1The Church of God which dwells in Rome to the Church of God which dwells in Corinth, to those who are called and sanctified by the will of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace from Almighty God through Jesus Christ be multiplied. Because of the sudden and repeated calamities and hardships that have come upon us, brothers and sisters, we realize that we have been somewhat slow in addressing the matters of dispute that have arisen among you, dearly beloved, and the detestable and unholy rebellion, foreign and strange to the elect of God, which a few headstrong and self-willed people have stirred up to such a pitch of madness that you, once revered and renowned and lovely in the sight of all, have been greatly reviled. 2 For who that had lived among you did not approve of your most virtuous and steadfast faith? Who did not admire your sober and patient devotion in Christ? Who did not speak of your magnificent hospitality? Who did not congratulate you on your perfect and sound knowledge? 3 For you did all things without favoritism, and you followed the ordinances of God, submitting yourselves to your leaders and giving the older men among you the honor that is their due. To the young, you encouraged modest and appropriate thoughts; and to the women, you instructed them to perform all their duties with a blameless, appropriate, and pure conscience, cherishing their own husbands as fitting; and you taught them to remain in the rule of obedience and to manage the affairs of their households with dignity and discretion.
2And you were all humble in mind and free from arrogance, yielding rather than demanding submission, more glad to give than to receive, and content with the provisions that God supplied. And giving heed to His words, you stored them up diligently in your hearts, and His sufferings were ever before your eyes. 2 Thus, a deep and abundant peace was given to all, along with an insatiable desire to do good. An abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit also came upon all. 3 And, being full of holy counsel, with excellent zeal and devout confidence, you stretched out your hands to Almighty God, pleading with Him to be merciful if you had sinned unknowingly. 4 You struggled day and night for all the brotherhood, that the number of His elect might be saved with reverence and steadfastness of mind. 5 You were sincere, pure, and free from malice toward one another. 6 Every rebellion and every division was detestable to you. You mourned over the transgressions of your neighbors, considering their shortcomings as your own. 7 You never regretted any good deed but were always ready for every good work. 8 Adorned with a most virtuous and honorable life, you carried out all your duties in reverence of Him. The commandments and ordinances of the Lord were written on the tablets of your hearts.
3All glory and abundance were given to you, and what was written was fulfilled: ‘My beloved ate and drank, grew strong, and became proud and rebellious.’ 2 From this came jealousy and envy, strife and rebellion, persecution and chaos, war and captivity. 3 So people were stirred up—the lowly against the honorable, the disrespected against the esteemed, the foolish against the wise, the young against the elder. 4 Because of this, righteousness and peace have withdrawn, while each person has forgotten the fear of the Lord and become blind in faith, no longer walking in the ordinances of His commandments or living in a way that honors Christ. Instead, each follows the desires of their corrupt heart, having embraced an unrighteous and ungodly jealousy—through which death entered the world.[1]
4For so it is written, ‘And it came to pass after certain days that Cain brought an offering to God from the fruits of the earth, and Abel also brought an offering from the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions.’ 2 And God looked favorably upon Abel and his gifts, but He paid no regard to Cain and his offerings. 3 And Cain grieved deeply, and his face fell. 4 And God said to Cain, ‘Why are you so sorrowful, and why has your face fallen? If you have offered correctly but not divided correctly, have you not sinned? Be still.’ 5 ‘He will turn to you, and you will rule over him.’ 6 And Cain said to Abel, his brother, ‘Let us go to the fields.’ And it came to pass, while they were in the field, that Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 7 You see, brothers and sisters, jealousy and envy led to a brother’s murder. 8 Because of jealousy, our father Jacob fled from the face of his brother Esau. 9 Jealousy caused Joseph to be persecuted almost to death and sold into bondage. 10 Jealousy forced Moses to flee from Pharaoh, king of Egypt, when his fellow Israelite said to him, ‘Who made you a judge or ruler over us? Will you kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 11 Because of jealousy, Aaron and Miriam were cast out of the camp. 12 Jealousy brought Dathan and Abiram down alive to Hades because they rebelled against Moses, the servant of God. 13 Because of jealousy, David was not only envied by the Philistines but was also persecuted by Saul, king of Israel.
5But, to move beyond the examples of ancient days, let us consider those champions who lived closer to our time. Let us set before us the noble examples of our own generation. 2 Because of jealousy and envy, the greatest and most righteous pillars of the Church were persecuted and struggled even unto death. 3 Let us keep before our eyes the good Apostles. 4 There was Peter, who, because of unjust jealousy, endured not just one but many hardships, and after bearing his testimony, he went to his appointed place of glory. 5 Because of jealousy and conflict, Paul showed by his example the reward of patient endurance. After being imprisoned seven times, driven into exile, stoned, and having preached in the East and the West, he won the noble renown that was the reward of his faith. 6 Having taught righteousness to the whole world and reached the farthest boundary of the West, he bore his testimony before rulers, and so he departed from this world and entered the holy place, having been found a remarkable example of patient endurance.
6To these men of holy lives was gathered a vast multitude of the elect, who, through many indignities and tortures, being the victims of jealousy, set a brave example among us. 2 Because of jealousy, women were persecuted, and after suffering cruel and unholy insults, like the Danaids and Dircae, they safely reached the goal in the race of faith and received a noble reward, though they were weak in body. 3 Jealousy has estranged wives from their husbands and reversed the words of our father Adam: ‘This now is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.’ 4 Jealousy and strife have overthrown great cities and uprooted great nations.
7These things, dearly beloved, we write not only as a reminder to you but also to bring ourselves to remembrance. For we are in the same struggle, and the same contest awaits us. 2 Therefore, let us forsake idle and vain thoughts and conform to the glorious and venerable rule that has been handed down to us. 3 And let us consider what is good, what is pleasant, and what is acceptable in the sight of Him who made us. 4 Let us fix our eyes on the blood of Christ and understand how precious it is to His Father, for by being shed for our salvation, it won for the whole world the grace of repentance. 5 Let us look back at all the generations in turn and learn how, from age to age, the Master has given a place for repentance to those who desire to turn to Him.[2] 6 Noah preached repentance, and those who obeyed were saved.[3] 7 Jonah preached destruction to the people of Nineveh, but they repented of their sins, obtained pardon from God through their supplications, and received salvation, even though they were strangers to Him.
8The ministers of the grace of God, through the Holy Spirit, spoke concerning repentance. 2 Yes, and the Master of the universe Himself spoke about repentance with an oath. 3 For, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘I do not desire the death of the sinner as much as his repentance.’ 4 And He also gave a merciful judgment: ‘Repent, O house of Israel, of your iniquity. Say to the children of My people: Though your sins reach from the earth to the heavens, and though they be redder than scarlet and blacker than sackcloth, if you turn to Me with your whole heart and say, “Father,” I will listen to you as to a holy people.’ 5 And in another place He says: ‘Wash, be clean. Remove your iniquities from My sight. Cease from your sins; learn to do good; seek justice; defend those who are wronged; give judgment for the orphan and uphold righteousness for the widow. Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are as crimson, I will make them white as snow; though they are as scarlet, I will make them white as wool. If you are willing and listen to Me, you will eat the good things of the earth; but if you refuse and do not listen, a sword shall devour you—for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’ 6 Seeing then that He desires all His beloved to partake in repentance, He confirmed it by an act of His almighty will.
9Therefore, let us be obedient to His excellent and glorious will, and as supplicants of His mercy and goodness, let us fall before Him and seek His compassion, forsaking the vain toil, strife, and jealousy that lead to death. 2 Let us fix our eyes on those who ministered perfectly to His excellent glory. 3 Let us set before us Enoch, who, being found righteous in obedience, was taken up, and his death was not found. 4 Noah, being found faithful, through his service preached renewal to the world, and through him, the Master saved the living creatures that entered the ark in harmony.
10Abraham, who was called the ‘friend,’ was found faithful because he obeyed the words of God. 2 Through obedience, he left his land, his kindred, and his father’s house, so that by leaving a small land, a weak kindred, and a humble home, he might inherit the promises of God. 3 For He said to him, ‘Go forth from your land, from your kindred, and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you and magnify your name, and you shall be blessed. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you, and through you, all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed.’ 4 And again, when he was separated from Lot, God said to him, ‘Look up with your eyes and behold—from where you are—to the north, the south, the east, and the west; for all the land that you see, I will give to you and your descendants forever.’ 5 ‘And I will make your descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth. If anyone can count the dust of the earth, then your descendants shall also be counted.’ 6 And again He said, ‘God led Abraham forth and said to him, Look up to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to number them. So shall your descendants be.’ And Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. 7 Because of his faith and hospitality, a son was given to him in his old age, and through obedience, he offered him as a sacrifice to God on one of the mountains He showed him.
11For his hospitality and godliness, Lot was saved from Sodom, when all the country round about was judged by fire and brimstone; the Master having thus foretold that He does not forsake those who set their hope on Him, but appoints unto punishment and torment those who swerve aside. 2 For when his wife had gone forth with him, being otherwise minded and not in accord, she was appointed as a sign, so that she became a pillar of salt unto this day, that it might be known to all men that those who are double-minded and those who doubt the power of God are set for judgment and as a sign unto all generations.
12For her faith and hospitality, Rahab the harlot was saved. 2 For when the spies were sent forth to Jericho by Joshua, the son of Nun, the king of the land perceived that they had come to spy out his country and sent men to seize them, that being captured, they might be put to death. 3 So the hospitable Rahab received them and hid them in the upper chamber under the flax stalks. 4 And when the messengers of the king came near and said, ‘The spies of our land entered in to you; bring them forth, for the king orders it,’ she answered, ‘The men truly, whom you seek, entered in to me, but they departed at once and are traveling on the way,’ and she pointed them toward the opposite road. 5 And she said to the men, ‘Surely, I perceive that the Lord your God will deliver this city to you, for the fear and dread of you has fallen upon its inhabitants. When therefore it shall come to pass that you take it, save me and the house of my father.’ 6 And they said to her, ‘It shall be just as you have spoken to us. Whenever you see that we are coming, you shall gather all your household beneath your roof, and they shall be saved; for as many as shall be found outside the house shall perish.’ 7 And moreover, they gave her a sign, that she should hang a scarlet thread from her house, thereby showing beforehand that through the blood of the Lord there shall be redemption for all who believe and hope in God. 8 You see, dearly beloved, not only faith, but prophecy, is found in this woman.
13Let us therefore be lowly minded, brothers and sisters, laying aside all arrogance and conceit and folly and anger, and let us do that which is written. For the Holy Ghost says, “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong in his strength, neither the rich in his riches; but he that boasts let him boast in the Lord, that he may seek Him out, and do judgment and righteousness most of all remembering the words of the Lord Jesus which He spoke, teaching forbearance and long-suffering.” 2 for thus He spoke “Have mercy, that you may receive mercy: forgive, that it may be forgiven to you. As you do, so shall it be done to you. As you give, so shall it be given to you. As you judge, so shall you be judged. As you show kindness, so shall kindness be showed to you. With what measure you measure, it will be measured to you.” 3 With this commandment and these precepts let us confirm ourselves, that we may walk in obedience to His hallowed words, with lowliness of mind. 4 For the holy word says, “Upon whom shall I look, save upon the one that is gentle and quiet and fears My oracles.”
14Therefore it is right and proper, brothers and sisters, that we should be obedient to God, rather than follow those who in arrogance and unruliness have set themselves up as leaders in abominable jealousy. 2 For we shall bring upon us no common harm, but rather great peril, if we surrender ourselves recklessly to the purposes of men who launch out into strife and seditions, so as to estrange us from that which is right. 3 Let us be good one towards another according to the compassion and sweetness of Him that made us. For it is written. 4 “The good shall be dwellers in the land, and the innocent shall be left on it but they that transgress shall be destroyed utterly from it.” 5 And again He says “I saw the ungodly lifted up on high and exalted as the cedars of Lebanon. And I passed by, and behold he was not, and sought out his place, and I found it not. Keep innocence and behold uprightness; for there is a remnant for the peaceful man.”
15Therefore let us be loyal to those that practice peace with godliness, and not to those that desire peace with dissimulation. 2 For He says in a certain place “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” 3 and again, “they blessed with their mouth, but they cursed with their heart.” 4 And again He says, “They loved Him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied to Him; and their heart was not upright with Him, neither were they steadfast in His covenant.” 5 For this cause “let the deceitful lips be made dumb which speak iniquity against the righteous.” And again “May the Lord utterly destroy all the deceitful lips, the tongue that speaks proud things, even those that say, ‘Let us magnify our tongue; our lips are our own; who is lord over us.’” 6 “For the misery of the needy and for the groaning of the poor I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will set him in safety; I will deal boldly by him.”
16For Christ is with those that are humble, not with those that exalt themselves over the flock. 2 The scepter of the majesty of God, even our Lord Jesus Christ, came not in the pomp of arrogance or of pride, though He might have done so, but in lowliness of mind, according as the Holy Spirit spoke concerning Him. 3 For He says “Lord, who believed our report? and to whom was the arm of the Lord revealed? We announced Him in His presence. As a child was He, as a root in a thirsty ground. There is no form in Him, neither glory. And we saw Him, and He had no form nor comeliness, but His form was mean, lacking more than the form of men. He was a man of stripes and of toil, and knowing how to bear infirmity: for His face is turned away. He was dishonored and held of no account.” 4 “He bears our sins and suffers pain for our sakes: and we accounted Him to be in toil and in stripes and in affliction.” 5 “And He was wounded for our sins and has been afflicted for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace is upon Him. With His bruises we were healed.” 6 “We all went astray like sheep, each man went astray in his own path.” 7 “and the Lord delivered Him over for our sins. And He opens not His mouth, because He is afflicted. As a sheep He was led to slaughter; and as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, so He opens not His mouth. In His humiliation His judgment was taken away.” 8 “His generation who shall declare? For His life is taken away from the earth.” 9 “For the iniquities of my people He is come to death.” 10 “And I will give the wicked for His burial, and the rich for His death; for He wrought no iniquity, neither was deceit found in His mouth. And the Lord desires to cleanse Him from His stripes.” 11 “If you offer for sin, your soul shall see a long lived seed.” 12 “And the Lord desires to take away from the toil of His soul, to show Him light and to mold Him with understanding, to justify the Just One that is a good servant to many. And He shall bear their sins.” 13 “Therefore He shall inherit many, and shall divide the spoils of the strong; because His soul was delivered to death, and He was reckoned to the transgressors.” 14 “and He bore the sins of many, and for their sins was He delivered up.” 15 And again He Himself says; “But I am a worm and no man, a reproach of men and an outcast of the people.” 16 “All those that saw me mocked at me; they spoke with their lips, they wagged their heads, saying, ‘He hoped on the Lord; let Him deliver him, or let Him save him, for He desires him.’” 17 You see, dearly beloved, what is the pattern that has been given to us; for, if the Lord was thus humble, what should we do, who through Him have been brought under the yoke of His grace.
17Let us be imitators also of those which went about in goatskins and sheepskins, preaching the coming of Christ. We mean Elijah and Elisha and likewise Ezekiel, the prophets, and besides them those men also that obtained a good report. 2 Abraham obtained an exceeding good report and was called the friend of God; and looking steadfastly on the glory of God, he says in lowliness of mind, “But I am dust and ashes.” 3 Moreover concerning Job also it is thus written; “And Job was righteous and unblamable, one that was true and honored God and abstained from all evil.” 4 Yet he himself accuses himself saying, “No man from filth; no, not though his life be but for a day.” 5 Moses was called faithful in all His house, and through his ministration God judged Egypt with the plagues and the torments which befell them. Howbeit he also, though greatly glorified, yet spoke no proud words, but said, when an oracle was given to him at the bush, “Who am I, that You send me.” 6 “No, I am feeble of speech and slow of tongue.” And again he says, “But I am smoke from the pot.”
18But what must we say of David that obtained a good report? of whom God said, “I have found a man after My heart, David the son of Jesse: with eternal mercy have I anointed him.” 2 Yet he too says to God “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the multitude of Your compassions blot out my iniquity.” 3 “Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against You only did I sin, and I wrought evil in Your sight; that You may be justified in Your words, and may conquer in Your pleading.” 4 “For behold, in iniquities was I conceived, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold You have loved truth: the dark and hidden things of Your wisdom have You showed to me.” 5 “You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean. You shall wash me, and I shall become whiter than snow.” 6 “You shall make me to hear of joy and gladness. The bones which have been humbled shall rejoice.” 7 “Turn away Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.” 8 “Make a clean heart within me, O God, and renew a right spirit in my inmost parts. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.” 9 “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and strengthen me with a princely spirit.” 10 “I will teach sinners Your ways, and godless men shall be converted to You.” 11 “Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Your righteousness.” 12 “Lord, You shall open my mouth, and my lips shall declare Your praise.” 13 “For, if You had desired sacrifice, I would have given it: in whole burnt offerings You will have no pleasure.” 14 “A sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit; a contrite and humble heart God will not despise.”
19The humility therefore and the submissiveness of so many and so great men, who have thus obtained a good report, has through obedience made better not only us but also the generations which were before us, even those that received His oracles in fear and truth. 2 Seeing then that we have been partakers of many great and glorious doings, let us hasten to return to the goal of peace which has been handed down to us from the beginning, and let us look steadfastly to the Father and Maker of the whole world, and hold on to His splendid and excellent gifts of peace and benefits. 3 Let us behold Him in our mind, and let us look with the eyes of our soul to His long-suffering will. Let us note how free from anger He is towards all His creatures.
20The heavens are moved by His direction and obey Him in peace. 2 Day and night accomplish the course assigned to them by Him, without hindrance one to another. 3 The sun and the moon and the dancing stars according to His appointment circle in harmony within the bounds assigned to them, without any swerving aside. 4 The earth, bearing fruit in fulfillment of His will at her proper seasons, puts forth the food that supplies abundantly both men and beasts and all living things which are thereupon, making no dissension, neither altering anything which He has decreed. 5 Moreover, the inscrutable depths of the abysses and the unutterable statutes of the nether regions are constrained by the same ordinances. 6 The basin of the boundless sea, gathered together by His workmanship into its reservoirs, passes not the barriers wherewith it is surrounded; but even as He ordered it, so it does. 7 For He said, “So far will you come, and your waves shall be broken within you.” 8 The ocean which is impassable for men, and the worlds beyond it, are directed by the same ordinances of the Master. 9 The seasons of spring and summer and autumn and winter give way in succession one to another in peace. 10 The winds in their several quarters at their proper season fulfill their ministry without disturbance; and the ever flowing fountains created for enjoyment and health, without fail give their breasts which sustain the life for men. Yes, the smallest of living things come together in concord and peace. 11 All these things the great Creator and Master of the universe ordered to be in peace and concord, doing good to all things, but far beyond the rest to us who have taken refuge in His compassionate mercies through our Lord Jesus Christ. 12 to whom be the glory and the majesty for ever and ever. Amen.
21“Look you, brothers and sisters, lest His benefits, which are many, turn to judgment to all of us, if we walk not worthily of Him, and do those things which are good and well pleasing in His sight with concord.” 2 For He says in a certain place, “The Spirit of the Lord is a lamp searching the closets of the belly.” 3 Let us see how near He is, and how that nothing escapes Him of our thoughts or our devices which we make. 4 It is right therefore that we should not be deserters from His will. 5 Let us rather give offense to foolish and senseless men who exalt themselves and boast in the arrogance of their words, than to God. 6 Let us fear the Lord Jesus, whose blood was given for us. Let us reverence our rulers; let us honor our elders; let us instruct our young men in the lesson of the fear of God. Let us guide our women toward that which is good. 7 let them show forth their lovely disposition of purity; let them prove their sincere affection of gentleness; let them make manifest the moderation of their tongue through their silence; let them show their love, not in factious preferences but without partiality towards all those that fear God, in holiness. Let our children be partakers of the instruction which is in Christ. 8 let them learn how lowliness of mind prevails with God, what power chaste love has with God, how the fear of Him is good and great and saves all those that walk therein in a pure mind with holiness. 9 For He is the searcher out of the intents and desires; whose breath is in us, and when He wills, He shall take it away.
22Now all these things the faith which is in Christ confirms: for He Himself through the Holy Spirit thus invites us: “Come, my children, hearken to Me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” 2 “What man is he that desires life and loves to see good days.” 3 “Make your tongue to cease from evil, and your lips that they speak no guile.” 4 “Turn aside from evil and do good.” 5 “Seek peace and pursue it.” 6 “The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are turned to their prayers. But the face of the Lord is upon those that do evil, to destroy their memorial from the earth.” 7 “The righteous cried out, and the Lord heard him, and delivered him from all his troubles. Many are the troubles of the righteous, and the Lord shall deliver him from them all.” 8 And again “Many are the stripes of the sinner, but those that set their hope on the Lord mercy shall compass about.”
23The Father, who is pitiful in all things, and ready to do good, has compassion on those that fear Him, and kindly and lovingly bestows His favors on those that draw near to Him with a single mind. 2 Therefore let us not be double-minded, neither let our soul indulge in idle humors respecting His exceeding and glorious gifts. 3 Let this scripture be far from us where He says “Wretched are the double-minded, Which doubt in their soul and say, ‘These things we did hear in the days of our fathers also, and behold we have grown old, and none of these things has befallen us.’” 4 “You fools, compare yourselves to a tree; take a vine. First it sheds its leaves, then a shoot comes, then a leaf, then a flower, and after these a sour berry, then a full ripe grape. You see that in a little time the fruit of the tree attains to mellowness.” 5 “Of a truth quickly and suddenly shall His will be accomplished,” the scripture also bearing witness to it, saying “He shall come quickly and shall not tarry; and the Lord shall come suddenly into His temple, even the Holy One, whom you expect.”
24Let us understand, dearly beloved, how the Master continually shows to us the resurrection that shall be hereafter; whereof He made the Lord Jesus Christ the firstfruit, when He raised Him from the dead. 2 Let us behold, dearly beloved, the resurrection which happens at its proper season. 3 Day and night show to us the resurrection. The night falls asleep, and day arises; the day departs, and night comes on. 4 Let us mark the fruits, how and in what manner the sowing takes place. 5 The sower goes forth and casts into the earth each of the seeds; and these falling into the earth dry and bare decay: then out of their decay the mightiness of the Master’s providence raises them up, and from being one they increase manifold and bear fruit.
25Let us consider the marvelous sign which is seen in the regions of the east, that is, in the parts about Arabia. 2 There is a bird, which is named the phoenix. This, being the only one of its kind, lives for five hundred years; and when it has now reached the time of its dissolution that it should die, it makes for itself a coffin of frankincense and myrrh and the other spices, into the which in the fullness of time it enters, and so it dies. 3 But, as the flesh rots, a certain worm is engendered, which is nurtured from the moisture of the dead creature and puts forth wings. Then, when it is grown lusty, it takes up that coffin where are the bones of its parent, and carrying them journeys from the country of Arabia even to Egypt, to the place called the City of the Sun. 4 and in the daytime in the sight of all, flying to the altar of the Sun, it lays them thereupon; and this done, it sets forth to return. 5 So the priests examine the registers of the times, and they find that it has come when the five hundredth year is completed.
26Do we then think it to be a great and marvelous thing, if the Creator of the universe shall bring about the resurrection of those that have served Him with holiness in the assurance of a good faith, seeing that He shows to us even by a bird the magnificence of His promise. 2 For He says in a certain place “And You shall raise me up, and I will praise You;” and; “I went to rest and slept, I was awaked, for You are with me.” 3 And again Job says “And You shall raise this my flesh which has endured all these things.”
27With this hope therefore let our souls be bound to Him that is faithful in His promises and that is righteous in His judgments. 2 He that commanded not to lie, much more shall He Himself not lie; for nothing is impossible with God save to lie. 3 Therefore let our faith in Him be kindled within us, and let us understand that all things are near to Him. 4 By a word of His majesty He compacted the universe; and by a word He can destroy it. 5 Who shall say to Him, “What have You done?” or who shall resist the might of His strength? When He wills, and as He wills, He will do all things; and nothing shall pass away of those things that He has decreed.[4] 6 All things are in His sight, and nothing escapes His counsel. 7 seeing that “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork. Day utters word to day, and night proclaims knowledge to night; and there are neither words nor speeches, whose voices are not heard.”
28Since therefore all things are seen and heard, let us fear Him and forsake the abominable lusts of evil works, that we may be shielded by His mercy from the coming judgments. 2 For where can any of us escape from His strong hand? And what world will receive any of those that desert from His service. 3 For the holy writing says in a certain place “Where shall I go, and where shall I be hidden from Your face? If I ascend into the heaven, You are there; if I depart into the farthest parts of the earth, there is Your right hand; if I make my bed in the depths, there is Your Spirit.” 4 Whither then shall one depart, or where shall one flee, from Him that embraces the universe.
29Let us therefore approach Him in holiness of soul, lifting up pure and undefiled hands to Him, with love towards our gentle and compassionate Father who made us an elect portion to Himself. 2 For thus it is written: “When the Most High divided the nations, when He dispersed the sons of Adam, He fixed the boundaries of the nations according to the number of the angels of God. His people Jacob became the portion of the Lord, and Israel the measurement of His inheritance.”[5] 3 And in another place He says, “Behold, the Lord takes for Himself a nation out of the midst of the nations, as a man takes the first fruits of his threshing floor; and the holy of holies shall comfort them from that nation.”
30Seeing then that we are the special portion of a Holy God, let us do all things that pertain to holiness, forsaking evil speakings, abominable and impure embraces, drunkennesses and tumults and hateful lusts, abominable adultery, hateful pride. 2 For God, He says, resists the proud, but gives grace to those who are lowly. 3 Let us therefore be loyal to those to whom grace is given from God. Let us clothe ourselves in concord, being lowly-minded and temperate, holding ourselves aloof from all back biting and evil speaking, being justified by works and not by words. 4 For He says, “He that says much shall hear also again. Does the ready talker think to be righteous?” 5 “Blessed is the offspring of a woman that lives but a short time. Be not you abundant in words.” 6 Let our praise be with God, and not of ourselves: for God hates those that praise themselves. 7 Let the testimony to our well doing be given by others, as it was given to our fathers who were righteous. 8 Boldness and arrogance and daring are for those that are accursed of God; but forbearance and humility and gentleness are with those that are blessed of God.
31Let us therefore hold on to His blessing, and let us see what are the ways of blessing. Let us study the records of the things that have happened from the beginning. 2 Wherefore was our father Abraham blessed? Was it not because he wrought righteousness and truth through faith.[6] 3 Isaac with confidence, as knowing the future, was led a willing sacrifice. 4 Jacob with humility departed from his land because of his brother and went to Laban and served; and the twelve tribes of Israel were given to him.
32If any man will consider them one by one in sincerity, he shall understand the magnificence of the gifts that are given by Him. 2 For of Jacob are all the priests and levites who minister to the altar of God; of him is the Lord Jesus as concerning the flesh; of him are kings and rulers and governors in the line of Judah; yes and the rest of his tribes are held in no small honor, seeing that God promised saying, “Your seed shall be as the stars of heaven.” 3 They all therefore were glorified and magnified, not through themselves or their own works or the righteous doing which they wrought, but through His will. 4 And so we, having been called through His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified through ourselves or through our own wisdom or understanding or piety or works which we wrought in holiness of heart, but through faith, whereby the Almighty God justified all men that have been from the beginning; to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
33What then must we do, brothers and sisters? Must we idly abstain from doing good, and forsake love? May the Master never allow this to befall us at least; but let us hasten with instancy and zeal to accomplish every good work. 2 For the Creator and Master of the universe Himself rejoices in His works. 3 For by His exceeding great might He established the heavens, and in His incomprehensible wisdom He set them in order. And the earth He separated from the water that surrounds it, and He set it firm on the sure foundation of His own will; and the living creatures which walk upon it He commanded to exist by His ordinance. Having before created the sea and the living creatures therein, He enclosed it by His own power. 4 Above all, as the most excellent and exceeding great work of His intelligence, with His sacred and faultless hands He formed man in the impress of His own image. 5 For thus says God “Let us make man after our image and after our likeness.” And God made man; male and female He made them. 6 So having finished all these things, He praised them and blessed them and said, “Increase and multiply.” 7 We have seen that all the righteous were adorned in good works. Yes and the Lord Himself having adorned Himself with worlds rejoiced. 8 Seeing then that we have this pattern, let us conform ourselves with all diligence to His will; let us with all our strength work the work of righteousness.
34The good workman receives the bread of his work with boldness, but the slothful and careless dares not look his employer in the face. 2 It is therefore needful that we should be zealous to well doing; for of Him are all things. 3 since He forewarns us saying, “Behold, the Lord, and His reward is before His face, to recompense each man according to his work.” 4 He exhorts us therefore to believe on Him with our whole heart, and to be not idle nor careless to every good work. 5 Let our boast and our confidence be in Him: let us submit ourselves to His will; let us mark the whole host of His angels, how they stand by and minister to His will. 6 For the scripture says, “Ten thousands of ten thousands stood by Him, and thousands of thousands ministered to Him: and they cried aloud, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Sabaoth; all creation is full of His glory.’” 7 Yes, and let us ourselves then, being gathered together in concord with intentness of heart, cry to Him as from one mouth earnestly that we may be made partakers of His great and glorious promises. 8 For He says, “Eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and it has not entered into the heart of man what great things He has prepared for those that patiently await Him.”
35How blessed and marvelous are the gifts of God, dearly beloved!. 2 Life in immortality, splendor in righteousness, truth in boldness, faith in confidence, temperance in sanctification! And all these things fall under our apprehension. 3 What then, think you, are the things preparing for those that patiently await Him? The Creator and Father of the ages, the All holy One Himself knows their number and their beauty. 4 Let us therefore contend, that we may be found in the number of those that patiently await Him, to the end that we may be partakers of His promised gifts. 5 But how shall this be, dearly beloved? If our mind be fixed through faith towards God; if we seek out those things which are well pleasing and acceptable to Him; if we accomplish such things as beseem His faultless will, and follow the way of truth, casting off from ourselves all unrighteousness and iniquity, covetousness, strifes, malignities and deceits, whisperings and backbitings, hatred of God, pride and arrogance, vainglory and inhospitality. 6 For those that do these things are hateful to God; and not only those that do them, but they also that consent to them. 7 For the scripture says, “But to the sinner said God, ‘Wherefore do you declare My ordinances, and take My covenant upon your lips.’” 8 “Yet you hated instruction and cast away My words behind you. If you saw a thief you kept company with him, and with the adulterers you set your portion. Your mouth multiplied wickedness and your tongue wove deceit. You sat and spoke against your brother, and against the son of your mother you laid a stumbling block.” 9 “These things you have done, and I kept silence. You thought, unrighteous man, that I should be like to you.” 10 “I will convict you and will set you face to face with yourself.” 11 “Now understand you these things, you that forget God, lest at any time He seize you as a lion, and there be none to deliver.” 12 “The sacrifice of praise shall glorify Me, and there is the way wherein I will show him the salvation of God.”
36This is the way, dearly beloved, wherein we found our salvation, even Jesus Christ the High priest of our offerings, the Guardian and Helper of our weakness. 2 Through Him let us look steadfastly to the heights of the heavens; through Him we behold as in a mirror His faultless and most excellent visage; through Him the eyes of our hearts were opened; through Him our foolish and darkened mind springs up to the light; through Him the Master willed that we should taste of the immortal knowledge; Who being the brightness of His majesty is so much greater than angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name. 3 For so it is written “Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers aflame of fire.” 4 but of His Son the Master said thus, “You are My Son, I this day have begotten you. Ask of Me, and I will give You the Gentiles for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.” 5 And again He says to Him “Sit You on My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” 6 Who then are these enemies? They that are wicked and resist His will.
37Let us therefore enlist ourselves, brothers and sisters, with all earnestness in His faultless ordinances. 2 Let us mark the soldiers that are enlisted under our rulers, how exactly, how readily, how submissively, they execute the orders given them. 3 All are not prefects, nor rulers of thousands, nor rulers of hundreds, nor rulers of fifties, and so forth; but each man in his own rank executes the orders given by the king and the governors. 4 The great without the small cannot exist, neither the small without the great. There is a certain mixture in all things, and therein is utility. 5 Let us take our body as an example. The head without the feet is nothing; so likewise the feet without the head are nothing: even the smallest limbs of our body are necessary and useful for the whole body: but all the members conspire and unite in subjection, that the whole body may be saved.
38So in our case let the whole body be saved in Christ Jesus, and let each man be subject to his neighbor, according as also he was appointed with his special grace. 2 Let not the strong neglect the weak; and let the weak respect the strong. Let the rich minister aid to the poor; and let the poor give thanks to God, because He has given him one through whom his wants may be supplied. Let the wise display his wisdom, not in words, but in good works. He that is lowly in mind, let him not bear testimony to himself, but leave testimony to be borne to him by his neighbor. He that is pure in the flesh, let him be so, and not boast, knowing that it is Another who bestows his continence upon him. 3 Let us consider, brothers and sisters, of what matter we were made; who and what manner of beings we were, when we came into the world; from what sepulchre and what darkness He that molded and created us brought us into His world, having prepared His benefits beforehand ere ever we were born. 4 Seeing therefore that we have all these things from Him, we ought in all things to give thanks to Him, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
39Senseless and stupid and foolish and ignorant men jeer and mock at us, desiring that they themselves should be exalted in their imaginations. 2 For what power has a mortal? or what strength has a child of earth. 3 For it is written; “There was no form before mine eyes; only I heard a breath and a voice.” 4 What then? Shall a mortal be clean in the sight of the Lord; or shall a man be unblamable for his works? seeing that He is distrustful against His servants and notes some perversity against His angels. 5 Nay, the heaven is not clean in His sight. Away then, you that dwell in houses of clay, whereof, even of the same clay, we ourselves are made. He smote them like a moth, and from morn to even they are no more. Because they could not succor themselves, they perished. 6 He breathed on them and they died, because they had no wisdom. 7 But call you, if perhaps one shall obey you, or if you shall see one of the holy angels. For wrath kills the foolish man, and envy slays him that has gone astray. 8 And I have seen fools throwing out roots, but forthwith their habitation was eaten up. 9 Far be their sons from safety. May they be mocked at the gates of inferiors, and there shall be none to deliver them. For the things which are prepared for them, the righteous shall eat; but they themselves shall not be delivered from evils.
40Forasmuch then as these things are manifest beforehand, and we have searched into the depths of the Divine knowledge, we ought to do all things in order, as many as the Master has commanded us to perform at their appointed seasons. 2 Now the offerings and ministrations He commanded to be performed with care, and not to be done rashly or in disorder, but at fixed times and seasons. 3 And where and by whom He would have them performed, He Himself fixed by His supreme will: that all things being done with piety according to His good pleasure might be acceptable to His will. 4 They therefore that make their offerings at the appointed seasons are acceptable and blessed: for while they follow the institutions of the Master they cannot go wrong. 5 For to the high priest his proper services have been assigned, and to the priests their proper office is appointed, and upon the levites their proper ministrations are laid. The layman is bound by the layman’s ordinances.
41Let each of you, brothers and sisters, in his own order give thanks to God, maintaining a good conscience and not transgressing the appointed rule of his service, but acting with all seemliness. 2 Not in every place, brothers and sisters, are the continual daily sacrifices offered, or the freewill offerings, or the sin offerings and the trespass offerings, but in Jerusalem alone. And even there the offering is not made in every place, but before the sanctuary in the court of the altar; and this too through the high priest and the aforesaid ministers, after the victim to be offered has been inspected for blemishes. 3 They therefore who do anything contrary to the seemly ordinance of His will receive death as the penalty. 4 You see, brothers and sisters, in proportion as greater knowledge has been vouchsafed to us, so much the more are we exposed to danger.
42The Apostles received the Gospel for us from the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ was sent forth from God. 2 So then Christ is from God, and the Apostles are from Christ. Both therefore came of the will of God in the appointed order. 3 Having therefore received a charge, and having been fully assured through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and confirmed in the word of God with full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth with the glad tidings that the kingdom of God should come. 4 So preaching everywhere in country and town, they appointed their firstfruits, when they had proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons to those that should believe. 5 And this they did in no new fashion; for indeed it had been written concerning bishops and deacons from very ancient times; for thus says the scripture in a certain place, “I will appoint their bishops in righteousness and their deacons in faith.”
43And what marvel, if they which were entrusted in Christ with such a work by God appointed the aforesaid persons? seeing that even the blessed Moses who was a faithful servant in all His house recorded for a sign in the sacred books all things that were enjoined upon him. And him also the rest of the prophets followed, bearing witness with him to the laws that were ordained by him. 2 For he, when jealousy arose concerning the priesthood, and there was dissension among the tribes which of them was adorned with the glorious name, commanded the twelve chiefs of the tribes to bring to him rods inscribed with the name of each tribe. And he took them and tied them and sealed them with the signet rings of the chiefs of the tribes, and put them away in the tabernacle of the testimony on the table of God. 3 And having shut the tabernacle he sealed the keys and likewise also the doors. 4 And he said to them, “Brothers and sisters, the tribe whose rod shall bud, this has God chosen to be priests and ministers to Him.” 5 Now when morning came, he called together all Israel, even the six hundred thousand men, and showed the seals to the chiefs of the tribes and opened the tabernacle of the testimony and drew forth the rods. And the rod of Aaron was found not only with buds, but also bearing fruit. 6 What think you, dearly beloved? Did not Moses know beforehand that this would come to pass? Assuredly he knew it. But that disorder might not arise in Israel, he did thus, to the end that the Name of the true and only God might be glorified: to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen..
44And our Apostles knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife over the name of the bishop’s office. 2 For this cause therefore, having received complete foreknowledge, they appointed the aforesaid persons, and afterwards they provided a continuance, that if these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed to their ministration. Those therefore who were appointed by them, or afterward by other men of repute with the consent of the whole Church, and have ministered unblamably to the flock of Christ in lowliness of mind, peacefully and with all modesty, and for long time have borne a good report with all—these men we consider to be unjustly thrust out from their ministration. 3 For it will be no light sin for us, if we thrust out those who have offered the gifts of the bishop’s office unblamably and holily. 4 Blessed are those presbyters who have gone before, seeing that their departure was fruitful and ripe: for they have no fear lest any one should remove them from their appointed place. 5 For we see that you have displaced certain persons, though they were living honorably, from the ministration which had been respected by them blamelessly.
45Be you contentious, brothers and sisters, and jealous about the things that pertain to salvation. 2 You have searched the scriptures, which are true, which were given through the Holy Ghost. 3 and you know that nothing unrighteous or counterfeit is written in them. You will not find that righteous persons have been thrust out by holy men. 4 Righteous men were persecuted, but it was by the lawless; they were imprisoned, but it was by the unholy. They were stoned by transgressors: they were slain by those who had conceived a detestable and unrighteous jealousy. 5 Suffering these things, they endured nobly. 6 For what must we say, brothers and sisters? Was Daniel cast into the lions’ den by those that feared God. 7 Or were Ananias and Azarias and Misael shut up in the furnace of fire by those that professed the excellent and glorious worship of the Most High? Far be this from our thoughts. Who then were they that did these things? Abominable men and full of all wickedness were stirred up to such a pitch of wrath, as to bring cruel suffering upon those that served God in a holy and blameless purpose, not knowing that the Most High is the champion and protector of those that in a pure conscience serve His excellent Name: to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. 8 But they that endured patiently in confidence inherited glory and honor; they were exalted, and had their names recorded by God in their memorial for ever and ever. Amen.
46To such examples as these therefore, brothers and sisters, we also ought to cleave. 2 For it is written; “Be loyal to the saints, for they that be loyal to them shall be sanctified.” 3 And again He says in another place; “With the guiltless person you shall be guiltless, and with the elect you shall be elect, and with the crooked you shall deal crookedly.” 4 Let us therefore cleave to the guiltless and righteous: and these are the elect of God. 5 Wherefore are there strifes and wraths and factions and divisions and war among you. 6 Have we not one God and one Christ and one Spirit of grace that was poured upon us? And is there not one calling in Christ. 7 Wherefore do we tear and rend asunder the members of Christ, and stir up factions against our own body, and reach such a pitch of folly, as to forget that we are members one of another. 8 Remember the words of Jesus our Lord: for He said, “Woe to that man; it were good for him if he had not been born, rather than that he should offend one of My elect. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about him, and he be cast into the sea, than that he should pervert one of My elect.” 9 Your division has perverted many; it has brought many to despair, many to doubting, and all of us to sorrow. And your sedition still continues.
47Take up the epistle of the blessed Paul the Apostle. 2 What wrote he first to you in the beginning of the Gospel. 3 Of a truth he charged you in the Spirit concerning himself and Cephas and Apollos, because that even then you had made parties. 4 Yet that making of parties brought less sin upon you; for you were partisans of Apostles that were highly reputed, and of a man approved in their sight. 5 But now mark you, who they are that have perverted you and diminished the glory of your renowned love for the brotherhood. 6 It is shameful, dearly beloved, yes, utterly shameful and unworthy of your conduct in Christ, that it should be reported that the very steadfast and ancient Church of the Corinthians, for the sake of one or two persons, makes sedition against its presbyters. 7 And this report has reached not only us, but those also which differ from us, so that you even heap blasphemies on the Name of the Lord by reason of your folly, and moreover create peril for yourselves.
48Let us therefore root this out quickly, and let us fall down before the Master and entreat Him with tears, that He may show Himself propitious and be reconciled to us, and may restore us to the seemly and pure conduct which belongs to our love of the brothers and sisters. 2 For this is a gate of righteousness opened to life, as it is written; “Open me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter in thereby and preach the Lord.” 3 “This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter in thereby.” 4 Seeing then that many gates are opened, this is that gate which is in righteousness, even that which is in Christ, whereby all are blessed that have entered in and direct their path in holiness and righteousness, performing all things without confusion. 5 Let a man be faithful, let him be able to expound a deep saying, let him be wise in the discernment of words, let him be strenuous in deeds, let him be pure. 6 for so much the more ought he to be lowly in mind, in proportion as he seems to be the greater; and he ought to seek the common advantage of all, and not his own.
49Let the one that has love in Christ fulfill the commandments of Christ. 2 Who can declare the bond of the love of God. 3 Who is sufficient to tell the majesty of its beauty. 4 The height, whereto love exalts, is unspeakable. 5 Love joins us to God; love covers a multitude of sins; love endures all things, is long-suffering in all things. There is nothing coarse, nothing arrogant in love. Love has no divisions, love makes no seditions, love does all things in concord. In love were all the elect of God made perfect; without love nothing is well pleasing to God. 6 in love the Master took us to Himself; for the love which He had toward us, Jesus Christ our Lord has given His blood for us by the will of God, and His flesh for our flesh and His life for our lives.
50You see, dearly beloved, how great and marvelous a thing is love, and there is no declaring its perfection. 2 Who is sufficient to be found therein, save those to whom God shall vouchsafe it? Let us therefore entreat and ask of His mercy, that we may be found blameless in love, standing apart from the factiousness of men. All the generations from Adam to this day have passed away: but those that by God’s grace were perfected in love dwell in the abode of the pious; and they shall be made manifest in the visitation of the Kingdom of God. 3 For it is written; “Enter into the closet for a very little while, until My anger and My wrath shall pass away, and I will remember a good day and will raise you from your tombs.” 4 Blessed were we, dearly beloved, if we should be doing the commandments of God in concord of love, to the end that our sins may through love be forgiven us. 5 For it is written; “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall impute no sin, neither is deceit in his mouth.” 6 This declaration of blessedness was pronounced upon those that have been elected by God through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
51For all our transgressions which we have committed through any of the wiles of the adversary, let us entreat that we may obtain forgiveness. Yes and they also, who set themselves up as leaders of faction and division, ought to look to the common ground of hope. 2 For such as walk in fear and love desire that they themselves should fall into suffering rather than their neighbors; and they pronounce condemnation against themselves rather than against the harmony which has been handed down to us nobly and righteously. 3 For it is good for a man to make confession of his trespasses rather than to harden his heart, as the heart of those was hardened who made sedition against Moses the servant of God; whose condemnation was clearly manifest.[7] 4 for they went down to Hades alive, and Death shall be their shepherd. 5 Pharaoh and his host and all the rulers of Egypt, their chariots and their horsemen, were overwhelmed in the depths of the Red Sea and perished for none other reason but because their foolish hearts were hardened after the signs and the wonders had been wrought in the land of Egypt by the hand of Moses the servant of God.
52The Master, brothers and sisters, has need of nothing at all. He desires not anything of any man, save to confess to Him. 2 For the elect David says; “I will confess to the Lord, and it shall please Him more than a young calf that grows horns and hoofs. Let the poor see it, and rejoice.” 3 And again He says; “Sacrifice to God a sacrifice of praise, and pay your vows to the Most High: and call upon Me in the day of your affliction, and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” 4 For a sacrifice to God is a broken spirit.
53For you know, and know well, the sacred scriptures, dearly beloved, and you have searched into the oracles of God. We write these things therefore to put you in remembrance. 2 When Moses went up into the mountain and had spent forty days and forty nights in fasting and humiliation, God said to him; “Moses, Moses, come down, quickly hence, for My people whom you leadest forth from the land of Egypt have wrought iniquity: they have transgressed quickly out of the way which you did command to them: they have made for themselves molten images.” 3 And the Lord said to him; “I have spoken to you once and twice saying, I have seen this people, and behold it is stiff-necked. Let Me destroy them utterly, and I will blot out their name from under heaven, and I will make of you a nation great and wonderful and numerous more than this.” 4 And Moses said; “No, not so, Lord! Forgive this people their sin, or blot me also out of the book of the living.” 5 O mighty love! O unsurpassable perfection! The servant is bold with his Master; he asks forgiveness for the multitude, or he demands that himself also be blotted out with them.
54Who therefore is noble among you? Who is compassionate? Who is filled with love. 2 Let him say; “If by reason of me there be faction and strife and divisions, I retire, I depart, whither you will, and I do that which is ordered by the people: only let the flock of Christ be at peace with its duly appointed presbyters.” 3 The one that shall have done this, shall win for himself great renown in Christ, and every place will receive him: for the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. 4 Thus have they done and will do, that live as citizens of the kingdom of God which brings no regrets.
55But, to bring forward examples of Gentiles also; many kings and rulers, when some season of pestilence pressed upon them, being taught by oracles have delivered themselves over to death, that they might rescue their fellow citizens through their own blood. Many have retired from their own cities, that they might have no more seditions. 2 We know that many among ourselves have delivered themselves to bondage, that they might ransom others. Many have sold themselves to slavery, and receiving the price paid for themselves have fed others. 3 Many women being strengthened through the grace of God have performed many manly deeds. 4 The blessed Judith, when the city was beleaguered, asked of the elders that she might be suffered to go forth into the camp of the aliens.[8] 5 So she exposed herself to peril and went forth for love of her country and of her people which were beleaguered; and the Lord delivered Holophernes into the hand of a woman. 6 To no less peril did Esther also, who was perfect in faith, expose herself, that she might deliver the twelve tribes of Israel, when they were on the point to perish. For through her fasting and her humiliation she entreated the all seeing Master, the God of the ages; and He, seeing the humility of her soul, delivered the people for whose sake she encountered the peril.
56Therefore let us also make intercession for those that are in any transgression, that forbearance and humility may be given them, to the end that they may yield not to us, but to the will of God. For so shall the compassionate remembrance of them with God and the saints be fruitful to them, and perfect. 2 Let us accept chastisement, whereat no man ought to be vexed, dearly beloved. The admonition which we give one to another is good and exceeding useful; for it joins us to the will of God. 3 For thus says the holy word; “The Lord has indeed chastened me, and has not delivered me over to death.” 4 “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every soul whom He receives.” 5 For the righteous, it is said, shall chasten me in mercy and shall reprove me, but let not the mercy of sinners anoint my head. 6 And again He says; “Blessed is the man whom the Lord has reproved, and refuse not you the admonition of the Almighty. For He causes pain, and He restores again.” 7 “He has smitten, and His hands have healed.” 8 “Six times shall He rescue you from afflictions and at the seventh no evil shall touch you.” 9 “In famine He shall deliver you from death, and in war He shall release you from the arm of the sword.” 10 “And from the scourge of the tongue He shall hide you and you shall not be afraid when evils approach.” 11 “You shall laugh at the unrighteous and wicked, and of the wild beasts you shall not be afraid.” 12 “For wild beasts shall be at peace with you.” 13 “Then shall you know that your house shall be at peace: and the abode of your tabernacle shall not go wrong.” 14 “and you shall know that your seed is many, and your children as the plenteous herbage of the field.” 15 “And you shall come to the grave as ripe corn reaped in due season, or as the heap of the threshing floor gathered together at the right time.” 16 You see, dearly beloved, how great protection there is for those that are chastened by the Master: for being a kind father He chastens us to the end that we may obtain mercy through His holy chastisement.
57You therefore that laid the foundation of the sedition, submit yourselves to the presbyters and receive chastisement to repentance, bending the knees of your heart. 2 Learn to submit yourselves, laying aside the arrogant and proud stubbornness of your tongue. For it is better for you to be found little in the flock of Christ and to have your name on God’s roll than to be had in exceeding honor and yet be cast out from the hope of Him. 3 For thus says the All virtuous Wisdom; “Behold I will pour out for you a saying of My breath, and I will teach you My word.” 4 “Because I called and you obeyed not, and I held out words and you heeded not, but made My councils of none effect, and were disobedient to My reproofs; therefore I also will laugh at your destruction, and will rejoice over you when ruin comes upon you, and when confusion overtakes you suddenly, and your overthrow is at hand like a whirlwind.” 5 “or when you call upon Me, yet will I not hear you. Evil men shall seek Me and not find Me: for they hated wisdom, and chose not the fear of the Lord, neither would they give heed to My councils, but mocked at My reproofs.” 6 “Therefore they shall eat the fruits of their own way, and shall be filled with their own ungodliness.” 7 “For because they wronged babes, they shall be slain, and inquisition shall destroy the ungodly. But the one that hears Me shall dwell safely trusting in hope, and shall be quiet from all fear of all evil.”
58Let us therefore be obedient to His most holy and glorious Name, thereby escaping the threatenings which were spoken of old by the mouth of Wisdom against those which disobey, that we may dwell safely, trusting in the most holy Name of His majesty. 2 Receive our counsel, and you shall have no occasion of regret. For as God lives, and the Lord Jesus Christ lives, and the Holy Spirit—who are the faith and the hope of the elect—so surely shall the one who with lowliness of mind and instant in gentleness has without regretfulness performed the ordinances and commandments that are given by God, be enrolled and have a name among the number of those that are saved through Jesus Christ, through whom is the glory to Him for ever and ever. Amen.
59But if certain persons should be disobedient to the words spoken by Him through us, let them understand that they will entangle themselves in no slight transgression and danger. 2 but we shall be guiltless of this sin. And we will ask, with instancy of prayer and supplication, that the Creator of the universe may guard intact to the end the number that has been numbered of His elect throughout the whole world, through His beloved Son Jesus Christ, through whom He called us from darkness to light, from ignorance to the full knowledge of the glory of His Name. 3 “Grant to us, Lord, that we may set our hope on Your Name which is the primal source of all creation, and open the eyes of our hearts that we may know You, who alone abide Highest in the lofty, Holy in the holy; who lay low the insolence of the proud, who set the lowly on high, and bring the lofty low; who make rich and make poor; who kill and make alive; who alone are the Benefactor of spirits and the God of all flesh; who look into the abysses, who scan the works of man; the Succorer of those that are in peril, the Savior of those that are in despair; the Creator and Overseer of every spirit; who multiplies the nations upon earth, and has chosen out from all men those that love You through Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, through whom You instructed us, sanctified us, honored us.” 4 “We beseech You, Lord and Master, to be our help and succor. Save those among us who are in tribulation; have mercy on the lowly; lift up the fallen; show Yourself to the needy; heal the ungodly; convert the wanderers of Your people; feed the hungry; release our prisoners; raise up the weak; comfort the fainthearted. Let all the Gentiles know that You are God alone, and Jesus Christ is Your Son, and we are Your people and the sheep of Your pasture.”
60“You through Your operations did make manifest the everlasting fabric of the world. You, Lord, did create the earth. You that are faithful throughout all generations, righteous in Your judgments, marvelous in strength and excellence, You that are wise in creating and prudent in establishing that which You have made, that are good in the things which are seen and faithful with those that trust in You, pitiful and compassionate, forgive us our iniquities and our unrighteousnesses and our transgressions and shortcomings.”[9] 2 “Lay not to our account every sin of Your servants and Your handmaids, but cleanse us with the cleansing of Your truth, and guide our steps to walk in holiness and righteousness and singleness of heart, and to do such things as are good and well pleasing in Your sight and in the sight of our rulers.” 3 “Yes, Lord, make Your face to shine upon us in peace for our good, that we may be sheltered by Your mighty hand and delivered from every sin by Your uplifted arm. And deliver us from those that hate us wrongfully.” 4 “Give concord and peace to us and to all that dwell on the earth, as You gave to our fathers, when they called on You in faith and truth with holiness, that we may be saved while we render obedience to Your almighty and most excellent Name, and to our rulers and governors upon the earth.”
61“You, Lord and Master, have given them the power of sovereignty through Your excellent and unspeakable might, that we knowing the glory and honor which You have given them may submit ourselves to them, in nothing resisting Your will. Grant to them therefore, Lord, health, peace, concord, stability, that they may administer the government which You have given them without failure.” 2 “For You, O heavenly Master, King of the ages, give to the sons of men glory and honor and power over all things that are upon the earth. Do You, Lord, direct their counsel according to that which is good and well pleasing in Your sight, that, administering in peace and gentleness with Godliness the power which You have given them, they may obtain Your favor.” 3 “O You, who alone are able to do these things and things far more exceeding good than these for us, we praise You through the High priest and Guardian of our souls, Jesus Christ, through whom be the glory and the majesty to You both now and for all generations and for ever and ever. Amen.”
62As touching those things which befit our religion and are most useful for a virtuous life to such as would guide their steps in holiness and righteousness, we have written fully to you, brothers and sisters. 2 For concerning faith and repentance and genuine love and temperance and sobriety and patience we have handled every argument, putting you in remembrance, that you ought to please Almighty God in righteousness and truth and long suffering with holiness, laying aside malice and pursuing concord in love and peace, being instant in gentleness; even as our fathers, of whom we spoke before, pleased Him, being lowly minded toward their Father and God and Creator and towards all men. 3 And we have put you in mind of these things the more gladly, since we knew well that we were writing to men who are faithful and highly accounted and have diligently searched into the oracles of the teaching of God.
63Therefore it is right for us to give heed to so great and so many examples and to submit the neck and occupying the place of obedience to take our side with those that are the leaders of our souls, that ceasing from this foolish dissension we may attain to the goal which lies before us in truthfulness, keeping aloof from every fault. 2 For you will give us great joy and gladness, if you render obedience to the things written by us through the Holy Spirit, and root out the unrighteous anger of your jealousy, according to the entreaty which we have made for peace and concord in this letter. 3 And we have also sent faithful and prudent men that have walked among us from youth to old age unblamably, who shall also be witnesses between you and us. 4 And this we have done that you might know that we have had, and still have, every solicitude that you should be speedily at peace.
64Finally may the All seeing God and Master of spirits and Lord of all flesh, who chose the Lord Jesus Christ, and us through Him for a peculiar people, grant to every soul that is called after His excellent and holy Name faith, fear, peace, patience, long-suffering, temperance, chastity and soberness, that they may be well pleasing to His Name through our High priest and Guardian Jesus Christ, through whom to Him be glory and majesty, might and honor, both now and for ever and ever. Amen.
65Now quickly send back to us our messengers Claudius Ephebus and Valerius Bito, together with Fortunatus also, in peace and with joy, to the end that they may the more quickly report the peace and harmony which is prayed for and earnestly desired by us, that we also may the more speedily rejoice over your good order. 2 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and with all men in all places who have been called by God and through Him, through whom be glory and honor, power and greatness and eternal dominion, to Him, from the ages past and forever and ever. Amen.