This

For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.

For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him;

Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”

But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.

…because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sternly, so that they will be sound in the faith

In this way they can train the young women to love their husbands and children,

This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people.

For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—

I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.

…how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.

For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.”

No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.

Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!

And this we will do, if God permits.

Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation.

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?

And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,

And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,

Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer.

The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.

A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place.

When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties.

By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation.

…saying, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”

But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.

The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says:

“This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts and inscribe them on their minds.”

This is why the ancients were commended.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?

Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!

But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.”

Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”

…consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully,

…but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.

To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

…and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.

For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.

How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands,

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you.

Through Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;

…because I know that this tent will soon be laid aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

And we ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

…if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.

Beloved, this is now my second letter to you. Both of them are reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking

Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness

He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life.

And this is the life that was revealed; we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.

But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him:

Beloved, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but an old one, which you have had from the beginning. This commandment is the message you have heard.

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.

Who is the liar, if it is not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son.

And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.

The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.

By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence:

And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.

Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.

By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

…and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

…and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.

In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.

In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.

And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.

By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments.

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,