« | Matthew 18 | » |
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is [the] greater in the kingdom of heaven?"
2 Then Jesus called a little child, and set him in their midst,
3 and said, "Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoever receives one such little child in My name, receives Me.
6 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone be hanged on his neck, and he be drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man through whom the offense comes!
8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut them off and cast [them] from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, than having two hands or two feet, to be thrown into the eternal fire.
9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, than having two eyes, to be thrown into the fiery hell.
10 "See that you do not despise one of these little [ones], for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
11 For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.
12 What do you think? If a certain man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and search for the [one] gone astray?
13 And if he happens to find it, assuredly I say to you that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray.
14 Thus it is not the will before your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
15 "And if your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have won your brother.
16 But if he does not hear, take along with you one or two more, so that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'
17 But if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the assembly. But if he refuses even to hear the assembly, let him be to you as a heathen and a tax collector.
18 Assuredly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
19 Again, assuredly I say to you that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy- seven [times].
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 And when he began to settle up, one debtor was brought to him [owing] ten thousand talents.
25 But since he had nothing with which to repay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and everything that he had, and to be repaid.
26 Therefore falling down before him, the servant said, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will repay everything to you.'
27 "And having compassion, the master of that servant released him, and forgave him the loan.
28 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. And taking hold of him, he was choking him, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'
29 "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and kept begging him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.'
30 "But he was not willing, but going off, he cast him into prison till he should pay back what was owed.
31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and they came and narrated to their master all that had taken place.
32 Then summoning him, his master said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, as I also had compassion on you?'
34 "And being angered, his master handed him over to the tormentors until he should pay all that was owed to him.
35 Thus also My heavenly Father will do to you, if you do not forgive each [one] his brother their trespasses, from your hearts."
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.