They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

Salt and Light

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.

And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.

This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”

But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.”

He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’

And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Temptations to Sin

“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!

And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”

But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’

And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’

The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.”

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way,

how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?”

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,

yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.”

for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;

And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.”

And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.

And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,

And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.

He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me.

For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”

And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”

for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’

And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.

But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!

It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”

and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.”

For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”

For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.

but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.

See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.”

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”

Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.

Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.

In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true.

Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’

We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.”

Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.”

The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”

But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”

And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

“For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’

For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,

but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,

And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.

But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: “‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices, during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!”

this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’

But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.”

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,

other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”

“I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,

And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”

But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”

as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;

Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.

For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.

as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

The Law and Sin

What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.

So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,

This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”

do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.

Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.

It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.

For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”

and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”

And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”

but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Wisdom from the Spirit

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

Sexual Immorality Defiles the Church

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.

Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.”

Principles for Marriage

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”

To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am.

But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.

If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin.

Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned?

Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”

but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.

For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.

Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him,

but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

The Lord's Supper

But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.

When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat.

and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

One Body with Many Members

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”

If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.

For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.

It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual.

If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes.

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints,

As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you,

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman.

For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.”

But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.

It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write.

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.

For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

Warning Against Apostasy

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

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

For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.

But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.

In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.

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

For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place.

For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.

for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

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

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

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

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?

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

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

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

For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

Warning Concerning Antichrists

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Support and Opposition

Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are,

It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.

and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb,

For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!”

The Seventh Bowl

The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”

As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.

The Rider on a White Horse

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.