Book of Common Prayer
3 1 Therefore, bearing[a] it no longer, we preferred[b] to be left-behind in Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and a fellow-worker of God in[c] the good-news of Christ, so that he might establish[d] you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one might be disturbed[e] by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed[f] for this. 4 For even when we were with you, we were telling you beforehand that we were going to be afflicted, just as indeed it happened, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, and I bearing it no longer, I sent Timothy so as to know your faith— that the one tempting had not somehow tempted you and our labor proved-to-be in vain[g].
Timothy Now Returned With Encouraging News About Your Faith And Love. I Am Rejoicing!
6 And Timothy having just-now[h] come to us from you, and having announced-the-good-news to us as to your faith and love, and that you have a good remembrance of us always[i], yearning to see us just as we also you— 7 because of this, brothers, we were encouraged over you in all our distress and affliction, through your faith. 8 Because now we live!— if you are standing-firm in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return[j] to God for you for all the joy with which we are-rejoicing[k] because of you before our God?— 10 while praying super-abundantly by night and by day that we may see your face and complete the things lacking from your faith.
May God And Our Lord Jesus Guide Our Ways And Cause Us To Abound In Love
11 Now may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for everyone (just as we also for you), 13 so that He may establish your hearts so as to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy[l] ones. Amen.
Some Say Do Not Commit Adultery. I Say Do Not Desire Another Woman
27 “You heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit-adultery’. 28 But I say to you that everyone looking-at a woman so-as to desire[a] her already committed-adultery-with her in his heart. 29 And if your right eye is causing you to fall, tear it out[b] and throw it from you. For it is better[c] for you that one of your body-parts perish and your whole body not be thrown into Gehenna. 30 And if your right hand is causing you to fall, cut it off and throw it from you. For it is better for you that one of your body-parts perish and your whole body not go into Gehenna.
Some Say Get a Legal Divorce. I Say Divorcees Who Remarry Commit Adultery
31 “And it was said, ‘Whoever sends-away[d] his wife, let him give her a divorce[e] certificate’. 32 But I say to you that everyone sending-away his wife except for a matter[f] of sexual-immorality is causing her to commit-adultery[g]. And whoever marries a woman having been sent-away [from her husband] is committing-adultery.
Some Say Do Not Break Your Oath. I Say Do Not Swear an Oath At All
33 “Again, you heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not break-your-oath[h], but you shall pay your oaths to the Lord’. 34 But I say to you not to swear-with-an-oath[i] at all— 35 neither by heaven, because it is the throne of God; nor by earth, because it is a footstool of His feet; nor with reference to Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King; 36 nor may you swear-with-an-oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. 37 But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’, [or] ‘No, no’. And the thing beyond these is from[j] the evil one.
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