These things indeed have a reputation of wisdom in self-imposed worship and humility, and unsparing severity of the body, but are not of any value for the satisfying of the flesh.

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness (which is idolatry),

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you also are called in one body, and be thankful.

and greetings from Jesus, who is called Justus, those being of the circumcision. These alone are my fellow-workers for the kingdom of God, who became a comfort to me.

For I bear him record that he has a great zeal for you and for those who are in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.

Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church in his house.

You and God are witnesses how holily and justly and blamelessly we were to you who believe,

For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also have suffered these things by your own countrymen, even as they also by the Jews;

For what is our hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are you not even to be in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

For you are our glory and joy.

so that no one should be drawn aside by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to them.

But regarding brotherly love, you do not need that I write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.

And indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we beseech you, brothers, that you abound more and more,

But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you be not grieved, even as others who have no hope.

For we say this to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who are asleep.

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

But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief.

You are all the sons of light and the sons of the day. We are not of the night, or of darkness.

For those sleeping sleep in the night, and those being drunken are drunken in the night.

But let us, who are of the day, be calm, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and the hope of salvation for a helmet.

And, brothers, we beseech you to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and who admonish you,

Now we exhort you, brothers, warn those who are unruly, comfort the faint-hearted, support the weak, be patient toward all.

We are bound to thank God always for you, my brothers, as it is right, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each one of you abounds toward one another;

and to give rest with us to you who are troubled, at the revealing of the Lord Jesus from Heaven with the angels of His power,

But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brothers beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth,

For we hear that there are some who walk disorderly among you, not working at all, but being busybodies.

Now we command and exhort those who are such, by our Lord Jesus Christ, that they work with quietness and eat their own bread.

Among these are Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme.

for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

Likewise the deacons are to be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of ill gain,

Even so their wives are to be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

Honor widows who are widows indeed.

If any believing man or believing woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be charged, so that it may relieve those who are widows indeed.

Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment. And some they also follow after.

Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand, and those who are otherwise cannot be hidden.

Let as many slaves as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name and doctrine of God may not be blasphemed.

And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers. But rather let them serve, because they are faithful and beloved, those of the good service receiving in return. Teach and exhort these things.

Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, to which you are also called and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.

This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

And their word will eat like a gangrene; among whom are Hymeneus and Philetus,

Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal: "The Lord knew those who are His." And, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity!"

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.

For of these are those who creep into houses and lead captive silly women loaded with sins, led away with different kinds of lusts,

and that from a babe you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

For this cause I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed you,

For there are indeed many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

One of them, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.

To the pure all things are pure. But to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure, but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Slaves are to be obedient to their masters, to please them well in all things, not talking against,

Faithful is the Word, and as to these things, I desire that you strongly affirm that those believing God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

But avoid foolish questions and genealogies and contentions, and strivings about the Law, for they are unprofitable and vain.

For to which of the angels did He say at any time, "You are My Son, this day I have begotten You?" And again, "I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?"

And, "You, Lord, have laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the works of Your hands.

and as a covering You shall fold them up, and they shall be changed. But You are the same, and Your years shall not fail."

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation?

But one testified in a certain place, saying, "What is man, that You are mindful of him; or the son of man, that You visit him?

For it became Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons into glory, to perfect the Captain of their salvation through sufferings.

For both He who sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of One, for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brothers,

For in that He Himself has suffered, having been tempted, He is able to rescue those who are being tempted.

But Christ was faithful as a Son over his own house; whose house we are, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight, but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin.

who can have compassion on the ignorant and on those who are out of the way. For he himself also is compassed with weakness.

So also Christ did not glorify Himself to be made a high priest, but He who said to Him, "You are My Son, today I have begotten You."

As He says also in another place, "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."

of whom we have much to say, and hard to be explained since you are dull of hearing.

For indeed because of the time, you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again what are the first principles of the oracles of God. And you have become in need of milk, and not of solid food.

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, even those who because of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you and things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this way.

And truly they who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priest, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the Law, that is, from their brothers, though they come out of the loins of Abraham.

For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man gave attendance at the altar.

For He testifies, "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."

(for those priests were made without an oath, but this one was made with an oath by Him who said to Him, "The Lord swore and will not repent, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek,")

For if indeed He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the Law,

For finding fault with them, He said to them, "Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, and I will make an end on the house of Israel and on the house of Judah; a new covenant shall be,

And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new covenant, so that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, those who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission.

For Christ has not entered into the Holy of Holies made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.

For the Law which has a shadow of good things to come, not the very image of the things, appearing year by year with the same sacrifices, which they offer continually, they are never able to perfect those drawing near.

Above, when He said, "Sacrifice and offering, and burnt offerings and offering for sin You did not desire, neither did You have pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the Law),

By this will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

from then on expecting until His enemies are made His footstool.

For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified.

But we are not of those withdrawing to destruction, but of those who believe to the preserving of the soul.

Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons, "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by Him;

But if you are without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then you are bastards and not sons.

Now chastening for the present does not seem to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are exercised by it.

looking diligently lest any fail of the grace of God, or lest any root of bitterness springing up disturb you, and by it many are defiled,

to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are written in Heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

And this word, "Yet once more," signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, so that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear,

Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them, those who suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the Holy of Holies by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.

Do they not blaspheme that worthy Name by which you are called?

But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin and are convicted by the Law as transgressors.

and if one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them those things which are needful to the body, what good is it?

Behold also the ships being so great, and driven by fierce winds, yet they are turned about with a very small rudder, where the impulse of him steering desires.