Book of Common Prayer
Esteem Your Leaders in Love
12 And we ask you, brothers, to know[a] the ones laboring among you and leading you in the Lord and admonishing you, 13 and to be esteeming them super-abundantly[b] in love because of their work. Be living-in-peace among yourselves.
Closing Exhortations
14 Now we exhort you, brothers— be admonishing the disorderly ones, be encouraging[c] the fainthearted ones, be holding-on-to[d] the weak ones, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one gives-back evil for evil to anyone, but always be pursuing the good, both for one another and for everyone. 16 Be rejoicing always, 17 be praying unceasingly, 18 be giving-thanks in everything. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not be quenching[e] the Spirit, 20 do not be treating prophecies with contempt, 21 but be testing all things. Be holding-on-to the good[f], 22 be abstaining from every form[g] of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify[h] you wholly[i]. And may your whole[j] spirit and soul and body be preserved[k] blamelessly at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is the One calling you, Who also will do it. 25 Brothers, be praying also for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I adjure[l] you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Build Your Storehouse of Treasure In Heaven, Not On Earth
19 “Do not be treasuring-up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and eating[a] destroy, and where thieves break-in and steal. 20 But be treasuring up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor eating destroys, and where thieves do not break in nor steal.
Your Heart Will Be Where Your Treasure Is. You Cannot Serve God And Money
21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart also will be. 22 The lamp[b] of the body is the eye. Therefore if your eye is single[c], your whole body will be full-of-light[d]. 23 But if your eye is bad[e], your whole body will be full-of-darkness. If then the light in you is darkness[f], how great is the darkness! 24 No one can be serving[g] two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted-to one and disregard[h] the other. You cannot be serving God and wealth[i].
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