Book of Common Prayer

¹⁴ Of these things put them in remembrance. And warn them before the Lord not to strive about words, which accomplishes nothing but to pervert the hearers.

¹⁵ Be diligent to show yourself laudable to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶ Unspiritual and vain voices pass over. For they will increase to greater ungodliness, ¹⁷ and their words will consume even as does a canker – of whose number are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ who as concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and do destroy the faith of divers persons.

¹⁹ But the sure foundation of God remains, and has this seal: the Lord knows those that are his. And let everyone who calls on the name of Christ depart from iniquity. ²⁰ Notwithstanding, in a great house are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth: some for honour, and some for dishonour. ²¹ But if a man purges himself from such fellows, he will be a vessel sanctified unto honour, meet for the Lord and prepared for all good works.

²² Lusts of youth avoid. Follow righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart. ²³ Foolish and unlearned controversies put from you, remembering that they do but engender strife. ²⁴ But the servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but must be peaceable towards all, able to teach, and one that can be patient with the evil, ²⁵ and can correct those who resist – if perhaps God at any time will give them repentance to know the truth, ²⁶ so that they may come to themselves again out of the snare of the devil, who are now taken by him at his will.

¹⁷ And when he had gone out to the road, a man came running, and kneeled to him and asked him, Good Teacher, what should I do so that I may inherit eternal life? ¹⁸ Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, who is God. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: do not break matrimony, do not kill, do not steal, bear no false witness, defraud no man, honour your father and mother. ²⁰ He answered and said to him, Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.

²¹ Jesus regarded him with favour and said to him, One thing is lacking to you. Go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And come and follow me, and take up the cross.

²² But the man was downcast with that saying, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions.

²³ And Jesus looked round about and said to his disciples, What a hard thing it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God. ²⁴ And his disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus spoke again and said to them, Children, how hard is it for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God? ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

²⁶ And they were astonished out of measure, saying between themselves, Who then can be saved? ²⁷ Jesus looked upon them and said, With men it is impossible, but not with God. For with God, all things are possible.

²⁸ And Peter began to say to him, Lo, we have left everything and have followed you. ²⁹ Jesus answered and said, Truly I say to you, there is no one who gives up house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel’s, ³⁰ who will not receive a hundredfold now in this life: houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands – with persecutions – and in the world to come, eternal life. ³¹ But many that are first will be last, and the last, first.