Book of Common Prayer

⁸ Now you are full, now you are made rich; you reign as kings without us. And I would to God you did reign, so that we might reign with you.

⁹ It seems to me that God has set forth us who are apostles as the lowest of all – men appointed to death, as it were. For we are a gazing stock to the world, and to the angels, and to men. ¹⁰ We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise through Christ. We are weak, and you are strong. You are honourable, and we are dishonoured. ¹¹ Even to this day we both hunger and thirst, and are clothed in rags, and are buffeted with fists, and have no certain dwelling place, ¹² and labour, working with our own hands. We are reviled, and yet we bless. We are persecuted, and suffer it. ¹³ We are ill spoken of, and we pray. We are made as if the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things, even to this time.

¹⁴ I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. ¹⁵ For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. ¹⁶ So then, I want you to follow me. ¹⁷ For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my dear son and faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways, which I have in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in all congregations.

¹⁸ Some swell, as though I will not be coming to you any more. ¹⁹ But I will come to you shortly, if God so wills, and will know not the words of those who swell, but the power. ²⁰ For the kingdom of God is not in words, but in power. ²¹ What would you have? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and in the spirit of gentleness?

²¹ You have heard how it was said to the people of the old time, You shall not kill. For whosoever kills will be liable to judgment. ²² But I say to you, whosoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. Whosoever says to his brother, Racha! will be liable to a council. But whosoever says, You fool! will be liable to hell fire.

²³ Therefore, when you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has anything against you, ²⁴ leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way first and be reconciled to your brother; and then come and offer your gift.

²⁵ Reconcile with your adversary quickly while you are in the way with him, lest the adversary commit you to the judge, and the judge commit you to the officer, and then you be cast into prison. ²⁶ Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there till you have paid the last penny.