Hebrews 5 - 1 John 5

New King James Version

Qualifications for High Priesthood

5 For every high priest taken from among men ^(A)is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He can ^[a]have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to ^(B)weakness. ³ Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for ^(C)himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. ⁴ And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as ^(D)Aaron was.

A Priest Forever

^5 (E)So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:

⁶ As He also says in another place:

⁷ who, in the days of His flesh, when He had ^(H)offered up prayers and supplications, ^(I)with vehement cries and tears to Him ^(J)who was able to save Him from death, and was heard ^(K)because of His godly fear, ⁸ though He was a Son, yet He learned ^(L)obedience by the things which He suffered. ⁹ And ^(M)having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, ¹⁰ called by God as High Priest ^(N)“according to the order of Melchizedek,” ¹¹ of whom ^(O)we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become ^(P)dull of hearing.

Spiritual Immaturity

¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the ^[b]oracles of God; and you have come to need ^(Q)milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is ^(R)a babe. ¹⁴ But solid food belongs to those who are ^[c]of full age, that is, those who by reason of ^[d]use have their senses exercised ^(S)to discern both good and evil.

The Peril of Not Progressing

6 Therefore, ^(T)leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to ^[e]perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from ^(U)dead works and of faith toward God, ^2 (V)of the doctrine of baptisms, ^(W)of laying on of hands, ^(X)of resurrection of the dead, ^(Y)and of eternal judgment. ³ And this ^[f]we will do if God permits.

⁴ For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted ^(Z)the heavenly gift, and ^(AA)have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ^6 [g]if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, ^(AB)since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

⁷ For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, ^(AC)receives blessing from God; ^8 (AD)but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

A Better Estimate

⁹ But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. ¹⁰ For ^(AE)God is not unjust to forget ^(AF)your work and ^[h]labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ^(AG)ministered to the saints, and do minister. ¹¹ And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence ^(AH)to the full assurance of hope until the end, ¹² that you do not become ^[i]sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience ^(AI)inherit the promises.

God’s Infallible Purpose in Christ

¹³ For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, ^(AJ)He swore by Himself, ¹⁴ saying, ^(AK)“Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” ¹⁵ And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the ^(AL)promise. ¹⁶ For men indeed swear by the greater, and ^(AM)an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. ¹⁷ Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to ^(AN)the heirs of promise ^(AO)the ^[j]immutability of His counsel, ^[k]confirmed it by an oath, ¹⁸ that by two ^[l]immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to ^(AP)lie, we ^[m]might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope ^(AQ)set before us.

¹⁹ This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, ^(AR)and which enters the Presence behind the veil, ^20 (AS)where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, ^(AT)having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

The King of Righteousness^(AU)

7 For this ^(AV)Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ² to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” ³ without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

⁴ Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the ^[n]spoils. ⁵ And indeed ^(AW)those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; ⁶ but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham ^(AX)and blessed ^(AY)him who had the promises. ⁷ Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. ⁸ Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, ^(AZ)of whom it is witnessed that he lives. ⁹ Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, ¹⁰ for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

Need for a New Priesthood^(BA)

^11 (BB)Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? ¹² For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. ¹³ For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has ^[o]officiated at the altar.

¹⁴ For it is evident that ^(BC)our Lord arose from ^(BD)Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning ^[p]priesthood. ¹⁵ And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest ¹⁶ who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. ¹⁷ For ^[q]He testifies:

¹⁸ For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of ^(BF)its weakness and unprofitableness, ¹⁹ for ^(BG)the law made nothing ^[r]perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of ^(BH)a better hope, through which ^(BI)we draw near to God.

Greatness of the New Priest

²⁰ And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath ²¹ (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:

²² by so much more Jesus has become a ^[t]surety of a ^(BK)better covenant.

²³ Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. ²⁴ But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. ²⁵ Therefore He is also ^(BL)able to save ^[u]to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives ^(BM)to make intercession for them.

²⁶ For such a High Priest was fitting for us, ^(BN)who is holy, ^[v]harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, ^(BO)and has become higher than the heavens; ²⁷ who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His ^(BP)own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. ²⁸ For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

The New Priestly Service

8 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, ^(BQ)who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, ² a Minister of ^(BR)the ^[w]sanctuary and of ^(BS)the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

³ For ^(BT)every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore ^(BU)it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. ⁴ For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; ⁵ who serve ^(BV)the copy and ^(BW)shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, ^(BX)“See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” ⁶ But now ^(BY)He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a ^(BZ)better covenant, which was established on better promises.

A New Covenant^(CA)

⁷ For if that ^(CB)first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. ⁸ Because finding fault with them, He says: ^(CC)“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— ⁹ not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. ¹⁰ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the ^(CD)Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and ^(CE)I will be their God, and they shall be My people. ^11 (CF)None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the ^(CG)Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. ¹² For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, ^(CH)and their sins ^[x]and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

^13 (CI)In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The Earthly Sanctuary^(CJ)

9 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and ^(CK)the earthly sanctuary. ² For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the ^[y]sanctuary; ^3 (CL)and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, ⁴ which had the ^(CM)golden censer and ^(CN)the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were ^(CO)the golden pot that had the manna, ^(CP)Aaron’s rod that budded, and ^(CQ)the tablets of the covenant; ⁵ and ^(CR)above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Limitations of the Earthly Service

⁶ Now when these things had been thus prepared, ^(CS)the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. ⁷ But into the second part the high priest went alone ^(CT)once a year, not without blood, which he offered for ^(CU)himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; ⁸ the Holy Spirit indicating this, that ^(CV)the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. ⁹ It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered ^(CW)which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— ¹⁰ concerned only with ^(CX)foods and drinks, ^(CY)various ^[z]washings, ^(CZ)and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

The Heavenly Sanctuary

¹¹ But Christ came as High Priest of ^(DA)the good things ^[aa]to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. ¹² Not ^(DB)with the blood of goats and calves, but ^(DC)with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place ^(DD)once for all, ^(DE)having obtained eternal redemption. ¹³ For if ^(DF)the blood of bulls and goats and ^(DG)the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, ^[ab]sanctifies for the ^[ac]purifying of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without ^[ad]spot to God, ^(DH)cleanse your conscience from ^(DI)dead works ^(DJ)to serve the living God? ¹⁵ And for this reason ^(DK)He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that ^(DL)those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

The Mediator’s Death Necessary

¹⁶ For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. ¹⁷ For ^(DM)a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. ^18 (DN)Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. ¹⁹ For when Moses had spoken every ^[ae]precept to all the people according to the law, ^(DO)he took the blood of calves and goats, ^(DP)with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, ^(DQ)“This is the ^(DR)blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” ²¹ Then likewise ^(DS)he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. ²² And according to the law almost all things are ^[af]purified with blood, and ^(DT)without shedding of blood there is no ^[ag]remission.

Greatness of Christ’s Sacrifice

²³ Therefore it was necessary that ^(DU)the copies of the things in the heavens should be ^[ah]purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For ^(DV)Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are ^[ai]copies of ^(DW)the true, but into heaven itself, now ^(DX)to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵ not that He should offer Himself often, as ^(DY)the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— ²⁶ He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. ^27 (DZ)And as it is appointed for men to die once, ^(EA)but after this the judgment, ²⁸ so ^(EB)Christ was ^(EC)offered once to bear the sins ^(ED)of many. To those who ^(EE)eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Animal Sacrifices Insufficient

10 For the law, having a ^(EF)shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, ^(EG)can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. ² For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once ^[aj]purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. ³ But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For ^(EH)it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Christ’s Death Fulfills God’s Will^(EI)

⁵ Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

⁸ Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), ⁹ then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, ^[ak]O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. ^10 (EK)By that will we have been ^[al]sanctified ^(EL)through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Christ’s Death Perfects the Sanctified

¹¹ And every priest stands ^(EM)ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. ^12 (EN)But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down ^(EO)at the right hand of God, ¹³ from that time waiting ^(EP)till His enemies are made His footstool. ¹⁴ For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being ^[am]sanctified.

¹⁵ But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

^16 (EQ)“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” ¹⁷ then He adds, ^(ER)“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” ¹⁸ Now where there is ^[an]remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Hold Fast Your Confession

¹⁹ Therefore, brethren, having ^(ES)boldness^[ao] to enter ^(ET)the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and ^(EU)living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, ²¹ and having a High Priest over the house of God, ²² let us ^(EV)draw near with a true heart ^(EW)in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for ^(EX)He who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ^25 (EY)not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and ^(EZ)so much the more as you see ^(FA)the Day approaching.

The Just Live by Faith

²⁶ For ^(FB)if we sin willfully ^(FC)after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there ^(FD)no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and ^(FE)fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three ^(FF)witnesses. ^29 (FG)Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, ^(FH)counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, ^(FI)and insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, ^(FJ)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” ^[ap]says the Lord. And again, ^(FK)“The Lord will judge His people.” ^31 (FL)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

³² But ^(FM)recall the former days in which, after you were ^[aq]illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: ³³ partly while you were made ^(FN)a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while ^(FO)you became companions of those who were so treated; ³⁴ for you had compassion on ^[ar]me ^(FP)in my chains, and ^(FQ)joyfully accepted the plundering of your ^[as]goods, knowing that ^(FR)you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves ^[at]in heaven. ³⁵ Therefore do not cast away your confidence, ^(FS)which has great reward. ^36 (FT)For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, ^(FU)you may receive the promise:

³⁹ But we are not of those ^(FY)who draw back to ^[ax]perdition, but of those who ^(FZ)believe to the saving of the soul.

By Faith We Understand

11 Now faith is the ^[ay]substance of things hoped for, the ^[az]evidence ^(GA)of things not seen. ² For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

³ By faith we understand that ^(GB)the ^[ba]worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Faith at the Dawn of History^(GC)

⁴ By faith ^(GD)Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still ^(GE)speaks.

⁵ By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ^(GF)“and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. ⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

⁷ By faith ^(GG)Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, ^(GH)prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of ^(GI)the righteousness which is according to faith.

Faithful Abraham^(GJ)

⁸ By faith ^(GK)Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, ^(GL)dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, ^(GM)the heirs with him of the same promise; ¹⁰ for he waited for ^(GN)the city which has foundations, ^(GO)whose builder and maker is God.

¹¹ By faith ^(GP)Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and ^(GQ)she^[bb] bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him ^(GR)faithful who had promised. ¹² Therefore from one man, and him as good as ^(GS)dead, were born as many as the ^(GT)stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

The Heavenly Hope

¹³ These all died in faith, ^(GU)not having received the ^(GV)promises, but ^(GW)having seen them afar off ^[bc]were assured of them, embraced them and ^(GX)confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ¹⁴ For those who say such things ^(GY)declare plainly that they seek a homeland. ¹⁵ And truly if they had called to mind ^(GZ)that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed ^(HA)to be called their God, for He has ^(HB)prepared a city for them.

The Faith of the Patriarchs^(HC)

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, ^(HD)when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, ^18 [bd]of whom it was said, ^(HE)“In Isaac your seed shall be called,” ¹⁹ concluding that God ^(HF)was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

²⁰ By faith ^(HG)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was dying, ^(HH)blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

²² By faith ^(HI)Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

The Faith of Moses^(HJ)

²³ By faith ^(HK)Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s ^(HL)command.

²⁴ By faith ^(HM)Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the ^[be]passing pleasures of sin, ²⁶ esteeming ^(HN)the ^[bf]reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures ^[bg]in Egypt; for he looked to the ^(HO)reward.

²⁷ By faith ^(HP)he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith ^(HQ)he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

²⁹ By faith ^(HR)they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

By Faith They Overcame

³⁰ By faith ^(HS)the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. ³¹ By faith ^(HT)the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who ^[bh]did not believe, when ^(HU)she had received the spies with peace.

³² And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of ^(HV)Gideon and ^(HW)Barak and ^(HX)Samson and ^(HY)Jephthah, also of ^(HZ)David and ^(IA)Samuel and the prophets: ³³ who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, ^(IB)stopped the mouths of lions, ^34 (IC)quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. ^35 (ID)Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were ^(IE)tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. ³⁶ Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and ^(IF)of chains and imprisonment. ^37 (IG)They were stoned, they were sawn in two, ^[bi]were tempted, were slain with the sword. ^(IH)They wandered about ^(II)in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— ³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, ^(IJ)in dens and caves of the earth.

³⁹ And all these, ^(IK)having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, ⁴⁰ God having provided something better for us, that they should not be ^(IL)made perfect apart from us.

The Race of Faith

12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, ^(IM)let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and ^(IN)let us run ^(IO)with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the ^[bj]author and ^[bk]finisher of our faith, ^(IP)who for the joy that was set before Him ^(IQ)endured the cross, despising the shame, and ^(IR)has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Discipline of God^(IS)

^3 (IT)For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, ^(IU)lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. ^4 (IV)You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. ⁵ And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

^7 (IY)If^[bm] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what ^(IZ)son is there whom a father does not chasten? ⁸ But if you are without chastening, ^(JA)of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to ^(JB)the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, ^(JC)that we may be partakers of His holiness. ¹¹ Now no ^[bn]chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields ^(JD)the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Renew Your Spiritual Vitality^(JE)

¹² Therefore ^(JF)strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

^14 (JG)Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, ^(JH)without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone ^(JI)fall short of the grace of God; lest any ^(JJ)root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; ¹⁶ lest there be any ^(JK)fornicator or ^[bo]profane person like Esau, ^(JL)who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. ¹⁷ For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was ^(JM)rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

The Glorious Company

¹⁸ For you have not come ^[bp]to ^(JN)the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and ^[bq]darkness and tempest, ¹⁹ and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it ^(JO)begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. ²⁰ (For they could not endure what was commanded: ^(JP)“And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned ^[br]or shot with an arrow.” ²¹ And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, ^(JQ)“I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)

²² But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, ²³ to the ^[bs]general assembly and church of ^(JR)the firstborn ^(JS)who are registered in heaven, to God ^(JT)the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men ^(JU)made perfect, ²⁴ to Jesus ^(JV)the Mediator of the new covenant, and to ^(JW)the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things ^(JX)than that of Abel.

Hear the Heavenly Voice

²⁵ See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For ^(JY)if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, ²⁶ whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, ^(JZ)“Yet once more I ^[bt]shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” ²⁷ Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the ^(KA)removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we ^[bu]may ^(KB)serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. ²⁹ For ^(KC)our God is a consuming fire.

Concluding Moral Directions

13 Let ^(KD)brotherly love continue. ^2 (KE)Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing ^(KF)some have unwittingly entertained angels. ^3 (KG)Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.

^4 (KH)Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; ^(KI)but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

⁵ Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ^(KJ)“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁶ So we may boldly say:

Concluding Religious Directions

⁷ Remember those who ^[bv]rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. ⁸ Jesus Christ is ^(KL)the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ Do not be carried ^[bw]about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

¹⁰ We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. ¹² Therefore Jesus also, that He might ^[bx]sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. ¹³ Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing ^(KM)His reproach. ¹⁴ For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. ^15 (KN)Therefore by Him let us continually offer ^(KO)the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, ^(KP)the fruit of our lips, ^[by]giving thanks to His name. ^16 (KQ)But do not forget to do good and to share, for ^(KR)with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

^17 (KS)Obey those who ^[bz]rule over you, and be submissive, for ^(KT)they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Prayer Requested

^18 (KU)Pray for us; for we are confident that we have ^(KV)a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. ¹⁹ But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction, Final Exhortation, Farewell

²⁰ Now may ^(KW)the God of peace ^(KX)who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, ^(KY)that great Shepherd of the sheep, ^(KZ)through the blood of the everlasting covenant, ²¹ make you ^[ca]complete in every good work to do His will, ^(LA)working in ^[cb]you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

²² And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. ²³ Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.

²⁴ Greet all those who ^[cc]rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

²⁵ Grace be with you all. Amen.

Greeting to the Twelve Tribes

1 James, ^(LB)a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

Greetings.

Profiting from Trials

² My brethren, ^(LC)count it all joy ^(LD)when you fall into various trials, ^3 (LE)knowing that the testing of your faith produces ^[cd]patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be ^[ce]perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ^5 (LF)If any of you lacks wisdom, ^(LG)let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and ^(LH)it will be given to him. ^6 (LI)But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is ^(LJ)a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

The Perspective of Rich and Poor

⁹ Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but the rich in his humiliation, because ^(LK)as a flower of the field he will pass away. ¹¹ For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

Loving God Under Trials

^12 (LL)Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive ^(LM)the crown of life ^(LN)which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, ^(LO)when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, ^(LP)brings forth death.

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. ^17 (LQ)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, ^(LR)with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. ^18 (LS)Of His own will He brought us forth by the ^(LT)word of truth, ^(LU)that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Qualities Needed in Trials

^19 [cf]So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, ^(LV)slow to speak, ^(LW)slow to wrath; ²⁰ for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Doers—Not Hearers Only

²¹ Therefore ^(LX)lay aside all filthiness and ^[cg]overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, ^(LY)which is able to save your souls.

²² But ^(LZ)be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For ^(MA)if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵ But ^(MB)he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, ^(MC)this one will be blessed in what he does.

²⁶ If anyone ^[ch]among you thinks he is religious, and ^(MD)does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. ^27 (ME)Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: ^(MF)to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, ^(MG)and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Beware of Personal Favoritism

2 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(MH)the Lord of glory, with ^(MI)partiality. ² For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in ^[ci]fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in ^[cj]filthy clothes, ³ and you ^[ck]pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” ⁴ have you not ^[cl]shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

⁵ Listen, my beloved brethren: ^(MJ)Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be ^(MK)rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom ^(ML)which He promised to those who love Him? ⁶ But ^(MM)you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you ^(MN)and drag you into the courts? ⁷ Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are ^(MO)called?

⁸ If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ^(MP)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; ⁹ but if you ^[cm]show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as ^(MQ)transgressors. ¹⁰ For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet ^(MR)stumble in one point, ^(MS)he is guilty of all. ¹¹ For He who said, ^(MT)“Do not commit adultery,” also said, ^(MU)“Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. ¹² So speak and so do as those who will be judged by ^(MV)the law of liberty. ¹³ For ^(MW)judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown ^(MX)no ^(MY)mercy. ^(MZ)Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith Without Works Is Dead^(NA)

^14 (NB)What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ^15 (NC)If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and ^(ND)one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” ^(NE)Show me your faith without ^[cn]your works, ^(NF)and I will show you my faith by ^[co]my works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is ^[cp]dead? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works ^(NG)when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² Do you see ^(NH)that faith was working together with his works, and by ^(NI)works faith was made ^[cq]perfect? ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ^(NJ)“Abraham believed God, and it was ^[cr]accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called ^(NK)the friend of God. ²⁴ You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

²⁵ Likewise, ^(NL)was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

The Untamable Tongue

3 My brethren, ^(NM)let not many of you become teachers, ^(NN)knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. ² For ^(NO)we all stumble in many things. ^(NP)If anyone does not stumble in word, ^(NQ)he is a ^[cs]perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. ^3 [ct]Indeed, ^(NR)we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. ⁵ Even so ^(NS)the tongue is a little member and ^(NT)boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And ^(NU)the tongue is a fire, a world of ^[cu]iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it ^(NV)defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of ^[cv]nature; and it is set on fire by ^[cw]hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, ^(NW)full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made ^(NX)in the ^[cx]similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a ^(NY)fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? ^[cy]Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom

^13 (NZ)Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have ^(OA)bitter envy and ^[cz]self-seeking in your hearts, ^(OB)do not boast and lie against the truth. ^15 (OC)This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For ^(OD)where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But ^(OE)the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, ^(OF)without partiality ^(OG)and without hypocrisy. ^18 (OH)Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Pride Promotes Strife

4 Where do ^[da]wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure ^(OI)that war in your members? ² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and ^[db]war. ^[dc]Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ^3 (OJ)You ask and do not receive, ^(OK)because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. ^4 [dd]Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that ^(OL)friendship with the world is enmity with God? ^(OM)Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ^(ON)“The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

⁶ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

Humility Cures Worldliness

⁷ Therefore submit to God. ^(OP)Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ^8 (OQ)Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. ^(OR)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and ^(OS)purify your hearts, you double-minded. ^9 (OT)Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ^10 (OU)Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Do Not Judge a Brother

^11 (OV)Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother ^(OW)and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. ¹² There is one ^[de]Lawgiver, ^(OX)who is able to save and to destroy. ^(OY)Who^[df] are you to judge ^[dg]another?

Do Not Boast About Tomorrow

¹³ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow ^[dh]we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; ¹⁴ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? ^(OZ)It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, ^(PA)“If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ But now you boast in your arrogance. ^(PB)All such boasting is evil.

¹⁷ Therefore, ^(PC)to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Rich Oppressors Will Be Judged

5 Come now, you ^(PD)rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! ² Your ^(PE)riches ^[di]are corrupted, and ^(PF)your garments are moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. ^(PG)You have heaped up treasure in the last days. ⁴ Indeed ^(PH)the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and ^(PI)the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of ^[dj]Sabaoth. ⁵ You have lived on the earth in pleasure and ^[dk]luxury; you have ^[dl]fattened your hearts ^[dm]as in a day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

Be Patient and Persevering

⁷ Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. ⁸ You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord ^[dn]is at hand.

⁹ Do not ^[do]grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be ^[dp]condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! ^10 (PJ)My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and ^(PK)patience. ¹¹ Indeed ^(PL)we count them blessed who ^(PM)endure. You have heard of ^(PN)the perseverance of Job and seen ^(PO)the end intended by the Lord—that ^(PP)the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

¹² But above all, my brethren, ^(PQ)do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into ^[dq]judgment.

Meeting Specific Needs^(PR)

¹³ Is anyone among you suffering? Let him ^(PS)pray. Is anyone cheerful? ^(PT)Let him sing psalms. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, ^(PU)anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. ^(PV)And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ^16 [dr]Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. ^(PW)The effective, ^[ds]fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man ^(PX)with a nature like ours, and ^(PY)he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. ¹⁸ And he prayed ^(PZ)again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

Bring Back the Erring One

¹⁹ Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone ^(QA)turns him back, ²⁰ let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way ^(QB)will save ^[dt]a soul from death and ^(QC)cover a multitude of sins.

Greeting to the Elect Pilgrims

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To the ^[du]pilgrims ^(QD)of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ^2 (QE)elect ^(QF)according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, ^(QG)in sanctification of the Spirit, for ^(QH)obedience and ^(QI)sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:

^(QJ)Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

A Heavenly Inheritance

^3 (QK)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who ^(QL)according to His abundant mercy ^(QM)has begotten us again to a living hope ^(QN)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance ^[dv]incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, ^(QO)reserved in heaven for you, ^5 (QP)who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

^6 (QQ)In this you greatly rejoice, though now ^(QR)for a little while, if need be, ^(QS)you have been ^[dw]grieved by various trials, ⁷ that ^(QT)the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though ^(QU)it is tested by fire, ^(QV)may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ^8 (QW)whom having not ^[dx]seen you love. ^(QX)Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

¹⁰ Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, ¹¹ searching what, or what manner of time, ^(QY)the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. ¹² To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to ^[dy]us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which ^(QZ)angels desire to look into.

Living Before God Our Father

¹³ Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ as obedient children, not ^(RA)conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ^15 (RB)but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ because it is written, ^(RC)“Be holy, for I am holy.”

¹⁷ And if you call on the Father, who ^(RD)without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your ^[dz]stay here in fear; ¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed with ^[ea]corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but ^(RE)with the precious blood of Christ, ^(RF)as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. ^20 (RG)He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was ^[eb]manifest ^(RH)in these last times for you ²¹ who through Him believe in God, ^(RI)who raised Him from the dead and ^(RJ)gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

The Enduring Word

²² Since you ^(RK)have purified your souls in obeying the truth ^[ec]through the Spirit in ^[ed]sincere ^(RL)love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ^23 (RM)having been born again, not of ^[ee]corruptible seed but ^[ef]incorruptible, ^(RN)through the word of God which lives and abides ^[eg]forever, ²⁴ because

^(RQ)Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

Our Inheritance Through Christ’s Blood

2 Therefore, ^(RR)laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, ^2 (RS)as newborn babes, desire the pure ^(RT)milk of the word, that you may grow ^[ej]thereby, ³ if indeed you have ^(RU)tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People^(RV)

⁴ Coming to Him as to a living stone, ^(RW)rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, ⁵ you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

⁷ Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who ^[ek]are disobedient,

⁸ and

^(SA)They stumble, being disobedient to the word, ^(SB)to which they also were appointed.

⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of ^(SC)darkness into His marvelous light; ^10 (SD)who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Living Before the World

¹¹ Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts ^(SE)which war against the soul, ^12 (SF)having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, ^(SG)they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submission to Government^(SH)

^13 (SI)Therefore submit yourselves to every ^[el]ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— ^16 (SJ)as free, yet not ^(SK)using liberty as a cloak for ^[em]vice, but as bondservants of God. ¹⁷ Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear ^(SL)God. Honor the king.

Submission to Masters^(SM)

^18 (SN)Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. ¹⁹ For this is ^(SO)commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. ²⁰ For ^(SP)what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. ²¹ For ^(SQ)to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for ^[en]us, ^(SR)leaving ^[eo]us an example, that you should follow His steps:

^23 (ST)who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but ^(SU)committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; ^24 (SV)who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, ^(SW)that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—^(SX)by whose ^[ep]stripes you were healed. ²⁵ For ^(SY)you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned ^(SZ)to the Shepherd and ^[eq]Overseer of your souls.

Submission to Husbands

3 Wives, likewise, be ^(TA)submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, ^(TB)they, without a word, may ^(TC)be won by the conduct of their wives, ^2 (TD)when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. ^3 (TE)Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— ⁴ rather let it be ^(TF)the hidden person of the heart, with the ^[er]incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. ⁵ For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, ⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(TG)calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

A Word to Husbands

^7 (TH)Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, ^(TI)as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, ^(TJ)that your prayers may not be hindered.

Called to Blessing

⁸ Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be ^[es]courteous; ^9 (TK)not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary ^(TL)blessing, knowing that you were called to this, ^(TM)that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For

Suffering for Right and Wrong

^13 (TS)And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? ^14 (TT)But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. ^(TU)“And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” ¹⁵ But ^[eu]sanctify ^[ev]the Lord God in your hearts, and always ^(TV)be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the ^(TW)hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ^16 (TX)having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Christ’s Suffering and Ours

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring ^[ew]us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, ¹⁹ by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ who formerly were disobedient, ^[ex]when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. ^21 (TY)There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism ^(TZ)(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, ^(UA)but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and ^(UB)is at the right hand of God, ^(UC)angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Christ’s Example to Be Followed

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered ^[ey]for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ² that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, ^(UD)but for the will of God. ³ For we have spent enough of our past ^[ez]lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. ⁴ In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. ⁵ They will give an account to Him who is ready ^(UE)to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For this reason ^(UF)the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but ^(UG)live according to God in the spirit.

Serving for God’s Glory

⁷ But ^(UH)the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. ⁸ And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ^(UI)“love will cover a multitude of sins.” ^9 (UJ)Be hospitable to one another ^(UK)without grumbling. ^10 (UL)As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, ^(UM)as good stewards of ^(UN)the manifold grace of God. ^11 (UO)If anyone speaks, let him speak as the ^[fa]oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that ^(UP)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the ^[fb]dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering for God’s Glory

¹² Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice ^(UQ)to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that ^(UR)when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. ¹⁴ If you are ^[fc]reproached for the name of Christ, ^(US)blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. ^[fd]On their part He is blasphemed, ^(UT)but on your part He is glorified. ¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a ^[fe]busybody in other people’s matters. ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this ^[ff]matter.

¹⁷ For the time has come ^(UU)for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, ^(UV)what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ Now

¹⁹ Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God ^(UX)commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Shepherd the Flock

5 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a ^(UY)witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the ^(UZ)glory that will be revealed: ^2 (VA)Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, ^(VB)not by compulsion but ^[fg]willingly, ^(VC)not for dishonest gain but eagerly; ³ nor as ^(VD)being ^[fh]lords over ^(VE)those entrusted to you, but ^(VF)being examples to the flock; ⁴ and when ^(VG)the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive ^(VH)the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Submit to God, Resist the Devil

⁵ Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, ^(VI)all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

⁸ Be ^[fi]sober, be ^[fj]vigilant; ^[fk]because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. ¹⁰ But ^[fl]may the God of all grace, ^(VL)who called ^[fm]us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, ^[fn]perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. ^11 (VM)To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Farewell and Peace

¹² By ^(VN)Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying ^(VO)that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

¹³ She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does ^(VP)Mark my son. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Greeting the Faithful

1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and ^(VQ)apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have ^[fo]obtained ^(VR)like^[fp] precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

^2 (VS)Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, ³ as His ^(VT)divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him ^(VU)who called us by glory and virtue, ^4 (VV)by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be ^(VW)partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the ^[fq]corruption that is in the world through lust.

Fruitful Growth in the Faith

⁵ But also for this very reason, ^(VX)giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue ^(VY)knowledge, ⁶ to knowledge self-control, to self-control ^[fr]perseverance, to perseverance godliness, ⁷ to godliness brotherly kindness, and ^(VZ)to brotherly kindness love. ⁸ For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither ^[fs]barren ^(WA)nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For he who lacks these things is ^(WB)shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent ^(WC)to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; ¹¹ for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Peter’s Approaching Death

¹² For this reason ^(WD)I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, ^(WE)though you know and are established in the present truth. ¹³ Yes, I think it is right, ^(WF)as long as I am in this ^[ft]tent, ^(WG)to stir you up by reminding you, ^14 (WH)knowing that shortly I must ^[fu]put off my tent, just as ^(WI)our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. ¹⁵ Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my ^[fv]decease.

The Trustworthy Prophetic Word^(WJ)

¹⁶ For we did not follow ^(WK)cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the ^(WL)power and ^(WM)coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were ^(WN)eyewitnesses of His majesty. ¹⁷ For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ^(WO)“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” ¹⁸ And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on ^(WP)the holy mountain.

^19 [fw]And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a ^(WQ)light that shines in a dark place, ^(WR)until ^(WS)the day dawns and the morning star rises in your ^(WT)hearts; ²⁰ knowing this first, that ^(WU)no prophecy of Scripture is of any private ^[fx]interpretation, ²¹ for ^(WV)prophecy never came by the will of man, ^(WW)but ^[fy]holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Destructive Doctrines

2 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be ^(WX)false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. ³ By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction ^[fz]does not slumber.

Doom of False Teachers

⁴ For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to ^[ga]hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; ⁵ and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; ⁶ and turning the cities of ^(WY)Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; ⁷ and ^(WZ)delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked ⁸ (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, ^(XA)tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— ⁹ then ^(XB)the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, ¹⁰ and especially ^(XC)those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. ^(XD)They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of ^[gb]dignitaries, ¹¹ whereas ^(XE)angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

Depravity of False Teachers

¹² But these, ^(XF)like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, ^13 (XG)and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure ^(XH)to ^[gc]carouse in the daytime. ^(XI)They are spots and blemishes, ^[gd]carousing in their own deceptions while ^(XJ)they feast with you, ¹⁴ having eyes full of ^[ge]adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. ^(XK)They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. ¹⁵ They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of ^(XL)Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; ¹⁶ but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

^17 (XM)These are wells without water, ^[gf]clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness ^[gg]forever.

Deceptions of False Teachers

¹⁸ For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who ^[gh]have actually escaped from those who live in error. ¹⁹ While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of ^[gi]corruption; ^(XN)for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into ^[gj]bondage. ²⁰ For if, after they ^(XO)have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are ^(XP)again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. ²¹ For ^(XQ)it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. ²² But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ^(XR)“A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

God’s Promise Is Not Slack^(XS)

3 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which ^(XT)I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ² that you may be mindful of the words ^(XU)which were spoken before by the holy prophets, ^(XV)and of the commandment of ^[gk]us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, ³ knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, ^(XW)walking according to their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of ^(XX)creation.” ⁵ For this they willfully forget: that ^(XY)by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth ^(XZ)standing out of water and in the water, ^6 (YA)by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. ⁷ But ^(YB)the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for ^(YC)fire until the day of judgment and ^[gl]perdition of ungodly men.

⁸ But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and ^(YD)a thousand years as one day. ^9 (YE)The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but ^(YF)is longsuffering toward ^[gm]us, ^(YG)not willing that any should perish but ^(YH)that all should come to repentance.

The Day of the Lord

¹⁰ But ^(YI)the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which ^(YJ)the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be ^[gn]burned up. ¹¹ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be ^(YK)in holy conduct and godliness, ^12 (YL)looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will ^(YM)be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will ^(YN)melt with fervent heat? ¹³ Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for ^(YO)new heavens and a ^(YP)new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Be Steadfast

¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent ^(YQ)to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; ¹⁵ and consider that ^(YR)the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, ¹⁶ as also in all his ^(YS)epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the ^(YT)rest of the Scriptures.

¹⁷ You therefore, beloved, ^(YU)since you know this beforehand, ^(YV)beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; ^18 (YW)but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

^(YX)To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

What Was Heard, Seen, and Touched^(YY)

1 That ^(YZ)which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have ^(ZA)seen with our eyes, ^(ZB)which we have looked upon, and ^(ZC)our hands have handled, concerning the ^(ZD)Word of life— ^2 (ZE)the life ^(ZF)was manifested, and we have seen, ^(ZG)and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was ^(ZH)with the Father and was manifested to us— ³ that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is ^(ZI)with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. ⁴ And these things we write to you ^(ZJ)that ^[go]your joy may be full.

Fellowship with Him and One Another

^5 (ZK)This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that ^(ZL)God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ^6 (ZM)If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we ^(ZN)walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and ^(ZO)the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we ^(ZP)confess our sins, He is ^(ZQ)faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to ^(ZR)cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we ^(ZS)make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

The Test of Knowing Christ

2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, ^(ZT)we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ² And ^(ZU)He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but ^(ZV)also for the whole world.

The Test of Knowing Him

³ Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴ He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a ^(ZW)liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But ^(ZX)whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God ^[gp]is perfected ^(ZY)in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ^6 (ZZ)He who says he abides in Him ^(AAA)ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

^7 [gq]Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had ^(AAB)from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard ^[gr]from the beginning. ⁸ Again, ^(AAC)a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, ^(AAD)because the darkness is passing away, and ^(AAE)the true light is already shining.

^9 (AAF)He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. ^10 (AAG)He who loves his brother abides in the light, and ^(AAH)there is no cause for stumbling in him. ¹¹ But he who ^(AAI)hates his brother is in darkness and ^(AAJ)walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Their Spiritual State

Do Not Love the World

^15 (AAO)Do not love the world or the things in the world. ^(AAP)If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, ^(AAQ)the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And ^(AAR)the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Deceptions of the Last Hour

^18 (AAS)Little children, ^(AAT)it is the last hour; and as you have heard that ^(AAU)the^[gs] Antichrist is coming, ^(AAV)even now many antichrists have come, by which we know ^(AAW)that it is the last hour. ^19 (AAX)They went out from us, but they were not of us; for ^(AAY)if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out ^(AAZ)that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

²⁰ But ^(ABA)you have an anointing ^(ABB)from the Holy One, and ^(ABC)you^[gt] know all things. ²¹ I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

^22 (ABD)Who is a liar but he who denies that ^(ABE)Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. ^23 (ABF)Whoever denies the Son does not have the ^(ABG)Father either; ^(ABH)he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

Let Truth Abide in You

²⁴ Therefore let that abide in you ^(ABI)which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, ^(ABJ)you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. ^25 (ABK)And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

²⁶ These things I have written to you concerning those who try to ^[gu]deceive you. ²⁷ But the ^(ABL)anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and ^(ABM)you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing ^(ABN)teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you ^[gv]will abide in Him.

The Children of God

²⁸ And now, little children, abide in Him, that ^[gw]when He appears, we may have ^(ABO)confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. ^29 (ABP)If you know that He is righteous, you know that ^(ABQ)everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

The Command to Love

3 Behold ^(ABR)what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that ^(ABS)we should be called children of ^[gx]God! Therefore the world does not know ^[gy]us, ^(ABT)because it did not know Him. ² Beloved, ^(ABU)now we are children of God; and ^(ABV)it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, ^(ABW)we shall be like Him, for ^(ABX)we shall see Him as He is. ^3 (ABY)And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Sin and the Child of God

⁴ Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and ^(ABZ)sin is lawlessness. ⁵ And you know ^(ACA)that He was manifested ^(ACB)to take away our sins, and ^(ACC)in Him there is no sin. ⁶ Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

⁷ Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. ^8 (ACD)He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, ^(ACE)that He might destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ Whoever has been ^(ACF)born of God does not sin, for ^(ACG)His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

The Imperative of Love^(ACH)

¹⁰ In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. ¹¹ For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, ^(ACI)that we should love one another, ¹² not as ^(ACJ)Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

¹³ Do not marvel, my brethren, if ^(ACK)the world hates you. ¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love ^[gz]his brother abides in death. ^15 (ACL)Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that ^(ACM)no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

The Outworking of Love

^16 (ACN)By this we know love, ^(ACO)because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁷ But ^(ACP)whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

¹⁸ My little children, ^(ACQ)let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. ¹⁹ And by this we ^[ha]know ^(ACR)that we are of the truth, and shall ^[hb]assure our hearts before Him. ^20 (ACS)For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. ²¹ Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, ^(ACT)we have confidence toward God. ²² And ^(ACU)whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments ^(ACV)and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. ²³ And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ ^(ACW)and love one another, as He gave ^[hc]us commandment.

The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error

²⁴ Now ^(ACX)he who keeps His commandments ^(ACY)abides in Him, and He in him. And ^(ACZ)by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

Love for God and One Another

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but ^(ADA)test the spirits, whether they are of God; because ^(ADB)many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: ^(ADC)Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, ³ and every spirit that does not confess ^[hd]that Jesus ^[he]Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

⁴ You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than ^(ADD)he who is in the world. ^5 (ADE)They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and ^(ADF)the world hears them. ⁶ We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. ^(ADG)By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Knowing God Through Love^(ADH)

^7 (ADI)Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who ^(ADJ)loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ^9 (ADK)In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten ^(ADL)Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, ^(ADM)not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son ^(ADN)to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, ^(ADO)if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Seeing God Through Love

^12 (ADP)No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. ^13 (ADQ)By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. ¹⁴ And ^(ADR)we have seen and testify that ^(ADS)the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. ^15 (ADT)Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. ¹⁶ And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and ^(ADU)he who abides in love abides in God, and God ^(ADV)in him.

The Consummation of Love

¹⁷ Love has been perfected among us in this: that ^(ADW)we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. ^19 (ADX)We love ^[hf]Him because He first loved us.

Obedience by Faith

^20 (ADY)If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, ^[hg]how can he love God ^(ADZ)whom he has not seen? ²¹ And ^(AEA)this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Obedience by Faith

5 Whoever believes that ^(AEB)Jesus is the Christ is ^(AEC)born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. ² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and ^(AED)keep His commandments. ^3 (AEE)For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And ^(AEF)His commandments are not burdensome. ⁴ For ^(AEG)whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that ^(AEH)has overcome the world—^[hh]our faith. ⁵ Who is he who overcomes the world, but ^(AEI)he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The Certainty of God’s Witness

⁶ This is He who came ^(AEJ)by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. ^(AEK)And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. ⁷ For there are three that bear witness ^[hi]in heaven: the Father, ^(AEL)the Word, and the Holy Spirit; ^(AEM)and these three are one. ⁸ And there are three that bear witness on earth: ^(AEN)the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

⁹ If we receive ^(AEO)the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; ^(AEP)for this is the witness of ^[hj]God which He has testified of His Son. ¹⁰ He who believes in the Son of God ^(AEQ)has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God ^(AER)has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. ¹¹ And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ^12 (AES)He who has the Son has ^[hk]life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. ¹³ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, ^[hl]and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Confidence and Compassion in Prayer

¹⁴ Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that ^(AET)if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

¹⁶ If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and ^(AEU)He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. ^(AEV)There is sin leading to death. ^(AEW)I do not say that he should pray about that. ^17 (AEX)All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

Knowing the True—Rejecting the False

¹⁸ We know that ^(AEY)whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God ^(AEZ)keeps^{[hm] [hn]}himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

¹⁹ We know that we are of God, and ^(AFA)the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

²⁰ And we know that the ^(AFB)Son of God has come and ^(AFC)has given us an understanding, ^(AFD)that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. ^(AFE)This is the true God ^(AFF)and eternal life.

²¹ Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.