Book of Common Prayer

¹¹ Seeing then that we know how the Lord is to be feared, we fare fair with men. For we are known well enough to God.

I trust also that we are known in your consciences. ¹² We are not praising ourselves again to you, but give you reason to have confidence in us, so that you may have something to answer to those who put confidence in the face, and not in the heart. ¹³ For if we are too fervent, it is for God that we are too fervent. If we are restrained, it is for your sakes that we show restraint.

¹⁴ For the love of Christ constrains us, because we judge this way: if one is dead for all, then all are dead; ¹⁵ and that he died for all so that those who live should henceforth live not for themselves, but for him who died for them and rose again. ¹⁶ And so henceforth we know no man after the flesh, insomuch that even if we have known Christ after the flesh, now henceforth we know him this way no more. ¹⁷ Therefore if any person is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away: behold, all things are become new.

¹⁸ Nevertheless, all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the office to preach the atonement. ¹⁹ For God was in Christ, and made agreement between the world and himself, and did not impute people’s sins to them. And he has committed to us the preaching of the atonement. ²⁰ Now then, we are messengers in the place of Christ, even as though God did beseech you through us. So we entreat you in Christ’s stead to be at one with God. ²¹ For he has made him who knew no sin to be a sin offering for us, so that we, by means of him, should be that righteousness which is accepted before God.

³⁵ And then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him, saying, Teacher, we would like you to do for us whatever we ask. ³⁶ He said to them, What would you like me to do for you? ³⁷ They said to him, Grant to us that we may sit one on your right hand, and the other on your left hand, in your glory. ³⁸ But Jesus said to them, You know not what you ask. Can you drink of the cup that I must drink of, and be baptized in the baptism that I must be baptized in? ³⁹ And they said to him, That we can. Jesus said to them, You will drink of the cup that I will drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that I will be baptized in. ⁴⁰ But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give, but is for them for whom it is prepared.

⁴¹ And when the ten heard this, they began to be much displeased with James and John. ⁴² But Jesus called them to him and said to them, You know that those who are seen to bear rule among the Gentiles reign as lords over them. And those who are great among them exercise authority over them. ⁴³ It shall not be this way among you, but whoever would be great among you shall minister to you, ⁴⁴ and whoever would be chief shall be servant to all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life for the redemption of many.