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.

An exhortation to receive the word of God with thankfulness and amendment of life. The diligence of Paul in the gospel, and how he warns them to avoid the company of the heathen.

6 We as helpers therefore exhort you, do not receive the grace of God in vain. ² For he says: I have heard you in a favoured time, and in the day of salvation I have succoured you. Behold, now is that well-favoured time; behold, now is that day of salvation.

Christ teaches his disciples to avoid occasions of evil, to forgive one another, steadfastly to trust in God, and that no one should presume in his own works. He heals the ten lepers, and speaks of the latter days, and of the end of the world.

17 Then Jesus said to his disciples, It cannot be avoided but that offences will come. Nevertheless, woe be to him through whom they come. ² It would be better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck and that he were cast into the sea, than that he should hurt one of these little ones.

³ Take heed to yourselves. If your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. ⁴ And even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns again to you saying, I am sorry – forgive him.

⁵ And the apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith. ⁶ And the Lord said, If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, and were to say to this sycamine tree, Pluck yourself up by the roots and plant yourself in the sea, it would obey you.

⁷ Who among you, if he had a servant plowing or feeding sheep, would say to him when he came in from the field, Go quickly, and sit down to food? ⁸ And not rather say to him, Prepare for me to sup, and gird yourself up, and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you shall eat and drink? ⁹ Does he thank that servant because he did that which was commanded of him? I think not. ¹⁰ So likewise you, when you have done all the things that are commanded of you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do.