Moral Rules 1 part 6/7

But Peter and the apostles answered and said:

We must obey God rather than men

except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me

But I make no account of it, nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God

For you yourselves know, brothers, our coming to you, that it was not in vain;

but though we had already suffered before and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much conflict

That one must pray for the progress of those who have believed, and give thanks for it.

I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.

Father, those whom thou hast given me, I will that where I am, they also may be with me.

In that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit, and said:

I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Yea, Father, for so it was well-pleasing before thee.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.

For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.

For God is my witness, how I long for you all in the tender affection of Jesus Christ.

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense unto the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

to do this also for others, unto the glory of God.

And the apostles, when they had returned, related to him all that they had done.

And when they had arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them.

But that ye also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things; whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that ye may know our affairs.

That one must care not only for those present, but also for those absent;

and do everything as the need of edification requires.

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold;

and they shall hear my voice;

and there shall be one flock, one shepherd.

That one must yield to those who call one to a work of kindness.

While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, My daughter has just died;

but come and lay your hand upon her, and she will live.

And Jesus arose and followed him.

And as Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him not to delay to come to them.

Then Peter arose and went with them.

That one must, through visitation, confirm those who have received the word of truth.

And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas:

Let us return and visit our brothers in every city where we have proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.

But we, brethren, having been bereft of you for a short time—in presence, not in heart—endeavored the more abundantly, with great desire, to see your face.

and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and to encourage you concerning your faith, that no one be unsettled by these afflictions;

for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.

That it is the mark of one who loves the Lord, with much tender affection toward those being taught, to care for them in every way with all diligence, even if it be necessary to persevere in teaching, both in public and in private, unto death.

The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter:

Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these? He said to him:

He said to him again a second time:

Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me? He said to him:

Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me? Peter was grieved that he said to him the third time:

Do you love me? And he said to him:

And on the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the next day;

and he prolonged his speech until midnight.

And when he had gone up again, and broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even until daybreak, he departed.

how I kept back nothing profitable, but declared it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus;

our labor and toil;

working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached the gospel of God, and so forth.

That the one who presides over the word must be merciful and compassionate, and especially toward those afflicted in soul.

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples:

They that are well have no need of a physician, but they that are sick.

But go and learn what this means:

I desire mercy, and not sacrifice;

for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

And when he saw the crowds, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed, as sheep having no shepherd.

That one must also, in bodily needs, feel compassion for those entrusted to one, and take thought for them.

I have compassion on the crowd, because they have continued with me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away fasting, lest they faint on the way.

And a leper came to him, beseeching him, and kneeling before him, and saying to him: If you are willing, you can make me clean.

And Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him:

Now in these days, as the disciples were multiplying, a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews arose, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.

So the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said:

It is not right that we should forsake the word of God to serve tables.

Look out, brethren, from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint over this need.

That the one who presides over the word must not, out of ambition, act with his own hands in lesser matters, so as to fall short of the diligence owed to the greater ones.

So the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said:

It is not right that we should forsake the word of God to serve tables.

But we will devote ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

That one must not make an ostentatious display, nor make merchandise of the word of teaching by flattering the hearers, for the satisfaction of one's own pleasures or needs;

but must be such as speak in his presence unto the glory of God.

But all their works they do to be seen by men;

they broaden their phylacteries and enlarge the fringes of their garments;

and they love the chief places at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'

But you are not to be called 'Rabbi'; for one is your teacher;

but you are all brothers

And call no man your father on earth;

for one is your Father, he who is in the heavens

for one is your instructor, the Christ

My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me

If anyone is willing to do his will, he shall know concerning the teaching, whether it is from God, or whether I speak from myself

He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory;

but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him, this one is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him

For we are not, as the many, peddling the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ

For our exhortation was not from error, nor from uncleanness, nor in guile;

but even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak;

not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts

seeking glory from men, neither from you, nor from others, though we could have been burdensome, as apostles of Christ

That the one who presides over the word must not misuse his authority for insolent treatment of those subject to him;

nor indeed must he lord it over them;

but rather must hold his rank as an occasion for humility toward them

Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord set over his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord, when he comes, will find so doing

Truly I say to you, that he will set him over all his possessions

But if that evil servant says in his heart,

"My lord delays his coming," and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken;

the lord of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him, and in an hour that he does not know;

and will cut him in two, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth

And there arose also a contention among them, as to which of them was reckoned to be the greatest

And Jesus said to them,

The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors;

but let the greater among you become as the younger, and the leader as the one who serves

For who is greater, the one who reclines at table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? Yet I am among you as the one who serves

And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called for the elders of the church;

And when they had come to him, he said to them,

You know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility, and with many tears and trials that befell me through the plots of the Jews

For you gladly bear with the foolish, being wise yourselves

For you bear it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone takes from you, if someone exalts himself, if someone strikes you on the face

I speak with respect to dishonor, as though we had been weak in this matter

That one must not preach the gospel out of strife, or envy, or contentiousness toward some

Behold my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased

I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will declare judgment to the nations

He will not strive, nor cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets

Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, but some also out of good will;

the latter out of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel;

but the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking to add affliction to my bonds

That one must not employ human advantages for the preaching of the gospel, lest the grace of God be hidden by them

I give thanks to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and have revealed them

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel;

not with wisdom of word, lest the cross of Christ be made void

And I, when I came to you, brothers, came not with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified

And I was with you in weakness, and in much trembling;

and my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but with demonstration of the Spirit and of power;

that your faith might not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God

That one must not suppose that the success of the preaching is accomplished by one's own devices;

And such confidence we have through Christ toward God: not that we are sufficient of ourselves to reckon anything as from ourselves;

but our sufficiency is from God, who has also made us sufficient to become ministers of a new covenant

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God, and not from us

That the one entrusted with the preaching of the gospel must not acquire anything more than what is necessary for his own need

Do not acquire gold, nor silver, nor bronze for your belts;

nor a bag for the road, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff;

for the laborer is worthy of his food

Take nothing for the road, neither staffs, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; nor have two tunics apiece

I coveted no one's silver or gold or clothing; you yourselves know

No one serving as a soldier entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please the one who enlisted him

That one must not lend oneself to concern for worldly matters on behalf of those who busy themselves about such things out of personal attachment

And someone from the crowd said to him,

"Man, who appointed me a judge or arbiter over you?" [To Timothy]

No one serving as a soldier entangles himself with the affairs of this life — and so on

That those who, for the sake of pleasing their hearers, neglect the frank declaration of the will of God, enslaving themselves to those whom they wish to please, fall away from the lordship of the Lord

How can you believe, you who receive glory from one another, and do not seek the glory that is from the only God? [To Galatians]

If I were still pleasing men, I would not be a servant of Christ

That the teacher must have this goal set before him: to bring all to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, yet each in his own rank

You therefore shall be perfect, as your Father who is in heaven is perfect

But I ask not for these alone, but also for those who believe in me through their word,

that they all may be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us,

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

That one must instruct with patient endurance and gentleness those who set themselves in opposition, awaiting their repentance, until the measure of the care shown toward them has been fulfilled.

He will not strive, nor cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.

A bruised reed he will not break, and smoldering flax he will not quench, until he brings justice through to victory.

in the hope that God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to the full knowledge of the truth, and that they may return to soberness out of the snare of the devil.

That one must yield to those who, out of fear and reverence, decline the presence of the one preaching the word, and must not press upon them contentiously.

And the whole multitude of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear.

And he got into the boat and returned.

That one must withdraw also from those who, out of thanklessness, do not receive the preaching of the Gospel, and must not tolerate being benefited by them even for the necessary needs of the body.

and whoever does not receive you nor hear your words—as you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust from your feet.

But into whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say,

Even the dust of your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you;

nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has drawn near to you.

Now when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the word, testifying earnestly to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them,

Your blood be upon your own heads;

from now on I will go to the Gentiles.

That one must withdraw from those who, after every manner of care has been fulfilled toward them, still disobey.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

Behold, your house is left to you desolate.

It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you;

but since you thrust it away and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

For so the Lord has commanded us:

I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.

Reject a factious man after a first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned.

That toward all persons, in every matter, one must keep the exactness of the Lord's words, doing nothing out of partiality.

That one who presides over the word must, with much circumspection and much testing, in view of the aim of pleasing God, both do and say each thing, as one who ought also to be tested and attested by those very persons entrusted to him.

You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility, and with many tears and trials,

I have coveted no one's silver, or gold, or apparel.

You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my needs and to those who were with me.

You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we conducted ourselves toward you who believe, just as you know.

Whatever has been said in this connection concerning bishops and presbyters.

If anyone aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a good work.

But the bishop must be above reproach, and so forth.

Do not rebuke an elder, but exhort him as a father; younger men as brothers; older women as mothers; younger women as sisters, in all purity.

Flee youthful desires, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart.

But avoid foolish and ignorant controversies, knowing that they breed quarrels.

But you have closely followed my faith, teaching, conduct, purpose, endurance, persecutions, and sufferings,

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set right what remains, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you—if anyone is blameless, and so forth.

they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and the rest, whom they set before the apostles;

and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

That among the hearers, those who are trained in the Scriptures must test what is said by the teachers,

and receive what agrees with the Scriptures, but reject what is foreign to them,

and turn away all the more vehemently from those who persist in such teachings.

Woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out;

and likewise concerning the hand and the foot.

he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, that man is a thief and a robber.

But a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be accursed.

1. Do not despise prophecies.

Abstain from every form of evil.

That those who do not have much knowledge of the Scriptures must recognize the character of the saints by the fruits of the Spirit,

and receive such as these, but turn away from those who are otherwise.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

By their fruits you will know them.

Brethren, join in imitating me, and observe those who walk in such a way, just as you have us for a pattern.

That one must receive those who rightly divide the word of truth as the Lord himself, unto the glory of him who sent them, Jesus Christ our Lord.

He who receives you receives me,

He who receives whomever I send receives me;

He who hears you hears me,

And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise nor spurn, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.

That those who disobey those sent by the Lord do not confine the dishonor to these alone, but carry it up to him who sent them, and thereby draw upon themselves a judgment worse than that of Sodom and Gomorrah.

And whoever does not receive you nor hear your words, as you go out of that city or that house, shake off the dust of your feet.

Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

He who rejects you rejects me;

Therefore he who rejects, rejects not man but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to us.

That the teaching of the commandments of the Lord must be received as procuring eternal life and the kingdom of heaven.

and to perform it zealously, even though it may seem to be laborious.

Amen, amen, I say to you, that he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

And having preached the gospel to that city, and having made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith;

and that we must enter into the kingdom of heaven through many tribulations.

That one must receive reproof and rebuke thus, as a medicine that destroys passion and produces health.

Those who, being in the passion of man-pleasing, feign gentleness, and do not reprove those who sin, cause total harm, and plot against true life itself.

But if your brother sins against you, go, reprove him between you and him alone;

if he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

When you are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

That though that letter grieved you for a season, I now rejoice—not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved unto repentance.

For you were grieved according to God, that you might suffer loss in nothing through us.

For godly grief produces repentance unto salvation, not to be regretted.

That a husband must not be separated from his wife, nor a wife from her husband, except one be caught in fornication, or be hindered as regards godliness.

And it was said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.

But I say to you, that whoever divorces his wife, except for the cause of fornication, makes her commit adultery;

and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

But I say to you, that whoever divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery;

and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

But to the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife should not separate from her husband;

but if she does separate, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband;

and let not the husband send his wife away.

That it is not lawful for him who has divorced his own wife to marry another, nor for the woman divorced from her husband to be married to another.

But I say to you, that whoever divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery;

and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

That husbands must love their own wives, with the love with which Christ loved the Church, giving himself up for her, that he might sanctify her.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.

So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies, and so forth.

That wives must be subject to their own husbands, as also the Church is to Christ, doing the will of God.

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord;

for the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the Church;

and he himself is the savior of the body.

But as the Church is subject to Christ, so also let wives be to their own husbands in everything.

That they may train the young women to be lovers of their husbands, lovers of their children, discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

That women must not adorn themselves for the sake of outward beauty, but must have all diligence and care concerning good works, and consider this to be the true and fitting adornment for Christian women.

Likewise, that women adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control;

not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly clothing, but, what is fitting for women professing godliness, through good works.

Let your women keep silent in the churches;

for it is not permitted to them to speak, but to be in subjection.

But if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home.

For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

Let a woman learn in quietness, in all submission.

For Adam was formed first, then Eve.

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, having been deceived, fell into transgression.

But she will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, and love, and holiness, with self-control.

She was full of good works and acts of charity which she did.

Let a widow be enrolled who is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one husband;

well attested by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.