Book of Common Prayer

³ Let us give no one occasion for evil, so that in our service no fault may be found, ⁴ but in all things let us behave ourselves as the ministers of God in much patience – in afflictions, in hardship, in anguish, ⁵ in stripes, in prison, in strife, in labour, in sleeplessness, in hunger; ⁶ in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned, ⁷ in the words of truth; in the power of God, with the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left; ⁸ in honour and dishonour, in evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true, ⁹ as unknown and yet known. As dying, and behold, we live yet; as chastened, and not killed; ¹⁰ as sorrowing, and yet always merry; as poor, and yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

¹¹ O ye Corinthians, we pursue you with many words. Our hearts yearn to you. ¹² You are not shut out in us, but are shut away in your own selves. ¹³ I promise you like reward with me, as to my children. So set yourselves free, ¹⁴ and bear not a stranger’s yoke with the unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? What communion has light with darkness? ¹⁵ What concord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has he who believes with an infidel? ¹⁶ How does the temple of God agree with idols? And you are the temple of the living God, as God said: I will dwell among them and walk among them, and will be their God, and they shall be my people. ¹⁷ Therefore: Come out from among them, and separate yourselves (says the Lord), and touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you, ¹⁸ and will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

He exhorts them to receive the promises of God thankfully. The Corinthians are commended for their obedience and love toward Paul.

7 Seeing that we have such promises, dearly beloveds, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, and grow up to full holiness in the fear of God.

¹¹ And it so was that, as he journeyed to Jerusalem, he passed through Samaria and Galilee. ¹² And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off, ¹³ and put forth their voices and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!

¹⁴ When he saw them, he said to them, Go and show yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass that as they went, they were cleansed. ¹⁵ And one of them, when he saw that he was cleansed, turned back again and with a loud voice praised God, ¹⁶ and fell down on his face at Jesus’ feet, and gave him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

¹⁷ And Jesus answered and said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the other nine? ¹⁸ There are not found any that returned again to give God praise, save only this stranger. ¹⁹ And he said to the man, Arise and go your way; your faith has made you whole.