politics and religion

¹Let every soul be subject to higher authorities. For there is no authority except from God and those who have been ordained by God. ²And so, whoever resists authority, resists what has been ordained by God. And those who resist are acquiring damnation for themselves. ³For leaders are not a source of fear to those who work good, but to those who work evil. And would you prefer not to be afraid of authority? Then do what is good, and you shall have praise from them. ⁴For he is a minister of God for you unto good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid. For it is not without reason that he carries a sword. For he is a minister of God; an avenger to execute wrath upon whomever does evil. ⁵For this reason, it is necessary to be subject, not solely because of wrath, but also because of conscience. ⁶Therefore, you must also offer tribute. For they are the ministers of God, serving him in this.

¹¹to choose work that allows you to be tranquil, and to carry out your business and to do your work with your own hands, just as we have instructed you, ¹²and to walk honestly with those who are outside, and to desire nothing belonging to another.

⁹But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, as well as arguments against the law. For these are useless and empty.

²⁰But our way of life is in heaven. And from heaven, too, we await the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ,

¹⁷The tree that you saw was lofty and strong; its height reached toward heaven, and it could be seen throughout the whole world.

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.

²⁴No one is able to serve two masters. For either he will have hatred for the one, and love the other, or he will persevere with the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

²⁷This is religion, clean and undefiled before God the Father: to visit orphans and widows in their tribulations, and to keep yourself immaculate, apart from this age.

²⁷And when they had brought them, they stood them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, ²⁸and said: “We strongly order you not to teach in this name. For behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you wish to bring the blood of this man upon us.” ²⁹But Peter and the Apostles responded by saying: “It is necessary to obey God, more so than men.

²⁶But if anyone considers himself to be religious, but he does not restrain his tongue, but instead seduces his own heart: such a one’s religion is vanity.

¹⁷Therefore, tell us, how does it seem to you? Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar, or not?” ¹⁸But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said: “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? ¹⁹Show me the coin of the census tax.” And they offered him a denarius. ²⁰And Jesus said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?” ²¹They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Then render to Caesar what is of Caesar; and to God what is of God.”

¹Admonish them to be subordinate to the rulers and authorities, to obey their dictates, to be prepared for every good work,

²¹And he alters the times and the ages. He takes away kingdoms and he establishes them. He gives wisdom to those who are wise and teaching skills to those who understand.

³³Therefore, seek first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added to you as well.

¹⁸And Jesus, drawing near, spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

³⁷Jesus said to him: “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

³⁹But the second is similar to it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

¹⁹Therefore, go forth and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

¹⁰For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works which God has prepared and in which we should walk.

¹²Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his inheritance.

⁴⁴And then all who believed were together, and they held all things in common. ⁴⁵They were selling their possessions and belongings, and dividing them to all, just as any of them had need.