Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. read more. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil took him to the holy city, and set 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 of you,' and 'In their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Away, 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.

Seeing the crowds, he went up on a mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him.

Seeing the crowds, he went up on a mountain, and when he 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 those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are those who 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. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain 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 those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake.

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

Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its taste, how shall it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. read more. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that anyone who is angry with his brother shall be subject to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca,' shall be answerable to the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of the fire of hell. read more. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something 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 that every one who looks at a woman lustfully 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 tell you, do not resist an evil person. But if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

so that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

But when you pray, go into your room, shut the door and pray to your Father, who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

so that you do not appear to be fasting to men, but to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. read more. And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell. And great was its fall."

For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"he then said to the paralytic"Rise, take up your bed and go home."

He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. read more. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.

Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

You brood of vipers! how can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

So was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world."

And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been instructed for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."

Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the settlement, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. read more. And as he was not able to pay, his master ordered that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' The master of that servant took pity on him, released him, and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused, and went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and went and told their master all that had happened. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. So also my heavenly Father will do to each of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

But they do all their works to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and the tassels of their garments long.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which outwardly appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.

"Then he will say to those on his left hand, 'Depart from me, you who are 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 did not take me in, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors 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 did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; if he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, and the tear is made worse. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins."

they saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. read more. When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash themselves. And there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pitchers and copper vessels.) The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with impure hands?" And he 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 they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.' You let go of the commandment of God, and hold on to the tradition of men."

So he said to them, "Are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, since it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and so passes on?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.) read more. And he said, "What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, come evil thoughts, fornications, theft, murder, adultery,

For from within, out of the heart of men, come evil thoughts, fornications, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.

coveting, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man."

The Pharisees came and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" read more. They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away." But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

When they came, they said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and care about no man; for you do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why do you put me to the test? Bring me a denarius, and let me look at it." read more. And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him.

When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.

The dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little."

To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. read more. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades! "He who hears you hears me, he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "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. And he answered, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind'; and 'your neighbor as yourself.'" And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live." But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothing, beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

"If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. read more. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination 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 a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores, read more. longing to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus received evil things; but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' And he said, ' Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'"

"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other menextortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. read more. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.

And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

But all his acquaintances, and the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

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

Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples.

Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

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

He who believes in him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him.

Therefore I told to you that you would die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins."

So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep, and my sheep know me

You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, 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 to myself, that where I am you may be also.

A little while longer, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he takes away; and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it may bear more fruit. read more. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is like a branch that is cast away and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just 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 sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father also. read more. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.

They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.

And when he comes, he will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

And when he comes, he will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in me;

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage! I have overcome the world."

I have glorified you on the earth, having finished the work which you have given me to do.

Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me may be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

For he had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert road. read more. So he got up and went. And there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot." So Philip ran up to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: "He was led as a sheep to slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth." And the eunuch said to Philip, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news of Jesus. And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?" (...) And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am just a man."

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God

For he is not a real Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something outward and in the flesh. He is a Jew who is one inwardly; and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, and not by the written code. His praise is not from men but from God.

Do we then nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of the glory of God.

Why, one will hardly die for a righteous manthough perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.

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

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, read more. nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. read more. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will have praise from him. For he is God's servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is God's servant, an avenger to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God's ministers, attending to this very thing. Pay all of them their dues: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will be made to stand, for the Master is able to make him stand.

For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich.

Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, read more. envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

For each one will bear his own load.

And you were dead in your trespasses 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 now at work in the sons of disobedience. read more. Among them we all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and mind, and so we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

by abolishing in his flesh the hostility, which is the Law of commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but rather must labor, doing useful work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with those in need. Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building others up according to the need of the moment, that it may impart grace to those who hear.

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord.

Masters, do the same to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

For to you it has been granted for the sake of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake,

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

More than that, I count everything to be loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christthe righteousness that comes from God and is by faith, read more. that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like him in his death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brethren, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things above, not on things that are on earth. read more. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices

So, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord forgave you, so you also must forgive. read more. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

and also Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved to be a comfort to me.

But as for you, teach what befits sound doctrine. The older men are to be temperate, serious, sensible, sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.

training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this present age,

training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, read more. who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, zealous for good deeds.

how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him,

For both he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, "I will declare your name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise." read more. And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned, but with the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered, being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

For it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, read more. and then have fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put him to an open shame. For land which drinks the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned.

having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

by a new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, his flesh,

For if we sin deliberately after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

But remember the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to insult and persecution; and at other times standing side by side with those who were so treated. read more. For you had compassion on the prisoners, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: greetings.

Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Religion that is pure and undefiled in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge,

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna. And I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone which no one knows except him who receives it.'

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall never go out of it. And I will write on 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 on him my new name.

And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals; for you were slain, and with your blood purchased men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. But he said to me, "Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."