Book of Common Prayer

¹² Babes, I write to you because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. ¹³ I write to you fathers because you know him who was from the beginning. I write to you young men because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you little children because you know the Father. ¹⁴ I write to you fathers because you know him who was from the beginning. I write to you young men because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome that wicked one.

¹⁵ See that you love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world (as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of goods) is not of the Father, but of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is vanishing away, and the desires of it. But he who fulfils the will of God endures forever.

Christ is the true shepherd, and the door of the sheep. Some say Christ has a devil and is mad. Some say he does not speak the words of a man that has a devil. Because he tells the truth, the Jews take up stones to cast at him, call his preaching blasphemy, and go about to take him.

10 Truly truly I say to you, he who does not enter into the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ² He who goes in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep; ³ to him the porter opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ And when he has sent forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵ A stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him. For they know not the voice of strangers.

⁶ This similitude Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand the things that he was saying to them.

⁷ Then Jesus spoke to them again: Truly truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All, even as many as came before me, are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be safe, and will go in and out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes not but to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come so that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.

¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. ¹² But a hired servant, who is not the shepherd, neither are the sheep his own, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep, and flees; and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep. ¹³ The hired servant flees because he is a hired servant, and does not care for the sheep.

¹⁴ I am the good shepherd, and know my own, and am known by my own. ¹⁵ As my Father knows me, even so do I know my Father. And I give my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And other sheep I have who are not of this fold. Them also must I bring, so that they may hear my voice, and so that there may be one flock and one shepherd.

¹⁷ Therefore does my Father love me: because I put my life from me so that I may take it back again. ¹⁸ No man takes it from me, but I put it away of myself. I have power to put it from me, and have power to take it again. This commandment I have received from my Father.