Book of Common Prayer

⁹ I did not mean the people of the world [people who are not Christians] - some of them use sex the wrong way; or always want more things; or steal; or worship idols. To keep away from them altogether would mean you would have to go out of the world.

¹⁰ But I wrote to you not to be friends with anyone who says he is a Christian and uses wrong sex, or always wants more, or has idols, or curses, or drinks too much strong drink, or steals. I told you not even to sit down to eat with such a person.

¹¹ Why should I judge the people who are outside the church? You are to judge the church people.

¹² God judges those who are outside. The holy writings say, `Send the bad person away from among you.'

6 When one of you has some complaint against a Christian brother, why does he take him to be judged by those who are not Christians? Why does he not take him to God's people?

² Do you not know that some day God's people will judge the world? If you are going to judge the world, can you not judge small things now?

³ Do you not know that we shall judge angels? Then we should surely be able to judge things in this life!

⁴ So if you have complaints about things in this life, why do you take them to those who are not church people?

⁵ Shame on you! Are none of you wise enough to judge between two Christian brothers?

⁶ But now one Christian brother takes another Christian brother to be judged by people who are not Christians.

⁷ It is wrong for you to take each other to court at all. You should be willing to take wrong. It would be better to lose.

⁸ Instead, you are doing wrong to your own Christian brothers.

³⁸ `You have heard that the law says, "Take an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth."

³⁹ But I tell you, do not fight with anyone who does wrong to you. But if someone hits you on one side of your face, turn the other side to him also.

⁴⁰ `If anyone takes you to court to get your shirt, let him have your coat also.

⁴¹ If anyone wants you to help carry a load, go with him twice as far.

⁴² When someone asks you for something, give it to him. When someone wants to borrow something from you, let him have it.'

⁴³ `You have heard that the law says, "Love your neighbour and hate your enemy."

⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies. Ask God to do good to those who trouble you.

⁴⁵ In that way you will be sons of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun shine on both wrong and good people. He lets the rain fall on people who do right and on people who do wrong.

⁴⁶ If you love only those who love you, what reward will you get? Even the tax collectors do that.

⁴⁷ Do you speak to your brothers only? If so, you are not doing any better than other people. Even people who do not believe in God do that.

⁴⁸ You must be good in every way, as your Father in heaven is good in every way.'