Book of Common Prayer
7 Keep well away from worthless myths, the sort of things some old women mumble on about.
Go into training in godliness! 8 Physical exercise, you see, has a limited usefulness, but godliness is useful in every way. It carries the promise of life both now and in the future. 9 That saying is trustworthy; it deserves to be accepted totally! 10 This is what we are working and struggling for, you see, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the savior of all people—more especially, of believers.
Pay attention to yourself and your teaching
11 You must urge and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example to the believers in what you say, how you behave, in love, faith and holiness. 13 Until I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation and to teaching. 14 Don’t neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy when the elders laid hands on you. 15 Work hard at these things; give yourself to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Pay attention to yourself and your teaching, and keep steadily on with them. If you do that, you see, you will save yourself, and those who hear you as well.
47 The one who is from God speaks God’s words. That’s why you don’t listen, because you’re not from God.”
Before Abraham, “I Am”
48 This was the Judaeans’ response to Jesus.
“Haven’t we been right all along,” they said, “in saying you’re a Samaritan, and that you’ve got a demon inside you?”
49 “I haven’t got a demon!” replied Jesus. “I am honoring my father, and you are dishonoring me. 50 I’m not looking for my own glory; there is one who is looking after that, and he will be the judge. 51 I’m telling you the solemn truth: anyone who keeps my word will never, ever see death.”
52 “Now we know that you really have got a demon!” replied the Judaeans. “Look here: Abraham died! So did the prophets! And here are you, saying, ‘Anyone who keeps my word will never, ever taste death.’ 53 You’re not suggesting, are you, that you’re greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets! Who are you making yourself out to be?”
54 “If I do give myself glory,” replied Jesus, “my glory is nothing. My father is the one who brings me glory—the one you say is ‘our God’; 55 and you don’t know him! I know him, though. If I were to say I didn’t know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham celebrated the fact that he would see my day. He saw it and was delighted.”
57 “You’re not yet fifty years old!” responded the Judaeans. “Have you seen Abraham?”
58 “I’m telling you the solemn truth,” replied Jesus. “Before Abraham existed, I Am.”
59 So they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus hid, and left the Temple.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.