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Bible passages quoted in the major early AA literature Glenn F. Chesnut and Laurie Andrews

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Big Book BB p. 63 “Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will …. May I do Thy will always!” BB p. 67 “Thy will be done.” BB p. 85 “Thy will (not mine) be done.” BB pp. 87-88 “We constantly remind ourselves we are no longer running the show, humbly saying to ourselves many times each day ‘Thy will be done.’” Also see the Detroit / Washington D.C. Pamphlet: “We ask God to let his will be done.”

Matthew 6:10 KJV (Lord’s Prayer): Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Luke 11:2 KJV (short form of Lord’s Prayer): And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Luke 22:42 (Jesus on the Mount of Olives just before his arrest): Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Matthew 26:42 (Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives just before his arrest): My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done.

BB p. 153 “You will learn the full meaning of ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself.’”

Matthew 19:17-19 KJV: If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not

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commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Matthew 22:35-40 KJV: Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Mark 12:28-33 KJV: And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Luke 10:25-28 KJV: And, behold , a certain lawyer stood up , and tempted him, saying , Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Romans 13:8-10 KJV: Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly

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comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Galatians 5:14 KJV: For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

James 2:8 KJV: If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well.

BB p. 19 “After such an approach many take up their beds and walk again.”

Matthew 9:6 KJV: But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

Mark 2:9 KJV: Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say , Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

Luke 5:24 KJV: But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

John 5:8-12 KJV: Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk ….

BB p. 151 “then would come … the awful awakening to face the hideous Four Horsemen— Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, Despair.”

The reference is to the New Testament, Revelation 6:1-8, where we see the Lamb opening the seven seals on the scroll which bears our judgment and condemnation by the heavenly standards of all that is holy and good and moral and responsible (what we call Good Orderly Direction in AA language). Four horsemen appear, and the horrors of the end of the world begin to take place.

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Terror: the white horse brings being conquered and defeated. Bewilderment: the red horse brings chaotic warfare and conflict to which we can find no solution. Frustration: the black horse brings no money to buy food. Despair: the rider of the pale horse is named Death.

In the middle ages, Death was portrayed as a skeleton in a black robe carrying a scythe. The Big Book’s version of the Four Horsemen equates Death with Despair, because falling into total despair is the death of the alcoholic’s soul.

Revelation 6:2-8 KJV: And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. 3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. 5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see . 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

SEE ALSO Pass It On pp. 175-177: Towns Hospital offered Bill Wilson a position as a paid therapist. Bill quickly convinced himself that it would be all right for him to take money for working with other alcoholics by quoting the biblical passage to himself: “The laborer is worthy of his hire.” Lois and the New York AA group and their wives then had to convince him that he must not do this.

Luke 10:1-7 KJV: After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by

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the way. 5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. 6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. 7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire.

1 Timothy 5:18 RSV: For the scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

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Akron Manual published by the Akron group in 1942 http://hindsfoot.org/AkrMan1.html

The Akron Manual recommends that newcomers read the Sermon on the Mount, 1 Corinthians 13, the letter of James, and Psalms 23 and 91, see Part V:

“There is the Bible that you haven’t opened for years. Get acquainted with it. Read it with an open mind. You will find things that will amaze you. You will be convinced that certain passages were written with you in mind. Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew V, VI, and VII). Read St. Paul’s inspired essay on love (I Corinthians XIII). Read the Book of James. Read the Twentythird and Ninety-first Psalms. These readings are brief but so important.”

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Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

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Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your habitation, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

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Deuteronomy 33:27 (quoted in the 24 Hour book)

The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

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Matthew 7:7-8 (referred to in the Detroit / Washington D.C. Pamphlet: “Christ said, ‘ask and ye shall receive.’ What method is simpler? — merely ask.”)

7 Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

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1 John 4 (Quoted in 24 Hours a Day. Other parts of First John Chapter 4 are referred to numerous times in Drummond’s The Greatest Thing in the World, one of the recommended reading books in the Akron Manual)

1 John 4:20 If any one says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

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1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.

1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us.

1 John 4:12 No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

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1 John 4:16 So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.

1 John 4:19 We love, because he first loved us.

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The actual grounds on which we will be judged at the Last Judgment

Matthew 25:31-46 (Cited in Henry Drummond, The Greatest Thing in the World. Compare the corporal works of mercy portrayed on the six stained glass windows of the chapel at St. Thomas Hospital where Sister Ignatia worked)

31 When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.

34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was an immigrant and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? 38 And when did we see thee an immigrant and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? 39 And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’

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40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’

41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was an immigrant and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or an immigrant or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

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The Good Samaritan Luke 10:30-35 (referred to in the 24 Hour book)

30 A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, 34 and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’

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The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32 (Referred to in the 24 Hour book and in Henry Drummond, The Greatest Thing in the World. Ralph Pfau (the Father John Doe who wrote the Golden Books) referred to this story in the title of his autobiography—Prodigal Shepherd—where he likened himself to the prodigal son who rebelled against his father and went astray.)

11 There was a man who had two sons; 12 and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. 15 So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything.

17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”’

20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; 23 and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; 24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry.

25 Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and

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refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

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The Lost Sheep Luke 15:4-7 (In the same chapter as the story of the Prodigal Son. Father Ralph Pfau, a Catholic priest, was probably referring to this story also in the title of his autobiography, Prodigal Shepherd. The word “pastor” in Latin means “shepherd,” so the story of Father Ralph’s life was an odd twist on the story of the Lost Sheep, where it was not the sheep but the shepherd who got lost and went astray.)

4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

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Important passages from the Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5-7

Glenn F. Chesnut

The dangers of anger Matthew 5:21 You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire.

Making amends Matthew 5:23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; 26 truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.

Pray for those against whom you hold a resentment Matthew 5:43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Don’t go around trying to show off your good deeds or showing off how religious you are Matthew 6:1 Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 Thus, when you give

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alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in their congregations and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Keep your prayers simple, just talk to God Matthew 6:5 And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the pagans do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

The Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:9 Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread; 12 And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors; 13 And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

We must make a total surrender to God, and quit being so fearful about material things Matthew 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

We must make a total surrender to God, and quit being so fearful about material things

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Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

We must make a total surrender to God, and quit being so fearful about material things 25 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?

First Things First — One Day at a Time Matthew 6:31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. 34 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.

Don’t take other people’s inventory, just keep my own side of the street swept clean Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.

Don’t take other people’s inventory, just keep my own side of the street swept clean

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Matthew 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Every morning pray “Please keep me sober today” Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

The Golden Rule sums up every good moral and ethical rule ever written You don’t need hundreds of biblical rules — or hundreds of AA rules — all you need to remember is to treat other people the way you would want to be treated, if you were in their place. And remember that what we want most of all from other people, is that they cut us some slack sometimes if we make a mistake.

Matthew 7:12 Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.

Real spirituality bears fruit, false spirituality bears thorns People who pretend to be religious and spiritual are lying, even if they talk about it all the time, if they do not treat their fellow human beings at all times with compassion, generosity, and forgiveness, expressed in continual concrete acts of kindness toward each of the other individuals around them.

Matthew 7:16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. 18 A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 1 Corinthians 13:13 So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 A comparison of four different modern translations NIV 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

New Jerusalem Bible 4 Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or conceited, 5 it is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence or store up grievances. 6 Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but finds its joy in the truth. 7 It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes.

RSV 4 Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; 5 it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Trans. by Glenn C. 4 Love is big-hearted and patiently continues to give acceptance and affirmation. Love acts with kind and useful help, is not jealous or competitive. Love does not vaingloriously try to think itself better than everyone else, does not act the pompous blowhard, 5 does not violate good manners or show disrespect, is not self-seeking, is not touchy or instantly triggered into rage, does not resentfully keep a score of past wrongs, 6 is not filled with joy by something wrong, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It always shields and protects, always trusts, always hopes, always stands firm and stays alive.

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Important passages from

The Letter of James Glenn F. Chesnut

The Father of Lights whom Bill W. saw at Towns Hospital: the Sunlight of the Spirit

James1:17 Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

The dangers of anger

James1:19 Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only

James1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.

True spirituality is to take care of the poor and helpless who have no one to defend them, and not to be dominated by money and other material things

James1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

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True spirituality is to take care of the poor and helpless who have no one to defend them, and not to be dominated by money and other material things

James 2:1 My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while you say to the poor man, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you, is it not they who drag you into court?

Faith without works is dead

THE LAW OF LIBERTY is the law which tells us to quit making lists of hundreds of rules so we can condemn other people for breaking them. The Law of Liberty is the law which tells us to give other people a break and allow them the right to be wrong and to make mistakes. The Law of Liberty is the law which commands us to perform works of mercy, kindness, generosity, and forgiveness to the poor and needy at all times.

Faith without works is only THE FAITH OF A DEVIL. The devils believe in God’s existence and fear him, and know all the truths about God and heavenly things because they once lived in heaven. They were thrown down into hell because they refused to act the way God wanted them to.

James 2:12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy triumphs over judgment. 14 What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 18 But some one will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder.

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The vices which destroy us: speaking words of Anger towards others

James 3:3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4 Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

The vices which destroy us: Jealousy and Ambition

James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity. 18 And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

The vices which destroy us: Greed

James 4:1 What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? 2 You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war.

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We must make a total surrender to God

James 4:4 Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

The vices which destroy us: Pride

James 4:6 “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

The divine punishment which awaits the greedy and wealthy: businessmen, the big landowners, and people in positions of great power

James 5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have killed the Righteous One; he does not resist you.

The Sixth Step

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

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1 Corinthians 13 1 Cor. 12:31b–13:13 trans. by Glenn F. Chesnut

And I will show you the path leading highest of all: If I jabber in the tongues of human beings and of angels, but have not love, I have become the noise of clashing metal on a battlefield or someone beating a war-song on a cymbal.

If I have prophecy, and know all the religious rituals, and know how to interpret the riddles of scripture, and if I have a faith great enough to move mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I own—bit by bit—to others, and if I hand over my body to be burned, but have not love, I am owed nothing.

hê agapê makrothumei — Love is big-hearted and patiently continues to give acceptance and affirmation. chrêsteuetai hê agapê — Love acts with kind and useful help, ou zêloi — is not jealous or competitive. hê agapê ou perpereutai — Love does not arrogantly try to think itself better than everyone else, ou physioutai — does not act the pompous blowhard,

ouk aschêmonei — does not violate good manners or show disrespect, ou zêtei ta heautês — is not self-seeking, ou paroxynetai — is not touchy or instantly triggered into rage, ou logizetai to kakon — does not resentfully keep a score of past wrongs,

ou chairei epi tệ adikiậ — is not filled with joy by something wrong, synchairei de tệ alêtheiậ — but rejoices in the truth.

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panta stegei — It always shields and protects, panta pisteuei — always trusts, panta elpizei — always hopes, panta hypomenei — always stands firm and stays alive.

Whether prophecies lose their employment, or tongues stop, or knowledge of how to interpret the riddles of the scriptures loses its employment—love never fails.

For we hold any knowledge of how to interpret the riddles of the scriptures partially and we prophesy partially; when the whole and fully adult comes, the partial will lose its employment. When I was a baby, I jabbered like a baby, I thought like a baby, I reasoned like a baby; when I have become an adult, I will no longer employ a baby’s ways.

For now we see a hint reflected like a riddle in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I hold my knowledge of how to interpret the riddles of the scriptures partially, then I will have direct conscious awareness, just as God has known me.

For the present, there remain FAITH, HOPE, LOVE—these three—but the greatest of these is love. Seek love!