But we shouldalwaysgive thanksto Godfor you, brethrenbelovedby the Lord,becauseGodhas chosenyou from the beginningfor salvationthroughsanctificationby the Spiritand faithin the truth.
In the beginningGodcreatedthe heavensand the earth.
and sent[word] throughNathanthe prophet,and he namedhim Jedidiahfor the LORD'Ssake.
"From everlastingI was established,From the beginning,from the earliesttimesof the earth.
Declaringthe endfrom the beginning,And from ancienttimesthings whichhave not been done,Saying,My purposewill be established,And I will accomplishallMy goodpleasure';
The LORDappearedto him from afar,[saying], "I have lovedyou with an everlastinglove;ThereforeI have drawnyou with lovingkindness.
"Then I passedby you and sawyou, and behold,you were at the timefor love;so I spreadMy skirtoveryou and coveredyour nakedness.I also sworeto you and enteredinto a covenantwith you so that you becameMine," declaresthe LordGOD.
He saidto me, "O Daniel,manof highesteem,understandthe wordsthat I am about to tellyou and standupright,for I have nowbeen sentto you." And when he had spokenthiswordto me, I stoodup trembling.
He said,"O manof highesteem,do not be afraid.Peacebe with you; takecourageand be courageous!"Now as soon as he spoketo me, I receivedstrengthand said,"May my lordspeak,for you have strengthenedme."
"At the beginningof your supplicationsthe commandwas issued,and I have cometo tell[you], for you are highlyesteemed;so giveheedto the messageand gainunderstandingof the vision.
In holinessand righteousnessbeforeHim allour days.
In the beginningwas the Word,and the Wordwas with God,and the Wordwas God.
Jesussaidto him, "I amthe way,and the truth,and the life;no onecomesto the Fatherbut throughMe.
When the Gentilesheardthis, they [began] rejoicingand glorifyingthe wordof the Lord;and as manyas had beenappointedto eternallifebelieved.
and He madenodistinctionbetweenus and them, cleansingtheir heartsby faith.
But thanksbe to Godthat though you were slavesof sin,you became obedientfrom the heartto that formof teachingto whichyou were committed,
Whowill bring a chargeagainstGod'select?Godis the one who justifies;
for though [the twins] were not yetbornand had not doneanythinggoodorbad,sothat God'spurposeaccordingto [His] choicewould stand,not becauseof worksbut becauseof Him who calls,
For sincein the wisdomof Godthe worldthroughits wisdomdid not [come to] knowGod,Godwas well-pleasedthroughthe foolishnessof the message preachedto savethosewho believe.
You foolishGalatians,whohas bewitchedyou, beforewhoseeyesJesusChristwas publicly portrayed[as] crucified?
For by graceyou have been savedthroughfaith;and that not of yourselves,[it is] the giftof God;
Of Benjaminhe said,"May the belovedof the LORDdwellin securityby Him, Who shieldshim allthe day,And he dwellsbetweenHis shoulders."
becauseof the hopelaidup for you in heaven,of whichyou previously heardin the wordof truth,the gospel
So,as those who have been chosenof God,holyand beloved,puton a heartof compassion,kindness,humility,gentlenessand patience;
knowing,brethrenbelovedby God,[His] choiceof you;
sothat you would walkin a manner worthyof the Godwho callsyou into His ownkingdomand glory.
For Godhas not calledus for the purpose of impurity,but in sanctification.
For Godhas not destinedus for wrath,but for obtainingsalvationthroughour LordJesusChrist,
We oughtalwaysto give thanksto Godfor you, brethren,as is [only] fitting,becauseyour faithis greatly enlarged,and the loveof eachoneof you towardone anothergrows [ever] greater;
and with allthe deceptionof wickednessfor thosewho perish,becausethey did not receivethe loveof the truthsoas to be saved.
in orderthat they allmay be judgedwho did not believethe truth,but took pleasurein wickedness.
Nowmay our LordJesusChristHimselfand Godour Father,who has lovedus and givenus eternalcomfortand goodhopeby grace,
who has savedus and calledus with a holycalling,not accordingto our works,but accordingto His ownpurposeand gracewhich was grantedus in ChristJesusfrom alleternity,
Be diligentto presentyourselfapprovedto Godas a workmanwho does not need to be ashamed,accurately handlingthe wordof truth.
and that from childhoodyou have knownthe sacredwritingswhich are ableto give you the wisdomthat leadsto salvationthroughfaithwhich is in ChristJesus.
And, "YOU, LORD,IN THE BEGINNINGLAID THE FOUNDATIONOF THE EARTH,AND THE HEAVENSARE THE WORKSOF YOUR HANDS;
In the exercise of His willHe brought us forthby the wordof truth,sothat we would be a kindof first fruitsamong His creatures.
In thisis love,not that we lovedGod,but that He lovedus and sentHis Son[to be] the propitiationfor our sins.
We love,becauseHe firstlovedus.
