,' he said, 'you entrusted me with three thousand pounds; look, I have made another three thousand!' ²¹ 'Well done, good, trustworthy servant!' said his master. 'You have been trustworthy with a small sum; now I will place a large one in your hands; come and share your master's joy!' ²² Then the one who had received the twelve hundred pounds came up and said 'Sir, you entrusted me with twelve hundred pounds; look, I have made another twelve hundred!' ²³ 'Well done, good, trustworthy servant!' said his master. 'You have been trustworthy with a small sum; now I will place a large one in your hands; come and share your master's joy!' ²⁴ The man who had received the six hundred pounds came up, too, and said 'Sir, I knew that you were a hard man; you reap where you have not sown, and gather up where you have not winnowed; ²⁵ And, in my fear, I went and hid your money in the ground; look, here is what belongs to you!' ²⁶ 'You lazy, worthless servant!' was his master's reply. 'You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather up where I have not winnowed? ²⁷ Then you ought to have placed my money in the hands of bankers, and I, on my return, should have received my money, with interest. ²⁸ 'Therefore,' he continued, 'take away from him the six hundred pounds, and give it to the one who has the six thousand. ²⁹ For, to him who has, more will be given, and he shall have abundance; but, as for him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away from him.

² Presently some Pharisees came up and, to test him, asked: "Has a husband the right to divorce his wife?"

¹¹ And he said: "Any one who divorces his wife and marries another woman is guilty of adultery against his wife; ¹² And, if the woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she is guilty of adultery."

⁷⁴ That we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies, ⁷⁵ And should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, In his presence all our days.

³⁶ There was also a Prophetess named Hannah, a daughter of Phanuel and of the tribe of Asher. She was far advanced in years, having lived with her husband for seven years after marriage, ³⁷ And then a widow, till she had reached the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple Courts, but, fasting and praying, worshiped God night and day.

¹⁰ "What are we to do then?" the people asked. ¹¹ "Let the man who has two coats," answered John, "share with him who has none; and the man who has food do the same." ¹² Even tax-gatherers came to be baptized, and said to John: "Teacher, what are we to do?" ¹³ "Do not collect more than you have authority to demand," John answered. ¹⁴ And when some soldiers on active service asked "And we--what are we to do?" he said: "Never use violence, or exact anything by false accusation; and be content with your pay."

²¹ Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

²⁵ Alas for you who are sated now, for you will hunger. Alas for you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

¹⁴ By that which fell among the brambles are meant those who hear the Message, but who, as they go on their way, are completely choked by this world's cares and wealth and pleasures, and bring nothing to perfection.

⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by the many preparations that she was making. So she went up to Jesus and said: "Master, do you approve of my sister's leaving me to make preparations alone? Tell her to help me."

⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by the many preparations that she was making. So she went up to Jesus and said: "Master, do you approve of my sister's leaving me to make preparations alone? Tell her to help me." ⁴¹ "Martha, Martha," replied the Master, "you are anxious and trouble yourself about many things;

⁴¹ "Martha, Martha," replied the Master, "you are anxious and trouble yourself about many things; ⁴² But only a few are necessary, or rather one. Mary has chosen the good part, and it shall not be taken away from her."

¹⁵ And then he added: "Take care to keep yourselves free from every form of covetousness; for even in the height of his prosperity a man's true Life does not depend on what he has." ¹⁶ Then Jesus told them this parable-- "There was once a rich man whose land was very fertile; ¹⁷ And he began to ask himself 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops? ¹⁸ This is what I will do,' he said; 'I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them; ¹⁹ And I will say to myself, Now you have plenty of good things put by for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.' ²⁰ But God said to the man 'Fool! This very night your life is being demanded; and as for all you have prepared--who will have it?' ²¹ So it is with those who lay by wealth for themselves and are not rich to the glory of God." ²² And Jesus said to his disciples: "That is why I say to you, Do not be anxious about the life here--what you can get to eat; nor yet about your body--what you can get to wear.

²⁹ And you--do not be always seeking what you can get to eat or what you can get to drink; and do not waver.

¹⁰ So, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of God's angels over one outcast that repents."

¹ Jesus said to his disciples: "There was a rich man who had a steward; and this steward was maliciously accused to him of wasting his estate. ² So the master called him and said 'What is this that I hear about you? Give in your accounts, for you cannot act as steward any longer.'

¹⁸ Every one who divorces his wife and marries another woman is an adulterer, and the man who marries a divorced woman is an adulterer.

²⁵ 'Child,' answered Abraham, 'remember that you in your lifetime received what you thought desirable, just as Lazarus received what was not desirable; but now he has his consolation here, while you are suffering agony.

¹⁷ 'Well done, good servant!' exclaimed the master. 'As you have proved trustworthy in a very small matter, I appoint you governor over ten towns.' ¹⁸ When the second came, he said 'Your ten pounds, Sir, have produced fifty.' ¹⁹ So the master said to him 'And you I appoint over five towns.' ²⁰ Another servant also came and said 'Sir, here are your ten pounds; I have kept them put away in a handkerchief. ²¹ For I was afraid of you, because you are a stern man. You take what you have not planted, and reap what you have not sown.' ²² The master answered 'Out of your own mouth I judge you, you worthless servant. You knew that I am a stern man, that I take what I have not planted, and reap what I have not sown? ²³ Then why did not you put my money into a bank? And I, on my return, could have claimed it with interest. ²⁴ Take away from him the ten pounds,' he said to those standing by, 'and give them to the one who has the hundred.' ²⁵ 'But, Sir,' they interposed, 'he has a hundred pounds already!' ²⁶ 'I tell you,' he answered, 'that, to him who has, more will be given, but, from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.

²³ Alas for the women that are with child, and for those that are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great suffering in the land, and anger against this people.

³⁴ Be on your guard lest your minds should ever be dulled by debauches or drunkenness or the anxieties of life, and lest 'That Day' should come suddenly upon you, like a snare.

²⁸ So Jesus turned and said to them: "Women of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹ A time, I tell you, is coming, when it will be said--'Happy are the women who are barren, and those who have never borne children or nursed them!'

³² And you find out the Truth, and the Truth will set you free." ³³ "We are descendants of Abraham," was their answer, "and have never yet been in slavery to any one. What do you mean by saying 'you will be set free'?" ³⁴ "In truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "every one who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵ And a slave does not remain in the home always; but a son remains always. ³⁶ If, then, the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!

¹⁴ And you are my friends, if you do what I command you.

²² You, in the same way, are sorry now; but I shall see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will rob you of your joy.

²³ Upon this Peter invited them in and entertained them. The next day he lost no time in setting out with them, accompanied by some of the Brethren from Jaffa;

¹ But certain persons came down from Judea, and began to teach the Brethren that, unless they were circumcised, in accordance with the custom enjoined by Moses, they could not be saved. ² This gave rise to a serious dispute, and much discussion, between Paul and Barnabas and these men, and it was therefore settled that Paul and Barnabas and others of their number should go up to Jerusalem, to consult the Apostles and Officers of the Church about the matter under discussion.

⁵ Some of the Pharisees' party, however, who had become believers in Christ, came forward and declared that they were bound to circumcise converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.

¹⁹ In my judgment, therefore, we should not add to the difficulties of those Gentiles who are turning to God,

²⁴ As we had heard that some of our number had upset you by their assertions, and unsettled your minds--without instructions from us--

²⁸ We have, therefore, decided, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to lay no further burden upon you beyond these necessary conditions--

²⁸ Be watchful over yourselves, and over the whole flock, of which the Holy Spirit has placed you in charge, to shepherd the Church of God, which he won for himself at the cost of his life.

²⁹ "Whether it is soon or late," answered Paul, "I would to God that not only you, but all who are listening to me, might to-day become just what I am myself--except for these chains!"

¹ To all in Rome who are dear to God and have been called to become Christ's People, From Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, who has been called to become an Apostle, and has been set apart to tell God's Good News.

²⁵ Circumcision has its value, if you are obeying the Law. But, if you are a breaker of the Law, your circumcision is no better than uncircumcision. ²⁶ If, then, an uncircumcised man pays regard to the requirements of the Law, will not he, although not circumcised, be regarded by God as if he were? ²⁷ Indeed, the man who, owing to his birth, remains uncircumcised, and yet scrupulously obeys the Law, will condemn you, who, for all your written Law and your circumcision, are yet a breaker of the Law. ²⁸ For a man who is only a Jew outwardly is not a real Jew; nor is outward bodily circumcision real circumcision. The real Jew is the man who is a Jew in soul; ²⁹ And the real circumcision is the circumcision of the heart, a spiritual and not a literal thing. Such a man wins praise from God, though not from men.

³⁰ Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is only one God, and he will pronounce those who are circumcised righteous as the result of faith, and also those who are uncircumcised on their showing the same faith.

¹³ Do not offer any part of your bodies to Sin, in the cause of unrighteousness, but once for all offer yourselves to God (as those who, though once dead, now have Life), and devote every part of your bodies to the cause of righteousness.

¹⁸ Set free from the control of Sin, you became servants to Righteousness. ¹⁹ I can but speak as men do because of the weakness of your earthly nature. Once you offered every part of your bodies to the service of impurity, and of wickedness, which leads to further wickedness. Now, in the same way, offer them to the service of Righteousness, which leads to holiness. ²⁰ While you were still servants of Sin, you were free as regards Righteousness. ²¹ But what were the fruits that you reaped from those things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of such things is Death. ²² But now that you have been set free from the control of Sin, and have become servants to God, the fruit that you reap is an ever-increasing holiness, and the end Immortal Life.

² For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband while he is living; but, if her husband dies, she is set free from the law that bound her to him. ³ If, then, during her husband's lifetime, she unites herself to another man, she will be called an adulteress; but, if her husband dies, the law has no further hold on her, nor, if she unites herself to another man, is she an adulteress.

¹⁴ Being myself an Apostle to the Gentiles, I exalt my office, in the hope that I may stir my countrymen to rivalry, and so save some of them.

¹⁶ If the first handful of dough in holy, so is the whole mass; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹ I entreat you, then, Brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, for this is your rational worship. ² Do not conform to the fashion of this world; but be transformed by the complete change that has come over your minds, so that you may discern what God's will is--all that is good, acceptable, and perfect. ³ In fulfillment of the charge with which I have been entrusted, I bid every one of you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but to think till he learns to think soberly--in accordance with the measure of faith that God has allotted to each. ⁴ For, just as in the human body there is a union of many parts, and each part has its own function, ⁵ So we, by our union in Christ, many though we are, form but one body, and individually we are related one to another as its parts. ⁶ Since our gifts differ in accordance with the particular charge entrusted to us, if our gift is to preach, let our preaching correspond to our faith;

⁶ Since our gifts differ in accordance with the particular charge entrusted to us, if our gift is to preach, let our preaching correspond to our faith; ⁷ If it is to minister to others, let us devote ourselves to our ministry; the teacher to his teaching, ⁸ The speaker to his exhortation. Let the man who gives in charity do so with a generous heart; let him who is in authority exercise due diligence; let him who shows kindness do so in a cheerful spirit.

¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as rests with you, live peaceably with every one.

¹¹ This I say, because you know the crisis that we have reached, for the time has already come for you to rouse yourselves from sleep; our Salvation is nearer now than when we accepted the Faith. ¹² The night is almost gone; the day is near. Therefore let us have done with the deeds of Darkness, and arm ourselves with the weapons of Light.

¹⁹ Therefore our efforts should be directed towards all that makes for peace and the mutual building up of character.

² Now what we look for in stewards is that they should be trustworthy.

¹⁷ This is my reason for sending Timothy to you. He is my own dear faithful child in the Master's service, and he will remind you of my methods of teaching the Faith of Christ Jesus-methods which I follow everywhere in every Church.

¹⁵ Do not you know that your bodies are Christ's members? Am I, then, to take the members that belong to the Christ and make them the members of a prostitute? Heaven forbid! ¹⁶ Or do not you know that a man who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body (for 'the two,' it is said, 'will become one'); ¹⁷ While a man who is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit? ¹⁸ Shun all immorality. Every other sin that men commit is something outside the body; but an immoral man sins against his own body.

²⁰ Moreover, you are not your own masters; you were bought, and the price was paid. Therefore, honor God in your bodies.

¹ With reference to the subjects about which you wrote to me: It would be well for a man to remain single.

¹ With reference to the subjects about which you wrote to me: It would be well for a man to remain single. ² But, owing to the prevalence of immorality, I advise every man to have his own wife, and every woman her husband.

² But, owing to the prevalence of immorality, I advise every man to have his own wife, and every woman her husband. ³ A husband should give his wife her due, and a wife her husband.

⁵ Do not deprive each other of what is due-unless it is only for a time and by mutual consent, so that your minds may be free for prayer till you again live as man and wife-lest Satan should take advantage of your want of self-control and tempt you. ⁶ I say this, however, as a concession, not as a command.

⁶ I say this, however, as a concession, not as a command. ⁷ I should wish every one to be just what I am myself. But every one has his own gift from God-one in one way, and one in another.

⁷ I should wish every one to be just what I am myself. But every one has his own gift from God-one in one way, and one in another. ⁸ My advice, then, to those who are not married, and to widows, is this: It would be well for them to remain as I am myself.

⁸ My advice, then, to those who are not married, and to widows, is this: It would be well for them to remain as I am myself. ⁹ But, if they cannot control themselves, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to be consumed with passion.

⁹ But, if they cannot control themselves, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to be consumed with passion. ¹⁰ To those who are married my direction is-yet it is not mine, but the Master's-that a woman is not to leave her husband

¹² To all others I say-I, not the Master-If a Brother is married to a woman, who is an unbeliever but willing to live with him, he should not divorce her;

¹² To all others I say-I, not the Master-If a Brother is married to a woman, who is an unbeliever but willing to live with him, he should not divorce her; ¹³ And a woman who is married to a man, who is an unbeliever but willing to live with her, should not divorce her husband. ¹⁴ For, through his wife, the husband who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ's People; and the wife who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ's People through our Brother whom she has married. Otherwise your children would be 'defiled,' but, as it is, they belong to Christ's People. ¹⁵ However, if the unbeliever wishes to be separated, let him be so. Under such circumstances neither the Brother nor the Sister is bound; God has called you to live in peace.

¹⁷ In any case, a man should continue to live in the condition which the Lord has allotted to him, and in which he was when God called him. This is the rule that I lay down in every Church. ¹⁸ Was a man already circumcised when he was called? Then he should not efface his circumcision. Has a man been called when uncircumcised? Then he should not be circumcised.

²⁰ Let every one remain in that condition of life in which he was when the Call came to him.

²⁰ Let every one remain in that condition of life in which he was when the Call came to him. ²¹ Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that trouble you. No, even if you are able to gain your freedom, still do your best.

²¹ Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that trouble you. No, even if you are able to gain your freedom, still do your best. ²² For the man who was a slave when he was called to the master's service is the Master's freed-man; so, too, the man who was free when called is Christ's slave. ²³ You were bought, and the price was paid. Do not let yourselves become slaves to men. ²⁴ Brothers, let every one remain in the condition in which he was when he was called, in close communion with God.

²⁴ Brothers, let every one remain in the condition in which he was when he was called, in close communion with God. ²⁵ With regard to unmarried women, I have no command from the Master to give you, but I tell you my opinion, and it is that of a man whom the Master in his mercy has made worthy to be trusted.

²⁵ With regard to unmarried women, I have no command from the Master to give you, but I tell you my opinion, and it is that of a man whom the Master in his mercy has made worthy to be trusted. ²⁶ I think, then, that, in view of the time of suffering that has now come upon us, what I have already said is best-that a man should remain as he is.

²⁶ I think, then, that, in view of the time of suffering that has now come upon us, what I have already said is best-that a man should remain as he is.

²⁶ I think, then, that, in view of the time of suffering that has now come upon us, what I have already said is best-that a man should remain as he is. ²⁷ Are you married to a wife? Then do not seek to be separated. Are you separated from a wife? Then do not seek for a wife. ²⁸ still, if you should marry, that is not wrong; nor, if a young woman marries, is that wrong. But those who marry will have much trouble to bear, and my wish is to spare you.

³¹ And those who use the good things of the world as using them sparingly; for this world as we see it is passing away. ³² I want you to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is anxious about the Master's Cause, desiring to please him;

³² I want you to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is anxious about the Master's Cause, desiring to please him;

³² I want you to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is anxious about the Master's Cause, desiring to please him; ³³ While the married man is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please his wife;

³³ While the married man is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please his wife; ³⁴ And so his interests are divided. Again, the unmarried woman, whether she is old or young, is anxious about the Master's Cause, striving to be pure both in body and in spirit, while the married woman is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please her husband.

³⁴ And so his interests are divided. Again, the unmarried woman, whether she is old or young, is anxious about the Master's Cause, striving to be pure both in body and in spirit, while the married woman is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please her husband.

³⁴ And so his interests are divided. Again, the unmarried woman, whether she is old or young, is anxious about the Master's Cause, striving to be pure both in body and in spirit, while the married woman is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please her husband.

³⁴ And so his interests are divided. Again, the unmarried woman, whether she is old or young, is anxious about the Master's Cause, striving to be pure both in body and in spirit, while the married woman is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please her husband. ³⁵ I say this for your own benefit, not with any intention of putting a halter round your necks, but in order to secure for the Master seemly and constant devotion, free from all distraction.

³⁵ I say this for your own benefit, not with any intention of putting a halter round your necks, but in order to secure for the Master seemly and constant devotion, free from all distraction.

³⁵ I say this for your own benefit, not with any intention of putting a halter round your necks, but in order to secure for the Master seemly and constant devotion, free from all distraction.

³⁵ I say this for your own benefit, not with any intention of putting a halter round your necks, but in order to secure for the Master seemly and constant devotion, free from all distraction. ³⁶ If, however, a father thinks that he is not acting fairly by his unmarried daughter, when she is past her youth, and if under these circumstances her marriage ought to take place, let him act as he thinks right. He is doing nothing wrong-let the marriage take place.

³⁶ If, however, a father thinks that he is not acting fairly by his unmarried daughter, when she is past her youth, and if under these circumstances her marriage ought to take place, let him act as he thinks right. He is doing nothing wrong-let the marriage take place.

³⁶ If, however, a father thinks that he is not acting fairly by his unmarried daughter, when she is past her youth, and if under these circumstances her marriage ought to take place, let him act as he thinks right. He is doing nothing wrong-let the marriage take place. ³⁷ On the other hand, a father, who has definitely made up his mind, and is under no compulsion, but is free to carry out his own wishes, and who has come to the decision, in his own mind, to keep his unmarried daughter at home will be doing right.

³⁷ On the other hand, a father, who has definitely made up his mind, and is under no compulsion, but is free to carry out his own wishes, and who has come to the decision, in his own mind, to keep his unmarried daughter at home will be doing right. ³⁸ In short, the one who consents to his daughter's marriage is doing right, and yet the other will be doing better. ³⁹ A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives; but, if the husband should pass to his rest, the widow is free to marry any one she wishes, provided he is a believer. ⁴⁰ Yet she will be happier if she remains as she is-in my opinion, for I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

⁸ What we eat, however, will not bring us nearer to God. We lose nothing by not eating this food, and we gain nothing by eating it.

¹ Am I not free? Am I not an Apostle? Have I not seen our Lord Jesus? Are not you yourselves my work achieved in union with the Lord? ² If I am not an Apostle to others, yet at least I am to you; for you are the seal that stamps me as an Apostle in union with the Lord. ³ The defense that I make to my critics is this:

⁵ Have not we a right to take a wife with us, if she is a Christian, as the other Apostles and the Master's brothers and Kephas all do?

¹⁵ I, however, have not availed myself of any of these rights. I am not saying this to secure such an arrangement for myself; indeed, I would far rather die-Nobody shall make my boast a vain one!

¹⁸ What is my reward, then? To present the Good News free of all cost, and so make but a sparing use of the rights which it gives me. ¹⁹ Although I was entirely free, yet, to win as many converts as possible, I made myself everyone's slave.

²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so as at all costs to save some.

³¹ Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything to the honor of God.

⁴ Gifts differ, but the Spirit is the same;

¹¹ All these result from one and the same Spirit, who distributes his gifts to each individually as he wills.

¹³ For it was by one Spirit that we were all baptized to form one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free men, and were all imbued with one Spirit.

³³ For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.) This custom prevails in all the Churches of Christ's People.

³⁶ What! did God's Message to the world originate with you? or did it find its way to none but you? ³⁷ If any one thinks that he has the gift of preaching or any other spiritual gift, let him recognize that what I am now saying to you is a command from the Lord.

¹⁰ But it is through the love of God that I am what I am, and the love that he showed me has not been wasted. No, I have toiled harder than any of them, and yet it was not I, but the love of God working with me.

¹ With reference to the Collection for Christ's People, I want you to follow the instructions that I gave to the Churches in Galatia.

²³ But, as my life shall answer for it, I call God to witness that it was to spare you that I deferred my visit to Corinth.

¹⁷ Unlike many people, we are not in the habit of making profit out of God's Message; but in all sincerity, and bearing God's commission, we speak before him in union with Christ.

¹ Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. ² No, we have renounced the secrecy prompted by shame, refusing to adopt crafty ways, or to tamper with God's Message, and commending ourselves to every man's conscience, in the sight of God, by our exhibition of the Truth.

¹⁴ Do not enter into inconsistent relations with those who reject the Faith. For what partnership can there be between righteousness and lawlessness? or what has light to do with darkness? ¹⁵ What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial? or what can those who accept the Faith have in common with those who reject it? ¹⁶ What agreement can thee be between a temple of God and idols? And we are a temple of the Living God. That is what God meant when he said--'I will dwell among them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

¹¹ For see what results that other sorrow--sorrow in accordance with God's will--has had in your case. What earnestness it produced! what explanations! what strong feeling! what alarm! what longing! what eagerness! what readiness to punish! You have proved yourselves altogether free from guilt in that matter. ¹² So, then, even though I did write to you, it was not for the sake of the wrong-doer, or of the man who was wronged, but to make you conscious, in the sight of God, of your own earnest care for us. And it is this that has encouraged us.

⁸ I am not laying a command upon you, but I am making use of the earnestness shown by others to test the genuineness of your affection.

⁸ I am not laying a command upon you, but I am making use of the earnestness shown by others to test the genuineness of your affection. ⁹ For you do not forget the loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ--how that for your sakes, although he was rich, he became poor, so that you also might become rich through his poverty. ¹⁰ I am only making suggestions on this matter; for this is the best course for you, since you were a year before others, not only in taking action, but also in showing your readiness to do so.

¹⁶ I thank God for inspiring Titus with the same keen interest in your welfare that I have;

¹⁸ We are sending with him the Brother whose fame in the service of the Good News has spread through all the Churches;

⁸ Even if I boast extravagantly about our authority--which the Lord gave us for building up your faith and not for overthrowing it--still I have no reason to be ashamed. ⁹ I say this, that it may not seem as if I were trying to overawe you by my letters. ¹⁰ For people say "His letters are impressive and vigorous, but his personal appearance is insignificant and his speaking contemptible."

¹⁷ When I speak thus, I am not speaking as the Master would, but as a fool might, in boasting so confidently.

²⁸ And, not to speak of other things, there is my daily burden of anxiety about all the Churches.

¹¹ I have been "playing the fool!" It is you who drove me to it. For it is you who ought to have been commending me! Although I am nobody, in no respect did I prove inferior to the most eminent Apostles.

¹¹ And now, brothers, good-bye. Aim at perfection; take courage; agree together; live in peace. And then God, the source of all love and peace, will be with you.

¹⁰ Is this, I ask, trying to conciliate men, or God? Am I seeking to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

⁴ But, on account of the false Brothers who had stolen in, the men who had crept in to spy upon the liberty which we have through union with Christ Jesus, in order to bring us back to slavery--

²⁸ All distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and freeman, male and female, have vanished; for in union with Christ Jesus you are all one.

¹ It is for freedom that Christ set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not again be held under the yoke of slavery.

¹ It is for freedom that Christ set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not again be held under the yoke of slavery. ² Understand that I, Paul, myself tell you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will avail you nothing. ³ I again declare to every one who receives circumcision, that he binds himself to obey the whole Law.

⁶ If a man is in union with Christ Jesus, neither is circumcision nor the omission of it anything, but faith, working through love, is everything.

¹³ Remember, Brothers, to you the Call came to give you freedom. Only do not make your freedom an opportunity for self-indulgence, but serve one another in a loving spirit.

²² But the fruit produced by the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindliness, generosity, trustfulness, gentleness, self-control.

¹⁵ For neither is circumcision nor the omission of it anything; but a new nature is everything.

³ As for unchastity and every kind of impurity, or greed, do not let them even be mentioned among you, as befits Christ's People,

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as the Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for her, ²⁶ To make her holy, after purifying her by the Washing with the Water, according to his promise; ²⁷ So that he might himself bring the Church, in all her beauty, into his own presence, with no spot or wrinkle or blemish of any kind, but that she might be holy and faultless. ²⁸ That is how husbands ought to love their wives--as if they were their own bodies. A man who loves his wife is really loving himself;

²⁸ That is how husbands ought to love their wives--as if they were their own bodies. A man who loves his wife is really loving himself; ²⁹ For no one ever yet hated his own body. But every one feeds his body and cares for it, just as the Christ for the Church; ³⁰ For we are members of his Body. ³¹ 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and be united to his wife; and the man and his wife shall become one.' ³² In this there is a profound truth--I am speaking of Christ and his Church. ³³ However, for you individually, let each love his wife as if she were himself; and the wife be careful to respect her husband.

³³ However, for you individually, let each love his wife as if she were himself; and the wife be careful to respect her husband.

⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters, with anxious care, giving them ungrudging service, as if obeying the Christ; ⁶ Not only when their eyes are on you, as if you had merely to please men, but as slaves of Christ, who are trying to carry out the will of God.

²⁰ And this will fulfil my earnest expectation and hope that I shall have no cause for shame, but that, with unfailing courage, now as hitherto, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by my life or by my death,

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything; but under all circumstances, by prayer and entreaty joined with thanksgiving, make your needs known to God.

⁸ In conclusion, Brothers, wherever you find anything true or honorable, righteous or pure, lovable or praiseworthy, or if 'virtue' and 'honour' have any meaning, there let your thoughts dwell.

¹¹ Do not think that I am saying this under the pressure of want. For I, however I am placed, have learned to be independent of circumstances.

¹¹ In that new life there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, freeman; but Christ is all!--and in all!

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and never treat them harshly.

²² Slaves, always obey your earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you, as if you had but to please men, but giving them ungrudging service, in your reverence for the Master. ²³ Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as if working for the Master and not for men, ²⁴ Since you know that it is from the Master that you will receive the inheritance which will be your recompense. You are serving Christ, the Master.

¹² Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, sends you his greeting. He is a servant of Christ Jesus, and is always most earnest in your behalf in his prayers, praying that you may stand firm, with a matured faith and with a sure conviction of all that is in accordance with God's will.

⁵ Therefore, since I could no longer endure the uncertainty, I sent to make inquiries about your faith, fearing that the Tempter had tempted you, and that our toil might prove to have been in vain.

⁸ Therefore he who disregards this warning disregards, not man, but God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

¹¹ Make it your ambition to live quietly, and to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we directed you;

¹¹ Make it your ambition to live quietly, and to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we directed you; ¹² So that your conduct may win respect from those outside the Church, and that you may not want for anything.

²³ May God himself, the giver of peace, make you altogether holy; and may your spirits, souls, and bodies be kept altogether faultless until the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹² All such people we urge, and entreat, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to attend quietly to their business, and earn their own living.

¹⁰ for the immoral, for people guilty of sodomy, for slave-dealers, for liars, for perjurers, and for whatever else is opposed to sound Christian teaching--

¹² I am thankful to Christ Jesus, our Lord, who has been my strength, for showing that he thought me worthy of trust by appointing me to his ministry, ¹³ though I once used to blaspheme, and to persecute, and to insult. Yet mercy was shown me, because I acted in ignorance, while still an unbeliever; ¹⁴ and the loving-kindness of our Lord was boundless, and filled me with that faith and love which come from union with Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ How true the saying is, and worthy of the fullest acceptance, that 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners'! And there is no greater sinner than I! ¹⁶ Yet mercy was shown me for the express purpose that Christ Jesus might exhibit in my case, beyond all others, his exhaustless patience, as an example for those who were afterwards to believe on him and attain Immortal Life.

⁵ If a man does not know how to rule his own household, how can he take charge of the Church of God?

³ and they discourage marriage and enjoin abstinence from certain kinds of food; though God created these foods to be enjoyed thankfully by those who hold the Faith and have attained a full knowledge of the Truth.

⁵ for it is consecrated by God's blessing and by prayer.

¹⁶ Look to yourself as well as to your teaching. Persevere in this, for your doing so will mean Salvation for yourself as well as for your hearers.

⁵ As for the woman who is really widowed and left quite alone, her hopes are fixed on God, and she devotes herself to prayers and supplications night and day.

⁸ Any one who fails to provide for his own relations, and especially for those under his own roof, has disowned the Faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.

¹¹ But you should exclude the younger widows from the list; for, when they grow restive under the yoke of the Christ, they want to marry,

¹⁴ Therefore I advise young widows to marry, bear children, and attend to their homes, and so avoid giving the enemy an opportunity for scandal.

¹ All who are in the position of slaves should regard their masters as deserving of the greatest respect, so that the Name of God, and our Teaching, may not be maligned. ² Those who have Christian masters should not think less of them because they are their Brothers, but on the contrary they should serve them all the better, because those who are to benefit by their good work are dear to them as their fellow Christians. Those are the things to insist upon in your teaching. ³ Any one who teaches otherwise, and refuses his assent to sound instruction--the instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ--and to the teaching of religion,

¹⁷ Urge upon those who are wealthy in this life not to pride themselves, or fix their hopes, on so uncertain a thing as wealth, but on God, who gives us a wealth of enjoyment on every side. ¹⁸ Urge upon them to show kindness, to exhibit a wealth of good actions, to be open-handed and generous,

¹⁵ Everything is pure to the pure-minded, but to those whose minds are polluted and who are unbelievers nothing is pure. Their minds and consciences are alike polluted.

³ So, too, that the older women should be reverent in their demeanor, and that they should avoid scandal, and beware of becoming slaves to drink;

¹⁴ For he gave himself on our behalf, to deliver us from all wickedness, and to purify for himself a People who should be peculiarly his own and eager to do good.

⁸ How true that saying is! And it is on these subjects that I desire you to lay especial stress, so that those who have learned to trust in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing good. Such subjects are excellent in themselves, and of real use to mankind.

¹⁶ No longer as a slave, but as something better--a dearly loved Brother, especially dear to me, and how much more so to you, not only as your fellow man, but as your fellow Christian!

¹⁴ Try earnestly to live at peace with every one, and to attain to that purity without which no one will see the Lord.

⁴ Let marriage be honoured by all and the married life be pure; for God will judge those who are immoral and those who commit adultery. ⁵ Do not let your conduct be ruled by the love of money. Be content with what you have, for God himself has said-- 'I will never forsake you, nor will I ever abandon you.'

¹³ Therefore let us go out to him 'outside the camp,' bearing the same reproaches as he; ¹⁴ for here we have no permanent city, but are looking for the City that is to be.

¹⁰ For the rich man will pass away 'like the flower of the grass.' ¹¹ As the sun rises, and the hot wind blows, 'the grass withers, its flower fades,' and all its beauty is gone. So is it with the rich man. In the midst of his pursuits he will come to an untimely end.

¹⁵ Suppose some Brother or Sister should be in want of clothes and of daily bread,

¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is, before every thing else, pure; then peace-loving, gentle, open to conviction, rich in compassion and good deeds, and free from partiality and insincerity. ¹⁸ And righteousness, its fruit, is sown in peace by those who work for peace.

¹³ Listen to me, you who say 'To-day or to-morrow we will go to such and such a town, spend a year there, and trade, and make money,' ¹⁴ And yet you do not know what your life will be like to-morrow! For you are but a mist appearing for a little while and then disappearing.

¹⁴ And yet you do not know what your life will be like to-morrow! For you are but a mist appearing for a little while and then disappearing. ¹⁵ You ought, rather, to say 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.' ¹⁶ But, as it is, you are constantly boasting presumptuously! All such boasting is wicked.

¹ Listen to me, you rich men, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming upon you! ² Your riches have wasted away, and your clothes have become moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and silver are rusted; and the rust on them shall be evidence against you, and shall eat into your very flesh. It was fire, so to speak, that you stored up for yourselves in these last days. ⁴ I tell you, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you have been fraudulently keeping back, are crying out against you, and the outcries of your reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts! ⁵ You have lived on earth a life of extravagance and luxury; you have indulged your fancies in a time of bloodshed.

¹⁹ My Brothers, should one of you be led astray from the Truth, and some one bring him back again, ²⁰ Be sure that he who brings a sinner back from his mistaken ways will save that man's soul from Death, and throw a veil over countless sins.

¹⁸ For you know that it was not by perishable things, such as silver and gold, that you were Ransomed from the aimless way of living which was handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but by precious blood, as it were of a lamb, unblemished and spotless, the Blood of Christ.

²⁴ For-- 'All earthly life is but as grass, And all its splendor as the flower of grass. The grass fades, Its flower falls,

¹⁶ Act as free men, yet not using your freedom as those do who make it a cloak for wickedness, but as Servants of God.

¹⁸ Those of you who are domestic servants should always be submissive and respectful to their masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are arbitrary. ¹⁹ For this wins God's approval when, because conscious of God's presence, a man who is suffering unjustly bears his troubles patiently. ²⁰ What credit can you claim when, after doing wrong, you take your punishment for it patiently? But, on the other hand, if, after doing right, you take your sufferings patiently, that does win the approval of God. ²¹ For it was to this that you were called! For Christ, too, suffered--on your behalf--and left you an example, that you should follow in his steps. ²² He 'never sinned, nor was anything deceitful ever heard from his lips.' ²³ He was abused, but he did not answer with abuse; he suffered, but he did not threaten; he entrusted himself to him whose judgments are just. ²⁴ And he 'himself carried our sins' in his own body to the cross, so that we might die to our sins, and live for righteousness. 'His bruising was your healing.'

¹ Again, you married women should submit to your husbands, so that if any of them reject the Message, they may, apart from the Message, be won over, by the conduct of their wives, ² as they watch your submissive and blameless conduct.

⁷ Again, those of you who are married men should live considerately with their wives, showing due regard to their sex, as weaker than their own, and not forgetting that they share with you in the gift of Life. Then you will be able to pray without hindrance.

¹⁸ For Christ himself died to atone for sins once for all--the good on behalf of the bad--that he might bring you to God; his body being put to death, but his spirit entering upon new Life.

⁷ But the end of all things is near. Therefore exercise self-restraint and be calm, that you may be able to pray.

¹⁰ Whatever the gift that each has received, use it in the service of others, as good stewards of the varied bounty of God. ¹¹ When any one speaks, let him speak as one who is delivering the oracles of God. When any one is endeavoring to serve others, let him do so in reliance on the strength which God supplies; so that in everything God may be honour ed through Jesus Christ--to whom be ascribed all honour and might for ever and ever. Amen.

¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment to begin with the House of God; and, if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who reject God's Good News?

⁷ laying all your anxieties upon him, for he makes you his care.

¹ To those to whom, through the justice of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, there has been granted faith equally privileged with our own, from Simon Peter, a servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ.

⁸ But you, dear friends, must never shut your eyes to the fact that, to the Lord, one day is the same as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise, as some count slowness; but he is forbearing with you, as it is not his will that any of you should perish, but that all should be brought to repentance.

¹⁵ Regard our Lord's forbearance as your one hope of Salvation. This is what our dear Brother Paul wrote to you, with the wisdom that God gave him. ¹⁶ It is the same in all his letters, when he speaks in them about these subjects. There are some things in them difficult to understand, which untaught and weak people distort, just as they do all other writings, to their own Ruin.

³ And by this we know that we have learned to know him--by our laying his commands to heart. ⁴ The man who says 'I know Jesus,' but does not lay his commands to heart, is a liar, and the Truth has no place in him;

¹⁷ And the world, and all that it gratifies, is passing away, but he who does God's will remains for ever.

²² and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we are laying his commands to heart, and are doing what is pleasing in his sight. ²³ His Command is this--that we should put our trust in the Name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, in accordance with the Command that he gave us. ²⁴ And he who lays his commands to heart maintains union with Christ, and Christ with him. And by this we know that Christ maintains union with us--by our possession of the Spirit which he gave us.

² By this we know that we love God's Children--when we love God and carry out his commands. ³ For to love God is to lay his commands to heart; and his commands are not burdensome,

¹ To those who, having received the Call, have been loved by God the Father and protected by Jesus Christ, From Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and the brother of James.

⁹ And they are singing a new song--'Thou art worthy to take the book and break its seals, for thou wast sacrificed, and with thy blood thou didst buy for God men of every tribe, and language, and people, and nation,

¹⁷ for the Lamb that stands in the space before the throne will be their shepherd, and will lead them to life-giving springs of water; and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.'

⁷ for her self-glorification and her luxury, give her now an equal measure of torture and misery. In her heart she says 'I sit here a queen; no widow am I; I shall never know misery.'

¹⁴ Blessed will they be who wash their robes, that they may have the right to approach the Tree of Life, and may enter the City by the gates.