# verses

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Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.


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Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you - although if you can gain your freedom, do so.


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For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave.


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Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.


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But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.


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What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;


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those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep;


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those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.


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I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs - how he can please the Lord.


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and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world - how she can please her husband.


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I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.


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If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if she is getting along in years and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.


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But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin - this man also does the right thing.


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A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.


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In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is - and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.


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Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.


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So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one.


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For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"),


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yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.


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But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.


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Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.


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For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?


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When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.


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Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.


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Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?


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Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.


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Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas?


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Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk?


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For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned?


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Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.


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If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.


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Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?


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In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.


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But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast.


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Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!


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If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.


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What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.


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Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.


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To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.


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To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.


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To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.


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Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.


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Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.


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No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.


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For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.


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and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.


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Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.


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Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry."


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We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did - and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.


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These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.


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No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.


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Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?


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No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.


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You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons.


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"Everything is permissible" - but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible" - but not everything is constructive.


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If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.


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But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake - 


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the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience?


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If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?


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even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.


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I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.


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Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.


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And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head - it is just as though her head were shaved.


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If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.


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A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.


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For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.


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If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice - nor do the churches of God.


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In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.


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for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk.


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Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!


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For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,


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and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "<J>This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.</J>"


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In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "<J>This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.</J>"


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Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.


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For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.


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When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.


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If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.


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You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.


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Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.


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To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,


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to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.


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All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.


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The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.


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For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.


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If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.


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And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.


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If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?


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But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.


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The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"


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and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,


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while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,


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so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.


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If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.


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And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.


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If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.


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If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.


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If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.


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Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.


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When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.


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Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.


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For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.


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I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.


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Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?


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Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?


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So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.


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If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.


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So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.


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So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.


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If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?


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But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.


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Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.


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In the Law it is written: "Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord.


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Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.


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So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?


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But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all,


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and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"


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What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.


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If anyone speaks in a tongue, two - or at the most three - should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.


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If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.


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women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.


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If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.


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If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.


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Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.


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By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.


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For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,


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After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.


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For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.


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But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.


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But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?


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More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.


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Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.


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For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.


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When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.


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Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?


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I die every day - I mean that, brothers - just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.


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If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."


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Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God - I say this to your shame.


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When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else.


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All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another.


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There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another.


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The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.


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So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;


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it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.


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As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.


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And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.


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I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.


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in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.


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When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."


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Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.


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On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.


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Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.


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Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go.


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I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.


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If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am.


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No one, then, should refuse to accept him. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.


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Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.


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You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers,


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I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.


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The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.


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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:


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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,


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who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.


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For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.


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If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.


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And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.


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We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.


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Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.


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He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,


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as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.


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Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace.


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as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.


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I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea.


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When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no"?


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For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not "Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes."


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For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.


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set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.


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Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.


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I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy.


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For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.


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If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent - not to put it too severely.


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Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.


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If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven - if there was anything to forgive - I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,


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Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me,


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I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia.


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But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.


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To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?


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Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.


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Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?


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You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.


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Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.


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He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.


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Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was,


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If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!


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We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away.


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But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.


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And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.


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Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.


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The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.


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


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For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.


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But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.


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We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.


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For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.


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It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,


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because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.


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All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.


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Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.


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For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.


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So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.


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Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.


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For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.


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Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.


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Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.


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For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.


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Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.


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We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.


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For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.


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And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.


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So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.


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All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:


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that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.


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We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.


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God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.


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For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.


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Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;


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in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;


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sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.


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Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?


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What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?


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What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."


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"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."


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Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.


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Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.


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I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you.


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I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.


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For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn - conflicts on the outside, fears within.


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and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.


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Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it - I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while - 


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yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.


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Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.


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See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.


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So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are.


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By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.


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I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well.


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And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling.


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Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.


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For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,


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And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.


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So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.


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But just as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us - see that you also excel in this grace of giving.


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I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.


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


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And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.


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Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.


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For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.


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Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.


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At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality,


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as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."


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For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.


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And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.


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What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.


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For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.


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In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you.


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As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ.


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Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.


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For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.


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But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be.


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For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we - not to say anything about you - would be ashamed of having been so confident.


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So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.


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Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.


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Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.


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And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.


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As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."


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Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.


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You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.


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This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.


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Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.


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And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.


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By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you - I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away!


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I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.


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The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.


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We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.


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You are looking only on the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he.


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For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.


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For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing."


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Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.


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We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.


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We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you.


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We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ.


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Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand,


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so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man's territory.


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I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.


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But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.


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For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.


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I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.


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Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?


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And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.


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As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine.


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And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.


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It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.


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I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.


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In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face.


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To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! What anyone else dares to boast about - I am speaking as a fool - I also dare to boast about.


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Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.


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Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,


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I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.


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I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.


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In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.


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I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.


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I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know - God knows.


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And I know that this man - whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows - 


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Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.


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To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.


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But he said to me, "<J>My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.</J>" Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.


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That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.


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I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.


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The things that mark an apostle - signs, wonders and miracles - were done among you with great perseverance.


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How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!


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Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.


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So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?


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Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!


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I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?


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Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.


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For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.


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I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.


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This will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."


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I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others,


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since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.


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For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you.


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Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?


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Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed.


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This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority - the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.


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Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.


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May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.


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Paul, an apostle - sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead - 


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who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,


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I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - 


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which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.


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But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!


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As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!


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Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.


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I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.


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For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.


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I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.


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nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.


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Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days.


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They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy."


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Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.


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I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.


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This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.


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As for those who seemed to be important - whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance - those men added nothing to my message.


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On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews.


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For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles.


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James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.


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Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.


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The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.


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When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?


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know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.


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"If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!


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I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.


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I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"


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You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.


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I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?


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Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?


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Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?


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The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."


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All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."


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Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."


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He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.


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Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case.


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The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ.


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What I mean is this: The law, introduced years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.


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For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.


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What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator.


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Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.


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But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.


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Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.


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There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.


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What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.


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Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."


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But now that you know God - or rather are known by God - how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?


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Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.


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What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.


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Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.


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It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.


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For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.


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His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.


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These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar.


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Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.


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For it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband."


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At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.


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But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son."


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It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.


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Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.


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Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.


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You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.


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For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.


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I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.


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Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.


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You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.


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For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.


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idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions


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and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.


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Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.


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Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,


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The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.


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Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.


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Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.


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Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.


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Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh.


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May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.


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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:


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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.


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For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love


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he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - 


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In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace


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And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,


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to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment - to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.


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In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,


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And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,


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who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory.


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For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,


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I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.


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I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,


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and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,


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which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,


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far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.


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And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,


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in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.


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All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.


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made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.


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in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.


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For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - 


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For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.


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Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)-


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remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.


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But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.


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For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,


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by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,


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and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.


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Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household,


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built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.


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which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.


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This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.


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I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.


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Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,


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and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.


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His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,


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I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,


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so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,


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may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,


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and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.


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Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,


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to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.


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As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.


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This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."


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He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)


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It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,


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until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.


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Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.


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Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.


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From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.


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So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.


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They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.


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Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.


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You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;


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Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.


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He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.


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Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.


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and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.


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But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.


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Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.


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For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person - such a man is an idolater - has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.


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Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.


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for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."


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Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,


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For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.


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and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.


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In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.


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After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church - 


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"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."


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However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.


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Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.


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Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.


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Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.


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because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.


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And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.


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For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.


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Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.


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Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,


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In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.


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And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.


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Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,


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Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing.


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I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.


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Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:


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being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.


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It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.


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so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,


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filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.


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Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.


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As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.


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Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.


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The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.


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But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,


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for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.


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I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.


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If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!


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Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,


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Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel


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without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved - and that by God.


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For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,


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If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,


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then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.


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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.


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And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!


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Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,


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so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe


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as you hold out the word of life - in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.


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But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.


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I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.


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But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.


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But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.


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Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.


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Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.


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because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.


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Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.


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For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh - 


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though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:


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circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;


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What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ


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and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.


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I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,


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Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.


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Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,


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All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.


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Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.


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For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.


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Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.


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who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.


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Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!


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Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.


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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.


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And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


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Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.


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Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.


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I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.


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I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.


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I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.


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Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;


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I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.


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the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel


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that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.


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You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,


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For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.


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And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,


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being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully


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giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.


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For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,


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For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.


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And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.


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and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.


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But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - 


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if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.


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Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.


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I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness - 


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To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.


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We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.


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I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.


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My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,


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For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.


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rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.


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See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.


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In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ,


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having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.


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When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,


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having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.


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And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.


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Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.


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Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.


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He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.


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Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules:


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Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.


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Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.


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Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.


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But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.


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Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.


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Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.


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Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.


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Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.


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Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.


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And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


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Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.


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since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.


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


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And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.


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Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.


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Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.


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I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.


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He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.


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My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)


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


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Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.


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After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.


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Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.


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We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.


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because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.


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You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.


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The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia - your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it,


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for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,


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and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead - Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.


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We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.


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For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.


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On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.


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We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you,


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We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.


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Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.


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You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.


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encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.


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And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.


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For you, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews,


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who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men


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in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.


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But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.


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For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?


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We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,


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so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.


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In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.


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For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.


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But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.


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Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.


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How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?


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Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.


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May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.


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May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.


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Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.


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and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.


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Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.


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Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.


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And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.


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Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,


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so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.


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Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.


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We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.


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According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.


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For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.


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After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.


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While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.


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You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.


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But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.


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Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.


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And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.


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Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.


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May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:


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We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.


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Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.


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All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.


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and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.


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They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power


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on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.


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With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.


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We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.


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Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.


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He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.


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For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.


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And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.


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The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders,


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and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.


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But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.


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He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.


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May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,


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Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.


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In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.


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For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,


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nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.


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We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.


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Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.


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If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed.


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Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.


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I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.


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To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.


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As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer


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nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work - which is by faith.


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The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.


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They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.


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We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,


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for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers - and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine


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I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.


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Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.


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The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.


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Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst.


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But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.


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Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.


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Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight,


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holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.


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Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.


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I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - 


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for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.


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And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle - I am telling the truth, I am not lying - and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.


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I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,


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But women will be saved through childbearing - if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.


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Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.


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Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,


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He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.


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He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.


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Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.


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In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.


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Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.


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if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.


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Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.


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The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.


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Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.


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They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.


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For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,


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If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.


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For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.


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(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.


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Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.


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Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.


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Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.


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Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers,


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But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.


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The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.


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If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.


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No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband,


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and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.


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As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry.


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Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.


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So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.


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If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.


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The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.


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For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "<J>The worker deserves his wages.</J>"


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I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.


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Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.


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Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.


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The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.


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All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered.


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Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.


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If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,


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he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions


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and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.


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People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.


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For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.


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But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.


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Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.


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In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you


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which God will bring about in his own time - God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,


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who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.


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Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.


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In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.


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Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,


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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,


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I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.


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I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.


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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.


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For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.


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So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,


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who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,


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but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.


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That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.


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Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.


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May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.


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May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.


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And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.


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No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer.


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Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.


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for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.


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Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.


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Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.


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Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.


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who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.


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Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."


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In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.


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If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.


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Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.


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Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.


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And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.


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Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,


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and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.


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People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,


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They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,


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Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth - men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.


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But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.


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You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,


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persecutions, sufferings - what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.


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But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,


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and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.


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All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,


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In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:


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Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.


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For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.


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But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.


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Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.


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


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When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.


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Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.


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At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.


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But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth.


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The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.


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Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers.


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Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness - 


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a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,


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and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,


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To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.


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


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An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.


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Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless - not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.


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Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.


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He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.


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For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group.


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They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach - and that for the sake of dishonest gain.


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To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.


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They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.


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Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.


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Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.


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to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.


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In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness


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and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.


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Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them,


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and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.


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It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,


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while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,


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who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.


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These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.


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Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,


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At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.


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he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,


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This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.


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But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.


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Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.


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As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.


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Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need.


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Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.


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Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker,


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I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.


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Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.


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yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul - an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus - 


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I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.


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But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.


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Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good - 


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no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.


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I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back - not to mention that you owe me your very self.


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And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.


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but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.


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The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.


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For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"?


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And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."


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But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.


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You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."


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He also says, "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.


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You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end."


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To which of the angels did God ever say, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"?


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For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,


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how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.


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God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.


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But there is a place where someone has testified: "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?


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and put everything under his feet." In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.


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But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.


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In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.


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Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.


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He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises."


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And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."


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Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - 


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For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.


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Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.


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Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.


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But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.


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That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.'


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See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.


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But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.


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As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."


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And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert?


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Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.


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For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.


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Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world.


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For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work."


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It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience.


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Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."


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Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.


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For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.


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Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.


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Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.


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


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Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.


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Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.


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He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.


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So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father."


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During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.


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In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!


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Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.


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But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.


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Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,


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instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.


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It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,


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if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.


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Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.


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But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.


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


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God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.


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We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.


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When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,


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Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.


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Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.


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God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.


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We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,


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where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.


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This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,


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and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace."


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Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.


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Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people - that is, their brothers - even though their brothers are descended from Abraham.


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This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.


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In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.


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If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come - one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?


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He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.


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For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.


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one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.


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but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever.'"


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Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.


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Such a high priest meets our need - one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.


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Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.


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For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.


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The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,


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Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.


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If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.


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They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."


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But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.


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For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.


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But God found fault with the people and said: "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.


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It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.


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This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.


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No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.


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By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.


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A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place.


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which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.


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Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.


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When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry.


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But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.


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The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.


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This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.


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They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings - external regulations applying until the time of the new order.


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When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.


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He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.


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The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.


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How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!


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For this reason Christ 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 sins committed under the first covenant.


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because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.


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When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.


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In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies.


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In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.


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It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.


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For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.


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Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.


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Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.


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so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.


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The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming - not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.


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If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.


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Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;


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Then I said, 'Here I am - it is written about me in the scroll - I have come to do your will, O God.'"


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First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made).


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Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second.


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And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.


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Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.


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But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.


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"This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."


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let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.


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Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.


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If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,


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How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?


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For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people."


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Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.


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Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.


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You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.


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You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.


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By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.


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By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.


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By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.


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And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.


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By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.


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By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.


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By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.


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By faith Abraham, even though he was past age - and Sarah herself was barren - was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.


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And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.


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All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.


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Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.


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By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,


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Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.


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By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.


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By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.


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By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.


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He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.


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He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.


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By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.


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By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.


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By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.


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By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.


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And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,


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who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,


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quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.


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Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.


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They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated - 


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the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.


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Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.


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Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.


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Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.


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And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,


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Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?


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If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.


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Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!


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Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.


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No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.


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Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.


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See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.


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See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.


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Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.


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You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;


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to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,


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because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned."


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But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,


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to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,


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to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.


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See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?


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At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."


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The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken - that is, created things - so that what cannot be shaken may remain.


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Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,


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Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.


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Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.


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Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.


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Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."


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Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.


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Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.


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The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp.


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Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name.


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Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.


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May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,


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equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.


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Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter.


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I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.


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James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.


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If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.


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But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.


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But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.


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For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.


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Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.


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When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;


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Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.


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Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.


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He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.


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My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,


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Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.


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Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror


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But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.


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If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.


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Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.


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Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.


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If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet,"


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Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?


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But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?


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If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.


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For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.


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because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!


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What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?


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If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?


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But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.


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Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?


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You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.


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And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.


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In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?


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Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.


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We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.


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Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.


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Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.


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The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.


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All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,


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With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.


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My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.


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Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.


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But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.


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But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.


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What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?


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You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.


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When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.


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You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.


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Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?


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But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."


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Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.


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Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.


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There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you - who are you to judge your neighbor?


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Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."


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Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.


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Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.


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Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.


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You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.


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Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.


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Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!


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Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.


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As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.


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Above all, my brothers, do not swear - not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.


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Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.


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And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.


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Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.


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Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.


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remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.


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Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,


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who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.


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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,


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who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.


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In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.


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These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.


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Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,


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Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,


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trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.


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It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.


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Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.


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Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.


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For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,


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Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.


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Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.


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For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.


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For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,


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you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.


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For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."


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Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,"


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and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for.


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But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.


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Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.


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Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.


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Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.


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Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority,


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or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.


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Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.


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For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.


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But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.


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To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.


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When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.


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He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.


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For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.


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Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,


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Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.


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Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.


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For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands,


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like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.


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Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.


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Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.


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Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.


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For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.


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For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."


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But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."


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But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,


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keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.


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For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,


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who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,


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and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,


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who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand - with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.


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Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.


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As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.


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For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do - living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.


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They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.


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For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.


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Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.


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If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.


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Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.


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But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.


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If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.


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If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.


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For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?


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So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.


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To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:


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Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;


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Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."


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Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.


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Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.


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And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.


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


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Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:


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His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.


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Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.


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For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.


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Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,


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So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.


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And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.


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We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.


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


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And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.


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Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation.


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For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.


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But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them - bringing swift destruction on themselves.


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In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.


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For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;


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if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;


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if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;


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(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)-


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if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.


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This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings;


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yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.


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But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.


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They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.


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With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed - an accursed brood!


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They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.


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But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey - a beast without speech - who spoke with a man's voice and restrained the prophet's madness.


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These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.


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For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.


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They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity - for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.


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If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.


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It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.


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Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."


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Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.


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I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.


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First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.


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They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."


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But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.


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By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.


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But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.


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The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.


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But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.


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Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives


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as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.


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But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.


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So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.


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Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.


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He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.


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Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.


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But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.


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That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.


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The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.


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We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.


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


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If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.


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But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.


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If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.


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If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.


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My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.


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He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.


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The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.


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But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:


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Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard.


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Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.


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But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.


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I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father.


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I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.


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Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.


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For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world.


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Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.


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They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.


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I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.


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Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist - he denies the Father and the Son.


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See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.


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As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit - just as it has taught you, remain in him.


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And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.


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If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.


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How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.


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Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.


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No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.


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Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.


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He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.


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No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.


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This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.


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Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.


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We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.


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This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.


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If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?


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This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence


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And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.


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Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.


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Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.


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This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,


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but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.


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You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.


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They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.


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We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.


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Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.


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This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.


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This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.


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No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.


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And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.


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In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.


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There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.


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If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.


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Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.


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for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.


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This is the one who came by water and blood - Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.


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We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.


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Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.


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I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.


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This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.


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If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that.


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We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.


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We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true - even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.


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The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth - and not I only, but also all who know the truth - 


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Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love.


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It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.


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And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.


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And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.


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Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.


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Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.


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If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.


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I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.


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Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.


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It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.


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Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.


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They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.


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So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.


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Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.


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Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone - and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.


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I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.


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Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ:


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Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.


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For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.


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Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.


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And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home - these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.


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In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.


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In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings.


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But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"


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Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals - these are the very things that destroy them.


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Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion.


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These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm - shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted - twice dead.


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They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.


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Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones


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to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him."


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These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.


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They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires."


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Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.


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snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear - hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.


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To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - 


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to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.


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The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,


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Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.


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John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,


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and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,


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and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father - to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.


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Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.


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"<J>I am the Alpha and the Omega,</J>" says the Lord God, "<J>who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.</J>"


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I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.


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which said: "<J>Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.</J>"


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I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,


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and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.


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In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.


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When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "<J>Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.</J>


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<J>I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.</J>


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<J>The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.</J>


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<J>"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:</J>


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<J>I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.</J>


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<J>Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.</J>


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<J>But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.</J>


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<J>He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.</J>


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<J>"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.</J>


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<J>I know your afflictions and your poverty - yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.</J>


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<J>Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.</J>


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<J>He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.</J>


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<J>"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.</J>


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<J>I know where you live - where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city - where Satan lives.</J>


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<J>Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.</J>


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<J>Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.</J>


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<J>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. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.</J>


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<J>"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.</J>


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<J>I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.</J>


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<J>Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.</J>


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<J>So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.</J>


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<J>I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.</J>


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<J>Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you):</J>


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<J>'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery' - just as I have received authority from my Father.</J>


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<J>"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.</J>


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<J>Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.</J>


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<J>Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.</J>


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<J>Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.</J>


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<J>He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.</J>


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<J>"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.</J>


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<J>I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.</J>


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<J>I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars - I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.</J>


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<J>Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.</J>


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<J>Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.</J>


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<J>"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.</J>


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<J>I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!</J>


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<J>So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth.</J>


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<J>You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.</J>


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<J>I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.</J>


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<J>Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.</J>


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<J>To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.</J>


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After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "<J>Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.</J>"


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And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.


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Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.


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From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.


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Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.


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The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.


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Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."


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Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,


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the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:


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"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."


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Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.


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And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?"


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Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."


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Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.


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And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.


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And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.


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Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.


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In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"


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Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"


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I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!"


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I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.


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Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.


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When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.


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Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!"


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I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.


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When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.


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They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"


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Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.


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I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red,


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and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.


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The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.


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Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.


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They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!


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After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.


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Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:


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"Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."


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After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.


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And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."


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All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,


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saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"


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Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes - who are they, and where did they come from?"


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I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.


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Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.


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Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.


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For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."


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Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.


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The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand.


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Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.


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The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.


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The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood,


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The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water - 


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the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.


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The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.


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As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"


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The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss.


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When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss.


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And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.


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They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.


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They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man.


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During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.


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The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces.


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They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.


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They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months.


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They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.


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The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God.


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It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."


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And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.


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The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur.


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A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths.


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The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.


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The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood - idols that cannot see or hear or walk.


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Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.


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He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,


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and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.


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And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down."


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And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay!


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But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."


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Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."


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So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey."


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I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.


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I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there.


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But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for months.


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If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.


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These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.


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Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.


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Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.


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For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.


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The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.


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But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.


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Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.


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At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.


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The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever."


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And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God,


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saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.


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The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great - and for destroying those who destroy the earth."


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Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.


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A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.


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Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads.


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His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born.


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She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.


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The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for, days.


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And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.


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The great dragon was hurled down - that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.


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Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.


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They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.


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Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."


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When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.


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The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach.


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Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent.


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But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.


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Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring - those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.


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And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.


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The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.


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One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.


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Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"


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The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months.


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He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.


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He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.


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All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast - all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.


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If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.


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Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon.


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He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.


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And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men.


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Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.


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He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.


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He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,


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so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.


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This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is.


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Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him, who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.


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And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.


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And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the, who had been redeemed from the earth.


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These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.


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Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth - to every nation, tribe, language and people.


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He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."


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A second angel followed and said, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries."


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A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand,


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he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.


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And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."


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This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.


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Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."


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I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one "like a son of man" with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.


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Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe."


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Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe."


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The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath.


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They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of, stadia.


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I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues - last, because with them God's wrath is completed.


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And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God


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and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.


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Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."


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Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests.


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Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.


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And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.


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Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go, pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth."


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The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.


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The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died.


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Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: "You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged;


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for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve."


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The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire.


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They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.


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The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony


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and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.


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The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East.


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Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet.


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They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.


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"<J>Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.</J>"


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The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!"


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Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake.


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The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.


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From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.


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One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.


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With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."


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Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.


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The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.


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This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.


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I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.


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Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.


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The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come.


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They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while.


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The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.


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"The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.


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They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings - and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."


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Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.


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The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.


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For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled.


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After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.


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With a mighty voice he shouted: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.


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For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries."


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Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;


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Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup.


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Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, 'I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.'


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Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.


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"When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her.


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Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: "'Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!'


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"The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more - 


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cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;


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cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men.


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"They will say, 'The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your riches and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.'


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The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn


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and cry out: "'Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!


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In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!' "Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off.


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When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this great city?'


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They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: "'Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!


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Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you.'"


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Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: "With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.


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The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again. No workman of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again.


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The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world's great men. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.


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In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth."


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After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,


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for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants."


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The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: "Amen, Hallelujah!"


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Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!"


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Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.


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Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.


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Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)


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Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" And he added, "These are the true words of God."


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At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."


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I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.


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His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.


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The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.


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Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.


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And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God,


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so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great."


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Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army.


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But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.


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The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.


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And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.


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He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.


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He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.


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I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.


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(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.


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Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.


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and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth - Gog and Magog - to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.


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They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.


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And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.


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Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.


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And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.


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The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.


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Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.


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I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.


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And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.


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He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."


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He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."


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He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.


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But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."


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One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."


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And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.


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It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.


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It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.


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The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.


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The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls.


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The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be, stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long.


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The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,


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the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.


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The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.


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The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.


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Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.


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Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb


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down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.


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No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.


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There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.


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The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place."


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I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me.


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But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!"


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Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy."


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"<J>Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.</J>


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"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.


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Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.


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"<J>I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.</J>"


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The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.


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I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.


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And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.


