The Great Mystery

¹⁴ These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; ¹⁵ but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ^[a]ground of the truth. ¹⁶ And without controversy great is the ^[b]mystery of godliness:

Not Ashamed of the Gospel

^8 (A)Therefore do not be ashamed of ^(B)the testimony of our Lord, nor of me ^(C)His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, ⁹ who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, ^(D)not according to our works, but ^(E)according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus ^(F)before time began, ¹⁰ but ^(G)has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ^11 (H)to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher ^[a]of the Gentiles. ¹² For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, ^(I)for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed with ^[a]corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but ^(A)with the precious blood of Christ, ^(B)as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. ^20 (C)He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was ^[b]manifest ^(D)in these last times for you ²¹ who through Him believe in God, ^(E)who raised Him from the dead and ^(F)gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

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

1 That ^(B)which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have ^(C)seen with our eyes, ^(D)which we have looked upon, and ^(E)our hands have handled, concerning the ^(F)Word of life— ^2 (G)the life ^(H)was manifested, and we have seen, ^(I)and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was ^(J)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 ^(K)with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

^9 (A)In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten ^(B)Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, ^(C)not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son ^(D)to be the propitiation for our sins.