⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather ^(A)to be known by God, ^(B)how can you turn back again to ^(C)the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

³ But if anyone loves God, ^(A)he is known by God.^[a]

³ Are you so foolish? ^(A)Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by^[a] the flesh?

³ For ^(A)God has done what the law, ^(B)weakened by the flesh, ^(C)could not do. ^(D)By sending his own Son ^(E)in the likeness of sinful flesh and ^(F)for sin,^[a] he condemned sin in the flesh,

²⁰ And we know that the Son of God has come and ^(A)has given us understanding, so that we may know ^(B)him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and ^(C)eternal life.

David's Charge to Solomon

⁹ “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a ^(A)whole heart and with a willing mind, ^(B)for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. ^(C)If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

²⁰ For if, ^(A)after they have escaped the defilements of the world ^(B)through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, ^(C)the last state has become worse for them than the first.

¹⁸ For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside ^(A)because of its weakness and uselessness

¹⁹ But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ^(A)“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone ^(B)who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”