in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

and ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power:

which are [merely] shadows of things to come: but the body is Christ's.

If then ye have been dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye dogmatically taught,

IF ye then be risen with Christ, seek the things which are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Mortify therefore your members which are on the earth, fornication, impurity, the vile passion, evil concupiscence, and insatiable desire, which is idolatry:

knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye are servants to the Lord Christ.

and Jesus, who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellow-labourers for the kingdom of God, who have been a comfort to me.

Salute the brethren that are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is at his house.

Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and faultlessly we conducted ourselves among you that believe:

For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea, in Christ Jesus: for ye suffered the same things also yourselves from your own countrymen, as they too have of the Jews;

who both murdered the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us, and please not God, and are in opposition to all mankind;

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

For ye are our glory and joy.

that no man might be shaken by these tribulations; for ye yourselves know that thereunto we are appointed.

But now when Timothy returned to us from you, and brought us the glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye retain a kind remembrance of us always, earnestly desirous to see us, as we are also to see you:

Now concerning brotherly love, I have no need to write unto you: for ye yourselves are divinely taught to love one another.

And indeed ye practise it towards all the brethren that are throughout Macedonia: but we conjure you, brethren, to abound more and more;

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are fallen asleep, that ye be not afflicted, as the rest [of mankind] who have no hope.

For this I say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent those who are fallen asleep.

then we who are alive, who remain, shall be caught up together with them into the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we be ever with the Lord.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief.

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of day: we are not the children of night, nor of darkness.

For they who sleep, sleep in the night, and they who are drunken, are drunken in the night;

but let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, as it is fit, because your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth:

and to you who are troubled, rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven with his mighty angels,

But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath elected you from the beginning unto salvation, by sanctification of the Spirit, and faith in the truth:

For we hear that there are some among you who walk disorderly, doing no work, but being busy-bodies.

of whom are Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered over unto Satan, that they may be corrected, so as to blaspheme no more.

for kings, and all that are in a state of eminence, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and seriousness.

He must also have a fair character from those who are without, that he may not fall into reproach, and into the snare of the devil.

For therefore do we labour and are exposed to abuse, because we have hoped in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of the faithful.

Honour the widows, that are widows indeed.

For some are already turned aside after Satan.

Let the elders who preside properly be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who are laborious in preaching and teaching.

Some men's sins are glaringly manifest, going before to judgment; and after others also they follow [to detection].

In like manner also the good works [of some] are previously manifest; and it is not possible that what they have besides should be concealed.

LET as many slaves as are under the yoke account their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed.

But they who have believing masters, let them not think less of them, because they are brethren; but serve them the rather, because they are faithful and beloved, who have equally partaken of the benefit. These things teach and enjoin.

If any man teach another doctrine, and attend not to the sound words, which are those of Jesus Christ our Lord, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

Knowest thou this, that all those of Asia have deserted me? among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

if we are unbelieving, he abideth faithful; he cannot contradict himself.

And their discourse will eat like as a gangrene; of whom are Hymeneus and Philetus;

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and pottery; and some for an honourable use, and others for baser service.

with meekness correcting those who are opposers, if at last God may give unto them repentance so as to submit to the conviction of the truth;

For such are they who insinuate themselves into houses, and captivate weak women laden with accumulated sins, and actuated by a variety of passions,

and that from a child thou hast known the sacred writings, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ.

For there are many disorderly persons vainly talkative, and under a spirit of delusion, especially some of the circumcised;

One of them, a poet of their own nation, hath said, The Cretans are always liars, wicked beasts, slothful gluttons.

All things indeed are clean to the clean: but to the defiled and to the unbelievers there is nothing clean; but their very mind and conscience are defiled.

Faithful is the saying, and of these things I wish thee firmly to testify, that they who have believed in God be careful to be pre-eminent in good works. These are becoming and advantageous to men.

But foolish disquisitions, and genealogies, and disputes, and contentions about the law avoid; for they are unprofitable and vain.

All that are with me salute thee. Salute those who love us with fidelity. Grace be with you all. Amen.

"And thou from the beginning, O Lord, hast founded the earth, and the heavens are the works of thine hands.

Are they not all ministerial spirits, sent to perform service on account of those who are about to inherit salvation?

For he hath not subjected the future world, of which we are speaking, to the angels.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to perfect the Author of their salvation by sufferings.

For both he that sanctifies, and they who are sanctified, are all of one. For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

for inasmuch as he hath himself suffered, having been tempted, he is able to succour those who are tempted.

but Christ as a son over his own house: whose house are we, if we hold firmly the confidence and glorying of hope stedfast unto the end.

Wherefore I was provoked against that generation, and said, They are always deluded in heart, and they have not known my ways:

For we are partakers with Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end;

For we are hearing the same gospel preached as they did; but the word heard did not profit them, not being incorporated by faith with those who heard it.

Even creation is not invisible before him, but all things are naked, and fully displayed before his eyes, to whom we must give our account.

Concerning whom we have much to discourse, and of difficult interpretation to explain, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

For though ye ought for the time to be teachers of others, ye have again need that some one teach you the leading principles of the oracles of God; and are become as those who need milk, and not solid food.

But, beloved, we are persuaded concerning you that things are better, and connected with salvation, though we thus speak.

that ye be not slothful, but imitators of those who, by faith and long suffering, are inheriting the promises.

For they indeed of the sons of Levi, who are admitted to priesthood, have an order to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though also sprung from the loins of Abraham.

For he to whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, in which no man approached the altar.

And they indeed are many who were made priests, because by death they were prevented from abiding [in their office]:

For finding fault with them, he saith, "Behold, the days are coming, saith the Lord; and I will accomplish for the house of Israel and for the house of Judah a new covenant:

which figurative representation [continues] unto the present time, according to which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, which cannot, with respect to conscience, make him perfect who performs the services,

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that, death being suffered for the redemption of transgressions committed against the first testament, they who are called might receive the promise of an eternal inheritance.

For a testament is valid when men are dead; for else it is of no efficacy whilst the testator is alive.

And almost all things are purified by blood according to the law, and without effusion of blood there is no remission of sin.

Having said before that sacrifice, and oblation, and whole burnt-offerings and sin-offerings thou hast not chosen, nor takest pleasure in, (which are offered according to the law,)

By the which will we are sanctified through the oblation of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all.

For by one oblation he hath made those perfect for ever who are sanctified.

But we are not of those who turn back unto perdition; but of those who believe to the salvation of the soul.

Now they who speak thus, shew evidently that they are in earnest search of their native country.

But now their longing desires are after a better country, that is, the heavenly one: wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God: for he hath prepared a city for them.

If then ye are without correction, of which all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not children.

but ye are come unto mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,

Remember those who are in chains, as in chains with them; and those who are suffering afflictions, as being yourselves also in the body.

For the bodies of those beasts are burnt without the camp, whose blood for a sin offering is brought into the holy of holies by the high-priest.

Obey your presidents, and be subject to them: for they are vigilant for your souls, as being to render an account, that they may do it with joy, and not groaning: for that would be disadvantageous for you.

JAMES, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are dispersed, greeting.

are you not thus partial among yourselves, and form your decision from bad reasonings?

Do they not blaspheme that honourable name by which ye are called?

but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Behold also the ships, though so great, and driven by tempestuous winds, are turned about by the smallest rudder, whithersoever the inclination of the pilot pleaseth.

But the fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for those who are peacemakers.

Ye eagerly covet, yet have not: ye murder, and are envious, yet cannot obtain [your object]; ye wage war, but have not, because ye pray not.

Instead of your saying, If the Lord pleases, and we are alive, then we will do this or that thing.

COME now, ye rich men, let your tears run down, howling over your miseries which are coming upon you.

Your wealth is corrupted, and your robes are moth-eaten.

Behold, the wages of the workmen who have mowed down your fields, which is kept back by you from them, crieth out: and the loud moans of the reapers are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.