Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with everything to enjoy.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.

For this reason I also suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

Nevertheless, God's firm foundation stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress.

for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might straighten out what was left unfinished, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you,

This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they may be sound in the faith

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

This is a trustworthy saying; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for men.

Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, that you might have him back for ever,

I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will pay it backnot to mention that you owe me even your own self.

For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works."

And again in this place he said, "They shall never enter my rest."

Because of this he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

About this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of God's word. You need milk, not solid food;

And this we will do, if God permits.

Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that accompany salvation.

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him.

But this man whose genealogy is not derived from them received a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

In this case tithes are received by mortal men, but in that case by one of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.

This becomes even more evident if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,

Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

He does not need, like those high priests, to offer up daily sacrifices, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people, because he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; and so it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.

This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place.

The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the holy place had not yet been disclosed as long as the outer tabernacle was still standing.

This is symbolic for the present time. According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, he entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation.

For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

This is why even the first covenant was not ratified without blood.

saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you."

"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"

Besides this, we have had fathers of our flesh to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?

This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, in order that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this with joy, and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

I urge you all the more to do this so that I may be restored to you the sooner.

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger,

But one who looks intently into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but a doer that acts, this man will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.

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.

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.

This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials,

As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you inquired and searched carefully,

but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word which was preached to you.

To you therefore who believe, this is precious, but for those who do not believe, "The very stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,"

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, and were submissive to their own husbands;

Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but give a blessing instead; for to this you were called, that you may inherit a blessing.

In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they abuse you;

For this reason the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they might live in the spirit according to the will of God.

With the help of Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.

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

I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,

For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

We ourselves heard this voice coming from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

And we have the prophetic word made more sure, and you will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation,

This is now the second letter that I have written to you, beloved, and in both of them I have aroused your sincere mind by way of reminder;

First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days, with scoffing, following their own lusts

They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and by means of water,

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy lives and godliness,

You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your own steadfastness.

And we write this that our joy may be complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all.

My little children, I write this to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Now by this we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

But whoever keeps his word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in him:

Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come; by this we know that it is the last hour.

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

And this is what he has promised useternal life.

And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother.

For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

By this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him

And this is his commandment: that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

Now those who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

By this you know the Spirit of God: every Spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,

and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist, of which you have heard that it was coming, and now it is in the world already.

We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us; he who is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

In this love is perfected among us, that we may have confidence for the Day of Judgment, because as he is so are we in this world.

And this commandment we have from him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the worldour faith.

This is he who came by water and bloodJesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood.

If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God which he has borne witness of his Son.

And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.