New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 Let mutual love continue.
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Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love.
2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
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Be ready with a meal or a bed when it's needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it!
3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.
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Regard prisoners as if you were in prison with them. Look on victims of abuse as if what happened to them had happened to you.
4 Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.
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Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex.
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you."
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Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,"
6 So we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?"
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we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?
7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
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Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
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For Jesus doesn't change - yesterday, today, tomorrow, he's always totally himself.
9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them.
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Don't be lured away from him by the latest speculations about him. The grace of Christ is the only good ground for life. Products named after Christ don't seem to do much for those who buy them.
10 We have an altar from which those who officiate in the tent have no right to eat.
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The altar from which God gives us the gift of himself is not for exploitation by insiders who grab and loot.
11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.
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In the old system, the animals are killed and the bodies disposed of outside the camp. The blood is then brought inside to the altar as a sacrifice for sin.
12 Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood.
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It's the same with Jesus. He was crucified outside the city gates - that is where he poured out the sacrificial blood that was brought to God's altar to cleanse his people.
13 Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured.
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So let's go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is - not trying to be privileged insiders, but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus.
14 For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
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This "insider world" is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come.
15 Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
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Let's take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus' name.
16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
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Make sure you don't take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship - a different kind of "sacrifice" - that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing—for that would be harmful to you.
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Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?
18 Pray for us; we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
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Pray for us. We have no doubts about what we're doing or why, but it's hard going and we need your prayers. All we care about is living well before God.
19 I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you very soon.
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Pray that we may be together soon.
20 Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,
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May God, who puts all things together, makes all things whole, Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus, the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant, Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd, up and alive from the dead,
21 make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
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Now put you together, provide you with everything you need to please him, Make us into what gives him most pleasure, by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah. All glory to Jesus forever and always! Oh, yes, yes, yes.
22 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.
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Friends, please take what I've written most seriously. I've kept this as brief as possible; I haven't piled on a lot of extras.
23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been set free; and if he comes in time, he will be with me when I see you.
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You'll be glad to know that Timothy has been let out of prison. If he leaves soon, I'll come with him and get to see you myself.
24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings.
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Say hello to your pastoral leaders and all the congregations. Everyone here in Italy wants to be remembered to you.
25 Grace be with all of you.
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Grace be with you, every one.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.