¹² Indeed, the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.^(A)

²⁹ Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?^(A)

¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.^(A)

²³ You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.^[a](A)

¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars, and from his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining with full force.^(A)

¹³ We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.^(A)

The Power of the Gospel

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is God’s saving power for everyone who believes,^[a] for the Jew first and also for the Greek.^(A)