1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be to you. [1]
2 We always give thanks to God for all of you as we mention you continually in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work of faith, labor of love, and patient endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 Brothers loved by God, we know he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance. In the same way, you also know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord when you received the word in much tribulation with joy from the Holy Spirit. 7 As a result, you became an example to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has rung out, and not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it. 9 For they themselves report concerning us what kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from the idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.
1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not useless. 2 Rather, as you know, though we previously suffered and were shamefully treated at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much struggling. 3 For our exhortation was not from error, nor from uncleanness, nor from deceit. 4 Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be trusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but God. He is the one who examines our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, either from you or from others. 7 We could have claimed privileges as apostles of Christ. [1] Instead, we were as gentle among you as a mother comforting her own children. [2]8 In this way we had affection for you. We were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives. For you had become very dear to us. 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil. Night and day we were working so that we might not be a burden to any of you as we preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy, righteous, and blameless was our behavior toward you who believe. 11 In the same way you know how we were with each one of you, as a father with his own children, 12 exhorting you and comforting you and urging you to walk in a manner that is worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13 For this reason we also thank God constantly, that when you received God's message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of man, but just as it truly is, the word of God, which is also at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they did from the Jews 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and who drove us out. They do not please God. Instead, they are hostile to all people. 16 They forbid us to speak to the Gentiles for them to be saved. The result is that they always fill up their sins to the limit. But wrath will overtake them in the end.
17 But we, brothers, were separated from you for a short time, in person not in heart. We were especially eager, with great desire, to see your faces. 18 For we wished to come to you—indeed I, Paul, once and again—but Satan stopped us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of pride in front of our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
1 Therefore, when we could no longer bear it, we thought it was good to be left behind at Athens alone. 2 We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and comfort you regarding your faith, [1]3 so that no one would be shaken by these tribulations. For you yourselves know that for this we have been appointed. 4 Truly, when we were with you, we told you in advance that we were about to suffer affliction, and it happened just so, as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent that I might know about your faith. Perhaps the tempter had somehow tempted you, and our labor was in vain. 6 But Timothy came to us from you and brought us the good news of your faith and love. He told us that you always have good memories of us, and that you long to see us just as we also long to see you. 7 Because of this, brothers, we were comforted by you because of your faith, in all our distress and affliction. 8 For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we give to God for you, for all the joy that we have before our God over you? 10 Night and day we pray very hard that we may see your face and provide what is lacking in your faith.
11 May our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. 12 May the Lord make you increase and abound in love one for another and toward all people, as we also do for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that they will be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy people.
1 Finally, brothers, we earnestly appeal to you and exhort you in the Lord Jesus. As you received instructions from us about how you must walk and please God, also in this way walk, so that you do so even more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you avoid sexual immorality, 4 that each of you knows how to possess his own vessel in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust (as the Gentiles who do not know God). 6 Let no man transgress and wrong his brother in this matter. For the Lord is an avenger in all these things, just as we forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but to holiness. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this rejects not people, but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
9 Regarding brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. 10 Indeed, you do this for all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, to do this even more. 11 We also exhort you to aspire to live quietly, take care of your own responsibilities, and labor with your hands, just as we commanded you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and not be in any need.
13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who sleep, so that you do not grieve like the rest, who do not have hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left at the coming of the Lord, will surely not go before those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven. He will come with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will together with them be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. In this way we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
1 Now concerning the times and seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night. 3 When they say, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction will come on them. It will be like birth pains in a pregnant woman. They will in no way escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that the day would overtake you like a thief. 5 For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not sons of the night or the darkness. 6 So then, let us not sleep as the rest do. Instead, let us keep watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep do so at night, and those who get drunk do so at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, we must stay sober and put on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation for our helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore comfort one another and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
12 We earnestly appeal to you, brothers, to acknowledge those who labor among you and who rule over you in the Lord and who instruct you, 13 and to esteem them highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 We exhort you, brothers: Warn those who are lazy, encourage the discouraged, help the weak, and be patient toward all. 15 See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone. Instead, pursue what is good for one another and for all. 16 Rejoice always. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In everything give thanks. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things. Hold firmly to what is good. 22 Keep away from every kind of evil.
23 May the God of peace sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he who calls you, the one who will also do it.
25 Brothers, pray also for us.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I command you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We should always give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is appropriate, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love each of you has for one another increases. 4 So we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions, and in the tribulations that you are enduring. 5 This is evidence of God's righteous judgment, so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering. 6 For indeed, it is righteous for God to return affliction to those who afflict you, 7 and relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power. 10 He will do this when he comes on that day to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at by all those who believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 11 Because of this we also pray continually for you, that our God may consider you worthy of your calling and with his power he may fulfill every good purpose and every work of faith. 12 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.
1 Now about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to be with him, we earnestly appeal to you, brothers, 2 that you not be easily disturbed or troubled, either by a spirit or by a message, or by a letter that seems to be coming from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not come until after the falling away comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. [1]4 This is he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped. As a result, he sits in the temple of God and exhibits himself as God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was with you I told you these things? 6 Now you know what restrains him, so that he will be revealed only at the right time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already working, only there is someone who restrains him now until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring him to nothing by the revelation of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be due to the work of Satan with all power, signs, and false wonders, 10 and with every kind of evil that deceives those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God is sending them a powerful delusion so that they will believe a lie 12 and so that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but instead took pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved through the sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. [2]14 He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold tightly to the traditions that you were taught, whether by word or by our letter.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
1 Now, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may rush and be glorified, as it also is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unrighteous and evil people, for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you both do and will continue to do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ.
6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you avoid every brother who is idle and does not live according to the traditions you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know it is proper for you to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you. 8 We did not eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but we worked night and day in labor and toil, so we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this not because we have no authority, but we did this in order to be an example to you, so that you may imitate us. 10 For when we were with you, we commanded you, "The one who is unwilling to labor must not eat." 11 For we hear that some among you are idle, not busy at labor, but busybodies. 12 Now such ones we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they should labor with quietness and eat their own bread. 13 But you, brothers, do not become tired of doing well. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this letter, take note of him and have no association with him, so that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not consider him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all. 17 I, Paul, write this with my own hand, which is the mark on every letter I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope,
2 to Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 As I urged you to do when I was leaving for Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you can command certain people not to teach a different doctrine. 4 Neither should they pay attention to stories and endless genealogies. These promote arguments rather than the plan of God, which is by faith. 5 Now the goal of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith. 6 Some people have gone astray from these things and have turned to worthless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or what they so confidently affirm. 8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully. 9 We know this, that law is not set in place for a righteous man, but for lawless and rebellious people, for ungodly people and sinners, and for those who are unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 for sexually immoral people, for those who practice homosexuality, for those who kidnap people for slaves, for liars, for false witnesses, and for whatever else is opposed to truthful teaching. 11 This instruction is according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord. He strengthened me, for he considered me faithful, and he appointed me to service. 13 I was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man. But I received mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord overflowed with the faith and the love that is in Christ Jesus. 15 This message is reliable and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 But for this reason I was given mercy, so that in me, the chief, Christ Jesus might demonstrate all patience. He did this as an example for those who would believe in him for eternal life. 17 Now to the king of the ages, the immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
18 I am placing this command before you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that you might fight the good fight, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have shipwrecked their faith. 20 Such are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered over to Satan so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.
1 Therefore, first of all, I urge that humble requests, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable before God our Savior. 4 He desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator for God and man, the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave himself as a ransom for all, as the testimony at the right time. 7 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 Gentiles in faith and truth.
8 Therefore, I want men in every place to pray and to lift up holy hands without anger or arguing. 9 In the same way, the women are to dress with proper clothing, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothing, 10 but with what is proper for women who proclaim godliness through good works. 11 A woman should learn in silence and with all submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to live in quietness. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 However, she will be saved through bearing children, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with self-control.
1 This saying is trustworthy: If someone desires to be an overseer, he desires a good work. 2 Therefore the overseer must have a good reputation. He must be a husband of one wife. He must be moderate, sensible, orderly, and hospitable. He must be able to teach. 3 He must not be addicted to wine, not a brawler, but instead, gentle, peaceful. He must not be a lover of money. 4 He should manage his own household well, and he should make sure his children obey and respect him in every way. 5 For if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for a church of God? 6 He should not be a new convert, so that he does not swell with pride and might fall into condemnation as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with those outside, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the trap of the devil. 8 In the same way, deacons should be dignified, not double-talkers. They should not drink too much wine or be greedy. 9 They should keep the mystery of the faith with a clean conscience. 10 They should also be approved first, and then they should serve because they are blameless. 11 In the same way, their wives should be dignified, not slanderers, but sober and faithful in all things. 12 Deacons must be husbands of one wife. They must manage well their children and household. 13 For those who have served well acquire for themselves a good standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 As I write these things to you, I hope to come to you soon. 15 But if I delay, I am writing so that you may know how to conduct yourself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 16 We all agree that the mystery of godliness is great:
"He was revealed in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was proclaimed among nations,
was believed on in the world,
and was taken up in glory."
1 Now the Spirit clearly says that in later times some people will leave the faith and pay attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons 2 by the hypocrisy of liars, their own consciences having been seared. 3 They will forbid people to marry and require them to abstain from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creation of God is good, and nothing received with thanksgiving is to be rejected. 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 If you place these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Jesus Christ. For you are being nourished by the words of faith and by the good teaching that you have followed. 7 But reject profane stories loved by old women. Instead, train yourself in godliness. 8 For bodily training is a little useful, but godliness is useful for all things. It holds promise for this life now and the life to come. 9 This message is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance. 10 For it is for this that we labor and struggle. For we hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, but especially of believers. 11 Instruct the people and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example for the believers in speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity. 13 Until I come, attend to the reading, to the exhortation, and to the teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders. 15 Care for these things. Be in them, so that your progress may be evident to all people. 16 Give careful attention to yourself and to the teaching. Continue in these things. For by doing so, you will save yourself and those who listen to you.
1 Do not rebuke an older man. Instead, exhort him as if he were a father. Exhort younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, in all purity. 3 Honor widows, the real widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show honor in their own household. Let them repay their parents, because this is pleasing to God. 5 But she who is a real widow, who is left all alone, has set her hope in God and continues in offering earnest appeals and prayers night and day, 6 but the woman who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 Instruct them in these things as well, so that they may be blameless. 8 But if someone does not provide for his own relatives, especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 Let a woman be enrolled as a widow who is not younger than sixty years old, a wife of one husband. 10 She must have a reputation for doing good deeds, whether it is that she has cared for children, or has been hospitable to strangers, or has washed the feet of God's holy people, or has relieved the afflicted, or has been devoted to every good work. 11 But as for younger widows, refuse to enroll them in the list. For when they give in to bodily desires against Christ, they want to marry. 12 In this way they incur condemnation because they set aside their first commitment. 13 At the same time, they also learn to be lazy and they go around from house to house. They not only become lazy, but they also talk nonsense and are busybodies, saying things they should not say. 14 I therefore want younger widows to marry, to bear children, to manage the household, and to give no opportunity for the enemy to slander us. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing woman has widows, let her help them, so that the church will not be burdened, so that it might help the real widows.
17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor with the word and in teaching. 18 For the scripture says, "You must not put a muzzle on an ox while it threshes the grain" and "The laborer is worthy of his wages." 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses. 20 Correct sinners before all so that the rest may be afraid. 21 I solemnly command you, before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels, to keep these commands without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. 22 Place hands hastily on no one. Do not share in the sins of another person. You should keep yourself pure. 23 You should no longer drink water. Instead, you should take a little wine for the stomach and your frequent sicknesses. 24 The sins of some people are openly known, and they go before them into judgment. But some sins follow later. 25 In the same way, some good works are openly known, but even the others cannot be hidden.
1 Let all who are under the yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor. They should do this so that the name of God and the teaching might not be blasphemed. 2 The slaves who have believing masters should not show them disrespect because they are brothers. Instead, they should serve them all the more. For those who receive the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and declare these things.
3 If anyone teaches false doctrine and does not agree with the truthful words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching, 4 he is proud and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and arguments about words that result in envy, strife, insults, evil suspicions, 5 and constant conflict between people who have morally corrupt minds. They have lost the truth and they think that godliness is a way to get more money. [1]6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 Instead, let us be satisfied with food and clothing. 9 Now those who desire to become wealthy fall into temptation, into a trap. They fall into many foolish and harmful desires, and into whatever else sinks people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people who desire it have been misled away from the faith and have pierced themselves with much grief.
11 But you, man of God, flee from these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the everlasting life to which you were called, and about which you gave the good confession before many witnesses. 13 I give these orders to you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who testified before Pontius Pilate and made the good confession, 14 to keep the command without spot or blame until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 God will reveal Christ's appearing at the right time—God, the blessed and only Sovereign, the King who reigns and the Lord who rules. 16 Only he has immortality and dwells in inapproachable light. No man sees him or is able to view him. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
17 Instruct the rich in this world not to be proud and not to hope in riches, which are uncertain. Instead, they should hope in God. He offers to us all the true riches to enjoy. 18 Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In that way they will store up for themselves a good foundation for what is to come, so that they will take hold of real life.
20 Timothy, protect what was given to you. Avoid the profane and empty talk and the conflicting ideas of what is falsely called knowledge. 21 Some men proclaim these things and so they have gone astray from the faith. May grace be with you.
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 to Timothy, beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers, with a clean conscience, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your genuine faith, which lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced that it lives in you also. 6 This is the reason I am reminding you to rekindle the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me, Paul, his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling. He did this, not according to our works, but according to his own plan and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before times ever began. 10 But now God's salvation has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who put an end to death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 Because of this, I was appointed a herald, an apostle, and a teacher. [1]12 For this cause I also suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed. I am convinced that he is able to keep that which I have entrusted to him until that day. 13 Keep the example of the truthful words that you heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 The good thing that God committed to you, guard it through the Holy Spirit, who lives in us.
15 You know this, that all who live in Asia turned away from me. In this group are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain. 17 Instead, when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently, and he found me. 18 May the Lord grant to him to find mercy from him on that day. All the ways he served me in Ephesus, you know very well.
1 You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things you heard from me among many witnesses, entrust them to faithful people who will be able to teach others also. 3 Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier serves while entangled in the affairs of this life, so that he may please his superior officer. 5 Also, if someone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes by the rules. 6 It is necessary that the hard-working farmer receive his share of the crops first. 7 Think about what I am saying, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 8 Remember Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, who was raised from the dead. This is according to my gospel message, 9 for which I am suffering to the point of being bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound. 10 Therefore I endure all things for those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11 This is a trustworthy saying:
"If we have died with him, we will also live with him.
12 If we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we deny him, he also will deny us.
13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself."
14 Keep reminding them of these things. Command them before God not to quarrel about words; it is of no value and only ruins those who listen. [1]15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a laborer who has no reason to be ashamed, who accurately teaches the word of truth. 16 Avoid profane and empty talk, which leads to more and more godlessness. 17 Their talk will spread like cancer. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have gone astray from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already happened, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 However, the firm foundation of God stands. It has this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his" and "Everyone who names the name of the Lord must depart from unrighteousness." 20 In a wealthy home there are not only containers of gold and silver. There are also containers of wood and clay. Some of these are for honorable use, and some for dishonorable. 21 If someone cleans himself from dishonorable use, he is an honorable container. He is set apart, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work. 22 Flee youthful lusts. Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a clean heart. 23 But refuse foolish and ignorant questions. You know that they give birth to quarrels. 24 The Lord's servant must not quarrel. Instead he must be gentle toward all, able to teach, and patient, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God may give them repentance for the knowledge of the truth. 26 They may become sober again and leave the devil's trap, after they have been captured by him for his will.
1 But know this: In the last days there will be difficult times. 2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, and unholy. 3 They will be without natural affection, unable to reconcile, slanderers, without self-control, violent, not lovers of good. 4 They will be betrayers, reckless, prideful, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. 5 They will have a shape of godliness, but they will deny its power. Turn away from these people. 6 For some of them are men who enter into households and captivate foolish women. These are women who are loaded up with sins and are led away by various desires. 7 These women are always learning, but they are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 In the same way that Jannes and Jambres stood against Moses, these false teachers also stand against the truth. They are men corrupt in mind, and with regard to the faith they are rejected. 9 But they will not advance very far. For their foolishness will be obvious to all, just like that of those men. 10 But as for you, you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience, 11 persecutions, sufferings, and what happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra. I endured persecutions. Out of them all, the Lord rescued me. 12 All those who want to live in a godly manner in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 Evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse, leading others astray and being led astray. 14 But as for you, remain in the things that you have learned and have firmly believed. You know from whom you have learned. 15 You know that from childhood you have known the sacred writings. These are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture has been inspired by God. It is profitable for doctrine, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 17 This is so that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
1 I give this solemn command before God and Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: 2 Preach the word; be ready when it is convenient and when it is not. Reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all patience and teaching. 3 For the time will come when people will not endure sound teaching. Instead, they will heap up for themselves teachers according to their own desires, who say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their hearing away from the truth, and they will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober-minded in all things. Suffer hardship; do the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out. The time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. 8 The crown of righteousness has been reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.
9 Do your best to come to me quickly. 10 For Demas has left me. He loves this present world and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia, and Titus went to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you because he is useful to me in the service. 12 Tychicus I sent to Ephesus. 13 The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, bring it when you come, and the books, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith displayed many evil deeds against me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 You also should guard yourself against him, because he greatly opposed our words. 16 At my first defense, no one stood with me. Instead, everyone left me. May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me so that, through me, the proclamation of the message might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued out of the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and will save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
19 Greet Priscilla, Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.
22 May the Lord be with your spirit. May grace be with you.
1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's chosen people and the knowledge of the truth that agrees with godliness, 2 with the hope of everlasting life that God, who does not lie, promised before all the ages of time. 3 At the right time he revealed his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted according to the command of God our Savior.
4 To Titus, a true son in our common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
5 For this purpose I left you in Crete, that you might set in order things not yet complete and ordain elders in every city as I directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with faithful children not accused of being reckless or disobedient. 7 It is necessary for the overseer, as a manager of the household of God, to be blameless. He must not be arrogant, not be easily angered, not addicted to wine, not a brawler, and not a greedy man. 8 Instead, he should be hospitable, loving goodness, sensible, upright, holy, and self-controlled. 9 He should hold tightly to the trustworthy message that was taught, so that he may be able to encourage others with truthful teaching and correct those who oppose him.
10 For there are many rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision. 11 It is necessary to stop them. They are upsetting whole families by teaching for disgraceful profit what they should not teach. 12 One of their own prophets has said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore, correct them severely, so that they may be truthful in the faith, 14 not paying any attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To those who are pure, all things are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their minds and their consciences have been corrupted. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, and worthless for any good work.
1 But you, speak what fits with truthful instruction. 2 Teach older men to be temperate, dignified, sensible, and sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance. 3 In the same way, teach older women to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or being slaves to much wine, but to be teachers of what is good, 4 and so train the younger women to love their husbands and to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, good housekeepers, and to be obedient to their own husbands, so that God's word may not be spoken of as evil. 6 In the same way, encourage the younger men to use good sense. 7 In all ways present yourself as an example of good works. In your teaching, show integrity, dignity, 8 and a truthful message that is above criticism, so that anyone who opposes you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. 9 Slaves are to be submissive to their masters in everything, to please them and not argue with them, 10 to not steal from them, but instead to demonstrate all good faith, so that in every way they may bring credit to the teaching about God our Savior. 11 For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all people. 12 It trains us to reject godlessness and worldly desires, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this age, 13 while we look forward to receiving our blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 14 Jesus gave himself for us in order to redeem us from all lawlessness and to make pure for himself a special people who are eager to do good works.
15 Speak of these things, encourage people to do them, and give correction with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
1 Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey them, to be ready for every good work, 2 to insult no one, to not be eager to fight, and to be gentle, showing all humility toward everyone. 3 For once we ourselves were thoughtless and disobedient. We were led astray and enslaved by various desires and pleasures. We lived in evil and envy. We were detestable and hated one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 it was not by works of righteousness that we did, but by his mercy that he saved us, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom God richly poured on us through our Savior Jesus Christ, 7 so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This message is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to engage themselves in good works. These things are good and useful for everyone. 9 But avoid foolish debates and genealogies and strife and conflict about the law. Those things are unprofitable and worthless. 10 Reject anyone who is causing divisions among you, after one or two warnings, 11 knowing that such a person has turned from the right way and is sinning and condemns himself.
12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, hurry and come to me at Nicopolis, where I have decided to spend the winter. 13 Do everything you can to send on their way Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, so that they lack nothing. 14 Our people must learn to engage themselves in good works that provide for urgent needs, and so not be unfruitful.
15 All those who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in faith. Grace be with all of you.
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and the brother Timothy, to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker, 2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home.
3 May grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and the love you have for all his holy people. 6 I pray that the sharing of your faith may be effective, so you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7 For I have had much joy and comfort because of your love, because the hearts of God's holy people have been refreshed by you, brother.
8 Therefore, although I have all the boldness in Christ to command you to do what you should do, 9 yet because of love, I appeal to you instead—I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus. 10 I am appealing to you concerning my child Onesimus, whom I have fathered in my chains. 11 For he once was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. 12 I have sent him back to you, he who is my very heart. 13 I wish I could have kept him with me so he could serve me for you while I am in chains for the sake of the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent. I did not want your good deed to be from necessity but from good will. 15 Perhaps for this he was separated from you for a time, so that you might have him back forever. 16 No longer would he be a slave, but better than a slave, a beloved brother. He is beloved especially to me, and much more so to you, in both the flesh and in the Lord. 17 So if you have me as a partner, receive him as me. 18 If he has wronged you or owes you anything, charge that to me. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I myself will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your own self! 20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Confident about your obedience, I am writing to you. I know that you will do even more than I ask. 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be returned to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you. 24 So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in many ways. 2 But in these last days, he has spoken to us through a Son, whom he appointed to be the heir of all things. It is through him that God also made the universe. 3 He is the brightness of God's glory, the exact representation of his being. He even holds everything together by the word of his power. After he had made cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4 He has become just as superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than their name. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
"You are my Son,
today I have become your Father"?
Or to which of the angels did God ever say,
"I will be a Father to him,
and he will be a Son to me"?
6 But again, when God brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
"All God's angels must worship him."
7 About the angels he says,
"He is the one who makes his angels spirits,
and his servants flames of fire."
8 But to the Son he says,
"Your throne, God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of justice is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of joy more than your companions."
10 "In the beginning, Lord, you laid the earth's foundation.
The heavens are the work of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you will continue.
They will all wear out like a piece of clothing.
12 You will roll them up like a cloak,
and they will be changed like a piece of clothing.
But you are the same,
and your years do not end."
13 But to which of the angels has God said at any time,
"Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"?
14 Are not all angels spirits who serve, and who are sent to care for those who will inherit salvation?
1 Therefore we must give far more attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the message that was spoken through the angels proved to be so reliable, and every transgression and disobedience receives just repayment, 3 how then can we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This is salvation that was first announced by the Lord and confirmed to us by those who heard it. 4 At the same time God testified to it by signs, wonders, and various miracles, and by distributing the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his will.
5 For it was not to the angels that God subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But someone has somewhere testified, saying,
"What is man, that you are mindful of him?
Or a son of man, that you care for him?
7 You made man a little lower than the angels;
you crowned him with glory and honor. [1]
8 You put everything in subjection under his feet."
For it was to him that God has subjected all things. He did not leave anything not subjected to him. But now we do not yet see everything subjected to him. 9 But we see him who was made lower than the angels for a little while, Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of his suffering and death, so that by God's grace he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was proper for God, because everything exists for him and through him, to bring many sons to glory. It was proper for him to make the founder of their salvation complete through his sufferings. 11 For both the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have one source. So he is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12 He says,
"I will proclaim your name to my brothers,
I will sing about you from inside the assembly."
13 And again,
"I will trust in him."
And again,
"See, here am I and the children whom God has given me."
14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he shared in those things in the same way, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil. 15 This was so that he would free all those who through fear of death lived all their lives subject to slavery. 16 For surely it is not the angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17 So it was necessary for him to become like his brothers in all ways, so that he could be a merciful and faithful high priest in relation to the things of God, and so that he could make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because Jesus himself has suffered and was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
1 Therefore, holy brothers, you share in a heavenly calling. Think about Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession. 2 He was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses was also faithful in all the house of God. 3 For Jesus has been considered worthy of greater glory than Moses, because the one who builds a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but the one who built everything is God. 5 For Moses was faithful as a servant in God's entire house, bearing witness about the things that were to be spoken of in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a Son who is in charge of the house of God. We are his house if we hold firmly to our courage and the hope of which we boast. 7 Therefore, it is just as the Holy Spirit says:
"Today, if you hear his voice
8 do not harden your hearts
as in the rebellion,
in the time of testing in the wilderness.
9 This was when your ancestors rebelled by testing me,
after they had seen my deeds for forty years.
10 Therefore I was angry with that generation.
I said, 'They have always gone astray in their hearts.
They have not known my ways.'
11 It is just as I swore in my wrath:
'They will never enter my rest.'"
12 Be careful, brothers, that none of you has an evil heart of unbelief, a heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "today," so that no one among you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partners of Christ if we firmly hold to our confidence in him from the beginning to the end. 15 About this it has been said,
"Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts,
as in the rebellion."
16 Who was it who heard God and rebelled? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt through Moses? 17 With whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 To whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if it was not to those who disobeyed him? 19 We see that they were not able to enter his rest because of unbelief.
1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest is still allowed to stand, let us fear, so that none of you may seem to have fallen short of it. 2 For we were told the good news just as they were. But that message did not benefit those who did not unite in faith with those who obeyed. [1]3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as he said,
"As I swore in my wrath,
They will never enter my rest."
Even so, his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken about the seventh day:
"And God rested on the seventh day from all his works." 5 And again in this same passage he said,
"They will never enter my rest."
6 Therefore, it remains for some to enter that rest, and those who previously had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience. 7 So God again appointed a certain day, calling it "Today," when he spoke through David much later in words already quoted:
"Today if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts."
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken about another day. 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest reserved for God's people. 10 For he who enters into God's rest has himself also rested from his deeds, just as God did from his. 11 Therefore let us be eager to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the kind of disobedience that they did. 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. It pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 No thing that has been created is hidden before God, but everything is bare and open to the eyes of the one to whom we must give an account.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us firmly hold to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. Rather, we have someone who has in all ways been tempted as we are, except that he is without sin. 16 Let us then go with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
1 For every high priest, chosen from among people, is appointed to act on the behalf of people in the things concerning God, so that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with those who are ignorant and who have been deceived, because he himself is subject to weakness. 3 Because of this, he also is required to offer sacrifices for his own sins, just as he does for the people's sins. 4 No one takes this honor for himself. Rather, he is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 In the same way, neither did Christ glorify himself by making himself high priest. Instead, the one speaking to him said,
"You are my Son;
today I have become your Father."
6 It is just as he also says in another place,
"You are a priest forever
after the manner of Melchizedek."
7 During the days of his flesh, Christ offered up both prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God, the one able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his godly life. 8 Even though he was a Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. 9 He was made perfect and became, for everyone who obeys him, the cause of eternal salvation. 10 He was designated by God as high priest after the manner of Melchizedek.
11 We have much to say about Jesus, but it is hard to explain since you have become dull in hearing. 12 For though by this time you should be teachers, you still have need for someone to teach you the elementary principles of God's messages. You need milk, not solid food! 13 For anyone who only takes milk is inexperienced with the message of righteousness, because he is still a little child. 14 But solid food is for the mature. These are those who because of their maturity have their understanding trained for distinguishing good from evil.
1 So then, let us leave the beginning of the message of Christ and move forward to maturity. Let us not lay again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith in God, 2 nor the foundation of teaching about baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 We will also do this if God permits. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who were sharers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and who tasted God's good word and the powers of the age to come, 6 but who then fell away—it is impossible to restore them again to repentance. This is because they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and publicly shame him. 7 For the land that drinks in the rain that often comes on it, and that gives birth to the plants useful to those for whom the land was worked—this is the land that receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and is near to a curse. Its end is in burning.
9 But we are convinced about better things concerning you, beloved ones, things that concern salvation, even though we speak like this. 10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you showed for his name, because you served his holy people, and you are still serving them. 11 We greatly desire that each of you may show the same diligence to the end, in order to make your hope certain. 12 This is so that you will not become lazy, but imitators of those who by faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made his promise to Abraham, he swore by himself, since he could not swear by anyone greater. 14 He said, "I will certainly bless you and give you many descendants." 15 In this way, Abraham obtained what was promised after he had patiently waited. 16 For people swear by someone greater than themselves. At the end of each of their disputes, an oath serves as confirmation. 17 When God decided to show more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable quality of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath. 18 He did this so that by two unchangeable things—with which it is impossible for God to lie—we, who have fled for refuge, will have a strong encouragement to hold firmly to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a secure and reliable anchor for the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered into that place on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
1 It was this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him. 2 It was to him that Abraham gave a tenth of everything. First, the translation of his name means, "king of righteousness"; then he is also "king of Salem," that is, "king of peace." 3 He is without father, without mother, without ancestors, with neither beginning of days nor end of life. And resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
4 See how great this man was to whom the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the things that he had taken in battle. 5 The descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, even though they, too, are descended from Abraham. 6 But Melchizedek, whose descent was not traced from them, received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him, the one who had the promises. 7 There is no denying that the lesser person is blessed by the greater person. 8 In this case, mortal men receive tithes, but in that case it is testified that he lives on. 9 And, in a manner of speaking, Levi, who received tithes, also paid tithes through Abraham, 10 because Levi was in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met Abraham.
11 Now if perfection were possible through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the manner of Melchizedek, and not be considered to be after the manner of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed. 13 For the one about whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 Now clearly it is from Judah that our Lord was born, a tribe that Moses never mentioned concerning priests. 15 What we say is even clearer when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek. 16 This one became a priest, not based on a law of physical requirement, but by the power of an everlasting life. 17 For scripture witnesses about him:
"You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek."
18 For not only has the former command been set aside because it is weak and useless— 19 for the law made nothing perfect—but also a better hope is introduced, through which we come near to God. 20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath by the one who said to him,
"The Lord has sworn and he will not change his mind:
'You are a priest forever.'"
22 By this also Jesus has given the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 The former priests were many in number, since death prevented them from continuing in office. 24 But because Jesus continues to live forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is also able to save completely those who approach God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, who is holy, innocent, pure, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He does not need, unlike the high priests, to offer up daily sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He did this once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weaknesses. But the word of the oath, which came after the law, appointed a Son, who has been made perfect forever.
1 Now the point of what we are saying is this: We have a high priest who has sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. 2 He is a servant in the holy place, the true tabernacle that the Lord, not a man, set up. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary to have something to offer. 4 Now if Christ were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the law. 5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. It is just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to construct the tabernacle: God said, "See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain." 6 But now Christ has received a much better ministry, just as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which is based on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, no occasion for a second would have been sought. 8 For when God found fault with the people, he said,
"See, the days are coming—says the Lord—
when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant
that I made with their ancestors
on the day that I took them by their hand
to lead them out of the land of Egypt.
For they did not carefully obey my covenant,
and I disregarded them—
says the Lord.
10 This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days says the Lord.
I will put my laws into their minds,
and I will also write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11 They will not teach each one his fellow citizen
and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord.'
For they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds,
and their sins I will not remember any longer."
13 By calling this covenant "new," he declared the first covenant to be obsolete, and what has become obsolete and old will soon disappear.
1 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared. The first room, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the presence, was called the holy place. 3 Behind the second curtain was another room in the tabernacle, called the most holy place. 4 It had a golden altar for incense. It also had the ark of the covenant, which was completely overlaid with gold. Inside it was a golden jar that held the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark of the covenant, glorious cherubim overshadowed the atonement lid, which we cannot now talk about in detail. 6 After these things were prepared, the priests always entered the outer room of the tabernacle to perform their services. 7 But only the high priest entered the second room, once each year, and not without blood that he offered for himself and for the people's unintentional sins. 8 The Holy Spirit showed that as long as the first tabernacle was still standing the way into the most holy place had not yet appeared. 9 This was an illustration for the present time. Both the gifts and sacrifices that are now being offered are not able to perfect the worshiper's conscience. 10 They are only concerned with food and drink and various ceremonial washings, regulations for the body until the time of the new order.
11 Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come. He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that was not made by human hands, one not belonging to this created world. [1]12 It was not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood that he entered into the most holy place once for all and secured our eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes on those who have been defiled sanctifies them for the cleansing of their flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 For this reason, he is the mediator of a new covenant. This is so that, since a death has taken place to redeem those under the first covenant from their transgressions, those who are called will receive the promise of an eternal inheritance. 16 For where there is a will, the death of the person who made it must be proven. 17 For a will is only valid when there has been a death, because it has no force while the one who made it is still alive. 18 So not even the first covenant was established without blood. 19 For when Moses had given every command in the law to all the people, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water, red wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people. 20 Then he said, "This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded for you." 21 In the same manner, he sprinkled the blood on the tabernacle and all the containers used in the ministry. 22 According to the law, almost everything is cleansed with blood. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in heaven should be cleansed with these animal sacrifices. However, the heavenly things themselves had to be cleansed with much better sacrifices. 24 For Christ did not enter into the most holy place made with hands, which is only a copy of the true one. Rather he entered into heaven itself, to appear now in God's presence for us. 25 He did not go there in order to offer himself many times, as does the high priest, who enters the most holy place year by year with the blood of another. 26 If that had been the case, then he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so also, Christ was offered once to take away the sins of many, and will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but for the salvation of those who are waiting for him.
1 For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the real forms of those things themselves. Those who approach God can never be made perfect by the same sacrifices that the priests continually bring year after year. 2 Otherwise, would the sacrifices not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed one time and would no longer have any consciousness of sin. 3 But with those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 When Christ came into the world, he said,
"Sacrifices and offerings you did not desire,
but a body you have prepared for me;
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you did not take pleasure.
7 Then I said, 'See, here I am—as it is written about me in the scroll—
to do your will, God.'"
8 First he said, "It was neither sacrifices, nor offerings, nor whole burnt offerings, nor sin offerings that you desired. Nor did you take pleasure in them." These are sacrifices that are offered according to the law. 9 Then he said, "See, here I am to do your will." He takes away the first practice in order to establish the second practice. 10 By that will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Day after day every priest stands and ministers, offering the same sacrifices again and again—sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13 He is waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us. First he says,
16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds."
17 Then he adds,
"Their sins and lawlessness
I will remember no longer."
18 Now where there is forgiveness for these, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
19 Therefore, brothers, we have confidence to enter into the most holy place by the blood of Jesus. 20 That is the new and living way that he has established for us through the curtain, that is, by means of his flesh. 21 Because we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us approach with true hearts in the full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us also hold firmly to the hope we confess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 Let us think carefully about how to motivate one another to love and good deeds. 25 Let us not abandon meeting together, as some have done. Instead, encourage one another, and all the more as you see the day coming closer.
26 For if we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, a sacrifice for sins no longer remains. 27 Instead, there is only a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume God's enemies. 28 Anyone who has rejected the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think one deserves who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, who regarded the blood of the covenant as unholy—the blood by which he was sanctified—and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the one who said, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will pay back." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!
32 But remember the former days, after you were enlightened, how you endured a great struggle in suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution, and other times you shared with those who were so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those who were prisoners, and you accepted with joy the seizure of your possessions. You knew that you yourselves had a better and everlasting possession. [1]35 So do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you need perseverance so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
37 "For in a very little while,
the one who is coming will indeed come and not delay.
38 My righteous one will live by faith.
If he shrinks back, my soul will not be pleased with him."
39 But we are not any of those who turn back to destruction, but we are among those who have faith and preserve their souls.
1 Now faith is being sure of the things hoped for and certain of things that are not seen. 2 For because of this the ancestors were approved for their faith. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by God's command, so that what is visible was not made out of things that were visible.
4 It was by faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested to be righteous, and God spoke well of him because of his offerings, and by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death. "He was not found, because God took him away." For before he was taken up, it was testified that he had pleased God. 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him. For it is necessary that anyone coming to God must believe that he exists and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
7 It was by faith that Noah, having been given a divine message about things not yet seen, with godly reverence built an ark to save his household. By doing this, he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that is according to faith.
8 It was by faith that Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to the place that he was to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 It was by faith that he lived in the land of promise as a foreigner. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 It was by faith, even though Sarah herself was barren, that she received ability to conceive. This happened even though she was too old, since she considered as faithful the one who had given the promise. 12 Therefore, from this one man—and he was almost dead—were born descendants as many as the stars in the sky and as countless as sand by the seashore.
13 It was in faith that all these died without receiving the promises. Rather, they saw and greeted them from far off, and they acknowledged that they were foreigners and exiles on earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of the country from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, since he has prepared a city for them.
17 It was by faith that Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac. It was his only son whom he offered, he who had received the promises. 18 It was Abraham to whom it had been said, "It is through Isaac that your descendants will be named." 19 Abraham reasoned that God was able to raise up Isaac from the dead, and figuratively speaking, it was from them that he received him back. 20 It was also by faith about things to come that Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau. 21 It was by faith that Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons. Jacob worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 It was by faith that Joseph, when his end was near, spoke of the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt and instructed them about his bones.
23 It was by faith that Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents because they saw he was a beautiful child. They were not afraid of the king's command. 24 It was by faith that Moses, after he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a while. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as greater value than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 It was by faith that Moses left Egypt. He did not fear the king's anger, for he endured as if he were seeing the one who is invisible. 28 It was by faith that he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch the Israelites' firstborn sons.
29 It was by faith that they passed through the Sea of Reeds as if over dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do this, they were swallowed up. 30 It was by faith that Jericho's walls fell down, after they had been circled around for seven days. 31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute did not die with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.
32 What more can I say? For the time will fail me if I give a full account of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and about the prophets. 33 It was through faith that they conquered kingdoms, committed righteousness, and received promises. They stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong when they were weak, became mighty in battle, and defeated foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might experience a better resurrection. 36 Others experienced mocking and whippings, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned. They were sawn in two. They were killed with the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins. They were destitute, oppressed, mistreated. [1]38 The world was not worthy of them. They were always wandering about in the deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39 Although all these people were approved by God because of their faith, they did not receive the promise. 40 God planned something better for us, so that without us, they would not be made perfect.
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a large cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and easily entangling sin. Let us run with perseverance the race that is placed before us. 2 Let us pay attention to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of the faith. For the joy that was placed before him, he endured the cross, despised its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 So think about him, the one who has endured such opposition from sinners against himself, so that you do not become weary and lose heart.
4 You have not yet resisted or struggled against sin to the point of blood; 5 and you have forgotten the encouragement that instructs you as sons:
"My son, do not think lightly of the Lord's discipline,
nor grow weary when you are corrected by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he punishes every son he receives."
7 Endure suffering as discipline. God deals with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, which all people share in, then you are illegitimate and not his sons. 9 Furthermore, we had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best. But God disciplines us for our benefit, so that we can share in his holiness. 11 No discipline at the time seems to give joy, but to give sorrow. But later it produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it. 12 So strengthen your hands that hang down and your weak knees. 13 Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame will not be sprained but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord. 15 Be careful so that no one lacks God's grace, and that no root of bitterness grows up to cause trouble, so that many do not become defiled by it, 16 and that there is no one who is sexually immoral or profane, such as Esau, who for one meal sold his own birthright. 17 For you know that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, because he found no opportunity for repentance, even though he sought it with tears.
18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched, a mountain of burning fire, darkness, gloom, and storm. 19 You have not come to a trumpet blast, nor to a voice that speaks words whose hearers begged that not another word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned." [1]21 So fearful was this sight that Moses said, "I am terrified and am trembling." 22 Rather, you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to tens of thousands of angels in joyful assembly. 23 You have come to the congregation of the firstborn, who have been registered in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous ones who have been made perfect. 24 And you have come to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than Abel's blood. 25 See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we turn away from the one who is warning from heaven. 26 At one time, his voice shook the earth. But now he has promised and said, "One more time I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens." 27 These words, "One more time," mean the removal of those things that can be shaken, that is, of the things that have been created, so that the things that cannot be shaken will remain. 28 Therefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and in this manner worship God with reverence and awe. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget hospitality for strangers. For through this, some have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Remember prisoners as if you were bound with them. Remember those who are mistreated since you yourselves also are in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept pure, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers. 5 Let your conduct be free from the love of money. Be content with the things you have, for God himself has said,
"I will never leave you,
nor will I abandon you."
6 Let us be content so that we may have courage to say,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can a man do to me?"
7 Consider your leaders, those who spoke God's word to you, and consider the result of their conduct. Imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried away by various strange teachings. For it is good that the heart should be strengthened by grace, not by foods that do not help those who walk by them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the blood of the animals killed for sins is brought by the high priest into the holy place, while their bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the city gate, in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Let us therefore go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he endured. 14 For we do not have a permanent city here. Rather, we are looking for the one that is to come. 15 Through him, then, let us always offer up sacrifices of praise to God, praise that is the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Let us not forget doing good and sharing, for it is with such sacrifices that God is very pleased. 17 Obey and submit to your leaders, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give account. Obey so that your leaders will do this with joy, and not with groaning, which would be useless to you.
18 Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a good conscience and that we desire to live rightly in all things. 19 I encourage you even more to do this, so that I will be returned to you sooner.
20 Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 Now I encourage you, brothers, to bear with the word of encouragement that I have briefly written to you. 23 Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I will see you if he comes soon.
24 Greet all your leaders and all God's holy people. Those from Italy greet you.
25 May grace be with you all.
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion: Greetings! 2 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you experience various troubles. 3 You know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 Let endurance complete its work so that you may become fully developed and complete, not lacking anything. 5 But if any of you needs wisdom, let him ask for it from God, the one who gives generously and without rebuke to all who ask, and he will give it to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing. For anyone who doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven by the wind and tossed around. 7 For that person must not think that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother boast of his high position, 10 but the rich man of his low position, because he will pass away as a wild flower in the grass. 11 For the sun rises with burning heat and dries up the grass. The flower falls off, and its beauty perishes. In the same way, the rich man will fade away in the middle of his journey. 12 Blessed is the man who endures testing. For after he has passed the test, he will receive the crown of life, which has been promised to those who love God. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," because God is not tempted by evil, nor does he himself tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted by his own desire, which drags him away and entices him. 15 Then after the desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and after the sin is full grown, it gives birth to death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. It comes down from the Father of lights. With him there is no changing or shadow because of turning. 18 God chose to give us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all his creatures. 19 You know this, my beloved brothers: Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. 20 For the anger of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore take off all sinful filth and abundant amounts of evil. In humility receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 Be doers of the word and not only hearers, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word but not a doer, he is like a man who examines his natural face in a mirror. 24 He examines himself and then goes away and immediately forgets what he was like. 25 But the person who looks carefully into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so, not just being a hearer who forgets, this man will be blessed in his actions. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not control his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and unspoiled before our God and Father is to help the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
1 My brothers, do not hold to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality toward certain people. 2 Suppose that someone enters your meeting wearing gold rings and splendid clothes, and there also enters a poor man in dirty clothes. 3 If you look at the person wearing fine clothes and say, "You sit here in a good place," but you say to the poor man, "You stand over there" or "Sit by my footstool," 4 are you not judging among yourselves? Have you not become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, did not God choose the poor of the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor! Is it not the rich who oppress you? Are they not the ones who drag you to court? 7 Do they not insult the good name by which you have been called? 8 If, however, you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. 9 But if you favor certain people, you are committing sin, and you are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever obeys the whole law, except that he stumbles in just a single way, has become guilty of breaking the whole law. 11 For the one who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery, but if you do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and act as those who will be judged by means of the law of freedom. 13 For judgment comes without mercy to those who have shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What profit is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 Suppose that a brother or sister is badly clothed and lacks food for the day. 16 Suppose that one of you says to them, "Go in peace, stay warm and be filled." If you do not give them the things necessary for the body, what profit is that? 17 In the same way faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 Yet someone may say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God; you do well. But even the demons believe that, and they tremble. 20 Do you want to know, foolish man, that faith without works is useless? [1]21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith worked with his works, and that by works his faith was completed. 23 The scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness," and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that it is by works that a man is justified, and not only by faith. 25 In the same way also, was not Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them away by another road? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in words, he is a perfect man, able to control even his whole body. 3 Now if we put bits into horses' mouths for them to obey us, we can also direct their whole bodies. 4 Notice also that ships, although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, are steered by a very small rudder to wherever the pilot desires. 5 In this way, the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts great things. Notice also how small a fire sets on fire a large forest. 6 The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil set among our members. The tongue defiles the whole body, sets on fire the course of life, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is being tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we praise the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things should not happen. 11 Does a spring pour out from its opening both sweet and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree, my brothers, make olives? Or a grapevine, figs? Neither can salty water produce sweet water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let that person show a good life by his works in the humility of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and ambition in your heart, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above. Rather, it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where there are jealousy and ambition, there is confusion and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace among those who make peace.
1 Where do quarrels and disputes among you come from? Do they not come from your desires that fight among your members? 2 You desire, and you do not have. You murder and covet, and you are not able to obtain. You fight and quarrel. You do not possess because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, in order that you may use it for your desires. 4 You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility against God? So whoever desires to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think the scripture says in vain, "The Spirit he caused to live in us is deeply envious"? 6 But God gives more grace, so the scripture says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
7 So submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded people. 9 Grieve, mourn, and cry! Let your laughter turn into mourning and your joy into gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
11 Do not speak evil about another, brothers. The person who speaks evil about a brother or judges his brother speaks evil about the law and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 Only one is the lawgiver and judge. He is the one who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you, you who judge your neighbor?
13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into this city, spend a year there, trade, and make a profit." 14 Who knows what will happen tomorrow, and what is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears. 15 Instead, you should say, "If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that." 16 But now you are boasting about your arrogant plans. All such boasting is evil. 17 So for anyone who knows to do good but does not do it, for him it is sin.
1 Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail because of the miseries coming on you. 2 Your riches have rotted, and your clothes have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have become tarnished and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. You have stored up your treasure for the last days. 4 Look, the wages you kept back from the laborers who mowed your fields is crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived in luxury on the earth and indulged yourselves. You have fattened your hearts for a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not oppose you.
7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit from the ground and he is patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. 8 You, too, be patient. Strengthen your hearts because the Lord's coming is near. 9 Do not complain, brothers, against one another, so that you will not be condemned. See, the judge is standing at the door. 10 Take an example, brothers, from the suffering and patience of the prophets, those who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 See, we regard those who endured as blessed. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you know the purpose of the Lord, how he is very compassionate and merciful.
12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by the earth, or by any other oath. Rather, let your "Yes" mean "Yes" and your "No" mean "No," so you do not fall under judgment.
13 Is anyone among you suffering hardship? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him. Let them anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will heal the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, God will forgive him. 16 So confess your sins to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very strong in its working. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain in the land for three years and six months. 18 Then Elijah prayed again. The heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
19 My brothers, if anyone among you strays from the truth, and someone brings him back, 20 that person should know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and will cover over a great number of sins.
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the foreigners of the dispersion, the chosen ones, throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. 2 This is according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience and for the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace be to you, and may your peace increase.
3 May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be praised! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 4 This is for an inheritance that will not perish, will not become stained, and will not fade away. It is reserved in heaven for you. 5 You are protected by God's power through faith for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now, for a little while, you may have to suffer all kinds of trials. 7 This is for the proving of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes, even though it is tested by fire. This happens so that your faith will be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revealing of Jesus Christ. 8 You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now, but you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. 9 You are now receiving for yourselves the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to come to you, searched diligently and examined carefully, 11 inquiring into what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told to you by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.
13 So gird up the loins of your mind. Be sober. Put your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform yourselves to the desires that you followed when you were ignorant. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you, too, be holy in your whole behavior. 16 For it is written, "Be holy, because I am holy." 17 So if you call "Father" the one who judges impartially and according to each person's work, conduct yourselves in fear during your time here as foreigners. 18 You know that it was not with perishable silver or gold that you have been redeemed from the futile behavior that you inherited from your ancestors, 19 but by the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 Christ was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but now he has been revealed to you in these last times. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 You made your souls pure by obedience to the truth. This was for the purpose of sincere brotherly love; so love one another earnestly from a pure heart. [1]23 You have been born again, not from perishable seed, but from imperishable seed, through the living and remaining word of God. 24 For,
"All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory is like the wild flower of the grass.
The grass dries up, and the flower falls off,
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever."
This word is the gospel that was preached to you.
1 Therefore put aside all evil, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. 2 As newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk, so that through it you may grow in salvation, 3 if you have tasted that the Lord is kind. 4 Come to him who is a living stone that has been rejected by people, but that has been chosen by God as valuable to him. 5 You also are like living stones that are being built up to be a spiritual house in order to be a holy priesthood that offers the spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Scripture contains this:
"See, I am laying in Zion a cornerstone,
chosen and valuable.
Whoever believes in him
will not be ashamed."
7 The value, then, is to you who believe. But to those who do not believe,
"The stone that was rejected by the builders,
this has become the head of the corner,"
8 and,
"A stone of stumbling
and a rock that makes them fall."
They stumble because they disobey the word—which is what they were appointed to do. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's possession, so that you would announce the wonderful actions of the one who called you out from darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. You did not receive mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Beloved, I exhort you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from fleshly desires, which fight against your soul. 12 Your conduct among the Gentiles should be honorable, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they may be eyewitnesses of your good deeds and give glory to God on the day when he appears.
13 Be subject to every human authority for the Lord's sake. Obey both the king as supreme 14 and also the governors, who are sent for the punishment of evildoers and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is God's will, that in doing good you silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 As free people, do not use your freedom as a covering for wickedness, but be like servants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect. Be subject not only to the good and gentle masters, but also to the malicious ones. 19 For it is praiseworthy if, because he is conscious of God, a person endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For how much credit is there if you sin and then endure while being afflicted? But if you have done good and then you suffer while being punished, this is worthy of praise from God. 21 For it is to this that you were called, because Christ also suffered for you. He left an example for you to follow in his steps.
22 "He committed no sin,
neither was any deceit found in his mouth."
23 When he was insulted, he gave no insult in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten back, but he gave himself over to the one who judges justly. 24 He himself carried our sins in his body on the tree so that we would die to sin and live for righteousness. By his bruises you have been healed. 25 All of you had been straying like lost sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.
1 In the same way, you who are wives should submit to your own husbands. Do this so even if some men are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word, through their wives' behavior, 2 having been eyewitnesses of your respectful, pure behavior. 3 Do not let your adornment be outward—the braiding of hair, and putting on of gold ornaments, or the clothing you wear. 4 Instead, let your adornment be the inner person of the heart with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious before God. 5 For this is how holy women long ago who hoped in God adorned themselves, by submitting to their husbands. 6 In this way Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are now her children if you do what is good and if you are not afraid of trouble.
7 In the same way, you husbands should live with your wives according to understanding, as with a weaker container, a woman. You should give them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. Do this so that your prayers will not be hindered.
8 Finally, all of you, be likeminded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, and humble. 9 Do not pay back evil for evil or insult for insult. On the contrary, continue to bless, because for this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing.
10 "The one who wants to love life
and see good days
should stop his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from what is bad and do what is good.
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 The eyes of the Lord see the righteous,
and his ears hear their prayers.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
13 Who is the one who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14 But even if you suffer because of righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats. Do not be troubled. 15 Instead, set apart the Lord Christ in your hearts as holy. Always be ready to give an account to anyone who asks about the hope you have— 16 however, with meekness and respect. Have a good conscience so that in whatever you are spoken of as evil the people who slander your good life in Christ may be put to shame. 17 It is better, if it should be God's will, that you suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 Christ also suffered once for sins. He who is righteous suffered for us, who were unrighteous, so that he would bring us to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but he was made alive by the Spirit. 19 By the Spirit, he went and preached to the spirits who are now in prison. 20 They were disobedient when the patience of God was waiting in the days of Noah, in the days of the building of an ark, and God saved a few people—eight souls—by means of the water. 21 This is a symbol of the baptism that saves you now—not as a washing away of dirt from the body, but as the appeal of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 22 Christ is at the right hand of God. He went into heaven. Angels, authorities, and powers must submit to him.
1 Therefore, because Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same intention. For whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. 2 As a result, such a person, for the rest of his time in the flesh, no longer lives for men's desires, but for God's will. 3 For the time that has passed is enough for you to do the desire of the Gentiles, living in sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, drunken celebrations, having wild parties, and committing lawless acts of idolatry. 4 They think it is strange that you do not join with them in these floods of reckless behavior, so they speak evil about you. 5 They will give an account to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this purpose the gospel was preached also to the dead, so that, although they have been judged in the flesh as humans, they may live in the spirit the way God does.
7 The end of all things is coming near. Therefore be of sound mind, and be sober in your thinking for the sake of prayers. 8 Above all things, have fervent love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 As each one of you has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be with God's words. If anyone serves, let it be from the strength that God supplies. Do these things so that in all ways God would be glorified through Jesus Christ. May there be to Jesus Christ glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
12 Beloved, do not regard as strange the testing in the fire that has come upon you, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, however much you experience the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for Christ's name, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; instead, let him glorify God with that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who disobey God's gospel?
18 And
"If it is difficult for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
19 Therefore let those who suffer because of God's will commit their souls to the faithful Creator in well-doing.
1 I am exhorting the elders among you, I, who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and am also one who will share in the glory that will be revealed: 2 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 would have you serve—not for shameful profit but eagerly. 3 Do not act as lords over those allotted to you. Instead, be examples to the flock. 4 Then when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive an unfading crown of glory. 5 In the same way, you younger men, submit to the older men. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility and serve one another.
For God is opposed to the proud,
but he gives grace to the humble.
6 Therefore humble yourselves under God's mighty hand so that he may exalt you in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil is walking around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand against him. Be strong in your faith. You know that your brotherhood in the world is enduring the same sufferings. 10 After you suffer for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will perfect you, confirm you, strengthen you, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
12 I regard Silvanus as a faithful brother, and I have written to you briefly through him. I am exhorting you and I am testifying to you that what I have written is the true grace of God. Stand in it. 13 The woman who is in Babylon, who is chosen together with you, greets you. Also Mark, my son, greets you. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.
May peace be to you all who are in Christ.
1 Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received the same precious faith as we have received, faith in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 May grace and peace increase in measure in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 By his divine power, all things for life and godliness have been given to us through the knowledge of him who called us through his own glory and excellence. 4 Through these he gave us precious and great promises, so that you might be sharers in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world that is caused by evil desires. 5 For this reason, do your best to add goodness to your faith, and to goodness add knowledge, 6 to knowledge add self-control, to self-control add endurance, to endurance add godliness, 7 to godliness add brotherly love, and to brotherly love add love. 8 If these things are in you and grow in you, they will keep you from being barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever lacks these things is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, do your best to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things, you will not stumble. 11 In this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
12 Therefore I will always be ready to remind you of these things, although you know them, and although you are strong in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is proper for me, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by way of reminder. 14 For I know that the putting off of my tent will be soon, because our Lord Jesus Christ has revealed this to me. 15 I will make every effort to see that after my departure you may always be able to remember these things. 16 For we did not follow cleverly invented myths when we made known to you the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when a voice was brought to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with him I am well pleased." 18 We ourselves heard this voice brought from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 For we have the prophetic word made more certain, to which you would do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever brought by the will of man, but men spoke from God when they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
1 False prophets came to the people, and false teachers will also come to you. They will secretly bring with them destructive heresies, and they will deny the master who bought them. They are bringing quick destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their sensuality, and through them the way of truth will be slandered. 3 In their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation has been coming for a long time, and their destruction is not asleep. 4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but delivered them into hell to be kept in chains of darkness until the judgment, [1]5 and if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, along with seven others when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly. 6 and if he reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes and condemned them to destruction as an example of what is to happen to the ungodly, 7 but delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the sensual behavior of lawless people— 8 for that righteous man, who was living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds— 9 if the Lord did these things, then he knows how to rescue godly men out of trials and how to hold unrighteous men in custody so they can be punished on the day of judgment. 10 This is especially true for those who walk after the corrupt desires of the flesh and who despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they do not tremble when they blaspheme the glorious ones. 11 Angels have greater strength and power, but they do not bring insulting judgments against them to the Lord. 12 But these people are like unreasoning animals, born for capture and destruction. They do not know what they insult. In destruction they also will be destroyed, 13 suffering harm as a reward for doing harm. They think that luxury during the day is a pleasure. They are stains and blemishes. They enjoy their deceitful actions while they are feasting with you. [2]14 They have eyes full of adultery; they are never satisfied with sin. They entice unstable souls into wrongdoing, and they have their hearts trained in greed. They are cursed children! 15 They have abandoned the straight way and have gone astray, following the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to receive payment for unrighteousness. [3]16 But he obtained a rebuke for his own transgression—a mute donkey speaking in a human voice stopped the prophet's insanity. 17 These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. The gloom of thick darkness is reserved for them. 18 They speak with vain arrogance. Through the lusts of the flesh, through sensuality, they entice people who are trying to escape from those who live in error. 19 They promise freedom to them, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For a man is a slave to whatever overcomes him. 20 If they have escaped the corruptions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 This proverb is true for them: "A dog returns to its own vomit, and a washed pig returns to the mud."
1 Beloved, this is now the second letter that I have written to you, and in both of them they are reminders to stir up your sincere mind 2 so that you will recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. 3 Know this first, that mockers will come in the last days. They will mock and proceed according to their own desires. 4 They will say, "Where is the promise of his return? From when our fathers fell asleep, all things have stayed the same, since the beginning of creation." 5 They deliberately forget that long ago by the word of God the heavens and the earth came to exist out of water and through water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 By the same word the heavens and the earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.
8 It should not escape your notice, beloved, that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some consider slowness to be. Rather, he is patient toward you. He does not desire for any of you to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance. 10 However, the day of the Lord will come as a thief: The heavens will pass away with a loud noise. The elements will be burned with fire, and the earth and the deeds in it will be laid bare. [1]11 Since all these things will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be? You should live holy and godly lives. 12 You should expect and hasten the coming of the day of God. On that day, the heavens will be destroyed by fire, and the elements will be melted in great heat. 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for the new heavens and the new earth, where righteousness will dwell.
14 Therefore, beloved, since you expect these things, do your best to be found spotless and blameless before him, in peace. 15 Also, consider the patience of our Lord to be salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom that was given to him. 16 Paul speaks of these things in all his letters, in which there are things that are difficult to understand. Ignorant and unstable men distort these things, as they also do the other scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 Therefore, beloved, since you know about these things beforehand, guard yourselves so that you are not led astray by the deceit of lawless people and you lose your own faithfulness. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May the glory be to him both now and to the day of eternity. Amen!