(17)Charge the rich in this world not to be lifted up with pride, nor to trust on the stability of wealth, but on the living G.o.d, who giveth us richly all things for our enjoyment; (18)to do good, to be rich in generous actions, to take pleasure in liberality, ready to distribute; (19)laying up treasure for themselves a n.o.ble foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
(20)O Timothy, guard the sacred deposit, avoiding profane trifling talk, and ant.i.theses of misnamed science: (21)which some affecting have erred concerning the faith.
Grace be with thee.--Amen.
The first epistle was written from Laodicea, which is the metropolis of Phrygia Pacatiana.
THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO TIMOTHY.
CHAP. I.
PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of G.o.d, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, (2)to Timothy, my beloved son: grace, mercy, peace, from G.o.d the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
(3)I thank G.o.d, whom I serve from my forefathers with a pure conscience, that I keep up a constant remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; (4)earnestly desiring to see thee, remembering thy tears, that I might be filled with joy; (5)recalling to my memory the unfeigned faith which was in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and in thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that _it is_ in thee also. (6)For which cause I remind thee that thou fan into a flame the divine gift, which is in thee by the imposition of my hands. (7)For G.o.d hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of courage, and of love, and of sobriety.
(8)Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer affliction with me in the gospel, supported by the power of G.o.d; (9)who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before time had a beginning; (10)but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and brought to light life and immortality by the gospel: (11)whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. (12)For which cause also I suffer these things; but I am not ashamed: for I know on whom I have placed my confidence, and am persuaded that he is mighty to guard my deposit unto the great day.
(13)Model thy teaching according to the pattern of the sound discourses, which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (14)The glorious deposit committed to thy trust, guard by the Holy Ghost who dwelleth in us.
(15)Knowest thou this, that all those of Asia have deserted me? among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. (16)The Lord grant mercy unto the household of Onesiphorus because he frequently was a refreshment to my soul, and was not ashamed of my chain: (17)but, when he was at Rome, he sought me out diligently, and found me. (18)The Lord grant that he may find mercy with the Lord in the great day; and how liberally he ministered to me at Ephesus, thou knowest better than any other person.
CHAP. II.
THOU therefore, my son, be mighty in the grace which is in Jesus Christ. (2)And the things which thou hast heard of me before many witnesses, these commit to faithful men, who shall be qualified to teach others also. (3)Thou therefore endure hardships, as a brave soldier of Jesus Christ. (4)No man who enters the army involves himself with secular affairs; that he may please the person who hath enlisted him. (5)And if a man contend in the public games, he is not crowned victor, unless he contend according to the laws. (6)The husbandman who toils is the first who ought to partake of the fruits. (7)Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
(8)Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead, according to my gospel: (9)for which I suffer affliction, even unto chains as a malefactor; but the word of G.o.d is not bound.
(10)Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Jesus Christ with eternal glory.
(11)It is a faithful saying: for if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: (12)if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him: if we renounce him, he also will renounce us: (13)if we are unbelieving, he abideth faithful; he cannot contradict himself. (14)Put them in mind of these things, adjuring them before the Lord not to quarrel about words of no use, but tending to the perversion of the audience.
(15)Be diligent to present thyself before G.o.d approved, a workman that need not blush, rightly dividing the word of truth. (16)But profane vain bablings avoid: for they will proceed to greater lengths of impiety. (17)And their discourse will eat like as a gangrene; of whom are Hymeneus and Philetus; (18)who with respect to the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection hath been already; and pervert the faith of some. (19)Nevertheless the stable foundation of G.o.d standeth firm, having this seal, the Lord knoweth those who belong to him. And, let every man who mentions the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.
(20)But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and pottery; and some for an honourable use, and others for baser service. (21)If therefore a man preserve himself pure from these things, he shall be a vessel for honour, sanctified and highly useful to the master, ready for every good work.
(22)But flee youthful pa.s.sions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. (23)But foolish and uninstructive disputes avoid, knowing that they produce quarrels. (24)And a servant of the Lord ought not to quarrel; but to be gentle to all men, apt to teach, forbearing, (25)with meekness correcting those who are opposers, if at last G.o.d may give unto them repentance so as to submit to the conviction of the truth; (26)and that they may escape out of the snare of the devil, who have been captured by him for his will.
CHAP. III.
BUT this know, that in the last days distressing times will come.
(2)For men will be self-lovers, money-lovers, boasters, vainglorious, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3)unnatural, implacable, slanderers, intemperate, inhuman, averse to goodness, (4)treacherous, wilful, puffed up _with pride_, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of G.o.d; (5)holding the form of G.o.dliness, but denying the power of it: from these men turn with aversion. (6)For such are they who insinuate themselves into houses, and captivate weak women laden with acc.u.mulated sins, and actuated by a variety of pa.s.sions, (7)always learning, yet never able to attain unto the knowledge of truth. (8)But in the same manner as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these also set themselves in opposition to the truth; men corrupt in mind, reprobate respecting the faith. (9)But they shall not proceed to the uttermost; for their infatuation shall be evident to all men, as theirs also was.
(10)But thou hast fully known my doctrine, conduct, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, patience, (11)the persecutions, the sufferings, which beset me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, yet out of them all the Lord delivered me. (12)And all indeed who will live G.o.dly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (13)But wicked men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and deceived. (14)But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and believed, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (15)and that from a child thou hast known the sacred writings, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ. (16)All scripture is given by the inspiration of G.o.d, and advantageous for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (17)that the man of G.o.d may be properly furnished, fully qualified for every good work.
CHAP. IV.
I ADJURE thee therefore before G.o.d, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2)preach the word, be urgent, in season, out of season; reprove, enjoin, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. (3)For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own inclinations will set up a herd of teachers for themselves, having the itch of hearing; (4)and will turn away their ears from the truth, and listen unto fables. (5)But watch thou in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully discharge thy ministry. (6)For I am now ready to be sacrificed, and the time of my dissolution approaches.
(7)I have struggled hard in the honourable contest, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith: (8)henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: yet not to me only, but also to all who have loved his appearing.
(9)Hasten to come to me shortly: (10)for Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is gone unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; t.i.tus to Dalmatia. (11)Luke alone is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee; for he is very useful to me in the ministry.
(12)But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.
(13)The cloke which I left behind me at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest bring, and the books, especially the parchments.
(14)Alexander the brazier did me many ill offices: the Lord repay him according to his works: (15)against whom be thou also on thy guard, for he hath greatly resisted our words.
(16)At my first apology no man stood by me, but all forsook me: (may it not be imputed to them!) (17)but the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully discharged, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was s.n.a.t.c.hed out of the lion"s mouth.
(18)And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and preserve me for his celestial kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
(19)Salute Priscilla and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus.
(20)Erastus hath abode at Corinth: but Trophimus I left behind me at Miletum sick.
(21)Hasten to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
(22)The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
The second epistle to Timothy, appointed the first bishop of the Ephesian church, was written from Rome, when the second time Paul stood before the Caesar Nero.
THE EPISTLE of PAUL the APOSTLE TO t.i.tUS.
CHAP. I.
PAUL, a servant of G.o.d, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of the elect of G.o.d, and the knowledge of truth which leads to G.o.dliness; (2)in hope of life eternal, which G.o.d, who cannot lie, hath promised before time had a being; (3)but hath manifested in his own appointed season his word by the preaching, with which I have been entrusted, according to the command of our Saviour G.o.d; (4)to t.i.tus, my genuine son after the common faith, be grace, mercy, peace, from G.o.d the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
(5)For this purpose I left thee behind me at Crete, that thou mightest direct the regulations which remained to be executed, and that thou shouldest appoint presbyters in every city, as I charged thee to do: (6)if there be a man blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not under an accusation or debauchery, or disorderly conduct. (7)For a bishop ought to be irreproachable, as the steward of G.o.d; not self-willed, not irritable, not addicted to wine, not quarrelsome, not greedy of filthy lucre; (8)but the stranger"s host, the good man"s friend, grave, just, holy, temperate; (9)firmly attached to the faithful word, according to the doctrine delivered, that he may be able to exhort with sound instruction and to confute the opposers. (10)For there are many disorderly persons vainly talkative, and under a spirit of delusion, especially some of the circ.u.mcised; (11)whose mouths ought to be muzzled, who pervert whole families, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of base gain.
(12)One of them, a poet of their own nation, hath said, The Cretans are always liars, wicked beasts, slothful gluttons. (13)This testimony is true. For which cause rebuke them with severity, that they may be sound in the faith; (14)not attending to Jewish fables, and injunctions of men, who have turned away from the truth. (15)All things indeed are clean to the clean: but to the defiled and to the unbelievers there is nothing clean; but their very mind and conscience are defiled. (16)They profess to know G.o.d; but in works deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
CHAP. II.
BUT speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: (2)that the elder men be sober, grave, discreet, sound in faith, in love, in patience. (3)That the elder women also be sacredly becoming in their behaviour, not slanderers, not enslaved by much wine, teachers of propriety; (4)that they instruct the young women to be discreet, to love their husbands, to love their children, (5)to be sober, domestic, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of G.o.d be not ill reported of. (6)The younger men in like manner exhort to be sober minded. (7)In all things approving thyself as a pattern of good works: in thy teaching, shewing integrity, gravity, incorruptibility, (8)sound discourse, incapable of confutation; that he who is in opposition may be confounded, having nothing faulty to say of you.
(9)Let servants be subject to their own masters, in all things to be agreeable to them; not contradicting; (10)not embezzling their property, but demonstrating all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of G.o.d our Saviour in all things.
(11)For the grace of G.o.d which leads to salvation hath appeared unto all men, (12)instructing us, that denying unG.o.dliness and worldly affections, we should live soberly and righteously, and G.o.dly in the present day; (13)expecting the blessed hope, and glorious appearing of our great G.o.d and Saviour Jesus Christ; (14)who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (15)These things speak and enjoin, and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
CHAP. III.
REMIND them to be subject to princes and those invested with authority, to obey magistrates, to be ready for every good work, (2)to slander no man, to be inoffensive, gentle, shewing all meekness to all men. (3)For we ourselves also in time past were thoughtless, disobedient, erroneous, enslaved by various pa.s.sions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. (4)But even then the kindness and love of G.o.d our Saviour to man shone forth, (5)not for works of righteousness which we had done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the laver of regeneration, and by renovation of the Holy Spirit; (6)which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (7)that justified by his grace, we might become heirs in hope of eternal life.
(8)Faithful is the saying, and of these things I wish thee firmly to testify, that they who have believed in G.o.d be careful to be pre-eminent in good works. These are becoming and advantageous to men.
(9)But foolish disquisitions, and genealogies, and disputes, and contentions about the law avoid; for they are unprofitable and vain.
(10)An heretical person after a first and second admonition reject; (11)knowing that such a one is perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned.
(12)When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, hasten to come to me unto Nicopolis: for there I have determined to pa.s.s the winter.