according to the truth of the Lord, who was the servant of all.
11 Whom if we please in this present world, we shall also be made partakers of that which is to come, according as he has promised to us, that he will raise us from the dead; and that if we shall walk worthy of him, we shall also reign together with him, if we believe.
12 In like manner the younger men must be unblameable in all things; above all, taking care of their purity, and to restrain themselves from all evil. For it is good to be cut off from the lusts that are in the world; because every such lust warreth against the spirit: and neither fornicators, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, shall inherit the kingdom of God; nor they who do such things as are foolish and unreasonable.
13 Wherefore ye must needs abstain from all these things, being subject to the priests and deacons, as unto God and Christ.
14 The virgins admonish to walk in a spotless and pure conscience.
15 And let the elders be compassionate and merciful towards all; turning them from their errors; seeking out those that are weak; not forgetting the widows, the fatherless, and the poor; but always providing what is good both in the sight of God and man.
16 Abstaining from all wrath, respect of persons, and unrighteous judgment; and especially being free from all covetousness.
17 Not easy to believe anything against any; not severe in judgment; knowing that we are all debtors in the point of sin.
18 If therefore we pray to the Lord that he would forgive us, we ought also to forgive others; for we are all in the sight of our Lord and God; and must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ; and shall every one give an account of himself.
19 Let us therefore serve him in fear, and with all reverence as both himself hath commanded; and as the Apostles who have preached the Gospel unto us, and the prophets who have foretold the coming of our Lord have taught us:
20 Being zealous of what is good; abstaining from all offence, and from false brethren; and from those who bear the name of Christ in hypocrisy; who deceive vain men.
CHAP. III.
1 As to faith in our Saviour Christ; his nature and sufferings, the resurrection and judgment. 3 Exhorts to prayer 5 and steadfastness in the faith, from the examples of Christ, 7 and Apostles and saints, and exhorts to carefulness in all well-doing.
FOR whosoever does not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, he is Antichrist: and whoever does not confess his suffering upon the cross, is from the devil.
2 And whosoever perverts the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts, and says that there shall neither be any resurrection, nor judgment, he is the first-born of Satan.
3 Wherefore leaving the vanity of many, and their false doctrines, let us return to the word that was delivered to us from the beginning: Watching unto prayer; and persevering in fasting;
4 With supplication beseeching the all-seeing God not to lead us into temptation; as the Lord hath said, The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak.
