Directions for Titus. 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure; but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him; being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. CHAP. II. 1 Directions given to Titus, both for his doctrine and life. 9 The duty of servants. BUT speak thou the things which become sound doctrine; 2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children ; 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded. 7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, doctrine and life. 8 Sound speech that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10 Not purloining,a but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. CHAP. III. Paul directs what to teach, and what not. PUT them in mind to be subject to principalities a and a Purloining, secretly stealing, stealing trifles or a part of a thing. a Principalities, governments. powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes b foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That, being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will, that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works; these things are good & profitable unto men. b Sometimes, formerly. conduct, &c. 9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies,c and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable & vain. 10 A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. 12 When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis; for I have determined there to winter. 13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them. 14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. 15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of Macedonia. c Genealogy, lineage or family des cent. PREFATORY REMARKS TO THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO PHILEMON. PHILEMON, to whom this Epistle was addressed, was a worthy and distinguished citizen of Colosse in Asia Minor. His family was so large, that it formed a church of itself. Among Paul rejoiceth Philemon. to hear of the his servants or slaves, was Onesimus, the bearer of this Epistle, who, for some dislike, had run away from his master Philemon, and came to Rome, where he met with Paul, who converted him to the Christian faith. Onesimus, after his conversion, became so sensible of his error in leaving his master, that he wished to repair the injury by returning to him; but fearing lest his master on his return, should treat him with se verity, he besought the apostle to write to Philemon, and to request him to forgive and receive him into his family. Paul, always ready to the discharge of every kind office, complied with his request, and wrote this Epistle, in which, with the greatest tenderness, affection, and address, he not only interceded for Onesimus' pardon, but urged Philemon to esteem him as a brother, and to confide in him as a sincere Christian. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO PHILEMON. Paul rejoiceth to hear of the faith and love of Philemon. AUL, a prisoner of Jesus and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, PChrist and Timothy our brother. brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow-labourer; 2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house: 3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual, by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy 8 Wherefore though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is conve nient, 9 Yet, for love's sake, I ra ther beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds; 11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12 Whom I have sent again; thou therefore receive him, that is mine own bowels; 13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the Gospel. 14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. 15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever; 16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord? 17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. 18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; 19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it; albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. of Philemon. 20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord. 21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. 22 But withal prepare me also a lodging; for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. 23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus; 24 Mareus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-labourers. 25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Written from Rome to servant. PREFATORY REMARKS TO THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE HEBREWS. THIS Epistle was written in Italy, probably at Rome A. D. 61 or 62, and sent to the Jews, living in Judea, who in the apostle's days were called Hebrews, to distinguish them from the Jews living in Gentile countries, who were called Hellenists or Grecians, as appears from Acts vi. 1. ix. 29. xi. 20. The purpose, for which this Epistle was written, was to prove what the learned doctors, and scribes, and elders in Jerusalem denied, namely, that Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had lately put to death, is Christ the Son of God; and that the Gospel, of which Jesus is both the subject and author, is of divine origin, and universal obligation. All the arguments and objections by which those, who put Jesus to death, endeavoured to set his claim aside, and overturn the Gospel, are introduced, examined, and confuted ;-his title and authority, as Prefatory Hebrews. remarks. lawgiver, to abolish the institutions of Moses, and to substitute the Gospel dispensation in its stead, is established ;—the absolute inefficacy of the Levitical atonements to procure the pardon of sin, is demonstrated ;-the reality of Christ's offering himself a sacrifice for sin, and its efficacy and acceptableness with God, are clearly proved;-and under all these considerations the unbelieving Jews were exhorted to forsake the law of Moses, and embrace the Gospel; and such of the nation as had already embraced it, were cautioned against apostacy. Paul, who was himself a learned Doctor of the law, likewise proves in this Epistle, that the same God, who spake the former revelations to the fathers of the Jewish nation by the prophets, had, in these last days, spoken the Gospel to all mankind by his Son: consequently these revelations could not possibly contradict each other; that although the Son, when he spake the Gospel, was clothed with flesh, he was still the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of his person; that being appointed of God to expiate our sins by the sacrifice of himself, we are cleansed from our sins by that sacrifice, and not by the Levitical sin-offerings: and that after offering the sacrifice of himself, he sat down at the right hand of God, as High Priest of the heavenly holy place, and as Governor of the world. But as these great truths were contrary to all the religious opinions of the Jews, and were of course rejected by them, as overturning their former revelations, Paul, the more effectually to convince the unbelieving Jews of the truth of these things, proves them by testimonies from their own scriptures, in which the revelations of God are recorded. As these great and leading doctrines of the Gospel are more expressly asserted, and more fully explained in this Epistle, than in any of the inspired writings; and as it contains profound discoveries concerning the most important articles of our faith, and opens to us the sources of our best hopes, it is an inestimable treasure to every sincere inquiring Christian, and to the world. ¶ THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE, TO THE HEBREWS. CHAP. I. 4 Christ in these last times angels, both in person and office. in dit my timers, ther, 4 is preferred before, who at sundry times, |
