2:15 Give diligence to present yourself approved by G.o.d, a workman who doesn"t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth. 2:16 But shun empty chatter, for they will proceed further in unG.o.dliness, 2:17 and their word will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 2:18 men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of some. 2:19 However G.o.d"s firm foundation stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his,"* and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness." 2:20 Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor, and some for dishonor. 2:21 If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master"s use, prepared for every good work.
2:22 Flee from youthful l.u.s.ts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2:23 But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife. 2:24 The Lord"s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient, 2:25 in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps G.o.d may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth, 2:26 and they may recover themselves out of the devil"s snare, having been taken captive by him to his will.
3:1 But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come. 3:2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3:3 without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, 3:4 traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of G.o.d; 3:5 holding a form of G.o.dliness, but having denied the power thereof. Turn away from these, also. 3:6 For of these are those who creep into houses, and take captive gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various l.u.s.ts, 3:7 always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 3:8 Even as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these also oppose the truth; men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith. 3:9 But they will proceed no further. For their folly will be evident to all men, as theirs also came to be. 3:10 But you did follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, 3:11 persecutions, and sufferings: those things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions. Out of them all the Lord delivered me. 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live G.o.dly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 3:13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 3:14 But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been a.s.sured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. 3:15 From infancy, you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. 3:16 Every writing inspired by G.o.d is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness, 3:17 that the man of G.o.d may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
4:1 I command you therefore before G.o.d and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom: 4:2 preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own l.u.s.ts; 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables.
4:5 But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.
4:6 For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come. 4:7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. 4:8 From now on, there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing. 4:9 Be diligent to come to me soon, 4:10 for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, and t.i.tus to Dalmatia. 4:11 Only Luke is with me.
Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
4:12 But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 4:13 Bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus when you come, and the books, especially the parchments. 4:14 Alexander, the coppersmith, did much evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works, 4:15 of whom you also must beware; for he greatly opposed our words.
4:16 At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them. 4:17 But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 4:18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
4:19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus. 4:20 Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick. 4:21 Be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus salutes you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers. 4:22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
Notes:
[1] back to 2:19 Numbers 16:5
[2] back to 2:19 TR reads "Christ" instead of "the Lord"
[3] back to 3:16 literally, G.o.d-breathed
Paul"s Letter to t.i.tus
1:1 Paul, a servant of G.o.d, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of G.o.d"s chosen ones, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to G.o.dliness, 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which G.o.d, who can"t lie, promised before time began; 1:3 but in his own time revealed his word in the message with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of G.o.d our Savior; 1:4 to t.i.tus, my true child according to a common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from G.o.d the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
1:5 I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you; 1:6 if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior. 1:7 For the overseer must be blameless, as G.o.d"s steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain; 1:8 but given to hospitality, as a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled; 1:9 holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.
1:10 For there are also many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circ.u.mcision, 1:11 whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain"s sake. 1:12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons." 1:13 This testimony is true. For this cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 1:14 not paying attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. 1:15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
1:16 They profess that they know G.o.d, but by their works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.
2:1 But say the things which fit sound doctrine, 2:2 that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in patience: 2:3 and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good; 2:4 that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 2:5 to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that G.o.d"s word may not be blasphemed. 2:6 Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober minded; 2:7 in all things showing yourself an example of good works; in your teaching showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility, 2:8 and soundness of speech that can"t be condemned; that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us. 2:9 Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing in all things; not contradicting; 2:10 not stealing, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of G.o.d, our Savior, in all things. 2:11 For the grace of G.o.d has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 2:12 instructing us to the intent that, denying unG.o.dliness and worldly l.u.s.ts, we would live soberly, righteously, and G.o.dly in this present world; 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great G.o.d and Savior, Jesus Christ; 2:14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works. 2:15 Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise you.
3:1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 3:2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men. 3:3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various l.u.s.ts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 3:4 But when the kindness of G.o.d our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 3:6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; 3:7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 3:8 This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you affirm confidently, so that those who have believed G.o.d may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men; 3:9 but shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 3:10 Avoid a factious man after a first and second warning; 3:11 knowing that such a one is perverted, and sins, being self-condemned.
3:12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me to Nicopolis, for I have determined to winter there. 3:13 Send Zenas, the lawyer, and Apollos on their journey speedily, that nothing may be lacking for them. 3:14 Let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they may not be unfruitful.
3:15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in faith.
Grace be with you all. Amen.
Paul"s Letter to Philemon
1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, 1:2 to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the a.s.sembly in your house: 1:3 Grace to you and peace from G.o.d our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:4 I thank my G.o.d always, making mention of you in my prayers, 1:5 hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints; 1:6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. 1:7 For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
1:8 Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate, 1:9 yet for love"s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 1:10 I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus, 1:11 who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me. 1:12 I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 1:13 whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News. 1:14 But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will. 1:15 For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, 1:16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
1:17 If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. 1:18 But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account. 1:19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides). 1:20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord.
Refresh my heart in the Lord. 1:21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
1:22 Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
1:23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 1:24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. 1:25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Notes:
[1] back to 1:10 Onesimus means "useful."
The Letter to the Hebrews
1:1 G.o.d, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 1:2 has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. 1:3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 1:4 having become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they have. 1:5 For to which of the angels did he say at any time,
"You are my Son. Today have I become your father?"* and again,
"I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?"* 1:6 Again, when he brings in the firstborn into the world he says, "Let all the angels of G.o.d worship him." 1:7 Of the angels he says,
"Who makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire."* 1:8 But of the Son he says,
"Your throne, O G.o.d, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom. 1:9 You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore G.o.d, your G.o.d, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows."* 1:10 And,