Book of Common Prayer

1 I am Paul. I am called by God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. My Christian brother Timothy and I send greetings to the church of God in the city of Corinth. We also send greetings to all of God's people in the country of Greece.

² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you with their loving kindness and peace. Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is a very, very kind Father to us. He is a God who always comforts and helps people.

³ He helps us every time we have trouble. Then we are able to be strong and help other people every time they have trouble. We can do this with the same comfort that God gives us.

⁴ We have plenty of the same troubles that Christ had. But we also have plenty of comfort and help from him.

⁵ When we have trouble, it is for your sake so that you will be helped and saved. When we are comforted, this helps you. Then you will stand strong when you have the same troubles we have.

⁶ Our hope for you is strong. If you have the same trouble we have had, then you will also have the same comfort and help we have. This we know.

⁷ Brothers, we want you to know about the trouble we had in the country of Asia Minor. We were not strong enough to carry such a load of trouble. It was so heavy we thought we would die.

¹² In the morning when they were on the way out of Bethany, Jesus was hungry.

¹³ He saw a fig tree a little way off with leaves on it. So he went to see if it had figs. He came to the tree. There was no fruit on it, only leaves. It was not the time for figs.

¹⁴ Jesus said to the tree, `No one will ever eat a fig from you again!' His disciples heard what he said.

¹⁵ They reached Jerusalem. Jesus went into the temple. He began to drive out the people who were buying and selling in the temple. He threw down the tables of the money changers. He pushed down the seats of those who sold doves.

¹⁶ He would not let anyone carry anything through the temple.

¹⁷ He taught the people, saying, `The holy writings say, "My house shall be called a house for all tribes and nations, where people talk with God." But you have made it a place for people who steal!'

¹⁸ The chief priests and scribes heard what he said. They wanted to find some way to kill him. They feared Jesus because all the people were surprised at his teaching.

¹⁹ In the evening Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

²⁰ The next morning they passed the fig tree again. They saw that it had died from the roots.

²¹ Peter remembered about it. He said, `Look Master, you cursed the fig tree and it has died.'

²² Jesus said, `Believe in God.

²³ I tell you the truth. Anyone may say to this hill, "Go and jump into the sea." He must not doubt in his heart, but he must believe that he will have the things he asks for and he will have them.

²⁴ So I tell you, when you ask God for anything believe that you will get it and you will have it.

²⁵ When you stand and talk with God, forgive others for the wrong things they have done to you. Then your Father in heaven will also forgive you for the wrong things you have done.