9 not only to me, but to all who have loved his glorious appearance. Use all diligence to come to me quickly. For Demas, 10 from a love for this world, hath forsaken me, and is gone to 11 Thessalonica; Crescens, to Galatia; Titus, to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Take Mark and bring him with thee; for 12 he is useful to me for attendance, as I have sent Tychicus to 13 Ephesus. When thou comest, bring the cloak which I left with Carpus at Troas, and the books, especially the parch 14 ments. Alexander the coppersmith hath lodged many false accu15 sations against me. Let the Lord reward him according to his works: Be thou on thy guard against him, for he greatly withstood our words. - 16 At my first defence no one attended; but all forsook me. 17 May this not be charged to their account! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, that the proclamation might be made completely by me, and that all the nations might hear it. 18 And I was delivered out of the mouth of a lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory, for the ages of the ages. Amen. 19 Salute Priscas and Aquilas, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus staid at Corinth; and I left Trophimus sick at Mi letus. Endeavour to come to me before winter. Eubulus, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren, salute thee. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. The favour be with you. Amen. THE EPISTLE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL ΤΟ TITUS. I. PAUL, a servant of God, and apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God's chosen people, and the acknowledgment of a 2 truth which promoteth piety in hope of an everlasting life, which 3 the God of truth promised before the times consisting of ages, and in his own times promulgated as his word, by a procla mation with which I am entrusted, according to the appoint4 ment of the saviour our God; to Titus, a genuine son according to the common faith, be favour, mercy, peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. 5 I left thee in Crete for this purpose that thou mightest regulate what were wanting, and appoint elders in every city as 6 I ordered thee. If there be any one blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, who are not accused of riot, 7 nor ungovernable. For the overseer ought to be blameless as God's steward, not self willed, not passionate, not addicted 8 to wine, not quarrelsome, not greedy of sordid gain; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of goodness, sober, just, holy, tem9 perate, adhering to the faithful word, as he hath been taught, that he may be able to exhort with sound doctrine, and con10 vince them who oppose it. For there are many who are dis orderly, vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the cir11 cumcision, who ought to be curbed, who subvert whole houses teaching what they ought not, for the sake of sordid gain. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own hath said, "False 13 Cretans! savage beasts! to gluttony and sloth devote!" This is a true testimony; on this account rebuke them sharply, that 14 they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fa15 bles and commands of men who pervert* the truth. To the pure, all things are indeed pure; but to the polluted and un16 believing, nothing is pure. Their mind and conscience are polluted: they make a profession of knowing God, but with their works they deny him; being abominable, and disobedient, and lost to every good work.† II. But as for thee speak thou what is consistent with sound 2 doctrine-that aged men be sober, grave, discreet, sound in 3 their belief, their love, their patience; that aged women, in like manner, be in behaviour as becometh saints, not addicted to slander, not enslaved to wine, good instructors, that they may 4 teach the young women to be discreet, to love their husbands, 5 to love their children, to be modest, chaste, attentive to domestic affairs, good, submissive to their husbands; that the word of God may not be ill spoken of. 6 In like manner exhort young men to be sober minded, 7 shewing thyself in all things a pattern of good works; in thy 8 doctrine displaying integrity, gravity, incorruptness, sound discourse which cannot be condemned, that he who is of an opposite party may be ashamed, having nothing bad to say of you. 9 Exhort servants to be obedient to their masters; to be 10 in all things studious to please; not answering again, not embezzling, but shewing all good fidelity, that they may in all 11 things adorn the doctrine of our saviour God. For the favour of God which is for salvation hath been brightly displayed for12 all men teaching us in order that we, renouncing impiety and worldly lusts, may live soberly and righteously and piously in 13 this present world, waiting for the blessed hope and the bright display of the glory of the great God,‡ and saviour of us JESUS 14 CHRIST, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. * Or forsake, or turn from.-See 2. Tim. 1. 15. + Literally, with respect to every good work, they are such as cannot stand the test. + Es. 40. 5. 15 III. Speak these things, and exhort and rebuke with all autho rity. Let no one despise thee. Put them in mind to be subject to governments and authorities; to pay prompt obe. 2 dience; to be ready for every good work; to revile no one; not to be quarrelsome; to be gentle, shewing all meekness to 3 all men. For we, even we ourselves were formerly foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to divers lusts and pleasures, 4 living in malice and envy, objects of hatred, hating one another; but when the kindness and love of God our saviour for 5 man was brightly displayed, not for works of righteousness which we had done, but according to his own mercy; he saved 6 us by a bath of regeneration, and a renewal of a holy spirit, 7 which he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our saviour, in order that we, being pardoned by his favour, 8 might become expectant heirs of everlasting life. This is a faithful word; and in respect to these things I charge thee to exert thy utmost influence in order that they who believe in 9 God, may study to be foremost in good works. These are the things which are comely, and profitable for men. But discountenance foolish questions, and genealogies, and strifes, and de10 bates about law: for they are unprofitable and vain. With regard to a factious man, after a first and second admonition, 11 avoid him; knowing that such a one is wholly turned aside, and sinneth self condemned. 12 13 When I send Artemas to thee, or Tychicus, come to me with all speed to Nicopolis; for I have determined to winter there. Forward on their journey Zenas the lawyer, and Apollos, with all diligence, so that nothing may be wanting to them. 14 And let our brethren learn to be foremost in good works on all needful occasions, that they may not be unfruitful. 15 All that are with me salute thee. Salute them who love us in the faith. THE EPISTLE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL, TO PHILEMON. I. 4 PAUL, a prisoner for the sake of Jesus Christ, and Timo2 thy, the brother, to Philemon our beloved, and fellow labourer, and to Apphia the beloved, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the congregation in thy house; favour be to 3 you, and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my 5 prayers, hearing of the faith which thou hast in the Lord Jesus, of thy love for all the saints, so that every good man 6 among you must acknowledge that thy participation of the faith is operative for Christ Jesus.* For we have great joy and 7 comfort for this love of thine, because the bowels of the 8 saints are refreshed by thee, brother. Wherefore though I 9 have much boldness in Christ to enjoin thee what is fit; yet on account of this love I rather use entreaty. Being such as I 10 am, Paul an old man, and now indeed a prisoner on account of Jesus Christ, I entreat thee in respect to this son of mine 11 whom I have begotten in my bonds; namely, Onesimus, who was formerly unprofitable to thee; but is now profitable both 12 to thee and me-whom I have sent back; do thou then receive 13 him kindly, that is, as one whom I tenderly love, whom I was determining to keep with me that for thee he might wait on * Or literally, "that thy participation of the faith may, in the acknowledgment of every good man among you, be operative for Christ Jesus." |