adulthood

¹¹When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I understood like a child, I thought like a child. But when I became a man, I put aside the things of a child. ¹²Now we see through a glass darkly. But then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know, even as I am known.

¹²Let no one despise your youth, but be an example among the faithful in word, in behavior, in charity, in faith, in chastity.

¹⁵Instead, acting according to truth in charity, we should increase in everything, in him who is the head, Christ himself.

¹Therefore, interrupting an explanation of the basics of Christ, let us consider what is more advanced, not presenting again the fundamentals of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

²⁶Whoever afflicts his father and flees from his mother is disreputable and unhappy.

⁴⁰Now the child grew, and he was strengthened with the fullness of wisdom. And the grace of God was in him.

¹³until we all meet in the unity of faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as a perfect man, in the measure of the age of the fullness of Christ. ¹⁴So may we then no longer be little children, disturbed and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the wickedness of men, and by the craftiness which deceives unto error. ¹⁵Instead, acting according to truth in charity, we should increase in everything, in him who is the head, Christ himself.

²⁶But the youth Samuel advanced, and grew up, and he was pleasing to the Lord, as well as to men.

²Like newborn infants, desire the milk of reasonableness without guile, so that by this you may increase unto salvation,

⁶The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw from it.

¹¹For I know the thoughts that I think over you, says the Lord: thoughts of peace and not of affliction, so that I may give you patience and an end.

¹⁸Yet truly, increase in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory, both now and in the day of eternity. Amen.

²⁹The joy of youths is their strength. And the dignity of old men is their grey hairs.

¹But you are to speak the things that befit sound doctrine. ²Old men should be sober, chaste, prudent, sound in faith, in love, in patience. ³Old women, similarly, should be in holy attire, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teaching well, ⁴so that they may teach prudence to the young women, so that they may love their husbands, love their children, ⁵be sensible, chaste, restrained, have concern for the household, be kind, be subordinate to their husbands: so that the Word of God may be not blasphemed. ⁶Exhort young men similarly, so that they may show self-restraint.

²²Listen to your father, who conceived you. And do not despise your mother, when she is old.

⁹Do you not know that the iniquitous will not possess the kingdom of God? Do not choose to wander astray. For neither fornicators, nor servants of idolatry, nor adulterers, ¹⁰nor the effeminate, nor males who sleep with males, nor thieves, nor the avaricious, nor the inebriated, nor slanderers, nor the rapacious shall possess the kingdom of God. ¹¹And some of you were like this. But you have been absolved, but you have been sanctified, but you have been justified: all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

¹²be numbered? So make known your right hand, along with men learned in heart, in wisdom.

¹²Honor your father and your mother, so that you may have a long life upon the land, which the Lord your God will give to you.

²⁸And we know that, for those who love God, all things work together unto good, for those who, in accordance with his purpose, are called to be saints.

¹⁰And that entire generation was gathered to their fathers. And there rose up others, who had not known the Lord and the works that he had done for Israel.

⁸I will reveal to you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires from you, and how to act with judgment, and to love mercy, and to walk carefully with your God.

⁸For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not of yourselves, for it is a gift of God.

⁵²And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and in age, and in grace, with God and men.

⁴And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but educate them with the discipline and correction of the Lord.