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Bible / Luke

Luke 1

World English Bible, Catholic edition, in plain modern English. About the translations

1 Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, 12 CCC

2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, Fathers

3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;

4 that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. CCC

6 They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. Fathers

7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.

8 Now while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division Fathers

9 according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10 The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. CCC

12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. CCC · Fathers

16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. CCC

17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.” CCC · Fathers

18 Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” CCC

19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. CCC

20 Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.

22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.

23 When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house. CCC

24 After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,

25 “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”

26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, CCC · Fathers

27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. CCC

28 Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!” 3 CCC

29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 4

31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’ CCC

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, CCC · Fathers

33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.” CCC · Fathers

34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?” CCC

35 The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. CCC · Fathers

36 Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

37 For nothing spoken by God is impossible.” CCC

38 Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. CCC · Fathers

39 Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. CCC

42 She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 5

43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? CCC

44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!

45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!” CCC

46 Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord. CCC · Fathers

47 My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, CCC

48 for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed. 6 CCC

49 For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name. CCC

50 His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him. CCC

51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52 He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

54 He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”

56 Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

57 Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.

58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.

59 On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

60 His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.”

61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”

62 They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

63 He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” They all marveled.

64 His mouth was opened immediately and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.

65 Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.

66 All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” The hand of the Lord was with him.

67 His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people; CCC · Fathers

69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David Fathers

70 (as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),

71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; Fathers

72 to show mercy toward our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,

73 the oath which he swore to Abraham our father, CCC

74 to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,

75 in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. Fathers

76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, CCC · Fathers

77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,

78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us, CCC · Fathers

79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 The child was growing and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Where our lessons quote this chapter

  1. Verses 1–2: Can we trust the Gospels?
  2. Verses 1–4: Can we trust the Gospels?
  3. Verse 28: Mary: honored, not worshiped, Mary, honored by both
  4. Verses 30–35: Mary, honored by both
  5. Verse 42: Mary: honored, not worshiped
  6. Verse 48: Mary: honored, not worshiped

This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church

Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.

  1. Verse 1CCC 2684
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 2684 “In the communion of saints, many and varied spiritualities have been developed throughout the history of the churches. the personal charism of…”
  2. Verse 2
    Read the Fathers

    • “Thus also does Luke, without respect of persons, deliver to us what he had learned from them, as he has himself testified, saying, "Even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eye-witnesses and ministers of the Word.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XIV. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  3. Verse 5CCC 422
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 422 “But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem…”
  4. Verse 6
    Read the Fathers

    • “Luke also, the follower and disciple of the apostles, referring to Zacharias and Elisabeth, from whom, according to promise, John was born, says: "And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  5. Verse 8
    Read the Fathers

    • “… it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense;" and he came to sacrifice, "entering into the temple of the Lord.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  6. Verse 11CCC 332
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 332 “Angels have been present since creation and throughout the history of salvation, announcing this salvation from afar or near and serving the…”
  7. Verse 15CCC 717 CCC 724
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 717 “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." John was "filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's…”
    • CCC 724 “In Mary, the Holy Spirit manifests the Son of the Father, now become the Son of the Virgin. She is the burning…”

    • “And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  8. Verse 16CCC 724
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 724 “In Mary, the Holy Spirit manifests the Son of the Father, now become the Son of the Virgin. She is the burning…”
  9. Verse 17CCC 523 CCC 696 CCC 716 CCC 718 CCC 724
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 523 “St. John the Baptist is the Lord's immediate precursor or forerunner, sent to prepare his way. "Prophet of the Most High", John…”
    • CCC 696 “Fire. While water signifies birth and the fruitfulness of life given in the Holy Spirit, fire symbolizes the transforming energy of the…”
    • CCC 716 “The People of the "poor" - those who, humble and meek, rely solely on their God's mysterious plans, who await the justice,…”
    • CCC 718 “John is "Elijah (who) must come." The fire of the Spirit dwells in him and makes him the forerunner of the coming…”
    • CCC 724 “In Mary, the Holy Spirit manifests the Son of the Father, now become the Son of the Virgin. She is the burning…”

    • “… whom they confessed as God and Lord; Him, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who had also made promise to Him, that He would send His messenger before His face, who was John, crying in the wilderness, in "the spirit and power of Elias,”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  10. Verse 18CCC 724
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 724 “In Mary, the Holy Spirit manifests the Son of the Father, now become the Son of the Virgin. She is the burning…”
  11. Verse 19CCC 724
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 724 “In Mary, the Holy Spirit manifests the Son of the Father, now become the Son of the Virgin. She is the burning…”
  12. Verse 23CCC 1070
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 1070 “In the New Testament the word "liturgy" refers not only to the celebration of divine worship but also to the proclamation of…”
  13. Verse 26CCC 332 CCC 488 CCC 497 CCC 706 CCC 723 CCC 2571
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 332 “Angels have been present since creation and throughout the history of salvation, announcing this salvation from afar or near and serving the…”
    • CCC 488 “God sent forth his Son", but to prepare a body for him, he wanted the free co-operation of a creature. For this,…”
    • CCC 497 “The Gospel accounts understand the virginal conception of Jesus as a divine work that surpasses all human understanding and possibility: "That which…”
    • CCC 706 “Against all human hope, God promises descendants to Abraham, as the fruit of faith and of the power of the Holy Spirit.…”
    • CCC 723 “In Mary, the Holy Spirit fulfills the plan of the Father's loving goodness. With and through the Holy Spirit, the Virgin conceives…”
    • CCC 2571 “Because Abraham believed in God and walked in his presence and in covenant with him, The patriarch is ready to welcome a…”

    • “And again, speaking in reference to the angel, he says: "But at that time the angel Gabriel was sent from God, who did also say to the virgin, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favour with God.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  14. Verse 27CCC 488
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 488 “God sent forth his Son", but to prepare a body for him, he wanted the free co-operation of a creature. For this,…”
  15. Verse 28CCC 490 CCC 491 CCC 494
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 490 “To become the mother of the Saviour, Mary "was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role." The angel Gabriel…”
    • CCC 491 “Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God, was redeemed from the moment…”
    • CCC 494 “At the announcement that she would give birth to "the Son of the Most High" without knowing man, by the power of…”
  16. Verse 31CCC 430 CCC 2812
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 430 “Jesus means in Hebrew: "God saves." At the annunciation, the angel Gabriel gave him the name Jesus as his proper name, which…”
    • CCC 2812 “Finally, in Jesus the name of the Holy God is revealed and given to us, in the flesh, as Savior, revealed by…”
  17. Verse 32CCC 559 CCC 709
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 559 “How will Jerusalem welcome her Messiah? Although Jesus had always refused popular attempts to make him king, he chooses the time and…”
    • CCC 709 “The Law, the sign of God's promise and covenant, ought to have governed the hearts and institutions of that people to whom…”

    • “… time brought her good news, saying, "Behold, thou shalt conceive of the Holy Ghost, and shalt bear a Son, and He shall be called the Son of the Highest, and thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins,”

      Quoted in First Apology, St. Justin Martyr (c. AD 155), Chapter XXXIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

    • “… be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

    • “… hope in God, and seek after His commandments." And again, the angel said, when bringing good tidings to Mary: "He shall he great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord shall give unto Him the throne of His father David;”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  18. Verse 33CCC 709
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 709 “The Law, the sign of God's promise and covenant, ought to have governed the hearts and institutions of that people to whom…”

    • “… Jacob to Emmanuel, they showed, by these gifts which they offered, who it was that was worshipped; myrrh, because it was He who should die and be buried for the mortal human race; gold, because He was a King, "of whose kingdom is no end;”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter IX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

    • “… be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  19. Verse 34CCC 484 CCC 505
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 484 “The Annunciation to Mary inaugurates "the fullness of time", The time of the fulfilment of God's promises and preparations. Mary was invited…”
    • CCC 505 “By his virginal conception, Jesus, the New Adam, ushers in the new birth of children adopted in the Holy Spirit through faith.…”
  20. Verse 35CCC 437 CCC 484 CCC 486 CCC 697
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 437 “To the shepherds, the angel announced the birth of Jesus as the Messiah promised to Israel: "To you is born this day…”
    • CCC 484 “The Annunciation to Mary inaugurates "the fullness of time", The time of the fulfilment of God's promises and preparations. Mary was invited…”
    • CCC 486 “The Father's only Son, conceived as man in the womb of the Virgin Mary, is "Christ", that is to say, anointed by…”
    • CCC 697 “Cloud and light. These two images occur together in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. In the theophanies of the Old Testament,…”

    • “… faith and joy, when the angel Gabriel announced the good tidings to her that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon her, and the power of the Highest would overshadow her: wherefore also the Holy Thing begotten of her is the Son of God;”

      Quoted in Dialogue with Trypho, St. Justin Martyr (c. AD 160), Chapter C. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

    • “… the Holy Ghost;" and that the angel Gabriel said unto her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God;”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  21. Verse 37CCC 269 CCC 273 CCC 148
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 269 “The Holy Scriptures repeatedly confess the universal power of God. He is called the "Mighty One of Jacob", the "LORD of hosts",…”
    • CCC 273 “Only faith can embrace the mysterious ways of God's almighty power. This faith glories in its weaknesses in order to draw to…”
    • CCC 148 “The Virgin Mary most perfectly embodies the obedience of faith. By faith Mary welcomes the tidings and promise brought by the angel…”
  22. Verse 38CCC 2617 CCC 2677 CCC 2827 CCC 2856 CCC 64 CCC 148
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 2617 “Mary's prayer is revealed to us at the dawning of the fullness of time. Before the incarnation of the Son of God,…”
    • CCC 2677 “Holy Mary, Mother of God: With Elizabeth we marvel, "and why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should…”
    • CCC 2827 “If any one is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him." Such is the power of the…”
    • CCC 2856 “Then, after the prayer is over you say 'Amen,' which means 'So be it,' thus ratifying with our 'Amen' what is contained…”
    • CCC 64 “Through the prophets, God forms his people in the hope of salvation, in the expectation of a new and everlasting Covenant intended…”
    • CCC 148 “The Virgin Mary most perfectly embodies the obedience of faith. By faith Mary welcomes the tidings and promise brought by the angel…”

    • “… her that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon her, and the power of the Highest would overshadow her: wherefore also the Holy Thing begotten of her is the Son of God; and she replied, Be it unto me according to thy word.' ”

      Quoted in Dialogue with Trypho, St. Justin Martyr (c. AD 160), Chapter C. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

    • “In accordance with this design, Mary the Virgin is found obedient, saying, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  23. Verse 41CCC 523 CCC 717 CCC 2676
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 523 “St. John the Baptist is the Lord's immediate precursor or forerunner, sent to prepare his way. "Prophet of the Most High", John…”
    • CCC 717 “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." John was "filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's…”
    • CCC 2676 “This twofold movement of prayer to Mary has found a privileged expression in the Ave Maria: Hail Mary [or Rejoice, Mary]: the…”
  24. Verse 43CCC 448 CCC 495 CCC 2677
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 448 “Very often in the Gospels people address Jesus as "Lord". This title testifies to the respect and trust of those who approach…”
    • CCC 495 “Called in the Gospels "the mother of Jesus", Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even before…”
    • CCC 2677 “Holy Mary, Mother of God: With Elizabeth we marvel, "and why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should…”
  25. Verse 45CCC 2676 CCC 148
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 2676 “This twofold movement of prayer to Mary has found a privileged expression in the Ave Maria: Hail Mary [or Rejoice, Mary]: the…”
    • CCC 148 “The Virgin Mary most perfectly embodies the obedience of faith. By faith Mary welcomes the tidings and promise brought by the angel…”
  26. Verse 46CCC 722 CCC 2097 CCC 2619 CCC 2675
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 722 “The Holy Spirit prepared Mary by his grace. It was fitting that the mother of him in whom "the whole fullness of…”
    • CCC 2097 “To adore God is to acknowledge, in respect and absolute submission, the "nothingness of the creature" who would not exist but for…”
    • CCC 2619 “That is why the Canticle of Mary, The Magnificat (Latin) or Megalynei (byzantine) is the song both of the Mother of God…”
    • CCC 2675 “Beginning with Mary's unique cooperation with the working of the Holy Spirit, the Churches developed their prayer to the holy Mother of…”

    • “Moreover, Mary said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my salvation;”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter VII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  27. Verse 47CCC 2097
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 2097 “To adore God is to acknowledge, in respect and absolute submission, the "nothingness of the creature" who would not exist but for…”
  28. Verse 48CCC 971 CCC 2097 CCC 2676 CCC 148
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 971 “All generations will call me blessed": "The Church's devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship." The Church rightly honors…”
    • CCC 2097 “To adore God is to acknowledge, in respect and absolute submission, the "nothingness of the creature" who would not exist but for…”
    • CCC 2676 “This twofold movement of prayer to Mary has found a privileged expression in the Ave Maria: Hail Mary [or Rejoice, Mary]: the…”
    • CCC 148 “The Virgin Mary most perfectly embodies the obedience of faith. By faith Mary welcomes the tidings and promise brought by the angel…”
  29. Verse 49CCC 273 CCC 2097 CCC 2599 CCC 2807 CCC 2827
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 273 “Only faith can embrace the mysterious ways of God's almighty power. This faith glories in its weaknesses in order to draw to…”
    • CCC 2097 “To adore God is to acknowledge, in respect and absolute submission, the "nothingness of the creature" who would not exist but for…”
    • CCC 2599 “The Son of God who became Son of the Virgin learned to pray in his human heart. He learns to pray from…”
    • CCC 2807 “The term "to hallow" is to be understood here not primarily in its causative sense (only God hallows, makes holy), but above…”
    • CCC 2827 “If any one is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him." Such is the power of the…”
  30. Verse 50CCC 2465
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 2465 “The Old Testament attests that God is the source of all truth. His Word is truth. His Law is truth. His "faithfulness…”
  31. Verse 68CCC 422 CCC 717
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 422 “But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem…”
    • CCC 717 “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." John was "filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's…”

    • “… to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham, that He would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all our days.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  32. Verse 69
    Read the Fathers

    • “… of David's body was Emmanuel, "the messenger of great counsel of the Father;" through whom God caused the day-spring and the Just One to arise to the house of David, and raised up for him an horn of salvation, "and established a testimony in Jacob;”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  33. Verse 71
    Read the Fathers

    • “… with His own creation, saving it, and becoming capable of being perceived by it, and freeing us from the hands of all that hate us, that is, from every spirit of wickedness; and causing us to serve Him in holiness and righteousness all our days,”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  34. Verse 73CCC 706
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 706 “Against all human hope, God promises descendants to Abraham, as the fruit of faith and of the power of the Holy Spirit.…”
  35. Verse 75
    Read the Fathers

    • “… with His own creation, saving it, and becoming capable of being perceived by it, and freeing us from the hands of all that hate us, that is, from every spirit of wickedness; and causing us to serve Him in holiness and righteousness all our days,”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  36. Verse 76CCC 523
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 523 “St. John the Baptist is the Lord's immediate precursor or forerunner, sent to prepare his way. "Prophet of the Most High", John…”

    • “… days." Then he says to John: "And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation to His people, for the remission of their sins.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  37. Verse 78CCC 718
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 718 “John is "Elijah (who) must come." The fire of the Spirit dwells in him and makes him the forerunner of the coming…”

    • “… God, after His great goodness, poured His compassion upon us, through which compassion "the Day-spring from on high hath looked upon us, and appeared to those who sat in darkness and the shadow of death, and has guided our feet into the way of peace;”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

    • “And in what way can sins be truly remitted, unless that He against whom we have sinned has Himself granted remission "through the bowels of mercy of our God," in which "He has visited us”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

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