1 Paul, an apostle+ of Christ Jesus under command of God+ our Savior*+ and of Christ Jesus, our hope,+

18 in order that, through two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,+ we who have fled to the refuge may have strong encouragement to lay hold on the hope+ set before us.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,+ for according to his great mercy he gave us a new birth*+ to a living hope+ through the resurrection+ of Jesus Christ from the dead,