For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” | This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” |
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” | “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” |
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But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. | But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. |
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. | For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. |
Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility. | Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor. |
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. | There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. |
But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. | Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes. |
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? | The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? |
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. | So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. |
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. | You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. |
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. | But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. |
It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel. | Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling. |
Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. | Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. |
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. | Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. |
Now godliness with contentment is great gain. | Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. |
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. | Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. |
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. | “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” |
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” | After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.” |
The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility. | Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor. |
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. | Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. |
In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise. | Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. |
By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. | This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here. |
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. | The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. |
To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. | The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices. |
The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. | The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. |