whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior.


And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.”


This saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, so that those who have placed their faith in God may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good and beneficial for all people.


But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law, because they are useless and empty.


Reject a divisive person after one or two warnings.


You know that such a person is twisted by sin and is conscious of it himself.


When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.


Make every effort to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; make sure they have what they need.


Here is another way that our people can learn to engage in good works to meet pressing needs and so not be unfruitful.


Everyone with me greets you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.


From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer,


to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house.


Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!


I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,


because I hear of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.


I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ.


I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.


So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper,


I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love – I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus –


I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus,


who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me.


I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you.


I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel.


However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.


For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally,


no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord.


Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.


Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me.


I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe me your very self.


Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.


Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do.


At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.


Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.


Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too.


May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.


After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets,


in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world.


The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.


Thus he became so far better than the angels as he has inherited a name superior to theirs.


For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my son! Today I have fathered you”? And in another place he says, “I will be his father and he will be my son.”


But when he again brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him!”


And he says of the angels, “He makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire,”


but of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom.


You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. So God, your God, has anointed you over your companions with the oil of rejoicing.”


And, “You founded the earth in the beginning, Lord, and the heavens are the works of your hands.


They will perish, but you continue. And they will all grow old like a garment,


and like a robe you will fold them up and like a garment they will be changed, but you are the same and your years will never run out.”


But to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?


Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve those who will inherit salvation?


Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.


For if the message spoken through angels proved to be so firm that every violation or disobedience received its just penalty,


how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first communicated through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him,


while God confirmed their witness with signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.


For he did not put the world to come, about which we are speaking, under the control of angels.


Instead someone testified somewhere: “What is man that you think of him or the son of man that you care for him?


You made him lower than the angels for a little while. You crowned him with glory and honor.


You put all things under his control.” For when he put all things under his control, he left nothing outside of his control. At present we do not yet see all things under his control,


but we see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by God’s grace he would experience death on behalf of everyone.


For it was fitting for him, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.


For indeed he who makes holy and those being made holy all have the same origin, and so he is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,


saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you*.”


Again he says, “I will be confident in him,” and again, “Here I am, with the children God has given me*.”


Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil),


and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death.


For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham’s descendants.


Therefore he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.


For since he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.


Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partners in a heavenly calling, take note of Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess,


who is faithful to the one who appointed him, as Moses was also in God’s house.


For he has come to deserve greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house deserves greater honor than the house itself!


For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.


Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken.


But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. We are of his house, if in fact we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope we take pride in.


Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks!


“Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness.


“There your fathers tested me and tried me, and they saw my works for forty years.


“Therefore, I became provoked at that generation and said, ‘Their hearts are always wandering and they have not known my ways.’


“As I swore in my anger, ‘They will never enter my rest!’”


See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God.


But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,” that none of you may become hardened by sin’s deception.


For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we hold our initial confidence firm until the end.


As it says, “O, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”


For which ones heard and rebelled? Was it not all who came out of Egypt under Moses’ leadership?


And against whom was God provoked for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness?


And to whom did he swear they would never enter into his rest, except those who were disobedient?


So we see that they could not enter because of unbelief.


Therefore we must be wary that, while the promise of entering his rest remains open, none of you may seem to have come short of it.


For we had good news proclaimed to us just as they did. But the message they heard did them no good, since they did not join in with those who heard it in faith.


For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my anger, ‘They will never enter my rest!’” And yet God’s works were accomplished from the foundation of the world.


For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works,”


but to repeat the text cited earlier: “They will never enter my rest!”


Therefore it remains for some to enter it, yet those to whom it was previously proclaimed did not enter because of disobedience.


So God again ordains a certain day, “Today,” speaking through David after so long a time, as in the words quoted before, “O, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts.”


For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken afterward about another day.


Consequently a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God.


For the one who enters God’s rest has also rested from his works, just as God did from his own works.


Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.


For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.


And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.


Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.


For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.


Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.


For every high priest is taken from among the people and appointed to represent them before God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.


He is able to deal compassionately with those who are ignorant and erring, since he also is subject to weakness,


and for this reason he is obligated to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people.


And no one assumes this honor on his own initiative, but only when called to it by God, as in fact Aaron was.


So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming high priest, but the one who glorified him was God, who said to him, “You are my Son! Today I have fathered you,”


as also in another place God says, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”


During his earthly life Christ offered both requests and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death and he was heard because of his devotion.


Although he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered.


And by being perfected in this way, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,


and he was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.


On this topic we have much to say and it is difficult to explain, since you have become sluggish in hearing.


For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God’s utterances. You have gone back to needing milk, not solid food.


For everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced in the message of righteousness, because he is an infant.


But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.


Therefore we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ and move on to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works and faith in God,


teaching about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.


And this is what we intend to do, if God permits.


For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit,


tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age,


and then have committed apostasy, to renew them again to repentance, since they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again and holding him up to contempt.


For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God.


But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed; its fate is to be burned.


But in your case, dear friends, even though we speak like this, we are convinced of better things relating to salvation.


For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints.


But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end,


so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.


Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,


saying, “Surely I will bless you greatly and multiply your descendants abundantly.”


And so by persevering, Abraham inherited the promise.


For people swear by something greater than themselves, and the oath serves as a confirmation to end all dispute.


In the same way God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, and so he intervened with an oath,


so that we who have found refuge in him may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie.


We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain,


where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek forever in the order of Melchizedek.


Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him.


To him also t Abraham apportioned a tithe apportioned a tithe of everything. His name first means king of righteousness, then king of Salem of Salem, that is, king of peace.


Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God, and he remains a priest for all time.


But see how great he must be, if Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of his plunder.


And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, although they too are descendants of Abraham.


But Melchizedek who does not share their ancestry collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed the one who possessed the promise.


Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior,


and in one case tithes are received by mortal men, while in the other by him who is affirmed to be alive.


And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham.


For he was still in his ancestor Abraham’s loins when Melchizedek met him.


So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood – for on that basis the people received the law – what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order?


For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come as well.


Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever officiated at the altar.


For it is clear that our Lord is descended from Judah, yet Moses said nothing about priests in connection with that tribe.


And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,


who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical descent but by the power of an indestructible life.


For here is the testimony about him: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”


On the one hand a former command is set aside because it is weak and useless,


for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.


And since this was not done without a sworn affirmation – for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation,


but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’” –


accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.


And the others who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them from continuing in office,


but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever.


So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.


For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.


He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all.


For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness, but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever.


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


a minister in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up.


For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. So this one too had to have something to offer.


Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.


The place where they serve is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, just as Moses was warned by God as he was about to complete the tabernacle. For he says, “See that you make everything according to the design shown to you on the mountain.”


But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises.


For if that first covenant had been faultless, no one would have looked for a second one.


But showing its fault, God says to them, “Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.


“It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the Lord*.


“For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and I will inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God and they will be my people.


“And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ since they will all know me, from the least to the greatest.


“For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer.”


When he speaks of a new covenant, he makes the first obsolete. Now what is growing obsolete and aging is about to disappear.


Now the first covenant, in fact, had regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary.


For a tent was prepared, the outer one, which contained the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; this is called the holy place.


And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies.


It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.


And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail.


So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties.


But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.


The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the holy place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing.


This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper.


They served only for matters of food and drink and various washings; they are external regulations imposed until the new order came.


But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation,


and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured eternal redemption.


For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled consecrated them and provided ritual purity,


how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.


And so he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.


For where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be proven.


For a will takes effect only at death, since it carries no force while the one who made it is alive.


So even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood.


For when Moses had spoken every command to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats with water and scarlet wool and hyssop and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,


and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep.”


And both the tabernacle and all the utensils of worship he likewise sprinkled with blood.


Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.


So it was necessary for the sketches of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves required better sacrifices than these.


For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands – the representation of the true sanctuary – but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us.


And he did not enter to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own,


for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice.


And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment,


so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation.


For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship.


For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have no further consciousness of sin?


But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year.


For the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins.


So when he came into the world, he said, “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.


“Whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you took no delight in.


“Then I said, ‘Here I am: I have come – it is written of me in the scroll of the book – to do your will, O God*.’”


When he says above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin-offeringsyou did not desire nor did you take delight in them” (which are offered according to the law),


then he says, “Here I am: I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first to establish the second.


By his will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.


And every priest stands day after day serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again – sacrifices that can never take away sins.


But when this priest had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God,


where he is now waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet.


For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy.


And the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us, for after saying,


“This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws on their hearts and I will inscribe them on their minds,”


then he says, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer.”


Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.


Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,


by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,


and since we have a great priest over the house of God,


let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.


And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy.


And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works,


not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.


For if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us,


but only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume God’s enemies.


Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.


How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt for the Son of God, and profanes the blood of the covenant that made him holy, and insults the Spirit of grace?


For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”


It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.


But remember the former days when you endured a harsh conflict of suffering after you were enlightened.


At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and afflictions, and at other times you came to share with others who were treated in that way.


For in fact you shared the sufferings of those in prison, and you accepted the confiscation of your belongings with joy, because you knew that you certainly had a better and lasting possession.


So do not throw away your confidence, because it has great reward.


For you need endurance in order to do God’s will and so receive what is promised.


For just a little longer and he who is coming will arrive and not delay.


But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I take no pleasure in him.


But we are not among those who shrink back and thus perish, but are among those who have faith and preserve their souls.


Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.


For by it the people of old received God’s commendation.


By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.


By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith he still speaks, though he is dead.


By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God.


Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.


By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.


By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out without understanding where he was going.


By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land as though it were a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise.


For he was looking forward to the city with firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God.


By faith, even though Sarah herself was barren and he was too old, he received the ability to procreate, because he regarded the one who had given the promise to be trustworthy.


So in fact children were fathered by one man – and this one as good as dead – like the number of stars in the sky and like the innumerable grains of sand on the seashore.


These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth.


For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.


In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.


But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.


By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He had received the promises, yet he was ready to offer up his only son.


God had told him, “Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name,”


and he reasoned that God could even raise him from the dead, and in a sense he received him back from there.


By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.


By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped as he leaned on his staff as he leaned on his staff.


By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions about his burial.


By faith, when Moses was born, his parents hid him for three months, because they saw the child was beautiful and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.


By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,


choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin’s fleeting pleasure.


He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on the reward.


By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king’s anger, for he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible.


By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.


By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if on dry ground, but when the Egyptians tried it, they were swallowed up.


By faith the walls of Jericho fell after the people marched around them for seven days.


By faith Rahab the prostitute escaped the destruction of the disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace.


And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets.


Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions,


quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight,


and women received back their dead raised to life. But others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life.


And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.


They were stoned, sawed apart, murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated


(the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth.


And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.


For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us.


Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,


keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.


Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.


You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed in your struggle against sin.


And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you*.


“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.”


Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?


But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.


Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life?


For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.


Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.


Therefore, strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees,


and make straight paths for your feet straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed.


Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.


See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.


And see to it that no one becomes an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.


For you know that later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing with tears.


For you have not come to something that can be touched, to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind


and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words such that those who heard begged to hear no more.


For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”


In fact, the scene was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.”


But you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly


and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect,


and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does.


Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven?


Then his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too.”


Now this phrase “once more” indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain.


So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe.


For our God is indeed a devouring fire.


Brotherly love must continue.


Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.


Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them, and those ill-treated as though you too felt their torment.


Marriage must be honored among all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers.


Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.”


So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?*”


Remember your leaders, who spoke God’s message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith.


Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!


Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings. For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals, which have never benefited those who participated in them.


We have an altar that those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat from.


For the bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp.


Therefore, to sanctify the people by his own blood, Jesus also suffered outside the camp.


We must go out to him, then, outside the camp, bearing the abuse he experienced.


For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.


Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name.


And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.


Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.


Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to conduct ourselves rightly in every respect.


I especially ask you to pray that I may be restored to you very soon.


Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ,


equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.


Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, bear with my message of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you briefly.


You should know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon, he will be with me when I see you.


Greetings to all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings.


Grace be with you all.


From James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings!


My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials,


because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.


And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.


But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.


But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind.


For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,


since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.


Now the believer of humble means should take pride in his high position.


But the rich person’s pride should be in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow.


For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.


Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him.


Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.


But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires.


Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.


Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters.


All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.


By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.


Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.


For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.


So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.


But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.


For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror.


For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was.


But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out – he will be blessed in what he does.


If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.


Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.


My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.


For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes,


do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”?


If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?


Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?


But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts?


Do they not blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to?


But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.


But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators.


For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.


For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law.


Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom.


For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.


What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him?


If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food,


and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it?


So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.


But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works.


You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.


But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless?


Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?


You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works.


And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.


You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.


And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way?


For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.


Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly.


For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well.


And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies.


Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs.


So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze.


And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence – and is set on fire by hell.


For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind.


But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.


With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image.


From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters.


A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it?


Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water.


Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.


But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.


Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic.


For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.


But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.


And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.


Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you?


You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask;


you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you can spend it on your passions.


Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy.


Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, “The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning”?


But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.”


So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.


Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded.


Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair.


Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.


Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. He who speaks against a fellow believer or judges a fellow believer speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but its judge.


But there is only one who is lawgiver and judge – the one who is able to save and destroy. On the other hand, who are you to judge your neighbor?


Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”


You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes.


You ought to say instead, “If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that.”


But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.


So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin.


Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you.


Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten.


Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure!


Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.


You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.


You have condemned and murdered the righteous person, although he does not resist you.


So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains.


You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s return is near.


Do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be judged. See, the judge stands before the gates!


As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name.


Think of how we regard as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and you have seen the Lord’s purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.


And above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath. But let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no, so that you may not fall into judgment.


Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praises.


Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.


And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up – and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.


So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.


Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and there was no rain on the land for three years and six months!


Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land sprouted with a harvest.


My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back,


he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from his wandering path will save that person’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.


From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those temporarily residing abroad (in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia) who are chosen


according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by being set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for sprinkling with Jesus Christ’s blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure!


Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,


that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you,


who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.


This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials.


Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away – and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.


You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,


because you are attaining the goal of your faith – the salvation of your souls.


Concerning this salvation, the prophets who predicted the grace that would come to you searched and investigated carefully.


They probed into what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and his subsequent glory.


They were shown that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things now announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things angels long to catch a glimpse of.


Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.


Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance,


but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct,


for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.”


And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence.


You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed – not by perishable things like silver or gold,


but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ.


He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake.


Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.


You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart.


You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.


For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off,


but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.


So get rid of all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.


And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,


if you have experienced the Lord’s kindness.


So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and priceless in God’s sight,


you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.


For it says in scripture, “Look,I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame*.”


So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,


and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over*. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.


But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.


You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.


Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,


and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.


Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme


or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good.


For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.


Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves.


Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.


Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse.


For this finds God’s favor, if because of conscience toward God someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly.


For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.


For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.


He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth.


When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly.


He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed.


For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.


In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then, even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live,


when they see your pure and reverent conduct.


Let your beauty not be external – the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes –


but the inner person of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.


For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands,


like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so.


Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.


Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble.


Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.


For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.


And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.


For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.


For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good?


But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken.


But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.


Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.


For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.


Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit.


In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison,


after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water.


And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you – not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,


who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.


So, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin,


in that he spends the rest of his time on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires.


For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to do what the non-Christians desire. You lived then in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking bouts, and wanton idolatries.


So they are astonished when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you.


They will face a reckoning before Jesus Christ who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.


Now it was for this very purpose that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh by human standards they may live spiritually by God’s standards.


For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.


Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.


Show hospitality to one another without complaining.


Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.


Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.


Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you.


But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad.


If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you.


But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker.


But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name.


For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God?


And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and sinners?


So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good.


So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you:


Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly.


And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock.


Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.


In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.


And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand


by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.


Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.


Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering.


And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.


To him belongs the power forever. Amen.


Through Silvanus, whom I know to be a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, in order to encourage you and testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.


The church in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you, and so does Mark, my son.


Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.


From Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, have been granted a faith just as precious as ours.


May grace and peace be lavished on you as you grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!


I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.


Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire.


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


to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness;


to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love.


For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately.


But concerning the one who lacks such things – he is blind. That is to say, he is nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins.


Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin.


For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.


Therefore, I intend to remind you constantly of these things even though you know them and are well established in the truth that you now have.


Indeed, as long as I am in this tabernacle, I consider it right to stir you up by way of a reminder,


since I know that my tabernacle will soon be removed, because our Lord Jesus Christ revealed this to me.


Indeed, I will also make every effort that, after my departure, you have a testimony of these things.


For we did not follow cleverly concocted fables when we made known to you the power and return of our Lord Jesus Christ; no, we were eyewitnesses of his grandeur.


For he received honor and glory from God the Father, when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory: “This is my dear Son, in whom I am delighted.”


When this voice was conveyed from heaven, we ourselves heard it, for we were with him on the holy mountain.


Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.


Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination,


for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.


But false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. These false teachers will infiltrate your midst with destructive heresies, even to the point of denying the Master who bought them. As a result, they will bring swift destruction on themselves.


And many will follow their debauched lifestyles. Because of these false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.


And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation pronounced long ago is not sitting idly by; their destruction is not asleep.


For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment,


and if he did not spare the ancient world, but did protect Noah, a herald of righteousness, along with seven others, when God brought a flood on an ungodly world,


and if he turned to ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah when he condemned them to destruction, having appointed them to serve as an example to future generations of the ungodly,


and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man in anguish over the debauched lifestyle of lawless men,


(for while he lived among them day after day, that righteous man was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard )


– if so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials, and to reserve the unrighteous for punishment at the day of judgment,


especially those who indulge their fleshly desires and who despise authority. Brazen and insolent, they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones,


yet even angels, who are much more powerful, do not bring a slanderous judgment against them before the Lord.


But these men, like irrational animals – creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed – do not understand whom they are insulting, and consequently in their destruction they will be destroyed,


suffering harm as the wages for their harmful ways. By considering it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight, they are stains and blemishes, indulging in their deceitful pleasures when they feast together with you.


Their eyes, full of adultery, never stop sinning; they entice unstable people. They have trained their hearts for greed, these cursed children!


By forsaking the right path they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,


yet was rebuked for his own transgression (a dumb donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the prophet’s madness).


These men are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm, for whom the utter depths of darkness have been reserved.


For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.


Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved.


For if after they have escaped the filthy things of the world through the rich knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again get entangled in them and succumb to them, their last state has become worse for them than their first.


For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them.


They are illustrations of this true proverb: “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and “A sow, after washing herself, wallows in the mire.”


Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written you, in which I am trying to stir up your pure mind by way of reminder:


I want you to recall both the predictions foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.


Above all, understand this: In the last days blatant scoffers will come, being propelled by their own evil urges


and saying, “Where is his promised return? For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.”


For they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water.


Through these things the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water.


But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.


Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day.


The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.


But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare.


Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness,


while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God? Because of this day, the heavens will be burned up and dissolve, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze!


But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides.


Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for these things, strive to be found at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence.


And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him,


speaking of these things in all his letters. Some things in these letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures.


Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men and fall from your firm grasp on the truth.


But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.


This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched (concerning the word of life –


and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us).


What we have seen and heard we announce to you too, so that you may have fellowship with us (and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ).


Thus we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.


Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.


If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth.


But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.


If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.


But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.


If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.


(My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. ) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One,


and he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.


Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments.


The one who says “I have come to know God” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person.


But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him.


The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.


Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have already heard.


On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.


The one who says he is in the light but still hates his fellow Christian is still in the darkness.


The one who loves his fellow Christian resides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.


But the one who hates his fellow Christian is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.


I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his name.


I am writing to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, that you have conquered the evil one.


I have written to you, children, that you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young people, that you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.


Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him,


because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world.


And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.


Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour.


They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us, because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us.


Nevertheless you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.


I have not written to you that you do not know the truth, but that you do know it, and that no lie is of the truth.


Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son.


Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also.


As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.


Now this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life.


These things I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you.


Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him.


And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back.


If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him.


(See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children – and indeed we are! For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know him.


Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is.


And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure).


Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; indeed, sin is lawlessness.


And you know that Jesus was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.


Everyone who resides in him does not sin; everyone who sins has neither seen him nor known him.


Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous.


The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the works of the devil.


Everyone who has been fathered by God does not practice sin, because God’s seed resides in him, and thus he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered by God.


By this the children of God and the children of the devil are revealed: Everyone who does not practice righteousness – the one who does not love his fellow Christian – is not of God.


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


not like Cain who was of the evil one and brutally murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous.


Therefore do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.


We know that we have crossed over from death to life because we love our fellow Christians. The one who does not love remains in death.


Everyone who hates his fellow Christian is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.


We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians.


But whoever has the world’s possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person?


Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth.


And by this we will know that we are of the truth and will convince our conscience in his presence,


that if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience and knows all things.


Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God,


and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing to him.


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


And the person who keeps his commandments resides in God, and God in him. Now by this we know that God resides in us: by the Spirit he has given us.


Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.


By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God,


but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.


You are from God, little children, and have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.


They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world’s perspective and the world listens to them.


We are from God; the person who knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.


Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God.


The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love.


By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him.


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


Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another.


No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us, and his love is perfected in us.


By this we know that we reside in God and he in us: in that he has given us of his Spirit.


And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.


If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in God.


And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him.


By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world.


There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love.


We love because he loved us first.


If anyone says “I love God” and yet hates his fellow Christian, he is a liar, because the one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.


And the commandment we have from him is this: that the one who loves God should love his fellow Christian too.


Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been fathered by God, and everyone who loves the father loves the child fathered by him.


By this we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God and obey his commandments.


For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments do not weigh us down,


because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world. This is the conquering power that has conquered the world: our faith.


Now who is the person who has conquered the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?


Jesus Christ is the one who came by water and blood – not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.


For there are three that testify,


the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three are in agreement.


If we accept the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, because this is the testimony of God that he has testified concerning his Son.


(The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has testified concerning his Son.)


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


The one who has the Son has this eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal life.


I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.


And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.


And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him.


If anyone sees his fellow Christian committing a sin not resulting in death, he should ask, and God will grant life to the person who commits a sin not resulting in death. There is a sin resulting in death. I do not say that he should ask about that.


All unrighteousness is sin, but there is sin not resulting in death.


We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one he has fathered, and the evil one cannot touch him.


We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.


And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us insight to know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life.


Little children, guard yourselves from idols.


From the elder, to an elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth (and not I alone, but also all those who know the truth),


because of the truth that resides in us and will be with us forever.


Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, in truth and love.


I rejoiced greatly because I have found some of your children living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded us.


But now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning), that we love one another.


(Now this is love: that we walk according to his commandments.) This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning; thus you should walk in it.


For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist!


Watch out, so that you do not lose the things we have worked for, but receive a full reward.


Everyone who goes on ahead and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in this teaching has both the Father and the Son.


If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting,


because the person who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds.


Though I have many other things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come visit you and speak face to face, so that our joy may be complete.


The children of your elect sister greet you.


From the elder, to Gaius my dear brother, whom I love in truth.


Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.


For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, just as you are living according to the truth.


I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are living according to the truth.


Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers).


They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.


For they have gone forth on behalf of “The Name,” accepting nothing from the pagans.


Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we become coworkers in cooperation with the truth.


I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us.


Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing – the bringing of unjustified charges against us with evil words! And not being content with that, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but hinders the people who want to do so and throws them out of the church!


Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad has not seen God.


Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. We also testify to him, and you know that our testimony is true.


I have many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink.


But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face. Peace be with you. The friends here greet you. Greet the friends there by name.


From Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, wrapped in the love of God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.


May mercy, peace, and love be lavished on you!


Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel compelled instead to write to encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.


For certain men have secretly slipped in among you – men who long ago were marked out for the condemnation I am about to describe – ungodly men who have turned the grace of our God into a license for evil and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.


Now I desire to remind you (even though you have been fully informed of these facts once for all ) that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, later destroyed those who did not believe.


You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day.


So also Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns, since they indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire in a way similar to these angels, are now displayed as an example by suffering the punishment of eternal fire.


Yet these men, as a result of their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and insult the glorious ones.


But even when Michael the archangel was arguing with the devil and debating with him concerning Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a slanderous judgment, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”


But these men do not understand the things they slander, and they are being destroyed by the very things that, like irrational animals, they instinctively comprehend.


Woe to them! For they have traveled down Cain’s path, and because of greed have abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error; hence, they will certainly perish in Korah’s rebellion.


These men are dangerous reefs at your love feasts, feasting without reverence, feeding only themselves. They are waterless clouds, carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit – twice dead, uprooted;


wild sea waves, spewing out the foam of their shame; wayward stars for whom the utter depths of eternal darkness have been reserved.


Now Enoch, the seventh in descent beginning with Adam, even prophesied of them, saying, “Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy ones,


to execute judgment on all, and to convict every person of all their thoroughly ungodly deeds that they have committed, and of all the harsh words that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”


These people are grumblers and fault-finders who go wherever their desires lead them, and they give bombastic speeches, enchanting folks for their own gain.


But you, dear friends – recall the predictions foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.


For they said to you, “In the end time there will come scoffers, propelled by their own ungodly desires.”


These people are divisive, worldly, devoid of the Spirit.


But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit,


maintain yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life.


And have mercy on those who waver;


save others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy on others, coupled with a fear of God, hating even the clothes stained by the flesh.


Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence,


to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.


The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must happen very soon. He made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John,


who then testified to everything that he saw concerning the word of God and the testimony about Jesus Christ.


Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it, because the time is near!


From John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from “he who is,” and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,


and from Jesus Christ – the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood


and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father – to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! Amen.


(Look! He is returning with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes on the earth will mourn because of him. This will certainly come to pass! Amen.)


“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God – the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come – the All-Powerful!


I, John, your brother and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.


I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day when I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,


saying: “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches – to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”


I turned to see whose voice was speaking to me, and when I did so, I saw seven golden lampstands,


and in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man. He was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet and he wore a wide golden belt around his chest.


His head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame.


His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.


He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. His face shone like the sun shining at full strength.