Book of Common Prayer

¹² One man [Adam] did a wrong thing. And the wrong thing he did made him die. So all men die because all have done wrong things.

¹³ People in the world were not right with God before he gave the law. But wrong things are not punished when there is no law.

¹⁴ Yet death ruled over people from Adam's time to Moses' time. It even ruled over the people who were not as wrong as Adam. Adam was like a person who would come later.

¹⁵ But the free gift is not like the wrong thing. Many people died because one man did a wrong thing. This is sure. God was very kind and he gave a free gift. This gift was given to many people because one man, Jesus Christ, did a very kind thing.

¹⁶ The free gift is not like the wrong thing one man did. Because of that one man people were judged. And they were punished. Because many people did wrong things, God gave his free gift and many people were made right with him.

¹⁷ One man did a wrong thing. And so death ruled over people because of that one man. God has been kind to people and given them his free gift. That gift is to make people right with God. People who take that gift will live and rule because of one man, Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ One man did a wrong thing. And so all people were punished through him. But Christ did the right thing. And so all people can have the free gift of life through being put right with God.

¹⁹ One man did not obey. And so many people were bad people. One man obeyed. And so many people will be made right with God.

²⁰ When the law came, it showed how wrong people really were. But when people were really bad, God was even more kind.

²¹ The wrong things people did ruled over them, and they died. Now God has been very kind. He has made people right with him. So now God's blessing will rule over them, and they will live for ever. Jesus Christ our Lord has done this for them.

²¹ Jesus talked to them again. He said, `I am going away. You will try to find me and will die doing wrong things. You cannot come where I am going.'

²² Then the Jews said, `Will he kill himself? He says, "You cannot come where I am going." '

²³ Jesus said to them, `You are from below. I am from above. You belong to this world. I do not belong to this world.

²⁴ That is why I said, "You will die doing wrong things." If you do not believe that I am who I said I am, then you will die doing wrong things.'

²⁵ They said to him, `Who are you?' Jesus answered, `I am what I told you from the beginning.

²⁶ I have many things to say to you and to judge you in many things. But he who sent me is true. I tell the world what he has told me.'

²⁷ The people did not understand that Jesus was talking to them about his Father.

²⁸ So Jesus said, `When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he. You will know that I do nothing by my own power, but I talk the way my Father taught me.

²⁹ He who sent me is with me always. I always do what he wants me to do.'

³⁰ Many people believed in Jesus while he was talking this way.

³¹ Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, `If you obey my word, you are truly my disciples.

³² And you will understand the truth and the truth will make you free.'