62 We have now written to you, brethren,
sufficiently touching the things which befit our worship, and are most helpful
for a virtuous life to those who wish to guide their steps in piety and
righteousness. 2For we have touched on every
aspect of faith and repentance and true love and self-control and sobriety and
patience, and reminded you that you are bound to please almighty God with
holiness in righteousness and truth and long-suffering, and to live in concord,
bearing no malice, in love and peace with eager gentleness, even as our
fathers, whose example we quoted, were well-pleasing in their humility towards
God, the Father and Creator, and towards all men. 3And
we had the more pleasure in reminding you of this, because we knew quite well
that we were writing to men who were faithful and distinguished and had studied
the oracles of the teaching of God.
63 It is
therefore right that we should respect so many and so great examples, and bow
the neck, and take up the position of obedience, so that ceasing from vain
sedition we may gain without any fault the goal set before us in truth. 2For you will give us joy and gladness, if you are
obedient to the things which we have written through the Holy Spirit, and root
out the wicked passion of your jealousy according to the entreaty for peace and
concord which we have made in this letter. 3And
we have sent faithful and prudent men, who have lived among us without blame
from youth to old age, and they shall be witnesses between you and us. 4We have done this that you may know that our whole
care has been and is directed to your speedy attainment of peace.
64 Now may God,
the all-seeing, and the master of spirits, and the Lord of all flesh, who chose
out the Lord Jesus Christ, and us through him for “a peculiar people,” give
unto every soul that is called after his glorious and holy name, faith, fear,
peace, patience and long-suffering, self-control, purity, sobriety, that they
may be well-pleasing to his name through our high priest and guardian Jesus
Christ, through whom be to him glory and majesty, might and honour, both now
and to all eternity. Amen.
65 Send back
quickly to us our messengers Claudius Ephebus and Valerius Vito and Fortunatus,
in peace with gladness, in order that they may report the sooner the peace and
concord which we pray for and desire, that we also may the more speedily
rejoice in your good order. 2The grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ be with you and with all, in every place, who have been called
by God through him, through whom be to him glory, honour, power and greatness
and eternal dominion, from eternity to eternity. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment