Book of Common Prayer

He exhorts them to steadfastness, to keep themselves from sin and unclean conduct, and to love one another. He rebukes idleness, and speaks of the general resurrection.

4 Furthermore, we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, as you learned from us how you ought to walk and please God, so to progress more and more. ² You remember what commandments we gave you in our Lord Jesus Christ. ³ For this is even the will of God: that you should be holy; that you should abstain from fornication; ⁴ that every one of you should know how to keep his vessel in holiness and honour, ⁵ and not in the passion of lust, as do the heathen who do not know God; ⁶ that no one should go too far and defraud his brother in bargaining. For the Lord is an avenger of all such things, as we have forewarned you and testified. ⁷ For God has not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness. ⁸ Whoever therefore rejects this, rejects not man, but God, who has sent his Holy Spirit among you.

⁹ But concerning brotherly love, you do not need me to write to you. For you are taught by God to love one another. ¹⁰ Yea and this you do, showing love to all the brethren who are throughout all Macedonia. We beseech you, brethren, to progress more and more, ¹¹ and to aspire to be quiet and to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we told you, ¹² so that you may conduct yourselves honourably toward those who are outside, and so that nothing be lacking to you.

³⁸ You have heard how it is said, An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. ³⁹ But I say to you, do not resist wrong. But whosoever gives you a blow on your right cheek, turn to him the other. ⁴⁰ And if any man would sue you at law and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. ⁴¹ And whoever would compel you to go a mile, go with him two. ⁴² Give to him who asks, and from him who would borrow, turn not away.

⁴³ You have heard how it is said, You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies. Bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for those who do you wrong and persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be the children of your Father that is in heaven. For he makes his sun to arise on the evil and on the good, and sends his rain on the just and the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward should you have? Do not the publicans do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you are friendly to your brethren only, what singular thing are you doing? Do not the publicans do likewise? ⁴⁸ You must therefore be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.