Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Saints Have Always Endured By Faith
11 Now[a] faith is the assurance[b] of things being hoped-for[c], the conviction[d] of things not being seen[e]. 2 For in this the elders[f] were attested.
The Early Times
3 By faith we understand that the worlds have been prepared by the word of God, so that the thing being seen has not[g] come-into-being from things being visible.
The Time of The Patriarchs
8 By faith Abraham, being called, obeyed to go out to a place which he was going-to receive for an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed[a] in the land of the promise as a land belonging-to-another, having dwelled in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the fellow-heirs of the same promise. 10 For he was waiting-for the city having foundations, of which[b] God is designer[c] and maker[d]. 11 By faith— and Sarah herself being barren— he[e] received power for the foundation[f] of a seed[g] even beyond the time of mature-age, since he regarded the One having promised to be faithful. 12 Therefore indeed from one man— and he having become impotent as to these[h] things— were born[i] seed as the stars of heaven in number, and countless as the sand by the shore of the sea. 13 In accordance with faith, these[j] all died not having received the promises, but having seen them from a distance, and having greeted them, and having confessed that they are strangers and pilgrims[k] on the earth. 14 For the ones saying such things are making-clear that they are seeking-for a homeland. 15 And if they had been remembering that homeland from which they came out, they would have had opportunity to return— 16 but as-it-is, they are aspiring-to a better homeland; that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed-of them, to be called their God. For He prepared a city for them.
Do Not Fear. Sell Your Possessions For a Heavenly Return
32 “Do not be fearing, little flock, because your Father was well-pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give it as alms[a]. Make yourselves money-bags not becoming-old— an unfailing[b] treasure in the heavens, where a thief does not draw-near, nor does a moth destroy. 34 For where your treasure is, there also your heart will be.
Keep Watch For Your Master’s Return. Be Prepared
35 Let your waists be girded[c] and your lamps burning, 36 and you be like people waiting-for their master when he departs from the wedding-celebrations— in order that he having come and having knocked, they may immediately open [the door] for him. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master, having come, will find keeping-watch. Truly I say to you that he will gird himself, and have them lie back [to eat]. And having come-to the table, he will serve them. 38 Even if in the second[d], even if he comes in the third watch and finds them so, blessed are those ones. 39 And you know[e] this saying— that if the house-master had known at which hour the thief was coming, he would not have permitted his house to be broken-into. 40 You also be[f] prepared ones, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour which you do not expect”.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing