going astray, and following in the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, to whom beloved is the reward of iniquity,

And he had a punishment of his transgression, because the dumb beast of burden spake with the voice of man, and rebuked the prophet’s folly.

These are fountains without water, and clouds compassed about with the whirlwind: for whom to keep is darkness for ever.

For they speak proud words, when there is nothing behind, and provoke by fornication to carnal lusts them that were rightly escaped, and now walk in error, 19. Promising them liberty, if they themselves be servants of destruction. For of whom a man is overcome, of him is he become the servant.

For if they have escaped the filth of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST, and are again plunged into it, and overcome, the latter things are worse with them than the former.

For it were better for them that they had not known the way of righteousness, than that they had known it, and turned away from the holy commandment which was given them.

There hath befallen them the true saying, The dog eateth again, what he has fed, and: The sow rolls again in the excrement after the glut.
(2 Peter)
Chapter 3
Of the last times, Christ’s future, and worthy readiness for it.

This is the other epistle which I write unto you, beloved, in which I awake and remind you of your lukewarm mind,

That ye may remember the words which were spoken unto you of old by the holy prophets, and our commandment, which are the apostles of the Lord and Saviour.
(Epistle on the twenty-sixth Sunday after Trintatis.)

And know this first, that in the last days there shall come scoffers, walking after their own lusts.

Saying, Where is the promise of his future? For after the fathers are passed away, all things remain as they were from the beginning of the creature.

But willingly they will not know that the heavens also were of old, and that the earth was of water, and that it consisted in water by the word of God.

Nevertheless at that time the world was destroyed by them with the flood. – ·

So also the heavens now and the earth are spared by his word, to be kept for fire in the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

But be it known unto you, beloved, that in the sight of the LORD one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The LORD delayeth not the promise, as some count a delay: but hath patience with us, not willing that any should perish, but that every man should repent.

And the day of the LORD shall come as a thief of the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth shall melt with fervent heat.
and the works that are inside will burn.

If then all these things shall pass away, how then shall ye be skillful in holy walk and godliness?

That ye wait and make haste for the future of the day of the LORD, in the which the heavens
shall be dissolved with fire, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.

But we wait for new heavens and a new earth, according to his promise, in which righteousness dwelleth.

Wherefore, beloved, as ye ought to wait for this, be diligent that ye may be found undefiled before him, and blameless in peace].

And the patience of our Lord respect unto your salvation: as also our dear brother Paul wrote unto you according to the wisdom that was given unto him.

As he also saith in all his epistles, wherein are some things hard to be understood, which confound the unlearned and the reckless, as also the other scriptures unto their own damnation.

But ye, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, take heed lest ye be deceived with them through the error of wicked men, and escape out of your own stronghold.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and for evermore. Amen.
Text of the unrevised Luther Bible 1545:
DeepL English Translation
[Processed by BackToLuther. German text published here.]
The first letter of John (1 John) ^
Chapter 1
Of Christ’s person, His revealed word, and true repentance.
(Epistle on the third day of Christmas.)

Which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have beheld, and our hands have touched, of the word of life.

(and the life appeared, and we have seen, and testify, and declare unto you the life that is eternal, which was with the Father, and appeared unto us);

What we have seen and heard we declare unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and that our fellowship may be with the Father, and with the Son, JESUS CHRIST.

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

And this is the proclamation which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that GOD is a light, and in him is no darkness.

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, so we lie and do not do the truth.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another: and the blood of JEsu Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say, we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

But if we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us:]
(1 John)
Chapter 2
Of Christianity’s reason, characteristics, content, enemies, and preservation.

Little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, who is righteous.

And the same is the propitiation for our sin, and not for our sin only, but also for those of the whole world.

And by this we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar; and in such there is no truth.

But he that keepeth his word, in him truly is the love of God made perfect. By this we know
that we are in him.

He that saith he abideth in him shall walk even as he walked.

Brethren, I write not unto you a new commandment, but the old commandment, which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.

Again, a new commandment write I unto you, which is true of him, and of you: for the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

He that saith he is in the light, and hate his brother, who is still in eclipse.

He that loveth his brother abideth in light, and is no offence to him.

But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth: for darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Little children, I write unto you, that sins may be forgiven you through his name.

I write unto you fathers: for ye know him that is from the beginning. I write unto you young men; for ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you children, because ye know the Father.

I have written unto you fathers, that ye might know him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you young men, that ye should be strong, and that the word of God should abide with you, and that ye should overcome the wicked.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, , the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world perisheth with the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Children, it is the last hour: and as ye have heard that the antichrist is come, and now are become many antichrists; therefore we know that it is the last hour.

They came out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would have remained with us: but baptize them, that they be not all of us.

And ye have the anointing of him that is holy; and know all things.

I wrote not unto you, as though ye knew not the truth; but ye know it, and know that no lie cometh of the truth.

Who is a liar, except he deny that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, which denieth the Father and the Son.

He that denieth the Son hath not the Father.

That therefore which ye have heard from the beginning abide with you. If that which ye have heard from the beginning abide with you, ye shall abide with the Son and with the Father.

And this is the promise which he hath promised us: eternal life.

These things have I written unto you of them that deceive you.

And the anointing which ye have received of him abideth with you, and suffer not any man to teach you: but as the anointing teacheth you all things, it is true, and is no lie: and as it hath taught you, abide in the same.

And now, little children, abide with him, that, when