John"s Second Letter
1:1 The elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all those who know the truth; 1:2 for the truth"s sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever: 1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from G.o.d the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
1:4 I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father. 1:5 Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 1:6 This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don"t confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist. 1:8 Watch yourselves, that we don"t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward. 1:9 Whoever transgresses and doesn"t remain in the teaching of Christ, doesn"t have G.o.d. He who remains in the teaching, the same has both the Father and the Son. 1:10 If anyone comes to you, and doesn"t bring this teaching, don"t receive him into your house, and don"t welcome him, 1:11 for he who welcomes him partic.i.p.ates in his evil works.
1:12 Having many things to write to you, I don"t want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you, and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full. 1:13 The children of your chosen sister greet you. Amen.
John"s Third Letter
1:1 The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.
1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers. 1:3 For I rejoiced greatly, when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth. 1:4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear about my children walking in truth.
1:5 Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and strangers. 1:6 They have testified about your love before the a.s.sembly. You will do well to send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of G.o.d, 1:7 because for the sake of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 1:8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
1:9 I wrote to the a.s.sembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn"t accept what we say. 1:10 Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words. Not content with this, neither does he himself receive the brothers, and those who would, he forbids and throws out of the a.s.sembly. 1:11 Beloved, don"t imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of G.o.d. He who does evil hasn"t seen G.o.d.
1:12 Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.
1:13 I had many things to write to you, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen; 1:14 but I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
The Letter from Jude
1:1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by G.o.d the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: 1:2 Mercy to you and peace and love be multiplied.
1:3 Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
1:4 For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: unG.o.dly men, turning the grace of our G.o.d into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master, G.o.d, and Lord, Jesus Christ.
1:5 Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn"t believe. 1:6 Angels who didn"t keep their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day. 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them, having, in the same way as these, given themselves over to s.e.xual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. 1:8 Yet in like manner these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings. 1:9 But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, "May the Lord rebuke you!" 1:10 But these speak evil of whatever things they don"t know. What they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, they are destroyed in these things. 1:11 Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah"s rebellion. 1:12 These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 1:13 wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever. 1:14 About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, 1:15 to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the unG.o.dly of all their works of unG.o.dliness which they have done in an unG.o.dly way, and of all the hard things which unG.o.dly sinners have spoken against him." 1:16 These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their l.u.s.ts (and their mouth speaks proud things), showing respect of persons to gain advantage.
1:17 But you, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1:18 They said to you that "In the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own unG.o.dly l.u.s.ts." 1:19 These are they who cause divisions, and are sensual, not having the Spirit. 1:20 But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of G.o.d, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 1:22 On some have compa.s.sion, making a distinction, 1:23 and some save, s.n.a.t.c.hing them out of the fire with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
1:24 Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy, 1:25 to G.o.d our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
Notes:
[1] back to 1:1 or, Judah
[2] back to 1:24 TR and NU read "you"
The Revelation to John
1:1 This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which G.o.d gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John, 1:2 who testified to G.o.d"s word, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw.
1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand.
1:4 John, to the seven a.s.semblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from G.o.d, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne; 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood; 1:6 and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests* to his G.o.d and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1:7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega,*" says the Lord G.o.d, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
1:9 I John, your brother and partner with you in oppression, Kingdom, and perseverance in Christ Jesus, was on the isle that is called Patmos because of G.o.d"s Word and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord"s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet 1:11 saying, "*What you see, write in a book and send to the seven a.s.semblies*: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
1:12 I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. 1:13 And among the lampstands was one like a son of man,* clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest. 1:14 His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. 1:15 His feet were like burnished bra.s.s, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters. 1:16 He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest. 1:17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man.
He laid his right hand on me, saying, "Don"t be afraid. I am the first and the last, 1:18 and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades. 1:19 Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter; 1:20 the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven a.s.semblies. The seven lampstands are seven a.s.semblies.
2:1 "To the angel of the a.s.sembly in Ephesus write:
"He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lampstands says these things:
2:2 "I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can"t tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false. 2:3 You have perseverance and have endured for my name"s sake, and have* not grown weary. 2:4 But I have this against you, that you left your first love.
2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent. 2:6 But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the a.s.semblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my G.o.d.
2:8 "To the angel of the a.s.sembly in Smyrna write:
"The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things: