For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,(A) so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind(B) toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify(C) the God and Father(D) of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Accept one another,(E) then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews[a](F) on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises(G) made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles(H) might glorify God(I) for his mercy. As it is written:

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
    I will sing the praises of your name.”[b](J)

10 Again, it says,

“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”[c](K)

11 And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
    let all the peoples extol him.”[d](L)

12 And again, Isaiah says,

“The Root of Jesse(M) will spring up,
    one who will arise to rule over the nations;
    in him the Gentiles will hope.”[e](N)

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace(O) as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.(P)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 15:8 Greek circumcision
  2. Romans 15:9 2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49
  3. Romans 15:10 Deut. 32:43
  4. Romans 15:11 Psalm 117:1
  5. Romans 15:12 Isaiah 11:10 (see Septuagint)

John the Baptist Prepares the Way(A)

In those days John the Baptist(B) came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven(C) has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.’”[a](D)

John’s(E) clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.(F) His food was locusts(G) and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized(H) by him in the Jordan River.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers!(I) Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?(J) Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.(K) And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’(L) I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.(M)

11 “I baptize you with[b] water for repentance.(N) But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit(O) and fire.(P) 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 3:3 Isaiah 40:3
  2. Matthew 3:11 Or in
  3. Matthew 3:11 Or in

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