Chapter 2

Service to God and the Commandments of Christ

¹ So, girding up your loins, serve God in fear and truth, leaving behind empty foolish talk and the error of the many, believing in him who raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and gave him glory and a throne at his right hand. To him all things in heaven and on earth are subject; every living creature worships him; he is coming as judge of the living and the dead; God will require his blood from those who disobey him.

² And the one who raised him from the dead will also raise us, if we do his will and walk in his commandments and love what he loved, abstaining from all unrighteousness, greed, love of money, slander, and false witness; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, or blow for blow, or curse for curse;

³ remembering what the Lord said when he taught: Do not judge, so that you may not be judged; Forgive, and you will be forgiven; show mercy, so that you may be shown mercy; With the measure you use, it will be measured back to you; and that Blessed are the poor and those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of God.