5 [2:17]These are fountains without water, clouds driven by a tempest, to which is reserved the blackness of darkness. [2:18]For speaking extravagant words of vanity, they entice with carnal desires of lewdness those scarcely escaped from them, those living in error, [2:19]promising them liberty, when they themselves are servants of corruption; for by whatever a man is overcome, to this is he made a servant. [2:20]For if having escaped the defilements of the world by a knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled and overcome by them, the last state of those persons is worse than the first. [2:21]For it is better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, having known, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. [2:22] But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog returned to his vomit, and the swine that was washed to wallowing in filth.

CHAPTER II.

THE COMING OF CHRIST, ETC.

1 [3:1]THIS second epistle, beloved, I now write to you, in which I excite your pure minds by remembrance, [3:2]to remember the words spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour, [3:3] knowing this first, that in the last days scoffers shall come with scoffing walking after their inordinate desires, [3:4]and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the world. [3:5]For of this they are willingly ignorant, that the heavens were of old, and the earth was made of water and by water by the word of G.o.d, [3:6]by which the world that then was, being overflowed with water, was destroyed. [3:7]But the present heavens and the earth have been preserved by his word, being kept for fire, at the day of the judgment and destruction of wicked men.

2 [3:8]But let not this one thing escape you, beloved, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

[3:9]The Lord is not slow in respect to his promise, as some men account slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to a change of mind.

3 [3:10]But the day of the Lord will come as a thief, in which the heavens shall pa.s.s away with a crash, and the elements be melted with heat, and the earth and the works in it be consumed. [3:11]All these things therefore being dissolved, what persons ought we to be in holy conduct and piety, [3:12] expecting and hastening the coming of the day of G.o.d, in which the heavens being burnt up will be dissolved and the elements be melted with heat. [3:13]But we, according to his promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.

4 [3:14]Wherefore, beloved, looking for these things, be diligent that you may be found in him without a spot and blemish, in peace, [3:15]and consider the long-suffering of the Lord our salvation; as also our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom given to him wrote to you, [3:16]as also in all his epistles speaking of these things, in which are some things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest as they also do the other Scriptures to their destruction.

[3:17]Do you therefore, beloved, knowing [these things] before, be on your guard not to be carried away with the error of the wicked and fall from your steadfastness, [3:18]but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever.

THE EPISTLE OF JUDAS

A.D. 67.

FALSE TEACHERS, ETC.

1 [1:1]JUDAS, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to the beloved in G.o.d the Father, and the called who are kept by Jesus Christ.

[1:2]Mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.

2 [1:3]Beloved, giving all diligence to write to you concerning the common salvation, I was under a necessity to write and exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. [1:4]For some men have come in by deception, who were of old appointed to this judgment, impious, changing the grace of our G.o.d into lewdness, and denying our only master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

3 [1:5]But I wish to remind you, though you once knew all, that the Lord having saved his people from Egypt, afterwards destroyed those that believed not, [1:6] and the angels who kept not their own province, but left their habitation, he has kept under darkness in eternal chains, for the judgment of the great day; [1:7]as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities about them, committing fornication in the same manner as these and going after unnatural lewdness, are made an example, enduring the punishment of eternal fire.

4 [1:8]In like manner also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject government, and blaspheme glories. [1:9]But Michael the arch-angel, when disputing with the devil he reasoned about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a charge of blasphemy, but said, The Lord rebuke you. [1:10]But these blaspheme what they do not understand, and what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. [1:11]Woe to them; for they have gone in the way of Cain, and rushed into the error of Balaam for a reward, and perished in the contradiction of Korah. [1:12]These are breakers at your love-feasts, feasting with you without fear, feeding themselves, clouds without water driven about by winds, autumnal trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots, [1:13]wild waves of the sea foaming with their own shame, wandering stars to which is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

5 [1:14]And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of them, saying, Behold, the Lord came with ten thousand of his saints [1:15]to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the wicked among them of all the deeds of impiety which they have impiously committed, and of all the hard speeches which impious sinners have spoken against him.

[1:16]These are complainers, censorious, walking after their inordinate desires, and their mouth speaks proud words, showing admiration of persons for the sake of gain.

6 [1:17]But do you, beloved, remember the words spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, [1:18]that they said to you, That in the last time there shall be scoffers, walking in their own impious desires. [1:19]These are they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. [1:20]But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith, pray with the Holy Spirit. [1:21]Keep yourselves in the love of G.o.d, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. [1:22]And reprove some, separatists, [1:23]and some save, plucking them from the fire, but have mercy on others with fear, hating even the garment that is defiled by the flesh.

7 [1:24]And to him that is able to keep you without falling, and to present you blameless before his glory, with great joy, [1:25]to G.o.d our only Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power and authority before all worlds, both now and for ever more; amen.

FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN.

A. D. 68.

CHAPTER I.

CHRIST THE LIFE, G.o.d IS LIGHT, WALKING WITH HIM, FALSE TEACHERS, ETC.

1 [1:1]THAT which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld and our hands felt, concerning the Word of life,-- [1:2]and the life was made manifest, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us,-- [1:3]that which we have seen and heard, we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. [1:4]And these things we write to you, that your joy may be complete.

2 [1:5]And this is the message which we have heard from him and declare to you, That G.o.d is light, and with him there is no darkness. [1:6]If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie and observe not the truth; [1:7]but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. [1:8]If we say we have not sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [1:9]If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all wickedness. [1:10]If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

3 [2:1]My little children, these things I write to you that you may not sin. But if any one has sinned, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, [2:2]and he is a propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but for all the world. [2:3]And by this we know that we have known him, if we keep his commandments. [2:4]He that says, I have known him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; [2:5]but whoever keeps his word, in him truly is the love of G.o.d perfected. By this we know that we are in him. [2:6]He that says he continues in him, ought also himself so to walk as he walked.

4 [2:7]Beloved, I write not a new commandment to you, but an old commandment, which you had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you heard. [2:8]Again, a new commandment I write you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is past and the true light now appears. [2:9]He that says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness till now. [2:10] He that loves his brother continues in the light, and there is no offense in him; [2:11]but he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and knows not where he goes, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

5 [2:12]I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven on account of his name. [2:13]I write to you, fathers, because you have known him that is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I wrote to you, little children, because you have known the Father. [2:14]I wrote to you, fathers, because you have known him that is from the beginning. I wrote to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of G.o.d continues in you, and you have overcome the evil one. [2:15]Love not the world, nor the things in the world. If any one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; [2:16]for all that is in the world, the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. [2:17]And the world pa.s.ses away, and its desires; but he that does the will of G.o.d continues for ever.

6 [2:18]Little children, it is the last time; and as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many have become anti-christs; whence we know that it is the last time. [2:19]They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us they would have continued with us; but [they went out from us] that they might be manifest that they are not all of us. [2:20]And you have an anointing from the Holy One, and know all things. [2:21]I have not written to you because you know not the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. [2:22]Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the anti-christ, [the man that] denies the Father and the Son. [2:23]No one that denies the Son has the Father; he that confesses the Son has the Father also. [2:24]Let that which you heard from the beginning continue in you. If that which you heard from the beginning continues in you, you also shall continue in the Son and in the Father. [2:25]And this is the promise which he promised us, the eternal life.

7 [2:26]I have written these things to you concerning those who deceive you. [2:27]And the anointing which you received from him continues in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; but as his anointing teaches you of all things, and is true and is not a lie, even as it has taught you, continue in him.

8 [2:28]And now, little children, continue in him, that when he shall appear we may have boldness, and not be put to shame by him at his coming. [2:29]If you know that he is righteous, you know that every one who does righteousness has been born of him.

9 [3:1]See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of G.o.d. The world therefore knows us not, because it knew him not.

10 [3:2]Beloved, now are we children of G.o.d, and it does not yet appear what we shall be. We know, that if he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. [3:3]And every one that has this hope in him purifies himself, as he is pure. [3:4]Every one that commits sin commits also wickedness, and sin is wickedness. [3:5]And we know that he was manifested to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. [3:6]No one that continues in him sins; no one that sins has seen him, or known him.

11 [3:7]Little children, let no one deceive you. He that does righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous; [3:8]he that commits sin is of the devil, for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this was the Son of G.o.d manifested, to destroy the works of the devil.

[3:9]No one that has been born of G.o.d commits sin, for his seed continues in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been born of G.o.d.

[3:10]By this are the children of G.o.d manifest, and the children of the devil; no one that does not righteousness is of G.o.d, and no one that loves not his brother. [3:11]For this is the message which you heard from the beginning; that we should love one another; [3:12]not as Cain was of the evil one and killed his brother; and why did he kill him?

because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

12 [3:13]Wonder not, brothers, if the world hates you. [3:14]We know that we have pa.s.sed from death to life, because we love the brothers; he that loves not, continues in death. [3:15]Every one that hates his brother is a murderer; and we know that no murderer has eternal life continuing in him. [3:16]By this we have known love, because he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. [3:17]And whoever has the goods of the world and sees his brother have need, and withholds his compa.s.sions from him, how continues the love of G.o.d in him?

13 [3:18]My little children, let us not love in word nor tongue, but in work and truth. [3:19]And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall a.s.sure our hearts before him; [3:20]for if our minds condemn us, G.o.d is greater than our minds and knows all things.

14 [3:21]Beloved, if our minds do not condemn us, we have boldness before G.o.d, [3:22]and what we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things which are pleasing in his sight.

[3:23]And this is his commandment; that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as he gave commandment.

[3:24]And he that keeps his commandments continues in him and he in him; and by this we know that he continues in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.

CHAPTER II.

FALSE SPIRITS, BROTHERLY LOVE, THE LOVE OF G.o.d, THE THREE WITNESSES, ETC.

1 [4:1]BELOVED, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits whether they are of G.o.d; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

[4:2]By this you know the Spirit of G.o.d; every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of G.o.d, [4:3]and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of G.o.d. And this is the [spirit] of anti-christ, of which you have heard that he is coming, and he is now in the world already.