 The second letter of Paul to Timothy, from the American Bible Union's New Testament. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Mark Penfold. The second letter of Paul to Timothy. CHAPTER I. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy a beloved child. Peace, mercy, peace, from God the Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day, longing to see thee, remembering thy tears, that I may be filled with joy, calling to remembrance the unfaith faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that it dwells in thee also, for which cause I put thee in remembrance, that thou stirrup the gift of God, which is in thee by the laying on of my hands, for God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of chastisement. Be not then ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but endure hardship with me for the gospel, according to the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose, and the grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before eternal ages, but now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who abolished death and brought life and incorruption to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles, for which cause I suffer also these things, but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him unto that day. Hold fast the form of sound words which thou herdest from me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus, the good thing committed to thee keep through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, thou knowest this, that all those in Asia turned away from me, of whom are by jealous in hermogenes. The Lord gave mercy to the house of Onosiferous, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain, but when he was in Rome he sought me out very diligently and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day, and in how many things he ministered to me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well. CHAPTER 2 Thou, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and the things that thou herdest from me by many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Endure hardship with me as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one serving as a soldier entangles himself with the affairs of life that he may please him who chose him to be a soldier. If a man also contends in the games he is not crowned unless he contends lawfully. The husband man that labors must first partake of the fruits, consider what I say, for the Lord will give the understanding in all things. Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead of the seed of David according to my gospel, in which I endure hardship, even unto bonds, as an evildoer, but the word of God is not bound. For this cause I endure all things for the sake of the chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Faithful is the saying, for if we died with him, we shall also live with him, if we endure, we shall also reign with him, if we shall deny him, he also will deny us. If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit to the subverting of the hearers. Endeavor to present thyself approved to God, a workman not made ashamed, rightfully dividing the word of truth. But shun the profane babblings, for they will go on to more ungodliness, and their word will eat as does a canker, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philitus, who erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place and overturned the faith of some. Nevertheless, God's firm foundation stands, having this seal, the Lord knew those who are his, and let everyone that names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some for honor, and some for dishonor. If a man therefore cleans himself from these, he shall be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful for the master, prepared for every good work. But flee youthful lusts, and follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart, but the foolish and ignorant questionings avoid knowing that they beget strife, and a servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle toward all, apt in teaching, patient of evil, in meekness admonishing those who oppose themselves, if happily God may give them repentance unto the full knowledge of the truth, and that they may awake to soberness out of the snare of the devil, being taken captive by him to do his will. CHAPTER III That in the last days perilous times will come, for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, impeccable, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, without love to the good, betrayers, headlong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof, and from these turn away, for of these are they who creep into houses and lead captive, silly women laden with sins, led away with diverse lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the full knowledge of the truth. Now as Janus and Jambri's withstood Moses, so also do these withstand the truth, men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the truth, but they shall proceed no further, for their folly shall be fully manifest to all, as was also theirs. But thou didst strictly follow my teaching, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, patience, persecutions, afflictions, what things came upon me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, what persecutions I endured, and out of all the Lord delivered me, yea, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers will grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived, but do thou continue in the things which thou learnedst and wasst assured of, knowing of whom thou didst learn, and that from a child thou didst know the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Chapter 4 I charge thee before God, and Christ Jesus who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom preach the word, apply thyself in season, out of season, reproof, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching, for the time will come when they will not endure the sound teaching, but according to their own desires will to themselves heap up teachers having itching ears, and they will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to fables. But be thou watchful in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist fully accomplish thy ministry, for I am now about to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge will give me in that day, and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing. Endeavor to come to me shortly, for Demas forsook me, having loved the present world and departed to Thessalonica. Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me, take Mark and bring him with thee, for he is useful to me for the ministry, but Tychicus I sent to Ephesus. The cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest bring, and the books, especially the Parchments. Alexander the Coppersmith did me much evil, the Lord reward him according to his works, of whom do thou also beware, for he has greatly withstood our words. At my first answer no one came forward with me, but all forsook me. May it not be laid to their charge, but the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, that through me the preaching might be fully accomplished, and all the Gentiles might hear, and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Ah, man! Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiferous. Erastus remained in Corinth, but Trophemus I left at Miletus, sick. Endeavor to come before winter. Eubulus salutes thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. The end of the second letter of Paul to Timothy from the American Bible Union's New Testament. Recording by Mark Penfold. The letter of Paul to Titus from the American Bible Union's New Testament. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Mark Penfold. The letter of Paul to Titus. Chapter 1. Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's chosen, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, upon hope of eternal life which God who cannot lie promised before eternal ages, but in its own times manifested his word in the preaching with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of our Savior God. To Titus, a true child according to the common faith. Grace, mercy, peace from God the Father, and Christ Jesus our Savior. For this cause I left thee behind in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and appoint elders in each city as I directed thee. If anyone is without reproach, the husband of one wife, having believing children not accused of rioting or unruly, for the overseer must be without reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, not a striker, not greedy of gain, but hospitable, a lover of the good, discreet, just, holy, temperate, holding fast the faithful word according to the teaching that he may be able with the sound teaching both to exhort and to refute the gainsayers. For there are many unruly vain talkers and deceivers, chiefly they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who overturn whole houses, teaching things which they ought not for the sake of base gain. One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy glutton's. This testimony is true, for which cause reproof them sharply that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. To the pure all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure, but both their mind and conscience are defiled, they profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient and for every good work reprobate. Chapter 2 But do thou speak the things which become the sound teaching, that aged men be sober, grave, discreet, sound in the faith, in love, in patience, that aged women likewise be in behavior as becomes holiness, not false accusers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good, that they may teach the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. The younger men likewise exhort to be sober-minded, in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works, in teaching, showing uncorruptness, gravity, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that he that is of the contrary part may be put to shame, having no evil thing to say of us, exhort servants to submit themselves to their own masters, to be well-pleasing in all things, not contradicting, not perloining, but showing all good faith, that they may adorn the teaching of our Savior God in all things. For the saving grace of God appeared to all men, teaching us that, having denied ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world, looking for the blissful hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and cleanse for himself a people to be his own, zealous of good works. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority, let no one despise thee. Chapter 3 Put them in mind to submit themselves to governments, to authorities, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be averse to strife, for bearing, showing all meekness to all men. For we ourselves also were once foolish, disobedient, going astray, serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness and the love toward man of our Savior God appeared, not by works of righteousness which we did, but according to his mercy he saved us through the bathing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, that, having been justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they who have believed God may be careful to take the lead in good works. These things are good and profitable to men. But avoid foolish questionings and genealogies and strife and contentions about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that causes divisions after a first and second admonition, avoid, knowing that he that is such is perverted and sins being self-condemned. When I shall send Artemis to thee, or Ticacus, endeavour to come to me to Nicopolis, for I have determined there to winter. Xenus the lawyer, and Apollos, send forward on their journey zealously that nothing may be wanting to them, and let ours also learn to take the lead in good works for necessary once, that they may not be unfruitful. All that are with me salute thee, salute those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. The letter of Paul to Philemon from the American Bible Union's New Testament. Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy the brother, to Philemon the beloved and our fellow labourer, and to Afia the beloved, and Archipus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house. Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers, hearing of thy love and faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and unto all the saints, that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us, unto Christ Jesus. For I had much joy and consolation in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother. Wherefore, though having much boldness in Christ to enjoin upon thee that which is becoming, yet for love's sake I beseech rather, being such a one as Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ, I beseech thee for my child whom I begot in my bonds, Onesimus, who in time past was unprofitable to thee, but is now profitable to thee and to me, whom I sent back to thee. But do thou receive him, that is, my own flesh, whom I would have retained with myself, that in thy stead he might minister to me in the bonds of the gospel. But without thy consent I desired to do nothing, that thy benefit may not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. For perhaps he departed for a season to this end, that thou shouldest receive him as thine forever, no longer as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord. If thou countest me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. But if he wronged thee in anything, or owes ought, put that to my account. I, Paul, wrote it with my own hand, I will repay, not to say to thee, that to me thou oest also thine own self besides. Yay, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord, refresh my heart in Christ, having confidence in thy obedience I wrote to thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. But at the same time, be preparing for me also a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I shall be given to you. There, salute thee, Apaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus. Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow labourers, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. The end of Paul's letter to Philemon from the American Bible Union's New Testament, recording by Mark Penfold. Chapters one through four of the letter to the Hebrews from the American Bible Union's New Testament. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, recording by Mark Penfold. Chapters one through four of the letter to the Hebrews. Chapter one. God, who in many parts and in many ways spoke of old to the fathers by the prophets, in these last days spoke to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, by whom he also made the worlds, who being the brightness of his glory and the impress of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made a cleansing of sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high, having become so much superior to the angels as he has inherited a more excellent name than they. For to whom of the angels said he ever, Thou art my Son, I this day have begotten thee, and again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. But when he has again brought in the first begotten into the world, he says, and let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels, he says, who makes his angels wins, and his ministers a flame of fire, but of the Son? Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever. A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou lov't'st righteousness and hate itst iniquity. Therefore God, thy God, anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst found the earth, and the heavens are the works of thy hands. They will perish, but Thou remainest, and they all will become old as does a garment, and as a vesture Thou wilt fold them up, and they will be changed. But Thou art the same, and thy years will not fail. But to whom of the angels has he ever said, sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth for ministration, for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Chapter 2 On this account we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things heard, lest happily we should let them slip. For if the words spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received just retribution, how shall we escape having neglected so great a salvation which began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also bearing witness, with signs and wonders and diverse miracles and distributions of the Holy Spirit according to his own will? For not to the angels did he put in subjection the world to come of which we are speaking, but one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man that Thou art mindful of him, or the Son of man that Thou visitest him? Thou madeest him a little lower than the angels, Thou crownedst him with glory and honour, Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet, for in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him, but we behold him who was made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, on account of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour in order that he by the grace of God might taste death for everyone. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare Thy name to my brethren in the midst of the congregation I will sing praise to Thee, and again I will put my trust in him, and again, behold, I in the children whom God gave me. For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner took part in the same, that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver those who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage, for surely he does not succor angels, but he succors the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it became him to be made like to his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. Chapter 3 Wherefore holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our profession, Jesus, who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house. For he has been accounted worthy of more glory than Moses in as much as he who has built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is builded by someone, but he who built all things is God, and Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, as a testimony of the things which were to be afterwards spoken. But Christ as Son over his house, whose house are we if we hold fast, the boldness and the joyousness of the hope, firm unto the end. Wherefore as the Holy Spirit says, Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation, in the day of the temptation in the wilderness, where your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was offended with that generation, and I said, They always go astray in their heart, and they know not my ways. As I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest. Take heed, brethren, lest there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God, but exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, that no one of you may be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, for we have become partakers of Christ if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end, when it is said, Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation, who then, when they had heard, provoked? Nay, was it not all who came forth out of Egypt by Moses? But with whom was he offended forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they should not enter into his rest, but to those who believed not? And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief. Chapter 4 Let us fear, therefore, lest a promise being still left us of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it, for to us were the glad tidings preached, as also to them, but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mingled with faith in those who heard, for we who believed enter into the rest, as he said, As I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest, although the works were finished from the foundation of the world, for he has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day thus, and God rested on the seventh day from all his works, and in this again, they shall not enter into my rest, since then it remains that some do enter into it, and they to whom the glad tidings were first preached entered not in because of unbelief, again he limits a certain day, today, saying in David after so long a time as has before been said, Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, for if Joshua had given them rest, he would not after this have spoken of another day. So then there remains a Sabbath rest to the people of God, for he that entered into his rest himself rested from his works, as God did from his own. Let us therefore endeavor to enter into that rest, that no one may fall into the same example of unbelief, for the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Having therefore a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession, for we have not a High Priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but who has in all points been tempted in like manner without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. The End of Chapters 1-4 of the Letter to the Hebrews from the American Bible Union's New Testament Recording by Mark Penfold Chapters 5-9 of the Letter to the Hebrews from the American Bible Union's New Testament This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Mark Penfold Chapters 5-9 of the Letter to the Hebrews Chapter 5 For every High Priest being taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins, being able to bear with the ignorant and erring since he himself also is encompassed with infirmity, and on account of it he ought as for the people, so also for himself to make offering for sins, and no one takes to himself the honor, but being called by God as was also Aaron, so also Christ did not glorify himself to be made High Priest, but he who spoke to him. Thou art my son, I this day hath begotten thee, as also in another place, he says. Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek, who in the days of his flesh offering up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears, to him who was able to save him from death and being heard on account of his godly fear, though a son yet learned from what he suffered the required obedience, and being perfected became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him, called by God High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, of whom we have much to say, and hard to be explained since he have become dull of hearing, for though ye ought on account of the time to be teachers, ye again have need that someone teach you the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk and not of solid food, for every one who partakes of milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a child, but solid food belongs to those who are of full age, who by use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil. CHAPTER VI Wherefore, leaving the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of immersions and of the laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment, and this we will do if God permit, for it is impossible that they who have once been enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come, and have fallen away, should again be renewed to repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to open shame, for the earth which has drunk in the rain oft coming upon it, and brings forth herbs fit for those whose sake it is tilled, receives blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected, and is near too cursing, whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work, and the love which ye show toward his name, in that ye ministered and still do minister to the saints. But we desire that each one of you show the same diligence, for the full assurance of the hope unto the end, that ye may not become slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made the promise to Abraham, because he could swear by none greater, he swore by himself, saying, Surely, blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and the oath is to them an end of all gain saying, for a confirmation, wherein God, wishing more abundantly to show to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath, that by two immutable things in which it is impossible that God should lie, we may have strong encouragement, who fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us, which we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast, and entering within the veil, whereas forerunner for us Jesus entered, having become a high priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek. Chapter 7 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, whom at Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all, first indeed being interpreted king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace, without father, without mother, without table of dissent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but likened to the son of God, remains a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, to whom Abraham the patriarch also gave a tenth of the spoils, and they indeed that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they have come out of the loins of Abraham, but he whose dissent is not reckoned from them has taken tithes of Abraham, and has blessed him who had the promises. And without any contradiction, the less is blessed by the better, and here indeed men who die receive tithes, but there one of whom it is testified that he lives, and so to speak, Levi also, who receives tithes, has paid tithes in Abraham, for he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, for under it the people have received the law, what further need was there that a different priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron, for the priesthood being changed, of necessity there comes also a change of law, for he of whom these things are spoken pertains to a different tribe, of which no one has given attendance at the altar, for it is evident that our Lord has arisen out of Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests, and it is yet more abundantly manifest if after the similitude of Melchizedek there arises a different priest, who has been made not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an indissoluble life, for it is testified of him. Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek, for on the one hand there is an annuling of the commandment that went before, on account of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law perfected nothing, and on the other the bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw near to God, and inasmuch as it was not without an oath, for they indeed were made priests without an oath, but he with an oath by him who said to him, The Lord swore and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek, by so much has Jesus become a surety of a better covenant, and they indeed have been many priests because they were hindered by death from continuing, but he, because he remains forever, has an unchangeable priesthood, whence also he is able to save to the utmost those who come to God through him, since he ever lives to intercede for them. For such a high priest became us, holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens, who has not necessity daily as the high priests to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people, for this he did once for all, in offering up himself. For the law makes men high priests who have infirmity, but the word of the oath, which was since the law, makes the Son, who is perfected for ever. Now of the things which we are saying, this is the chief. We have such a high priest who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the majesty of the heavens, a minister of the holy places, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices, wherefore it is necessary that this one have something which he may offer. For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are those who offer gifts according to the law, who minister after an outline and a shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was admonished by God when he was about to make the tabernacle. For see, says he, that thou make all things according to the pattern which was shown thee in the mount. But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as he is also mediator of a better covenant, which has been established upon better promises. For if that first had been faultless, a place would not have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he says, Behold the days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will make with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant, not according to the covenant that I made for their fathers, in the day when I took hold of their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will establish for the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord, putting my laws into their mind, and on their hearts I will write them. And I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people, and they shall not teach each one his neighbor, and each one his brother, saying, Know the Lord, because all shall know me, from the least to the greatest, because I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more. In that he says, A new he has made the first old, now that which is grown old, and worn out with age, is ready to vanish away. Chapter 9 Now the first had indeed also ordinances of service, and the worldly sanctuary, for a tabernacle was prepared, the first wherein is the lampstand, and the table, and the showbread which is called Holy, and after the second veil the tabernacle which is called Most Holy, having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on every side with gold, wherein was the golden pot containing the manna, and the rod of Aaron which budded, and the tables of the covenant, and above it the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy of which we cannot now speak particularly. Now these things being thus prepared, into the first tabernacle the priests enter at all times, performing the services, but into the second, the high priest alone, once every year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people. The Holy Spirit signifying this, that the way into the holy places has not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing, which is a figure for the time present, under which are offered both gifts and sacrifices, unable as to the conscience to perfect the worshipper, only with meats and drinks, and diverse immersions, ordinances of the flesh imposed until the time of Reformation. But Christ, having come as a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered once for all into the holy places, obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctifies to the purity of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is mediator of a new covenant, in order that death having taken place, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, they who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be brought in the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead, since it is of no strength at all while the testator lives. Wherefore, neither has the first been dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and of the goats, with water, and scarlet wool and hisop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the covenant, which God enjoined in respect to you. And moreover, the tabernacle and all the vessels of the service he in like manner sprinkled with blood. And nearly all things are cleansed according to the law with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the outlines of things in the heavens should be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ entered not into holy places made with hands, figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us, nor yet that he should many times offer himself as the high priest enters into the holy places every year with blood of others. For then must he many times have suffered since the foundation of the world, but now once in the end of the ages he has been manifested for the putting away of sin by the sacrifice of himself, and in as much as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment. So also the Christ, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, will to those who look for him appear a second time without sin, unto salvation. Chapter 10 For the law having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices which they offer year by year continually, make those who come to them perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers would have had no more consciousness of sins, having once been cleansed? But in them there is a remembrance of sins year by year, for it is impossible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he comes into the world, he says, Sacrifice an offering thou wouldest not, but a body didst thou prepare for me. In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, thou hadst no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will, O God, saying above. Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, thou wouldst not, nor hadst pleasure therein, which are offered by the law. Then has he said, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He takes away the first, that he may establish the second, in which will we have been sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all. And every priest indeed stands daily ministering, and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. But he, having offered one sacrifice for sins, forever sat down on the right hand of God, from henceforth expecting until his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified. Moreover, the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us, for after he had said, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, sayeth the Lord, Putting my laws upon their hearts and on their minds I will write them, he further says, And their sins and iniquities I will remember no more. But where there is remission of these, there is no longer offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness as to the entrance into the holy places by the blood of Jesus, which entrance he instituted for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say his flesh, and having a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having had our body washed with pure water, let us hold fast the profession of the hope without wavering, for he is faithful who promised, and let us consider one another, to incite to love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the custom of some, but exhorting, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching. For if we willingly sin, after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and a fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries, he that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment suppose he will he be thought worthy who has trod and underfoot the Son of God, and has accounted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has done despite to the spirit of grace? For we know him who said, To me belongs vengeance, I will recompense, sayeth the Lord, and again, the Lord will judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, but call to remembrance the former days in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great contest of sufferings, partly whilst ye were made a spectacle both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly whilst ye became partakers with those who were so used. For ye sympathized with those in bonds, and ye took joyfully the plundering of your goods, knowing that ye have for yourselves a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away there for your confidence which has great recompense of reward, for ye have need of patience, that having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise. For yet a little while, he that is to come will come and will not delay. Now the just shall live by faith, but if ye draw back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back unto perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For in this the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we perceive that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not arisen out of things which appear. By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he received testimony that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and through it, being dead, he yet speaks. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For before his translation he has had the testimony that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder to those who seek after him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. By faith Abraham when called, obeyed, to go forth into a place which he should afterward receive for an inheritance, and went forth not knowing wither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for the city which has the foundations whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself also received power to conceive seed, even when she was past age, because she accounted him faithful who had promised. Wherefore also there spring from one, and him become as dead, even as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand which is by the seashore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar, and greeted them, and professed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they are seeking a country, and if indeed they had in mind that from which they came out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly, wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when tried, has offered up Isaac, and he who had accepted the promises offered up his only begotten, of whom it was said, In Isaac shall by seed be called, accounting that God is able even to raise from the dead, whence he also received him back in a figure. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob in Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when dying, made mention of the departure of the sons of Israel, and gave commandment concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was fair, and they feared not the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when grown up, refused to be called son of a daughter of Pharaoh, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked for the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he as kept the Passover, and the effusion of the blood, that he who destroyed the firstborn might not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, which the Egyptians attempting were swallowed up. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after they had been encompassed during seven days. By faith Rahab the Harlot did not perish with those who believed not, after having received the spies with peace. And why say I more? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, of Barak and Samson and Jephtha, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword. From weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead by resurrection to life, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of mockings and scourgings, and moreover of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword. They went about in sheep skins and goats skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and the clefts of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better concerning us, that they should not without us be made perfect. Therefore, let us also, having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, lay aside every weight and the easily besetting sin, and with patience run the race that is set before us, looking away to the author and finisher of the faith, Jesus, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down on the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who has endured such contradiction by sinners against him, that ye become not weary, fainting in your souls. Not yet did ye resist unto blood, contending against sin, and ye have forgotten the exhortation which discourses with you as with sons. My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when reproved by him, for whom the Lord loves, he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom his father chastens not. But if ye are without chastening, of which all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons. Furthermore, we had fathers of the flesh who chastened us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them, but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now all chastening for the present indeed seems not joyous but grievous, but afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down in the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, that the lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed. Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord. Looking diligently lest any one come short of the grace of God. Lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and the many be thereby defiled. Lest there be any fornicator or profane person, as Esau, who for one meal sold his birthright. For ye know that he also afterward, when he wished to inherit the blessing, was rejected. For he found no place of repentance, though he sought after it with tears. For ye have not come to a mount that is touched, and burning with fire, nor to blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of the trumpet, and the voice of words, which voice they who heard refused that more should be spoken to them. For they could not bear that which was commanded. Even if a beast touched the mountain, it shall be stoned. And so terrible was the sight that Moses said, I fear and tremble. But ye have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just ones made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than able. See that ye refuse not him who speaks. For if they did not escape, refusing him who declared the divine will on earth, much more shall not we, who turn away from him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth, but now he has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake, not the earth only, but also heaven, and this. Yet once more signifies the removing of the things shaken, as of things that have been made, that the things which are not shaken may remain. Wherefore, receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear, for our God is a consuming fire. adversity as being yourselves also in the body. Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled, but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Let your disposition be without covetousness, and be content with what ye have, for he has said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, so that we boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear. What shall man do to me? Remember those who were your leaders, who spoke to you the word of God, considering the end of whose manner of life, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is yesterday, and today the same, and forever. Be not carried away with various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established with grace, not with meats, which did not profit those who walked therein. We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle, for the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the holy places by the height priest for sin, are burned without the camp, wherefore Jesus also that he might sanctify the people through his own blood suffered without the gate. So then let us go forth to him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here we have not an abiding city, but are seeking for that which is to come. Through him, therefore, let us offer up the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate, forget not. For with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey those who are your leaders, and submit, for they watch for your souls as those who shall give account, that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for that is unprofitable for you. Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience in all things desiring to deport ourselves well, but I the more earnestly beseech you to do this, that I may the sooner be restored to you. Now the God of peace who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep in virtue of the blood of an eternal covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, doing in you that which is well pleasing in his sight. Now the God of peace who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep in virtue of the blood of an eternal covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, doing in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. But I beseech you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I wrote to you in few words. Know that the brother Timothy has been set at liberty, with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. Salute all that are your leaders and all the saints, those of Italy salute you. Grace be with you all. Amen. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, recording by Mark Penfold. The General Letter of James, Chapter 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. Count it all, join, my brethren, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the proving of your faith works patience, but let patience have a perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing. But if any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all liberally, and upbraids not, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, for he that wavers is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed, for let not that man suppose that he shall receive anything from the Lord, a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree glory in that he is exalted, but the rich in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he will pass away, for the sun rose with the burning heat and withered the grass and its flower fell off, and the grace of its fashion perished, so also will the rich man fade away in his ways. Happy is the man that endures temptation, because when he is approved, he will receive the crown of life which he promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, and himself tempts no one, but each one is tempted when by his own lust he is drawn away and enticed, then lust, having conceived, brings forth sin, and sin, when completed, brings forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren, every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning. Of his own will he begot us with the word of truth that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. So that, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God. Wherefore, putting off all filthiness and excess of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves, for if any one is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like to a man beholding his natural face in a mirror, for he beheld himself, and has gone away, and immediately he forgot what manner of man he was. But he who looked into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and remained thereby, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of work, this man shall be happy in his doing. If any one thinks that he is religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Religion, pure and undefiled before God and the Father, is this, to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, to keep himself unspotted from the world. My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons, for if there have come into your assembly a man with a gold ring in gay clothing, and there have come in also a poor man in mean clothing, and ye have respect to him that wears the gay clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place, and say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or Sit under my footstool. Were ye not partial in yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Harken, my beloved brethren, did not God choose the poor as to this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to those who love him? But ye dishonored the poor man, do not the rich oppress you, and do not they drag you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme the worthy name by which ye are called? If indeed ye fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he who said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit not adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For the judgment shall be without mercy to him that showed no mercy, mercy glories over judgment. What does it profit, my brethren, if any one say that he has faith and have not works? Can the faith save him? But if a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you say to them, Depart in peace, be warmed and be filled, but ye give them not the things needful for the body, what does it profit? So also faith, if it has not works, is dead in itself. But some will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works. Show me thy faith without the works, and I will show thee the faith by my works. Thou believest that God is one, thou doest well, the demons also believe and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Thou seeest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made complete, and the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness, and he was called friend of God. Ye see that by works a man is justified and not by faith only, and in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers, and sent them out by another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive greater condemnation, for in many things we all offend. If any one offends not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle also the whole body. Now if we put the bits into the horse's mouths, that they may obey us, we turn about also their whole body. Behold also the ships, though they are so great, and driven by fierce winds, are turned about by a very small helm, whether so ever the steersmen may desire. So also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a forest a little fire kindles, and the tongue is a fire that world of iniquity. The tongue among our members is that which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of life, and is set on fire by hell. For every nature of beasts and birds, of reptiles, and things in the sea is tamed, and has been tamed by the nature of man. But the tongue no man can tame, a restless evil full of deadly poison. Therewith we bless the Lord our Father, and therewith we curse men who have been made after the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Does the fountain out of the same opening send forth the sweet and the bitter? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a vine figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh. Who is wise and endued with knowledge among you, let him show out of his good deportment his works in meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, do not glory and lie against the truth. This wisdom is not one that comes down from above, but earthly, sensual, devilish. For where there is emulation and strife, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, forbearing, easily persuaded, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy, and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who work peace. Chapter 4 From whence are wars, and from whence are fighting among you? Are they not from hence, from your lusts, that war in your members? Ye desire and have not, ye kill and envy and cannot obtain, ye fight and war, ye have not because ye ask not, ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore desires to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture says in vain the spirit he made to dwell in us has jealous longings? But he gives the more grace, wherefore he says, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you, draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you, cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Be afflicted and mourn and weep, let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you. Do not speak against one another, brethren, he that speaks against his brother or judges his brother speaks against the law and judges the law. But if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. One is the law-giver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. Who art thou that judge as thy neighbor? Come now, ye that say, today and tomorrow we will go into this city and spend one year there, and buy and sell and get gain, whereas ye know not what belongs to the morrow. For what is your life? For ye are a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away, instead of saying, if the Lord will, we shall both live and do this or that. But now ye glory in your boastings, all such glorying is evil. Therefore to him that knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin. Chapter 5 Come now, ye rich weep, wailing for your miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are become moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is rusted, and the rest of them will be a witness against you, and will eat your flesh as fire. Ye heaped up treasure in the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who reaped your fields, which is fraudulently kept back by you, cries out, and the cries of those who reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabayaf. Ye have been luxurious on the earth, and lived in pleasure. Ye have nourished your hearts in the day of slaughter. Ye have condemned. Ye have killed the just. He does not resist you. Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it till it shall have received the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient. Establish your hearts, because the coming of the Lord draws nigh. murmur not against one another, brethren, that ye not be judged. Behold, the judge stands before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, for an example of affliction and of patience. Behold, we count those happy who endure. Ye heard of the patience of Job, and saw the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy. But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath. But let your ye be, ye, and your nay, nay, that ye fall not under condemnation. Is any afflicted among you? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and even if he have committed sins, it will be forgiven him. Confess, therefore, your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man of like nature with us, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months. And again he prayed, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. Brethren, if any one among you be led astray from the truth, and one convert him, let him know that he who converts his sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death, and will hide a multitude of sins. The end of the General Letter of James from the American Bible Union's New Testament, recording by Mark Penfold. The First General Letter of Peter from the American Bible Union's New Testament. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, recording by Mark Penfold. The First General Letter of Peter. Chapter 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ to the strangers scattered through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bethenia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy, begot us again unto a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who by the power of God are kept through faith, unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little time, if need be, made sorrowful by manifold trials, that the proof of your faith, much more precious than gold that perishes, but is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen ye love, in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls, concerning which salvation the prophets diligently sought and searched, who prophesied of the grace toward you, searching as to what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them signified, when it testified beforehand the sufferings destined for Christ, and the glories that should follow, to whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you they were ministering them, which now have been announced to you, through those who brought you the good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, which things angels desire to look into. Wherefore, girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope perfectly for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts in your ignorance, but as he who called you as holy, be ye yourselves holy in all your deportment, because it is written, ye shall be holy, for I am holy. And if ye call him father, who without respective persons, judges according to each one's work, past the time of your sojourning in fear, knowing that not with perishable things, silver and gold, ye were redeemed from your vain course of life received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but manifested in these last times for you, who through him believe on God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are on God. Having purified your souls in obeying the truth unto unfaithfully brotherly love, love one another from the heart fervently, being born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the word of God, which lives and abides forever, because all flesh is as grass, and all its glory as the flower of grass. The grass withered and its flower fell off, but the word of the Lord abides forever, and this is the word which was preached to you. Chapter 2 Laying aside therefore all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and enviings, and all backbidings, as newborn babes, long for the spiritual unadulterated milk, that ye thereby may grow unto salvation, if indeed ye tasted that the Lord is gracious, to whom coming, a living stone, disallowed indeed by men, but with God chosen, honored, ye yourselves also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, because it is contained in the Scripture. Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, honored, and he that believes on him shall not be put to shame. To you therefore who believe is the honor, but to the disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same as become the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, who stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they were also appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye should show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, who once were not a people, but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Beloved, I exhort you as sojourners and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul, having your deportment honorable among the Gentiles, that wherein they speak against you as evildoers, they may from your good works, beholding them, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every human institution for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as preeminent, or to governors as being sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and the praise of those who do well, for so is the will of God that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of the foolish men, as free, and as not having your freedom for a veil of wickedness, but as God's servants. Honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king, ye servants being in subjection to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and reasonable, but also to the perverse, for this is acceptable, if a man for conscience toward God endures griefs, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if when ye are beaten for your faults, ye shall take it patiently, but if when ye do well and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For to this ye were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that ye should follow his steps, who committed no sin, neither was Gael found in his mouth, who when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, threatened not, but committed it to him who judges righteously, who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree that we, having died to our sins, should live to righteousness, by whose stripes ye were healed, for ye were going astray like sheep, but have returned now unto the shepherd and overseer of your souls. Chapter 3 In like manner ye wives being in subjection to your own husbands, that even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be won by the deportment of their wives when they behold your chaste deportment coupled with fear, whose adorning let it not be the outward one of braiding the hair and of wearing golden ornaments or of putting on apparel, but the hidden man of the heart in that which is imperishable of the meek and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of great price. For so in the old time the holy women also who hoped in God adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, of whom ye became children, doing good and fearing no alarm. Ye husbands in like manner dwelling with them according to knowledge, giving honor to the female as the weaker vessel, as also heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. Finally, all being of one mind, sympathizing, loving the brethren, tender-hearted, humble-minded, not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing, but on the contrary, blessing, because to this end ye were called, that ye might inherit blessing. For he who desires to love life and to see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile, let him turn away from evil and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it, because the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are toward their supplications, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, and who is he that shall harm you if ye are followers of that which is good? But if ye even suffer for righteousness's sake, happy are ye, but fear not with their fear, nor be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, ready always to give an answer to everyone that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear, having a good conscience that wherein they speak against you as evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good deportment in Christ. For it is better if it be the will of God that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing, because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit, in which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who were disobedient in times past, when the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing, wherein a few, that is eight souls, were saved through water, which in an anti-type, immersion, now saves us also, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the requirement of a good conscience towards God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him. Chapter 4 Christ, then having suffered for us in the flesh, do ye also arm yourselves with the same mind, because he who suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that ye no longer may live the remaining time in the flesh by the lusts of men, but by the will of God. For the time past suffices us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in wantonness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, carousings and unhellowed idolatries, at which thing they are astonished, as ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you, who shall give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For to this end was the good news preached also to those who are dead, that they might indeed be judged according to men in the flesh, but may live according to God in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand, be therefore sober and watch unto prayer, but above all things having your love toward one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins, hospitable to one another, without grudging, according as each received a gift, ministering the same to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks as uttering God's oracles, if anyone ministers as of the ability which God bestows, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Beloved, be not astonished at the fiery test taking place among you to prove you, as though a strange thing were befalling you, but insofar as ye share in Christ's sufferings, rejoice, that also at the revelation of his glory, ye may rejoice with exceeding joy. If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye, because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. For let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. But if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name, because the time is come that judgment should begin from the house of God. But if it begin first from us, what shall be the end of those who obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous is with difficulty saved, where shall the ungodly in the sinner appear? Wherefore let those also who suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing as to a faithful creator. Chapter 5 The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. Tend the flock of God which is among you, overseeing it not by constraint, but willingly, not for base again, but with good will. Neither is being lords over the heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd is manifested, ye shall receive the unfading crown of glory. In like manner, ye younger, submit yourselves to the elder. Ye, all of you submitting to one another, gird yourselves with humility, because God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon him, because he cares for you. Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walks about, seeking whom he may devour, whom resist, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus after ye have suffered a little while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. To him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. By Sylvainus, the faithful brother, as I consider, I wrote to you in few words, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. The church that is in Babylon chosen with you salutes you and mark my son. Salute one another with a kiss of love, peace to you all that are in Christ. II Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like-precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Seeing that his divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and might, through which he has given us exceeding great and precious promises that by these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world through lust, yea for this very reason giving all diligence add to your faith fortitude and to fortitude knowledge and to knowledge self-control and to self-control patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are in you and abound, they cause that ye shall not be inactive nor unfruitful in attaining to the full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, but he that lacks these things is blind, not seeing afar off, having forgotten the cleansing away of his old sins. Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if ye do these things ye shall never fall, for so shall be richly ministered to you the entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Wherefore I will not neglect to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them and are established in the truth that is with you, but I think it right so long as I am in this tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in remembrance, knowing that I must soon put off my tabernacle, as also our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover, I will endeavor that at all times ye may be able after my departure to call these things to mind. For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power incoming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but had been eyewitnesses of his majesty, for he received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice was born to him from the excellent glory. This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased, and this voice we heard born from heaven being with him in the Holy Mount, and we have more sure the prophetic word to which ye do well that ye take heed, as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture comes of private interpretation, for prophecy was never brought by the will of man, but moved by the Holy Spirit, men spoke from God. But there were false prophets also among the people, as there will be false teachers among you also, whose stealthily will bring in destructive factions, even denying as master him who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their dissolute ways, by reason of whom the way of truth will be evil spoken of, and in covetousness will they with feigned words make merchandise of you, for whom the judgment from of old lingers not, and their destruction slumbers not. For if God spared not angels, having sinned, but casting them down to hell, delivered them over to chains of darkness, reserved unto judgment, and spared not the old world, but kept Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing the flood on the world of ungodly men, and turning to ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah condemned them to overthrow, having made them an example of those who should afterward live ungodly, and delivered righteous lot, wearied out with the lewd conduct of the lawless, for that righteous man dwelling among them, with seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds. The Lord knows how to deliver the ungodly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust under punishment to the day of judgment. But chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise dominion, presumptuous, self-willed, they are not afraid to rail at dignities, whereas angels, being greater in strength and power, bring not a railing judgment against them before the Lord. But these as natural brute beasts born to be taken and destroyed, railing at things that they understand not, shall utterly perish in their own corruption, receiving the wages of unrighteousness as they who account reveling for a day pleasure. Spots and blemishes reveling in their own deceits while feasting with you, having eyes full of the adulterous, and that cease not from sin, alluring unstable souls, having a heart exercised in covetousness, children of a curse, forsaking the right way, they went astray, following the way of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but was rebuked for his iniquity. The dumb ass, speaking with man's voice, forbade the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, mists driven by a tempest, to whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever, for speaking swelling words of vanity in lusts of the flesh they allure by wanton ways, such as partly escape those who live in error, promising them liberty while they themselves are servants of corruption, for by what a man is overcome, by the same he is also brought into bondage. For if, having escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but having again become entangled, therein they are overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first. For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn back from the Holy Commandment delivered to them, but it has happened to them according to the true proverb, a dog returned to his own vomit, and a sow that was washed to the wallowing in the mire. Chapter 3 This second letter, beloved, I now write to you, in both which I stir up your pure mind by putting you in remembrance, that ye may be mindful of the word spoken before by the Holy Prophets, and of the commandment of the Lord and Savior by your apostles, knowing this first, that there shall come in the last of the days scoffers, in their scoffings, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For from the day the fathers fell asleep, all things so continue from the beginning of the creation. For of this they willingly are ignorant, that by the word of God there were heavens of old, and earth framed out of water and by means of water, whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by his word are kept in store, being reserved for fire unto the day of judgment, and of perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not tardy in respect to the promise as some account tardiness, but is long suffering toward us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a rushing noise, and the elements will be dissolved with burning heat, and the earth and the works therein will be burned up. Seeing then that all these things are dissolving, what matter of men ought ye to be in all holy deportment and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens being on fire will be dissolved, and the elements will melt with burning heat. But according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, be diligent that ye may be found without spot and blameless in his sight in peace, and the long suffering of our Lord account salvation, as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which things are some that are hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable rest, as also the other scriptures, into their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know beforehand, beware lest being carried away with the error of the lawless, ye fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. Chapter 1 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we looked upon, and our hands handled concerning the word of life, and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and report to you the eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested to us. That which we have seen and have heard, we report to you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us. And indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you, that your joy may be full. And this is the message which we have heard from him, and announced to you, that God is light, and in him there is no darkness. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another. And the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have not sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, that he may forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Chapter 2 My little children, these things I write to you, that ye may not sin. And if anyone have sinned, we have an advocate with a Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And he is a propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. And in this we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that says I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, of a truth in him, the love of God is perfected. In this we know that we are in him. He that says he abides in him ought as he walked, himself also so to walk. Beloved, I write not to you a new commandment, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light now shines. He that says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in the darkness until now. He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and knows not where he goes, because the darkness blinded his eyes. I write to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for his name's sake. I write to you, fathers, because ye know him that was from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because ye have overcome the evil one. I wrote to you, little children, because ye know the Father. I wrote to you, fathers, because ye know him that was from the beginning. I wrote to you, young men, because ye are strong and the word of God abides in you, and ye have overcome the evil one. Love not the world, neither the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the empty pomp of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust thereof, that he that does the will of God abides forever. Little children, it is the last time, and as ye heard that antichrist should come, even now many antichrists have arisen, from whence we know that it is the last time. They went out from among us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But it was in order that they might be made manifest, that all are not of us. And ye have an anointing from the holy one, and know all things. I wrote not to you, because ye do not know the truth, but because ye know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar, but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son. Everyone that denies the Son, the same has not the Father. He that acknowledges the Son, has also the Father. What ye heard from the beginning, let it abide in you. If what ye heard from the beginning shall abide in you, ye also will abide in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise which he himself promised to us, the life eternal. These things I wrote to you concerning those who seduce you, and the anointing which ye received from him abides in you, and ye have no need that anyone teach you. But as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and his truth, and is not a lie, and even as it taught you, abide in him. And now little children, abide in him, that if he should be manifested, we may have confidence and not turn away from him with shame at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that everyone that does righteousness has been begotten of him. Chapter 3 Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. For this cause the world knows not us, because it knew not him. Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it was never yet manifested what we shall be. We know that if it shall be manifested, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone that has this hope on him purifies himself even as he is pure. Everyone that commits sin also commits transgression of law, and sin is transgression of law, and ye know that he was manifested that he might take away our sins, and in him is no sin. Everyone that abides in him sins not. Whoever sins has not seen him, neither has known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that commits sin is of the devil, because the devil sins from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been begotten of God does not commit sin, because his seed abides in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been begotten of God. In this are manifest the children of God, and the children of the devil. Everyone that does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother, because this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother, and wherefore did he slay him, because his own works were evil and his brother's righteous. Wonder not, brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death. Everyone that hates his brother is a murderer, and ye know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. In this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's sustenance, and sees his brother having need, and shuts up his pity from him, how abides the love of God in him? Little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And in this we shall know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. Because if our heart accuses us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart accuses us not, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and should love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in him. And in this we know that he abides in us, from the spirit which he gave us. Chapter 4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world. In this ye know the spirit of God. Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. And every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not of God. And this is that of the antichrist of which ye have heard that it should come, and now it is already in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world. They are of the world, for this cause they speak of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He that knows God hears us. He that is not of God hears us not. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God, and everyone that loves has been begotten of God and knows God. He that loves not knew not God, because God is love. In this was manifested the love of God in respect to us, that God has sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love. Not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son a propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No man has ever seen God. If we love one another, God abides in us, and the love of him is perfected in us. In this we know that we abide in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his spirit. And we have seen, and bear witness, that the Father has sent forth the Son a Savior of the world. Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and have believed the love that God has in respect to us. God is love, and he that abides in love, abides in God, and God in him. In this has love been perfected with us, that we have confidence in the day of judgment. Because as he is, we also are in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment, and he that fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone say I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar. For he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God, love also his brother. Chapter 5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been begotten of God, and everyone that loves him who begot, loves also him that has been begotten of him. In this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and do his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, because all that is begotten of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus the Christ, not in the water only, but in the water and in the blood, and the spirit is that which bears witness, because the spirit is the truth. For there are three who bear witness, the spirit and the water and the blood, and the three agree in the one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater, for this is the witness of God, that he has born witness concerning his Son. He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself. He that believes not God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness which God has born concerning his Son. And this is the witness, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that has the Son has the life. He that has not the Son of God has not the life. These things I wrote to you that ye may know that ye have eternal life, who believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him. If anyone see his brother sin a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and he will give him life to those who sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death, for that I do not say that he shall pray. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not unto death. We know that everyone who has been begotten of God sins not, but he that was begotten of God keeps himself, and the evil one touches him not. We know that we are of God, and the whole world is lying in the evil one. And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us understanding that we may know the true one, and we are in the true one, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from the idols. The end of the First General Letter of John from the American Bible Union's New Testament, recording by Mark Penfold.