You yourselves are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men. You show that you are a letter from Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of carnal hearts.

but that we should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.

But I have written very boldly to you on some points, so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God,

I do not write this to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.

For we write you nothing but what you can read and understand; and I hope you will understand fully,

For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything.

Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the offering for the saints,

I write these things while I am absent, in order that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority which the Lord gave me for building you up, and not for tearing you down.

(Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I do not lie.)

that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.

Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that,

I urge you, brethren, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.

I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.

I wrote to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I wrote to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I wrote to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

These things I have written to you about those who try to deceive you.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands:

"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'These are the words of the First and the Last, who died, and came to life:

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 'These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword:

"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze:

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead.

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'These are the words of him who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens:

"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation: