The Epistles of James, Peter, and Jude

[wmfinck]

The Epistle of James
From The Christogenea New Testament
? 2009 William R. Finck Jr.

I 1 Iakobos servant of Yahweh and Prince Yahshua Christ to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings.
2 Regard it with all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith results in endurance. 4 But the endurance must have a finished work, in order that you would be perfect and complete, wanting in nothing.
5 Now if one of you wants wisdom, he must ask from Yahweh, who gives to all sincerely and without reproaching, and it shall be given to him. 6 But he must ask with faith doubting nothing. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea being driven and blown about by the wind. 7 For that man must not suppose that he shall receive anything from the Prince, 8 a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 The lowly brother must boast in his grandeur, 10 but the wealthy in his humiliation, because as a flower of grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun rises with burning heat and parches the grass and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed. Thusly also the wealthy with his purposes wastes away.
12 Blessed is a man who endures trial, because being approved he shall receive the crown of life which He promised to those who love Him. 13 No one being tried must say that “From Yahweh I am tried”! For Yahweh is not able to be tempted by evil, and He tries no one, 14 but each is tried by his own desires being drawn out and enticed. 15 Then the desire conceiving gives birth to error, and the error being accomplished brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren, 17 every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, descending from the Father of Lights, with whom there is not a variation or shade of change. 18 Having desired He brought us forth in the Word of truth, for us to be some first fruit of His creations.
19 You know, my beloved brethren, that every man must be quick for which to listen, slow for which to speak, slow for anger. 20 Indeed the anger of man does not accomplish the righteousness of Yahweh. 21 On which account laying aside every filth and residue of evil, accept with meekness the implanted Word which is able to save your souls.
22 Now you must be doers of the Word and not hearers only, defrauding yourselves. 23 Because if one is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing the appearance of his race in a mirror, 24 for he observes himself and departs and immediately forgets of what sort he was. 25 But he peering into the perfect law of freedom and abiding by it, not being a forgetful hearer but a doer of work, he shall be blessed by his deed.
26 If one supposes to be religious not guiding his tongue with a bridle, but deceiving his heart, his religion is vain. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and Father is this: to watch over orphans and widows in their tribulation; to keep oneself unblemished from society.
II 1 My brethren, do not with respect of the stature of persons hold faith of our Prince Yahshua Christ of honor. 2 For if perhaps a man should enter into your assembly hall with a gold ring in a shining garment, and a beggar should enter in a filthy garment, 3 then you should look upon he wearing the shining garment and say “You sit here comfortably”, and to the beggar you should say “You stand there”, or “Sit beneath my footstool”, 4 have you not made a distinction among yourselves and become judges of evil reasonings? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: has Yahweh not chosen the beggars in society to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you dishonor the beggar? Do the wealthy not exercise power over you, and they themselves drag you into trial? 7 Do they themselves not blaspheme the good name labeled upon you?
8 If, however, you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture: “You shall love him near to you as yourself”, you do well. 9 But if you respect the stature of persons, you commit an error, being convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For he who should keep the whole law but would fail in one thing, has become liable for all. 11 For He having said “you should not commit adultery” also said “you should not commit murder”, and if you do not commit adultery but you commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 Thusly you speak and thusly you do as if going to be judged by a law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy for him not effecting mercy. Mercy exults over judgment.
14 What is the benefit, my brethren, if one should claim to have faith, but does not have works? Is faith able to save him? 15 If a brother or sister becomes naked and lacking daily food, 16 and one from among you should say to them: “Go in peace, be warm and fed”, but you would not give to them the provisions for the body, what is the benefit? 17 Thusly also faith, if it should not have works, is by itself dead.
18 Rather one shall say: “You have faith, and I have works, show to me your faith without the works, and I shall show to you faith by my works!” 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well; even the demons believe it, and they shudder!
20 Now do you desire to know, o vain man, that faith without works is idle? 21 Had Abraham our father not been deemed righteous by works, offering Isaak his son upon the altar? 22 Do you see that the faith had operated together with his works and by works the faith had been perfected? 23 And the Scripture had been fulfilled which says “And Abraham believed Yahweh, and it was accounted to him for righteousness”, and he is called a friend of Yahweh. 24 Observe that a man is deemed righteous by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in like manner was not Rahab the harlot also deemed righteous by works, receiving the messengers, and discharging them by another way? 26 For just as the body without a spirit is dead, thusly also faith without works is dead!
III 1 You must not produce many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive a greater judgment. 2 For we all fail often! If anyone does not fail in word, he is a perfect man able to guide with a bridle even the whole body. 3 Even if the bridles of horses are put into their mouths for which to persuade them for us, then we maneuver their whole body. 4 Behold also, there are such great ships, and being driven by severe winds, maneuvered by the smallest rudder, being driven straight where impulse desires. 5 Thusly also the tongue is a small body-part and boasts loudly. Behold how small a fire ignites so great a forest! 6 And the tongue is a fire, an ornament of injustice. The tongue sits among our body-parts soiling the whole body and setting ablaze the course of existence, and being burned by Gehenna! 7 For every species of both beasts and birds, and reptiles and sea-creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by the species of man, 8 but the tongue no one of men is able to tame; it is an unstable evil, full of death-bearing poison. 9 With it we praise the Prince and Father and with it we would curse men who have been born according to the likeness of Yahweh. 10 From the same mouth proceeds praise and curse! There is no need, my brethren, for these things to be so. 11 Does any spring from the same opening flow sweet and bitter? 12 Is it possible, my brethren, for a fig tree to make olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither does salt make sweet water!
13 Who is wise and knowledgeable among you? He must show by good conduct his works in meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, do not exult and lie against the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom coming down from above but earthly, animal, demoniacal. 16 For where jealousy and rivalry are, there is instability and every mean deed. 17 But the wisdom from above is first indeed pure, then peaceful, reasonable, obedient, full of acts of mercy and good fruits, unhesitating, unhypocritical. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those making peace.
IV 1 From where are battles, and from where are fights among you? Is it not from this: from your pleasures making war among your members? 2 You desire, and you have not. You murder and strive and are not able to succeed. You fight and battle. You do not have for reason that you do not request. 3 You request and do not receive for reason that you request evil, in order that you may be consumed in your pleasures! 4 Adulterers! Do you not know that the love of Society is hatred for Yahweh? He therefore who would desire to be a friend of Society establishes himself as an enemy of Yahweh! 5 Or do you suppose that vainly the Scripture says: “With envy yearns the spirit which dwells in us”? 6 But more greatly He gives favor, on which account it says: “Yahweh opposes the arrogant, but He gives favor to the humble.”
7 Therefore subject yourselves to Yahweh, but stand against the False Accuser and he shall flee from you. 8 Draw near to Yahweh and He shall draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners! And purify your hearts, double-minded! 9 Endure hardship and lament and weep! Your laughter must turn into grief and joy into sorrow! 10 Humble yourself before the Prince and He shall exalt you.
11 Do not slander one another, brethren. He slandering a brother or condemning his brother slanders the law and condemns the law. Now if you condemn the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver and Judge, He who is able to save and to destroy! Now who are you who is judging him near to you?
13 Come on, those now saying “Today or tomorrow we shall go into this here city and we shall spend a year there and trade and make profit”, 14 those who do not know what condition your life is in tomorrow! For you are as vapor appearing for a short time, and then disappearing. 15 Instead of which you are to say “If the Prince desires and we shall live, then we shall do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your pretenses. Any such reason to boast as this is wicked! 17 Therefore he knowing to do good and not doing it, for him it is error.
V 1 Come on, those who are wealthy now, weep, crying out upon your coming hardships! 2 Your wealth is putrefied and your garments have become moth-eaten! 3 Your gold and silver are corroded and their corrosion shall be for a testimony to you and it shall eat your flesh as fire. You have saved up for the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers reaping your fields which have been withheld by you cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have entered into the ears of the Prince of Armies! 5 You have lived luxuriously and lewdly upon the earth: you have nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter! 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the righteous, who did not oppose you!
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Prince. Behold, the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the earth, having patience for it until he should receive the early and the late. 8 You also have patience. Establish your hearts, because the coming of the Prince has approached. 9 Do not bemoan, brethren, against one another, in order that you would not be judged. Behold: the Judge stands at the door! 10 Take as an example, brethren, of ill-suffering and of patience those prophets who have spoken in the Name of the Prince. 11 Behold, we are blessed who are enduring. You have heard of the endurance of Iob and you know the accomplishment of the Prince, that the Prince is very affectionate and compassionate.
12 But before all, my brethren, do not swear, not even on heaven nor on the earth nor any other oath, but it must be from you the yes “Yes” and the no “No”, in order that you would not fall under judgment.
13 One who suffers ill among you must pray. One who is cheerful must sing. 14 One who is sick among you must summon the elders of the assembly and they shall pray for him anointing him with olive oil in the Name of the Prince, 15 and the prayer of the faith shall save the afflicted, and the Prince shall raise him. And if an error may have been committed, it shall be remitted for him. 16 Therefore acknowledge faults to one another, and pray for one another that you may be healed. The entreaty of the righteous being employed prevails much. 17 Elijah was a man of like nature with us, and in prayer he prayed for it not to rain, and it did not rain upon the earth for three years and six months. 18 And again he prayed, and the heaven had given rain and the earth sprouted her fruit.
19 My brethren, if one among you should stray from the truth and one should correct him, 20 you must know that he correcting a wrongdoer from the error of his way shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of errors!

[wmfinck]

The Epistles of James, Peter, and Jude

The First Epistle of Peter
From The Christogenea New Testament
? 2009 William R. Finck Jr.

I 1 Petros, ambassador of Yahshua Christ, to the elect sojourners of the dispersion of Pontos, Galatia, Kappadokia, Asia and Bithunia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of Father Yahweh in a sanctification of the Spirit in obedience and a sprinkling of the blood of Yahshua Christ: favor to you and peace be multiplied.
3 Blessed is Yahweh, even the Father of our Prince Yahshua Christ, who according to His great mercy has engendered us from above into a living hope through the resurrection of Yahshua Christ from among the dead, 4 for an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, being kept in the heavens for us 5 who are being preserved by the power of Yahweh through faith for a salvation prepared to be revealed in the last time. 6 In which you must rejoice, if for a short time now it is necessary being pained by various trials, 7 in order that the test of your faith, much more valuable than gold which is destroyed even being tested by fire, would be found in praise and honor and dignity at the revelation of Yahshua Christ, 8 whom not having seen you love, in whom now not seeing but believing you rejoice with an indescribable and illustrious joy, 9 acquiring the result of your faith: preservation of your souls. 10 Concerning which preservation the prophets enquired and examined, those having prophesied concerning the favor which is for you, 11 seeking for which things or what time the Spirit of Christ in them indicated, testifying beforehand the sufferings for Christ and the honors after these things. 12 To whom it had been revealed that not for themselves, but for you they furnished these things, things which are now reported to you through those announcing the good message to you in the Holy Spirit having been sent from heaven, things which the messengers desire to peer into.
13 On which account girding up the loins of your minds, being absolutely sober you must have hope upon the favor being brought to you in the revelation of Yahshua Christ, 14 as obedient children not being conformed to the former desires in your ignorance 15 but according to the Holy One who has called you, you yourselves must also be holy in all conduct, 16 since it is written that “You must be holy, because I am holy”. 17 And if you call upon the Father, who without respect for the stature of persons judges each according to work, you must conduct yourselves in fear for the time of your sojourn, 18 knowing that not with corruptible things – with silver or gold – have you been redeemed from out of your vain conduct handed down by your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb blameless and spotless, indeed having been foreknown before the foundation of Society, but being made manifest upon the last times on account of you, those who through Him believe in Yahweh who has raised Him from among the dead and has given honor to Him, consequently for your faith and hope to be in Yahweh.
22 Your souls having been purified in the obedience of the truth for brotherly love without hypocrisy, from of a pure heart you should love one another earnestly, 23 being engendered from above not from corruptible parentage, but from incorruptible, by the Word of Yahweh who lives and abides, 24 since “All flesh is as grass and all of its glory as a flower of grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off, 25 but that which is spoken by Yahweh abides for eternity.” Now this is that which is spoken, which is announced to you.
II 1 Therefore putting off all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 as a newborn infant you must yearn for the pure rational milk, in order that by it you would grow into preservation, 3 if “you taste that the Prince is benevolent”. 4 Coming forth to Him a living stone, indeed having been rejected as unfit by men but honored elect before Yahweh, 5 and yourselves as living stones are built a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Yahweh through Yahshua Christ. Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture: “Behold, I place in Zion an honored elect corner stone, and he believing in Him shall by no means be ashamed.” 7 Therefore the honor for you is for those who believe, but they who do not believe: “The stone which the builders have rejected, this has come to be for the head cornerstone” 8 and “a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.” They stumble disobeying the Word, for which also they have been ordained. 9 But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, so that you should proclaim the virtues for which from out of darkness you have been called into the wonder of His light, 10 who at one time were “not a people” but now are the people of Yahweh, those who “have not been shown mercy” but are now shown mercy.
11 Beloved, I exhort as emigrants and sojourners that you abstain from fleshly desires which make war against the soul, 12 holding your conduct well among the heathens, in order that while they slander you as evil-doers, watching from the good works they may honor Yahweh on the day of visitation.
13 You must be obedient to every authority created by mankind on account of the Prince, whether to kings as if being superior, 14 or to governors as if being sent by Him for the punishment of evil-doers but for the praise of those doing good. 15 Because thusly is the will of Yahweh: doing good to muzzle the ignorance of foolish men, 16 as free men yet not as if having freedom for a cover for evil, but as servants of Yahweh. 17 You must honor all, love the brotherhood, fear Yahweh, honor the King.
18 Servants, subject yourselves with all fear to the masters, not only to the good and reasonable but also to the crooked. 19 For this is a benefit, if through consciousness of Yahweh one endures suffering grief unrighteously. 20 For what sort of report, if doing wrong and being beaten you will submit? But if doing good and suffering you submit, this is a benefit before Yahweh. 21 Indeed, for this you have been called, because Christ also had suffered on your behalf, leaving behind for you an example in order that you would follow in His footsteps, 22 who had not committed wrong nor had guile been found in His mouth, 23 who being abused had not abused in return, suffering had not made threats, but surrendered to Him judging righteously. 24 Who Himself carried your errors on His body upon the cross, that the errors being taken away we should live in righteousness; by whose wounds you are healed. 25 For you were as sheep wandering astray, but you must return now to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls!
III 1 Likewise the wives being subject to their own husbands, in order that if some then disobey the Word, through the conduct of the wives they shall have advantage without the Word, 2 observing in fear your pure conduct, 3 of which the dress must not be outward with braids of hair and applications of gold or putting on of garments, 4 but the hidden man of the heart with the incorruptibility of the gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious before Yahweh. 5 For thusly at one time also the holy women who have hope in Yahweh had dressed themselves being subject to their own husbands, as Sarah had obeyed Abraham calling him master, whose children you have been born to do good and not fearing any terror.
7 The men likewise, living together in accordance with the knowledge that with the feminine is the weaker vessel, imparting honor as they are also fellow-heirs of the favor of life, for your prayers not to be hindered.
8 But at last, all be like-minded, sympathetic, lovers of brethren, compassionate, humble-minded, 9 not returning evil for evil or abuse for abuse, but on the contrary blessing, because for this you have been called, in order that you shall inherit a blessing. 10 For he desiring to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil, and lips for which not to speak guile, 11 but he must turn away from evil and do good, he must seek peace and pursue it, 12 because the eyes of Yahweh are upon the righteous and His ears to their entreaty, but the face of Yahweh upon those doing evil. 13 And who is he who shall be doing you evil if you are emulators of good? 14 But if then you should suffer on account of righteousness, you are blessed. So you should not fear their fear nor be troubled. 15 Now sanctify the Prince Christ in your hearts, always ready with an answer to each asking you for an account concerning the hope which is among you, 16 but with meekness and fear, having a good conscience, in order that while you are slandered those who despise your good conduct in Christ would be ashamed. 17 For it is better doing good, if one should desire the will of Yahweh, to suffer than doing evil. 18 Because Christ also suffered once for all errors, the just on behalf of the unjust, in order that He may lead you to Yahweh, indeed dying in the flesh but being made to live by the Spirit. 19 At which also going He proclaimed to those spirits in prison, 20 who at one time had been disobedient – when the forbearance of Yahweh awaited in the days of Noah’s preparing the vessel in which a few, that is eight souls, had been preserved through the water. 21 Which also now a representation saves you: immersion. Not a putting away of the filth of the flesh but a demand of a good conscience for Yahweh, through the resurrection of Yahshua Christ, 22 who is walking in heaven at the right hand of Yahweh, messengers and authorities and powers being made subject to Him.
IV 1 Therefore with Christ suffering in the flesh, you also be equipped with the same mind, because he who suffers in the flesh ceases from wrongdoing, 2 for which no longer in the desires of men, but in the will of Yahweh should he live the remaining time in the flesh. 3 For enough of the time has passed perpetuating the will of the heathens, having walked in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revelries and lawless idolatries. 4 While they are astonished, they blaspheme at your not running together in the same excess profligacy. 5 They shall give an account to Him who holds ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 Indeed for this also to the dead the good message has been announced, that they may indeed be judged like men in the flesh, but live like Yahweh in the Spirit.
7 But the consummation of all things has approached. Therefore be discreet and sober in prayers, 8 before all things having zealous love for one another, because “love covers a multitude of errors”. 9 Be hospitable to one another without murmuring. 10 Each just as he has received a gift for themselves, administering that same thing as good stewards of the manifold favor of Yahweh. 11 If one speaks, as the sayings of Yahweh; if one serves, as from of the power which Yahweh provides, in order that in all things Yahweh is honored through Yahshua Christ, for whom is the honor and sovereignty for the eternal ages, truly.
12 Beloved, do not be astonished by the burning among you taking place for a trial for you, as if a strange thing is happening to you, 13 but just as you partake in the sufferings of Christ you rejoice, in order that also in the revelation of His honor, exulting you would rejoice. 14 If you are reproached in the Name of Christ, you are blessed, because the honor and the Spirit of Yahweh rest upon you. 15 For not any among you must suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler in the matters of others, 16 but if as a Christian, you must not be ashamed, but you must honor Yahweh by this name, 17 because the time of judgment is to begin for the house of Yahweh. But if first for us, what is the end for those who are disobedient to the good message of Yahweh? 18 And “if the righteous man is barely saved, where shall the impious and the wrongdoer be seen?” 19 Consequently, even those suffering according to the will of Yahweh, for a trustworthy creator they shall employ their souls with doing good.
V 1 Therefore to the elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who also am a partaker of the coming honor to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of Yahweh which is among you, supervising not forcibly but voluntarily in accordance with Yahweh, nor for shameful profit but willingly, 3 nor as gaining dominion over those apportioned but becoming models for the flock, 4 and upon the manifestation of the Chief Shepherd you shall receive the unfading crown of honor. 5 Likewise, youths, subject yourselves to the elders, and all bind on humility towards one another, because Yahweh opposes the arrogant, but He gives favor to the humble.
6 Therefore be humble under the mighty hand of Yahweh, in order that you would be exalted in due season, 7 all of your cares being cast upon Him, because with Him is care for you. 8 Be sober. Be alert. Your opponent the False Accuser walks about as a roaring lion seeking someone to consume, 9 whom you must resist being solid in the faith, knowing that you must be subject to the same things from the sufferings of your brotherhood in Society. 10 But Yahweh is of all favor, who calls you among the number of Christ Yahshua into His eternal honor, suffering the same for awhile you shall be restored, you shall be fixed firmly, you shall be strengthened, you shall be established. 11 For Him is the sovereignty for the ages, truly.
12 By Silvanos the faithful brother, as I reckon, I have written to you in brief exhorting and testifying for this to be the true favor of Yahweh in which you should stand. 13 The elect woman in Babylon and Markos my son greet you. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are among the number of Christ.

[wmfinck]

The Epistles of James, Peter, and Jude

The Second Epistle of Peter
From The Christogenea New Testament
? 2009 William R. Finck Jr.

I 1 Sumeon Petros servant and ambassador of Yahshua Christ, to those who have obtained by fate with us an equally valued faith in the righteousness of our God and Savior Yahshua Christ, 2 favor to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of our God and Prince Yahshua, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things which are for life and piety through the knowledge of He who has called us into His own honor and virtue, 4 by which He has given to us precious and very great promises, in order that through these you would be partakers of the divine nature, fleeing from the corruption in Society in lust. 5 And for this same thing also besides applying all earnestness you provide virtue in addition to your faith, and with the virtue knowledge, 6 and with the knowledge self-control, and with the self-control endurance, and with the endurance piety, 7 and with the piety brotherly love, and with the brotherly love charity. 8 For these things belonging to you and abounding are set down for the knowledge of our Prince Yahshua Christ neither to be idle nor fruitless. 9 Indeed in he whom these things are not present, he is blind, being short-sighted, possessing a forgetfulness of the cleansing of his old errors. 10 On which account still more, brethren, you be earnest to make your calling and election firm. For doing these things you shall by no means fail at any time. 11 For thusly shall there be richly provided to you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Prince and Savior Yahshua Christ.
12 On which account I am always going to remind you concerning these things even though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Now I deem it righteous, for as long as I am in this tabernacle, to arouse you by reminder, 14 knowing that soon is the putting aside of my tabernacle, just as also our Prince Yahshua Christ has shown me, 15 and I shall also be diligent that on every occasion you have a mention to do these things after my departure.
16 For not following after cleverly devised myths have we made known to you the power and presence of our Prince Yahshua Christ, but having been spectators of His majesty. 17 For receiving from Father Yahweh the dignity and honor of so great a voice having been produced for Him by the Magnificent Effulgence: “This is My beloved Son in whom I am pleased”, 18 and this voice we had heard having been produced from out of heaven, with Him being on the holy mountain. 19 And we have a more certain word of prophecy, which you do well holding to as a light shining in a squalid place, until which day it should dawn and the Light-bearer should arise in your hearts, 20 knowing this first, that any prophecy of Scripture must not be of peculiar explanation, 21 for not at any time has prophecy been produced by the will of man, but being produced by the Holy Spirit men had spoken from Yahweh.
II 1 Now there were also false prophets among the people, as even among you there shall be false teachers who shall introduce destructive systems of philosophy, even denying the Master who has bought them, bringing upon themselves quick destruction, 2 and many shall follow in their licentiousness, because of whom the way of truth shall be blasphemed, 3 and with greediness they shall make profit from you with fictitious words, for whom from of old their judgment is not idle and their destruction does not sleep!
4 For if Yahweh did not spare the messengers who had done wrong but having cast them into Tartaros into a pit of darkness He had delivered them being kept for judgment, 5 and He did not spare of the old society but He had kept Noah, the eighth proclaimer of righteousness, having brought a deluge upon the society of the impious, 6 and the cities of Sodom and Gomorra burning to ashes He had condemned to destruction, having been set forth for an example of those who are going to be impious, 7 and He delivered the righteous Lot who had been oppressed by the licentious conduct of the lawless 8 (for with sights and reports the righteous one dwelling among them day by day tormented a righteous soul with their lawless deeds), 9 the Prince knows to deliver the pious from trial, but to keep the unrighteous being punished for a day of judgment – 10 and especially those going after the flesh with desires of defilement and despising authority, presumptuous adventurers, not fearing honor they blaspheme, 11 where the messengers being greater in power and ability do not bring against them a judgment for blasphemy as appropriate.
12 But these, having been born as natural irrational animals into destruction and corruption in which blaspheming they are ignorant in their corruption they also shall perish, doing injustice for the wages of injustice, regarding luxury a pleasure by day, stains and disgraces reveling in their deceits feasting together with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and unable to cease from wrongdoing, enticing unstable souls, having hearts exercised for greediness, cursed children, 15 abandoning the straight road they have wandered astray, following in the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who had loved the wage of unrighteousness, 16 but he had a rebuke for his own transgression: a dumb beast of burden with the voice of a man having spoken clearly had curbed the derangement of the prophet. 17 These are streams without water and clouds being driven by a tempest, for whom the gloom of darkness is kept. 18 For uttering excessive vanity they entice with the licentious desires of the flesh those nearly escaping who are returning to error. 19 Proclaiming for themselves freedom they become slaves of corruption. For by that which is overcome, to this he is enslaved. 20 For if escaping the pollutions of Society by the knowledge of our Prince and Savior Yahshua Christ, and these being entangled again are overcome, the ends of them become worse than the beginnings! 21 For it was better for them not having known the way of righteousness than they know turning away from the holy commandment having been delivered to them. 22 But the truth of the proverb happened to them: “A dog returns to its own vomit”, and “a sow being cleansed to rolling in mud”.
III 1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I write to you, in which I arouse your pure minds with a mention, 2 to remind of the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and of the commandment of your ambassadors from the Prince and Savior, 3 knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers with scoffing going according to their own desires 4 and saying “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers have fallen asleep, all things continue thusly from the beginning of creation!” 5 For this willingly escapes them: that the heavens were from old and the earth from out of water and through water had been put together by the Word of Yahweh, 6 by which the Society at that time was destroyed having been inundated with water, 7 but now the heavens and the earth are being preserved by the same Word, being kept for fire for a day of judgment and destruction of the impious men.
8 But you must not forget this one thing, beloved: that one day with the Prince is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Prince does not delay the promise, as some regard delay, but has forbearance for us, not wishing for any to be destroyed but that all should have space for repentance.
10 But the day of the Prince shall come as a thief, at which the heavens shall pass away with a rushing noise, and the elements shall dissolve with burning heat and the earth and the works in it shall be discovered. 11 Thusly with all of these things being dissolved in such manner, it is necessary for you to be in holy conduct and piety, 12 expecting and being anxious for the coming of the day of Yahweh, on account of which the heavens being ablaze shall dissolve and the elements melt burning with heat. 13 But we may expect new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness dwells.
14 On which account, beloved, expecting these things you must be anxious to be found by Him spotless and blameless in peace. 15 And regard the forbearing salvation of our Prince, just as also our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom given to him has written to you, 16 as also in all the letters speaking in them concerning these things, in which some things are hard to understand, which those who are unlearned and unstable pervert – as also the rest of the writings – for their own destruction!
17 Therefore you, beloved, understanding beforehand must watch, lest being led away in the deception of the lawless you should fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the favor and knowledge of our Prince and Savior Yahshua Christ. To Him is the honor both now and in the eternal day. Truly.

[wmfinck]

The Epistles of James, Peter, and Jude

The Epistle of Jude
From The Christogenea New Testament
? 2009 William R. Finck Jr.


1 Iouda, servant of Yahshua Christ and brother of Iakobos, to those beloved by Father Yahweh, even the chosen being preserved by Yahshua Christ, 2 mercy to you and peace and love be multiplied.
3 Beloved, making all haste to write to you concerning our common salvation I had necessity to write to you encouraging you to contend once for all for the faith having been delivered to the saints. 4 For some men have stolen in, those of old having been written about beforetime for this judgment, godless men, substituting the favor of our God for licentiousness and denying our only Master and Prince, Yahshua Christ.
5 But I desire to remind you, you all knowing that once for all the Prince having delivered the people from the land of Egypt, the second time destroyed those not believing, 6 and the messengers not having kept their first dominion but having forsaken their own habitation are kept under darkness in everlasting bindings for the judgment of the great day, 7 as Sodom and Gomorra and the cities around them in like manner with them committing fornication and having gone after different flesh are set forth an example, undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.
8 Whereas likewise also these dreamers indeed defile the flesh while they reject authority and they blaspheme honor. 9 Yet Michael the chief messenger, when contending with the False Accuser he argued over the body of Moses, did not venture to bring a judgment for blasphemy, but said “The Prince should censure you!” 10 But these indeed blaspheme whatever they do not know, yet whatever is natural they understand like irrational beasts, by these things they destroy themselves. 11 Woe to them, because they have gone in the way of Kain and in deception they pour forth of the wages of Balaam and are destroyed in the disputation of Kore! 12 These are the spots in your feasts of charity, feasting together without fear, tending to themselves, clouds without water being carried away by the winds, late-autumn trees without fruit, twice dead being uprooted, 13 stormy waves of the sea foaming up their own shame, wandering stars for whom the gloom of darkness is kept forever!
14 And Enoch, seventh from Adam, prophesied to these saying “Behold, the Prince has come with ten thousands of His saints 15 to execute judgment against all and to convict every soul for all of their impious deeds which they committed impiously and for all of the harsh things which the impious wrongdoers have spoken against Him!” 16 These are grumbling murmurers going in accordance with their own lusts, and their mouths speak excesses, admiring appearances for the sake of advantage.
17 But you, beloved, must be mindful of the words spoken beforehand by the ambassadors of our Prince Yahshua Christ, 18 that they said to you that at the end of time there shall be scoffers going in accordance with their own lusts for impious things. 19 These are those making divisions, animals, not having the Spirit.
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in sanctity in your faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, must keep yourselves in the love of Yahweh, accepting the mercy of our Prince Yahshua Christ for eternal life. 22 And indeed have mercy upon those who are hesitating. 23 Now some you save snatching them from the fire, but some have mercy upon in fear, hating even garments having been defiled by the flesh.
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you unfailing and to establish you in the presence of His honor blameless in great joy: 25 to Yahweh our only Savior through Yahshua Christ our Prince in honor, majesty, sovereignty and authority for all the ages, even now and for all eternity. Truly.