Book of Common Prayer

How God dealt lovingly with the people of the old time in sending them his prophets, but has shown much more mercy to us, in that he sent us his own Son. Of the most excellent glory of Jesus Christ, who in all things is like his Father.

1 God in time past diversely and many ways spoke to the fathers by the prophets. ² But in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he has made heir of all things; by whom also he made the world. ³ Which Son, being the brightness of his glory and very image of his substance, bearing up all things with the word of his power, has in his own person purged our sins, and is seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ and is more excellent than the angels, inasmuch as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

⁵ For to which of the angels did he say at any time: You are my Son; this day I have begotten you? And again: I will be his Father, and he shall be my Son. ⁶ And again, when he brings the first begotten Son into the world, he says: And all the angels of God shall worship him.

⁷ And of the angels he says: He makes his angels spirits, and his ministers flames of fire. ⁸ But to the Son he says: O God, your seat shall be for ever and ever. The sceptre of your kingdom is a right sceptre. ⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, who is your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows. ¹⁰ And: You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands. ¹¹ They shall perish, but you shall endure. They all will grow old as does a garment, ¹² and as a vesture you will change them, and they will be changed. But you are always, and your years shall not fail. 

The everlasting birth of Christ, and how he became man. The testimony of John. The calling of Andrew, Peter, etc.

1 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. ² The same was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that was made. ⁴ In it was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ And the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness comprehended it not.

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ This man came as a witness to bear witness of the light, so that all through him might believe.

¹⁹ And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? ²⁰ He acknowledged, and did not deny but said plainly, I am not the Christ.

²⁹ The next day, John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, after me comes a man who went before me, because he was before me. ³¹ And I did not know him. But in order that he should be declared to Israel, I have come baptizing with water.

³² And John bore witness, saying, I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and rest upon him. ³³ And I did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, the same said to me, Upon whom you see the Spirit descend and remain still on him, the same is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. ³⁴ And I saw and bore witness that this is the Son of God.