Book of Common Prayer

Now Don’t Be Alarmed: The Day of The Lord Has Not Yet Come

2 Now we ask you, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering-together to Him, ² that you not be quickly shaken from your understanding nor alarmed— neither by a spirit^[a], nor by a word, nor by a letter as-if through us, how that the day of the Lord is present^[b]. ³ Let no one deceive you in any way, because it will not be present unless the apostasy^[c] comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed^[d]— the son of ^[e] destruction,

But God Chose You To Be The Firstfruits of Salvation. Stand Firm And Hold On To The Truth

¹³ But^[a] we ought to be giving-thanks to God always for you, brothers having been loved by the Lord, because God chose you to be the firstfruit^[b] for salvation in^[c] the holiness of ^[d] the Spirit and faith^[e] in the truth— ¹⁴ to which also He called you through our good-news, for the obtaining^[f] of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ So then, brothers, be standing-firm, and be holding-on-to the traditions which you were taught— whether by word [of mouth] or by our letter. ¹⁶ And may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, the One having loved us and having given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, ¹⁷ comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.

I Am Doing The Will of The One Who Sent Me

³⁰ “I can do nothing from Myself. Just as I am hearing^[a], I am judging. And My judgment is righteous, because I am not seeking My will, but the will of the One having sent Me.

Jesus Responds Regarding His Identity: Others Testify About Him

³¹ “If I am^[b] testifying about Myself, My testimony is not true. ³² There is Another— the One testifying about Me— and I know that the testimony which He is testifying about Me is true.

John The Baptist Testified

³³ “You have sent out messengers to John, and he has testified to the truth^[c]. ³⁴ But I do not receive^[d] testimony from a human. Nevertheless, I am saying these things in order that you may be saved. ³⁵ That one was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to be overjoyed in his light for an hour.

Three Greater Witnesses Testify: My Works, The Father, And The Scriptures

³⁶ “But I have testimony greater than John’s. For the works which the Father has given to Me that I should accomplish them— the works themselves which I am doing are testifying about Me, that the Father has sent Me forth. ³⁷ And the Father having sent Me— that One has testified about Me. Neither His voice have you ever heard, nor His form have you seen. ³⁸ And you do not have His word abiding in you, because the One Whom that One sent-forth— this One you are not believing! ³⁹ You^[e] search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life— and those Scriptures are the ones testifying about Me! ⁴⁰ And you are not willing to come to Me in order that you may have life.

But You Are Not Receiving Me Because You Do Not Love God

⁴¹ “I do not receive glory from people, ⁴² but I know you— that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. ⁴³ I have come in the name of My Father, and you are not receiving Me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive that one. ⁴⁴ How are you able to believe while receiving glory from one another, and you are not seeking the glory from the only God?

Moses Will Be Your Accuser. For If You Believed Him, You Would Believe Me

⁴⁵ Do not be thinking that I will accuse you before the Father. The one accusing you is Moses, in whom you have put-hope. ⁴⁶ For if you were believing Moses, you would be believing Me, for that one wrote about Me. ⁴⁷ But if you do not believe the writings of that one, how will you believe My words?”