Book of Common Prayer
This Is Why God Sent Forth His Messengers With The Report About Christ
14 How then[a] may they[b] call-upon the One in Whom they did not believe? And how may they believe the One Whom[c] they did not hear? And how may they hear without one proclaiming? 15 And how may they proclaim if they are not sent-forth?— just as it has been written[d] [in Isa 52:7]: “How beautiful are the feet of the ones announcing-good-news-of good things!” 16 But[e] they did not all obey the good-news, for Isaiah says [in Isa 53:1], “Lord, who put-faith-in our report?” 17 So[f] the faith[g] comes from a report-hearing[h], and the report-hearing through a word[i] about[j] Christ.
But It Is Not As Though Israel Did Not Hear
18 But I say[k]— it is not that they did not hear[l], is it ? On the contrary: “Their voice went-out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world” [Ps 19:4].
And It Is Not As Though Israel Did Not Know
19 But I say— it is not that Israel did not know[m], is it ? First, Moses says [in Deut 32:21] “I will provoke you to jealousy over what is not a nation. I will provoke you to anger over a nation without-understanding[n]”. 20 And Isaiah is very-bold and says [in Isa 65:1] “I was found by the ones not seeking Me. I became visible[o] to the ones not asking-for Me”. 21 But with-regard-to Israel He says [in Isa 65:2], “I held-out[p] My hands the whole day toward a disobeying[q] and contradicting[r] people”.
The Parable of The Fig Tree: When You See These Things, You Know I Am Near
32 “Now learn the parable from the fig-tree[a]: when its branch already becomes tender and grows-out its leaves, you know that the summer is near. 33 So also you— when you see all[b] these things, you know[c] that He[d] is near, at the doors. 34 Truly I say to you that this[e] generation will by no means pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by-no-means pass away.
But No One Knows The Day And Hour, So Keep Watching And Be Prepared Always
36 “But no one knows about that day and hour— not even the angels of the heavens, nor the Son— except the Father alone. 37 For just as the days of Noah were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving-in-marriage, until which day Noah entered into the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took-away everyone, so also[f] will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 At-that-time there will be two men in the field— one is taken, and one is left; 41 two women grinding at the mill— one is taken[g], and one is left. 42 Therefore keep-watching, because you do not know on which day your Lord is coming. 43 And you know[h] that saying, that if the house-master had known on which watch[i] the thief was coming, he would have kept-watch[j] and would not have allowed his house to be broken-into. 44 For this reason you also be prepared ones— because the Son of Man is coming at an hour which you do not expect.
Wise Servants Found Working When The Master Returns Will Be Put In Charge of More
45 “Who then[k] is the faithful and wise slave whom his master put-in-charge[l] over his body-of-servants[m] that he might give them their food at the proper-time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master, having come, will find so doing. 47 Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge over all his possessions. 48 But if that bad slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying’, 49 and begins to strike his fellow-slaves, and is eating and drinking with the ones being drunk— 50 the master of that slave will come on a day which he does not expect, and at an hour which he does not know. 51 And he will cut him in two, and assign him his part[n] with the hypocrites. In that place, there will be the weeping and the grinding of teeth.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing