Book of Common Prayer
Be Subject To Authorities: They Are Established By God
13 Let every soul be subject[a] to superior authorities. For there is no authority except by God. And the existing ones are established[b] by God. 2 So then the one opposing[c] the authority has resisted[d] the ordinance[e] of God. And the ones having resisted will receive[f] judgment on themselves.
Rulers are God’s Servants To Reward Good And Punish Evil
3 For the rulers are not a fear to good work, but to evil[g]. Now do you want to not be fearing the authority? Be doing good, and you will have praise[h] from him[i]— 4 for he is God’s servant to you for good. But if you are doing evil, be fearing! For he does not bear[j] the sword in-vain[k]— for he is God’s servant, an avenger for wrath on the one practicing evil. 5 Therefore it is a necessity to be subject— not only because of the wrath[l], but also because of the conscience.
So Give Them Their Due
6 For because of this also you pay tributes[m]. For they are ministers[n] of God devoting-themselves to this very thing. 7 Give-back to all authorities the things owed— the tribute to the one owed the tribute, the tax[o] to the one owed the tax, the fear[p] to the one owed the fear, the honor to the one owed the honor.
Pay Your Ongoing Debt of Love
8 Be owing[q] nothing to anyone except to be loving one another. For the one loving the other has fulfilled the Law. 9 For the saying “You shall not commit-adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet” [Ex 20:13-17], and if there is any other commandment, is summed-up in this saying— in the “You shall love your neighbor as yourself ” [Lev 19:18]. 10 Love does not work harm[r] to the neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.
Put On The Weapons of The Light, And Make No Provision For The Flesh
11 And do this knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to arise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is advanced, and the day has drawn-near. Therefore let us lay-aside[s] the works of the darkness and let us put-on the weapons[t] of the light. 13 Let us walk properly[u] as in the day[v]— not in revelries[w] and drunkenness[x], not in beds[y] and sensualities, not in strife and jealousy, 14 but put-on[z] the Lord Jesus Christ and do not be making provision[aa] for the flesh, for its desires.
You Are Slaves of Sin. If The Son Sets You Free, You Will Truly Be Free
33 They responded to Him, “We are the seed of Abraham, and to no one have we ever been slaves[a]. How is it You say that ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you that everyone doing[b] sin is a slave of sin. 35 Now the slave does not remain in the house forever. The son remains forever. 36 Therefore if the Son sets you free, you will really[c] be free. 37 I know that you are the seed of Abraham. But you are seeking to kill Me, because My word is not advancing[d] in you. 38 I am speaking the things which I have seen with My[e] Father. And you therefore are doing[f] the things which you heard from your father”.
You Are Doing The Works of Your Father, Not Abraham
39 They responded and said to Him, “Our father is Abraham”. Jesus says to them, “If you are children of Abraham, you would be doing the works of Abraham. 40 But now[g] you are seeking to kill Me— a man Who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You are doing the works of your father”.
If God Were Your Father, You Would Be Loving Me. Your Father Is The Devil
So they said to Him, “We have not been born out of sexuality-immorality; we have one father— God”. 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would be loving Me, for I came-forth and am-here from God. For I have not even come of Myself, but that One sent Me forth. 43 For what reason are you not understanding My speaking? It is because you are not able to hear My word. 44 You are of your father the devil. And you are wanting[h] to do the desires of your father. That one was a murderer from the beginning, and was not standing[i] in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks the lie[j], he speaks from his own things, because he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I am speaking the truth, you are not believing Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me concerning sin? If I am speaking truth, for what reason are you not believing Me? 47 The one being of [k] God hears the words of God. For this reason you are not hearing— because you are not of God”.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing