Book of Common Prayer

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope, ² to Timothy, genuine child in the faith: Grace, mercy, peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Stay On In Ephesus To Turn Certain “Law-Teachers” From Worthless Talk To Love

³ Just as I urged you to stay-on in Ephesus while I was proceeding to Macedonia, do so in order that you might command^[a] certain ones not to be teaching-different-doctrines, ⁴ nor paying-attention-to myths^[b] and endless genealogies, which cause speculations rather than a stewardship^[c] of ^[d] God, which is by^[e] faith. ⁵ And the goal of your command^[f] is love from a pure heart and good conscience and sincere faith, ⁶ having departed^[g] from which things some turned-aside into worthless-talk^[h]— ⁷ wanting to be Law-teachers, not understanding either the things which they are saying or about what things they are speaking-confidently.

The Law Is Useful When It Is Used Properly: To Correct The Ungodly

⁸ Now we know that the Law is good^[i] if one is using it lawfully, ⁹ knowing this: that law is not laid-down^[j] for a righteous one but for lawless ones and rebellious ones, ungodly ones and sinful ones, unholy ones and profane^[k] ones, father-thrashers^[l] and mother-thrashers, man-slayers^[m], ¹⁰ sexually-immoral ones, homosexuals^[n], slave-traders^[o], liars, perjurers^[p], and if any other thing is contrary to healthy^[q] teaching ¹¹ in accordance with the good-news of the glory of the blessed God which I was entrusted.

I Thank The Lord Jesus For Showing Mercy To Me And Appointing Me To Serve Him

¹² I have gratitude to Christ Jesus our Lord, the One having strengthened me, because He regarded me trustworthy^[r], having appointed me for service— ¹³ I formerly being a blasphemous one and a persecutor and violent^[s] one! But I was shown-mercy because being ignorant, I acted in unbelief. ¹⁴ And the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ The saying is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance— that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost^[t]. ¹⁶ But for this reason I was shown-mercy: in order that in me, the foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate^[u] all patience, for a pattern for the ones going to put-faith upon Him for eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the King of the ages^[v], to the immortal invisible only God, be honor and glory forever and ever, amen.

Unless You Repent, You Will Perish

13 And some were present at the very time, reporting to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate mixed with their sacrifices. ² And having responded, He said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were sinners more than all the Galileans, because they have suffered these things? ³ No, I say to you. But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them— do you think that they were debtors^[a] more than all the people dwelling in Jerusalem? ⁵ No, I say to you. But unless you repent, you will all similarly perish”.

If The Tree Does Not Bear Fruit, It Will Be Cut Down

⁶ And He was telling this parable— “A certain one had a fig tree having been planted in his vineyard. And he came seeking fruit on it, and did not find it. ⁷ And he said to the vine-keeper, ‘Behold— it is three years from which time I am coming seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I am not finding it. Therefore, cut it down! Why is it even using-up^[b] the soil?’ ⁸ But the one, having responded, says to him, ‘Master, leave it also this year, until I dig around it and throw manure. ⁹ And if it produces fruit in the future— otherwise indeed, cut it down’”.