Book of Common Prayer

A true preacher is diligent. He does not corrupt the word of God. He does not preach himself, but seeks the honour of Christ – yea though it be at the risk of his life.

4 Therefore, seeing that we have such an office, even as mercy has come on us, we faint not, ² but have cast from us the cloaks of dishonesty, and do not walk in craftiness. Neither do we corrupt the word of God, but walk in open truth, and appeal to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ If our gospel be yet hid, it is hid among those who are lost, ⁴ in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

⁵ For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus to be the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For it is God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, which has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing power of it may be seen to be of God, and not of us. ⁸ We are troubled on every side, yet we are not without means. We are in poverty, but not utterly bereft. ⁹ We are persecuted, but are not forsaken. We are cast down, nevertheless we do not perish. ¹⁰ And we always bear in our bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus so that the life of Jesus may appear in our bodies. ¹¹ For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life also of Jesus may appear in our mortal flesh. ¹² So then, death works in us, and life in you.

³² And they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went before them. And they were amazed, and as they followed, were afraid. And Jesus took the twelve again, and began to tell them the things that would happen to him: ³³ Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be delivered to the high priests and to the scribes. And they will condemn him to death, and will deliver him to the Gentiles. ³⁴ And they will mock him, and scourge him, and spit upon him, and kill him. And the third day he will rise again.

³⁵ And then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him, saying, Teacher, we would like you to do for us whatever we ask. ³⁶ He said to them, What would you like me to do for you? ³⁷ They said to him, Grant to us that we may sit one on your right hand, and the other on your left hand, in your glory. ³⁸ But Jesus said to them, You know not what you ask. Can you drink of the cup that I must drink of, and be baptized in the baptism that I must be baptized in? ³⁹ And they said to him, That we can. Jesus said to them, You will drink of the cup that I will drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that I will be baptized in. ⁴⁰ But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give, but is for them for whom it is prepared.

⁴¹ And when the ten heard this, they began to be much displeased with James and John. ⁴² But Jesus called them to him and said to them, You know that those who are seen to bear rule among the Gentiles reign as lords over them. And those who are great among them exercise authority over them. ⁴³ It shall not be this way among you, but whoever would be great among you shall minister to you, ⁴⁴ and whoever would be chief shall be servant to all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life for the redemption of many.