Book of Common Prayer

Foolish words and the word of truth

¹⁴ Remind them about these things; and warn them, in God’s presence, not to quarrel about words. This doesn’t do any good; instead, it threatens to ruin people who listen to it. ¹⁵ Do your very best to present yourself before God as one who has passed the test—a workman who has no need to be ashamed, who can carve out a straight path for the word of truth. ¹⁶ Avoid pointless and empty chatter. It will push people further and further towards ungodliness, ¹⁷ and their talk will spread like a cancer. I’m thinking in particular of Hymenaeus and Philetus; ¹⁸ they have turned aside from the truth by saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting some people’s faith. ¹⁹ But God’s firm foundation stands, and it has this as its seal: “The Lord knows those who belong to him,” and “Everyone who uses the name of the Lord must leave wickedness behind.”

Vessels for God’s use

²⁰ In a great house there are vessels not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and pottery. Some of them are given special honor in the way they’re used; others are for menial purposes. ²¹ So if people purify themselves from dishonorable things, they will become vessels for honor, made holy, pleasing to the master of the house, fit for every good work.

²² Run away from the passions of youth. Instead, chase after justice, faith, love and peace, along with all who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ²³ Avoid silly and unprofitable disputes, because you know that they produce fights; ²⁴ and the Lord’s servant mustn’t be a fighter, but must be gentle to all people, able to teach, able to bear evil without resentment, ²⁵ able to correct opponents with a meek spirit. It may be that God will give them repentance so that they can arrive at a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and, in coming to their senses, escape the devil’s snare, after having been held captive by him and made to do his will.

The rich young ruler

¹⁷ As he was setting out on the road, a man ran up and knelt down in front of him.

“Good teacher,” he asked, “what should I do to inherit the life of the age to come?”

¹⁸ “Why call me ‘good’?” replied Jesus. “No one is good except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments:

²⁰ “Teacher,” he said, “I’ve kept all of them since I was little.”

²¹ Jesus looked hard at him, and loved him.

“One more thing,” he said. “Go away, and whatever you possess—sell it, and give it to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven! Then: come and follow me.”

²² At that, his face fell, and he went off sadly. He was very wealthy.

²³ Jesus looked slowly around. Then he said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”

²⁴ The disciples were astonished at what he was saying. So Jesus repeated once more, “Children, it’s very hard to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom.”

²⁶ They were totally amazed, and said to each other, “So who then can be saved?”

²⁷ “It’s impossible for mortals,” Jesus said, looking hard at them, “but it’s not impossible for God. All things are possible for God.”

²⁸ “Look here,” Peter started up, “we’ve left everything and followed you.”

²⁹ “I’ll tell you the truth,” replied Jesus. “No one who has left a house, or brothers or sisters, or mother or father, or children, or lands, because of me and the gospel, ³⁰ will fail to receive back a hundred times more in the present age: houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands—with persecutions!—and finally the life of the age to come. ³¹ But plenty of people at the front will end up at the back, and the back at the front.”