Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God's throne.

Think of what he went through; how he put up with so much hatred from sinners! So do not let yourselves become discouraged and give up.

This is the list of the ancestors of Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, who was a descendant of Abraham.

He was a prophet, and he knew what God had promised him: God had made a vow that he would make one of David's descendants a king, just as David was.

It was Jesus, a descendant of David, whom God made the Savior of the people of Israel, as he had promised.

It is about his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: as to his humanity, he was born a descendant of David;

as to his divine holiness, he was shown with great power to be the Son of God by being raised from death.

Then one of the elders said to me, "Don't cry. Look! The Lion from Judah's tribe, the great descendant of David, has won the victory, and he can break the seven seals and open the scroll."

and said to them, "This is what is written: the Messiah must suffer and must rise from death three days later,

But God raised him from death, setting him free from its power, because it was impossible that death should hold him prisoner.

And now I want to remind you, my friends, of the Good News which I preached to you, which you received, and on which your faith stands firm.

that he was buried and that he was raised to life three days later, as written in the Scriptures;

So then, whether it came from me or from them, this is what we all preach, and this is what you believe.

If that is true, it means that Christ was not raised;

More than that, we are shown to be lying about God, because we said that he raised Christ from death---but if it is true that the dead are not raised to life, then he did not raise Christ.

And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is a delusion and you are still lost in your sins.

If our hope in Christ is good for this life only and no more, then we deserve more pity than anyone else in all the world.

And so, according to the Good News I preach, this is how it will be on that Day when God through Jesus Christ will judge the secret thoughts of all.

Let us give glory to God! He is able to make you stand firm in your faith, according to the Good News I preach about Jesus Christ and according to the revelation of the secret truth which was hidden for long ages in the past.

God called you to this through the Good News we preached to you; he called you to possess your share of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

That teaching is found in the gospel that was entrusted to me to announce, the Good News from the glorious and blessed God.

and that is why I was sent as an apostle and teacher of the Gentiles, to proclaim the message of faith and truth. I am not lying; I am telling the truth!