Book of Common Prayer

Humble shepherds

5 So, then, I appeal to the elders among you, as a fellow-elder and a witness of the sufferings of the Messiah, and as one who will share in the glory that is to be revealed. ² Do the proper work of a shepherd as you look after God’s flock which has been entrusted to you, not under compulsion, but gladly, as in God’s presence, not for shameful profit but eagerly. ³ You should not lord it over those for whom you are responsible, but rather be an example to the flock. ⁴ And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that won’t wither away. ⁵ In the same way, too, the younger men should submit to the elders. But let all of you clothe yourselves with humility towards one another. You see, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the lowly.” ⁶ Humble yourselves, then, under God’s powerful hand, so that he may lift you up at the right time. ⁷ Throw all your care upon him, because he cares about you.

Standing firm by God’s power

⁸ Stay in control of yourselves; stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is stalking around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, staying resolute in your faith, and knowing that other family members in the rest of the world are facing identical sufferings. ¹⁰ Then, after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you in Messiah Jesus to the glory of his new age, will himself put you in good order, and will establish and strengthen you and set you on firm foundations. ¹¹ To him be the power forever. Amen.

¹² I have written this briefly, and am sending it to you with Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother. My main point is to urge and bear witness to you that you are indeed standing in the true grace of God. ¹³ Your chosen sister in Babylon sends you greetings; so does my son Mark. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a holy kiss.

Peace to you all in the Messiah.

Jesus’ genealogy

1 The book of the family tree of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

² Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac of Jacob, Jacob of Judah and his brothers, ³ Judah of Peres and Zara (by Tamar), Peres of Esrom, Esrom of Aram, ⁴ Aram of Aminadab, Aminadab of Naason, Naason of Salmon, ⁵ Salmon of Boaz (by Rahab), Boaz of Obed (by Ruth), Obed of Jesse, ⁶ and Jesse of David the king.

David was the father of Solomon (by the wife of Uriah), ⁷ Solomon of Rehoboam, Rehoboam of Abijah, Abijah of Asaph, ⁸ Asaph of Jehosaphat, Jehosaphat of Joram, Joram of Uzziah, ⁹ Uzziah of Joatham, Joatham of Ahaz, Ahaz of Hezekiah, ¹⁰ Hezekiah of Manasseh, Manasseh of Amoz, Amoz of Josiah, ¹¹ Josiah of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the exile in Babylon.

¹² After the Babylonian exile, Jeconiah became the father of Salathiel, Salathiel of Zerubbabel, ¹³ Zerubbabel of Abioud, Abioud of Eliakim, Eliakim of Azor, ¹⁴ Azor of Sadok, Sadok of Achim, Achim of Elioud, ¹⁵ Elioud of Eleazar, Eleazar of Matthan, Matthan of Jacob, ¹⁶ and Jacob of Joseph the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called “Messiah.”

¹⁷ So all the generations from Abraham to David add up to fourteen; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; and from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

The preaching of John the Baptist

3 In those days John the Baptist appeared. He was preaching in the Judaean wilderness.

² “Repent!” he was saying. “The kingdom of heaven is coming!”

³ John, you see, is the person spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, when he said,

⁴ John himself had clothing made from camel’s hair, and a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Jerusalem, all Judaea, and the whole area around the Jordan, were going off to him. ⁶ They were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.