Book of Common Prayer

Children, Antichrists Have Arisen

¹⁸ Children, it is the last^[a] hour. And just as you heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen— from which we know that it is the last hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of ^[b] us. For if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But they went out in order that they might be made-evident that^[c] they all are not of us.

You Have God’s Anointing And You Know The Truth. Let It Abide In You And You In It

²⁰ And you have an Anointing^[d] from the Holy One, and you all have-knowledge^[e]. ²¹ I did not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that^[f] every lie is not from^[g] the truth. ²² Who is the liar if not the one denying that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist, the one denying the Father and the Son. ²³ Everyone denying the Son does also-not have the Father. The one confessing^[h] the Son also has the Father. ²⁴ Let what you heard from the beginning be abiding in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. ²⁵ And this is the promise which He Himself promised to us: eternal life.

Paul Exhorts Elders From Ephesus: You Know How I Served The Lord Among You

¹⁷ But having sent from Miletus^[a] to Ephesus, he summoned the elders of the church. ¹⁸ And when they came to him, he said to them, “You know, from the first day from which I set-foot in Asia, how I was^[b] with you the whole time— ¹⁹ serving the Lord with all humblemindedness and tears and trials (the ones having happened to me by the plots of the Jews); ²⁰ how^[c] I in no way drew-back from the things being profitable^[d] so as not to declare them to you and teach you in public and from house-to-house, ²¹ while solemnly-testifying both to Jews and to Greeks as to the repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus. ²² And now, behold— having been bound in my spirit^[e], I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will meet^[f] me in it, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit is solemnly-warning me in each city, saying that imprisonment and afflictions are awaiting me. ²⁴ But I am making my life of no account^[g] as to value to myself so-as to finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus— to solemnly-testify to the good-news about the grace of God.

Take Heed To Yourselves And To Shepherd The Flock. For Wolves Are Coming

²⁵ “And now, behold— I know that you all, among whom I went-about proclaiming the kingdom, will no longer see^[h] my face. ²⁶ Therefore, I am bearing-witness to you on this very day that I am clean of the blood of everyone. ²⁷ For I did not draw back so as not to declare the whole purpose^[i] of God to you. ²⁸ Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit placed^[j] you as overseers— to shepherd the church of God which He obtained with His own^[k] blood. ²⁹ I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ And men will rise-up from you yourselves, speaking things having been perverted, that they might be drawing-away the disciples after them. ³¹ Therefore keep-watching, remembering that night and day for three years I did not cease admonishing each one of you with tears. ³² And as to the things now, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace being able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all the ones having been sanctified.

I Did Not Serve You For Money

³³ “I coveted the silver or gold or clothing of no one. ³⁴ You know that these hands served my own needs, and the people being with me. ³⁵ In all respects, I showed you that laboring in this manner, it-is-necessary^[l] to help the ones being weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus— that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to be giving than to be receiving’”.