Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:

For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe(because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood,(for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.