Book of Common Prayer

Those Wanting Your Circumcision Are Seeking To Boast In Your Flesh, Not To Keep The Law

¹¹ See with what large letters I wrote to you with my own hand! ¹² All who want to make-a-good-showing^[a] in the flesh— these ones are compelling you to receive-circumcision only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For not even the ones receiving-circumcision themselves are keeping the Law. But they want you to receive-circumcision in order that they might boast in your flesh.

I Will Boast Only In The Cross of Christ. Peace Be Upon All Who Do The Same

¹⁴ But for me, may it never be that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which^[b] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything, but a new creation. ¹⁶ And all who will walk-in-line with this standard^[c]— peace and mercy be upon them, and^[d] upon the Israel of God. ¹⁷ Henceforth^[e] let no one be causing troubles for me. For I bear the brand-marks^[f] of Jesus on my body.

¹⁸ May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Jesus Again Teaches His Disciples That He Must Die And Be Raised

³⁰ And having gone forth from there, they were passing through Galilee. And He was not wanting anyone to know it. ³¹ For He was teaching His disciples, and saying to them that “The Son of Man is being handed-over into the hands of men. And they will kill Him. And having been killed, He will rise-up after three days”. ³² But the ones were not-understanding the statement, and they were fearing to question Him.

The Disciples Argue About Who Is The Greatest. Jesus Says, To Be First You Must Be Last

³³ And they came to Capernaum. And having come-to-be in the house, He was questioning them, “What were you discussing on the way?” ³⁴ But the ones were being silent. For on the way they argued with one another who was greater^[a]. ³⁵ And having sat-down, He called the twelve. And He says to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall^[b] be last of all, and servant of all”.

Whoever Welcomes a Child In My Name Welcomes Me

³⁶ And having taken a child, He stood him^[c] in the middle of them. And having taken him in His arms, He said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one such-as-these children^[d] on the basis of My name, welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not [merely] welcome Me, but the One having sent Me forth”.

John Recalls an Instance When The Disciples Did Not Welcome Someone

³⁸ John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting-out demons in Your name. And we were forbidding him because he was not following us”. ³⁹ But Jesus said, “Do not be forbidding him. For there is no one who will do a miracle on the basis of My name, and soon be able to speak-evil-of Me. ⁴⁰ For he who is not against^[e] us is for us. ⁴¹ For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in the name that you are Christ’s— truly I say to you that he will by no means lose his reward.