Reference: Ethics
Hastings
The present article will be confined to Biblical Ethics. As there is no systematic presentation of the subject, all that can be done is to gather from the Jewish and Christian writings the moral conceptions that were formed by historians, prophets, poets, apostles. The old history culminates in the story of the perfect One, the Lord Jesus Christ, from whom there issued a life of higher order and ampler range.
I. OT Ethics.
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Then was Jesus led up by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry. read more. And the tempter came to him and said: If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. But he answered and said: It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. Then the devil took him into the holy city, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him: If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written: He will give his angels charge concerning you; and in their hands shall they take you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. Jesus said to him: It is again written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the proof. Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and said to him: All these things will I give you, if you will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him: Get behind me, Satan, for it is written: You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain; and when he had sat down, his disciples came to him;
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain; and when he had sat down, his disciples came to him; and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth. Bless ed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness; for they shall be filled.
Bless ed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness; for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the merciful; for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.
Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are they that are persecuted on account of righteousness; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that are persecuted on account of righteousness; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that are persecuted on account of righteousness; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you, when they shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say every evil thing against you, falsely, on my account.
Blessed are you, when they shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say every evil thing against you, falsely, on my account. Rejoice, and leap for joy; for great is your reward in heaven: for so did they persecute the prophets who were before you.
Rejoice, and leap for joy; for great is your reward in heaven: for so did they persecute the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has become tasteless, by what means shall it become salt again? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trod upon by men. read more. You are the light of the world: a city that lies upon a mountain can not be hid: neither do men light a lamp and place it under the measure, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all that are in the house. In this way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to make the law or the prophets of no effect. I have not come to make them of no effect, but to give them their full efficiency.
You have heard that it was said to the ancients: You shall not kill; and whoever shall kill, shall be liable to the sentence of the judges.
You have heard that it was said to the ancients: You shall not kill; and whoever shall kill, shall be liable to the sentence of the judges. But I say to you, Whoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be liable to the sentence of the judges. And whoever shall say to his brother, Worthless fellow, shall be liable to the sentence of the Sanhedrin. But who ever shall say, Impious wretch, shall be in danger of hell-fire. read more. If, therefore, you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has any thing against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go, first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
You have heard that it was said: You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, Whoever looks upon a woman to cherish desire for her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
You have heard that it was said: An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Resist not the injurious. But whoever will smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Beware of doing your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
that your charitable deeds may be in secret; and. your Father, who sees in secret, himself will reward you openly.
But do you, when you pray, go into your closet, and when you have closed the door, pray to your Father who is in secret: and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
For if you forgive men their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you forgive not men their offenses, neither will your Father forgive your offenses.
that you may not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Therefore, whoever hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, and the torrents came, and the winds blew, and they beat against that house, and it fell not: for it was founded on the rock. read more. And every one that hears these words of mine, and does them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the torrents came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell: and great was its fall.
For, which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man on earth has authority to forgive sins (then he said to the palsied man): Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.
He that loves father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me: and whoever does not take his cross and fol low after me, is not worthy of me. read more. He that finds his life shall lose it; and he that loses his life for my sake, shall find it.
Verily, I say to you, Among those born of women, there has not risen a greater than John the Immerser. But the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man, out of his good treasury, brings forth good things; and the evil man, out of his evil treasury, brings forth evil things.
For verily I say to you, Many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see; and to hear what you hear, and did not hear.
that the word might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things that have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
He said to them: Therefore, every scribe that is trained for the kingdom of heaven, is like the master of a house, who brings out of his treasury things new and old.
For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is likened to a king that wished to settle accounts with his servants. And when he began to make a settlement, there was brought to him one that owed him ten thou sand talents. read more. But as he was not able to pay, his lord commanded him, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, to be sold, and payment to be made. Therefore, the servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, Lord, and I will pay you all. And the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and let him go, and for gave him the debt. But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hold of him, and took him by the throat, saying: Pay me what you owe. Then his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and be sought him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay you all. And he would not; but went and threw him into prison, till he should pay the debt. When his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were very sad, and went and made known to their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him and said to him: Wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you besought me. Ought you not to have had mercy on your fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on you? And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all that was due him. So also will my heavenly Father do to you, if, from your hearts, you forgive not every one his brother's offenses.
And they do all their works for the purpose of being seen by men. They make their amulets broad, and enlarge the fringes of their mantles.
Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitened sepulchers, which without appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Then will he say to those on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; read more. I was a stranger, and you took me not to your houses; naked, and you did not clothe me; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me. Then they also will answer, and say: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee? Then will he answer them, saying: Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.
teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and lo; I am with you all the days, even to the end of the age.
And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eating with publicans and sinners, they said to his disciples: Why is it that he eats and drinks with publicans and sinners? And when Jesus heard it, he said to them: Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call righteous men, but sinners.
No one sews a patch of new cloth on an old garment; if so, the new piece which fills it up, takes from the old, and a worse rent is made. And no one puts new wine into old bottles; if so, the new wine bursts the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles are destroyed. But new wine must be put into new bottles.
and when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with common, that is, with unwashed hands: (for the Pharisees and all the Jews eat not, unless they wash their hands carefully, because they hold the tradition of the elders: read more. and when they come from the market, they do not eat, unless they immerse themselves. And there are many other things, which they have received to hold, as the immersion of cups and pitchers and brazen vessels and beds:) then the Pharisees and the scribes asked him: Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands? He answered and said to them: "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, teaching precepts, the commandments of men. For, neglecting the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, the immersion of pitchers and cups; and many other things like these you do.
And he said to them: Are you also so void of understanding? Do you not perceive that nothing from without, by entering into a man, can defile him? Because it does not enter into his heart, but into his belly, and goes out into the sink, cleansing all food. read more. And he said: What comes out of the man, is that which defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the purposes which are evil: adulteries, lewd actions, murders,
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the purposes which are evil: adulteries, lewd actions, murders, thefts, schemes for extortion, wicked deeds, deceit, wantonness, an evil eye, calumny, haughtiness, impiety.
thefts, schemes for extortion, wicked deeds, deceit, wantonness, an evil eye, calumny, haughtiness, impiety. All these evil things come forth from within, and defile the man.
And the Pharisees came to him, and that they might tempt him, asked him the question: Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? He answered and said to them: What commandment did Moses give you? read more. They replied: Moses permitted us to write a bill of divorce, and put her away. And Jesus answered and said to them: On account of the hardness of your hearts, he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall be one flesh. So, then, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man put asunder.
And they came and said to him: Teacher, we know that you are true, and that you care for no one; for you do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Must we give, or must we not give? But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them: Why do you tempt me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it. read more. They brought it; and he said to them: Whose image and superscription is this? They said to him: Caesar's. And Jesus answered and said to them: Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar s, and to God the things that are God s. And they were astonished at him.
And when the sun had gone down, all that had any sick with various diseases, brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and cured them.
And he that had been dead, sat up and began to speak; and he gave him to his mother.
Wherefore, I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much. But he to whom little is forgiven, loves little.
And he said to another: Follow me. But he replied: Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said: Let the dead bury their own dead; but do you go and publish abroad the kingdom of God.
Alas for thee, Chorazin! alas for thee, Bethsaida! for, if the mighty works which have been done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But for Tyre and Sidon it shall be more tolerable in the judgment, than for you. read more. And thou, Capernaum, who hast been exalted to heaven, shalt be brought down to hades. He that hears you, hears me; and he that rejects you, rejects me; and he that rejects me, rejects him that sent me.
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up to tempt him, and said: Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said to him: What is written in the law? How do you read? read more. He answered and said: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole strength, and with your whole understanding, and your neighbor as yourself. He said to him: You have answered correctly; do this, and you shall live. But, wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus: And who is my neighbor? And Jesus answered and said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among; robbers, who stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and went away, leaving him half dead. And by chance a certain priest went down along that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In like manner, also, a Levite, when he came to the place, went and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, who was on a journey, came near him; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. And he went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine; and he put him on his own beast, and carried him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him: Take care of him; and whatever you spend more, on my return, I will repay you. Which, then, of these three do you think was neighbor to him that fell among the robbers? He replied: He that showed mercy to him. Jesus said to him: Go, and do you likewise.
If any one comes to me, and hates not his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and his own life also, he can not be my disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, can not be my disciple.
What man of you that has a hundred sheep, and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which is lost, till he find it? And when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. read more. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, and says to them., Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost. I say to you, That thus there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety-nine just persons, who need no repentance.
And he said to them: You set yourselves forth as righteous before men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men, is detestable in the sight of God.
There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and feasted sumptuously every day. And there was a certain poor man named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, full of sores: read more. and he would gladly have been fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. And even the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the poor man died, and was carried by angels to Abra ham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried; and in hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus iii his bosom. And he called to him and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that, in your lifetime, you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus his evil things. But now he is comforted, and you are tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that they that would pass hence to you, can not; nor can they that would, pass thence to us. Then he said, I beseech you, therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house; for I have five brothers; that he may earnestly admonish them, lest they also come to this place of torment. Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. But he said, Not so, Father Abraham; but if one should go to them from the dead, they would repent. But he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded, though one should rise from the dead.
Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself: God, I thank thee that I am not as other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. read more. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying: God, be merciful to me a sinner. I say to you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For every one that exalts himself, shall be humbled; but he that humbles himself, shall be exalted.
And Zacchaeus stood, and said to the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken from any one by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said to him: To-day has salvation come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.
And he said to Jesus: remember me, Lord, when thou comest in thy kingdom.
And all the multitudes that had come together to that sight, when they saw what was done, returned, smiting their breasts.
All things were made by him, and without him not one thing was made that now exists. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
for the law was given through Moses, but the grace and the truth came through Jesus Christ.
Jesus answered and said to him: Verily, verily I say to you, unless a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God.
That which is begotten of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is begotten of the Spirit, is spirit.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
He that believes on him is not condemned; but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeks such to worship him.
Therefore said I to you, that you shall die in your sins. For if you believe not that I am, He, you shall die in your sins.
Therefore, if the Son make you free, you shall be free indeed.
Which of you convicts me of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe me?
I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep, and am known by mine.
You call me Teacher and Lord; and you say well, for so I am.
A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you with myself, that where I am, you may be also.
Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but you shall see me. Because I live, you also shall live.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-dresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit, he takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. read more. Now are you pure, through the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I will abide in you. As the branch can not bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He that abides in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing. If any one abide not in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and withers; and such are gathered, and thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done for you. In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and in this you will be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. He that hates me, hates my Father also. read more. If I had not done among them the works that no other man has done, they would have had no sin; but now they have both seen, and hated both me and my Father.
They will put you out of the synagogues; in deed, the time is coming, when he that kills you, will think that he is offering service to God.
And when he has come, he will convince the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.
And when he has come, he will convince the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Of sin, because they believe not on me;
These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you shall have affliction, but be of good courage; I have overcome the world.
I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
Father, I wish that they also, whom thou hast given me, may be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me; for thou didst love me before the foundation of the world.
Then, they went from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were thought worthy to suffer shame for his name's sake.
For he had not yet fallen on any of them; only they had been immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then, when they had given their testimony, and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. And an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: Arise, and go toward the south, to the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza; this is desert. read more. And he arose and went. And be hold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning, and, sitting in his chariot, read the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip: Go forward and join your self to this chariot. And Philip ran forward, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah; and he said: Do you understand what you are reading? He answered: How can I, unless some one instruct me? And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The passage of the scripture which he was reading, was this: As a sheep for the slaughter was he led; and as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, so opened he not his mouth in his humiliation. The sentence against him was taken away; but who shall describe the men of his generation? For his life was taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said: I pray you, of whom speaks the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man? And Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached to him Jesus. And as they went along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said: See, here is water; what hinders me from being immersed? #VALUE! And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he immersed him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and did him homage. But Peter raised him up, saying: Stand up; I also am a man.
PAUL, a servant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Do we, then, make law void through the faith? It can not be. On the other hand, we establish law.
Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have had access, by faith, into this grace in which we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
For hardly, in deed, will one die for a just man; yet, perhaps, for the good man some one would even dare to die. But God makes known his love to us in this, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us:
For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold into bondage to sin.
For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed me from the law of sin, and of death.
But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now, if any one has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.
For those whom he foreknew, he predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren:
Yet, in all these things, we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, read more. nor hight, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. SECTION THIRD. God's Dealings with Israel as a People,
Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities. For there is no authority but from God: the authorities that are, have been appointed by God. Therefore, he that resists the authority, resists the appointment of God; and those who resist shall receive to themselves condemnation. read more. For rulers are not a terror to works that are good, but to those which are evil. Will you, then, not be afraid of the authority? Do that which is good, and you shall receive praise from the same. For he is the minister of God to you for that which is good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain. For he is the minister of God to inflict punishment on him that does evil. Wherefore, it is necessary to be subject, not only because of punishment, but also for conscience sake. On this very account, too, pay tribute also: for they are the public servants of God, attending continually to this very thing. Render, therefore, to all their dues; tribute, to whom tribute is due; custom, to whom custom; fear, to whom fear; honor, to whom honor is due.
Who are you that judge another man's servant? To his own master he stands or falls; indeed, he shall stand, for God is able to make him stand.
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants, for Jesus sake.
For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that each may receive his reward for the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether good or evil.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet, for your sakes, he became poor, that you, through his poverty, might become rich.
Now the works of the flesh are well known, and they are these lewdness, uncleanness, wantonness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strifes, jealousies, anger, party-spirit, divisions, sects, read more. envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; with respect to which, I tell you now, as I also told you in times past, that those who practice such things shall riot inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness,
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
meekness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in any fault, do you, who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted. Bear with the weaknesses of one another, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
for each one shall bear his own burden.
Even you, being dead to offenses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is actively at work in the sons of disobedience: read more. among whom also we all formerly lived in the desires of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and of the feelings, and were by nature children of wrath, even as others: but God, being rich in mercy, on account of his great love with which he loved us, made alive with Christ even us, being dead to our offenses, (by grace you are saved,) and raised us up, and made us sit together in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus; that he might show, in the ages to come, the exceeding riches of his grace by his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
having abolished, in his flesh, the cause of enmity, the law of commandments in ordinances, that he might, by himself, form the two into one new man, thus making peace;
Let him that steals, steal no more: but rather let labor, working with his hands that which is good, that he may have something to give to him that has need. Let no impure speech come out of your mouth, but whatever is good for needful edification, that it may give grace to the hearers:
Wives, be subject to your own husbands as to the Lord:
And you masters, do the same things to them, leaving off threatening, knowing that you yourselves have a master in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him.
For to you it is given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but, also, to suffer for him,
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,
So, then, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God, who, of his good pleasure, works in you both the will and the power to perform.
Yes, verily, I also count all things to be loss, for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them to be refuse, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having my own righteousness which was by law, but the righteousness which is by faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, read more. that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, by conforming myself to his death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or have already reached the goal; but I am pressing forward, that I may lay hold on that for which I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not conclude that I have already laid hold: but one thing I do; forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forward to those which are before, I press toward the goal, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
If, then, you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where the Christ sits at the right hand of God; mind the things that are above, not the things that are on the earth: read more. for you are dead, and your life is hid with the Christ in God. When the Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, your members that are on the earth, lewdness, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; on account of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience, in which things you also formerly walked when you lived in them. But now do you also put away all these anger, wrath, malice, reviling, obscene language from your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds,
Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, a merciful disposition, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering: bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any one have a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do you: read more. and over all these put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God, to which you are called in one body, rule in your hearts, and be thankful. Let the word of the Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, by teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with gratitude in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as it is becoming in the Lord.
Masters, give to your servants what is just and equal, for you know that you have a Master in heaven.
Jesus also, who is called Justus, salutes you: these are of the circumcision: and these only are my fellow-workers for the kingdom of God, who have been a comfort to me.
But do you speak the things that become sound teaching; that the aged men be vigilant, grave, sober-minded, sound in faith, in love, in patience;
teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in the present age;
teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in the present age; looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, read more. who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard him;
For both he that sanctifies, and those who are sanctified, are all of one Father: for which reason, he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: I will declare thy name among my brethren; in the midst of the assembly, will I sing hymns to thee. read more. And again: I will put my trust in him. And again: Behold, I, and the children that God has given me. Since, then, the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also, in like manner, partook of the same, that, through his death, he might deprive of power him that has the power of death, that is, the devil; and might set free those who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For, verily, he does not take hold of angels, but he takes hold of the posterity of Abraham. "Wherefore, it behooved him to be made like his brethren in all things, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, in order to make expiation for the sins of the people. For, inasmuch as he himself has suffered in being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
For we have not a high priest that can not sympathize with our infirmities; but he was tempted in all things like ourselves, yet without sin.
For it is impossible to renew again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the coming age, read more. if they fall away; since they again crucify in themselves the Son of God, and put him to an open shame. For the land which drinks up the rain that comes often upon it, and produces herbs suitable for those for whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God. But that which produces thorns and thistles is rejected, and is near the curse, the end of which is to be burned.
which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that held the manna, and the rod of Aaron that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
by a new and living way which he has dedicated for us, through the vail, that is, his flesh;
For if we sin willfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no longer a sacrifice for sins;
But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings; partly, while you became a public spectacle, by reproaches and afflictions: partly, while you became partakers with those who were so treated. read more. For you sympathized with me in my bonds, and endured joyfully the seizure of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better and abiding substance in the heavens.
But forget not to do good, and to be liberal: for with such, sacrifices God is well pleased.
JAMES, a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are in the dispersion, greeting.
Of his own will, he begot us with the word of truth, in order that we might be, as it were, the first-fruits of his creatures.
Religion, pure and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
so, even for this very purpose, uniting to these things all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ, has been be gotten of God: and every one that loves him that begot, loves him also that is begotten of him.
He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him that overcomes, I will give of the hidden manna; and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he that receives it.
Him that overcomes, I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out no more; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new name.
And they sung a new song, saying: Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation:
And they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads.
And I, John, am he that saw and heard these things. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel that showed me these things. And he said to me: See that you do it not; I am your fellow-servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book: worship God.