Dec 18 - Titus 1-3, Philemon 1
Titus
1Paul, a servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, in accord with the faith of God’s elect and in acknowledgment of the truth which is accompanied by piety2in the hope of the eternal life that God, who does not lie, promised before the ages of time3which, at the proper time, he has manifested by his Word, in the preaching that has been entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior4to Titus, beloved son according to the common faith. Grace and peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Savior5For this reason, I left you behind in Crete: so that those things which are lacking, you would correct, and so that you would ordain, throughout the communities, priests, (just as I also ordained you6if such a man is without offense, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of self-indulgence, nor of insubordination7And a bishop, as a steward of God, must be without offense: not arrogant, not short-tempered, not a drunkard, not violent, not desiring tainted profit8but instead: hospitable, kind, sober, just, holy, chaste9embracing faithful speech which is in agreement with doctrine, so that he may be able to exhort in sound doctrine and to argue against those who contradict10For there are, indeed, many who are disobedient, who speak empty words, and who deceive, especially those who are of the circumcision11These must be reproved, for they subvert entire houses, teaching things which should not be taught, for the favor of shameful gain12A certain one of these, a prophet of their own kind, said: "The Cretans are ever liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.13This testimony is true. Because of this, rebuke them sharply, so that they may be sound in the faith14not paying attention to Jewish fables, nor to the rules of men who have turned themselves away from the truth15All things are clean to those who are clean. But to those who are defiled, and to unbelievers, nothing is clean; for both their mind and their conscience have been polluted16They claim that they know God. But, by their own works, they deny him, since they are abominable, and unbelieving, and reprobate, toward every good work
1But you are to speak the things that befit sound doctrine2Old men should be sober, chaste, prudent, sound in faith, in love, in patience3Old women, similarly, should be in holy attire, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teaching well4so that they may teach prudence to the young women, so that they may love their husbands, love their children5be sensible, chaste, restrained, have concern for the household, be kind, be subordinate to their husbands: so that the Word of God may be not blasphemed6Exhort young men similarly, so that they may show self-restraint7In all things, present yourself as an example of good works: in doctrine, with integrity, with seriousness8with sound words, irreproachably, so that he who is an opponent may dread that he has nothing evil to say about us9Exhort servants to be submissive to their masters, in all things pleasing, not contradicting10not cheating, but in all things showing good fidelity, so that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things11For the grace of God our Savior has appeared to all men12instructing us to reject impiety and worldly desires, so that we may live soberly and justly and piously in this age13looking forward to the blessed hope and the advent of the glory of the great God and of our Savior Jesus Christ14He gave himself for our sake, so that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse for himself an acceptable people, pursuers of good works15Speak and exhort and argue these things with all authority. Let no one despise you
1Admonish them to be subordinate to the rulers and authorities, to obey their dictates, to be prepared for every good work2to speak evil of no one, not to be litigious, but to be reserved, displaying all meekness toward all men3For, in times past, we ourselves were also unwise, unbelieving, erring, servants of various desires and pleasures, acting with malice and envy, being hateful and hating one another4But then the kindness and humanity of God our Savior appeared5And he saved us, not by works of justice that we had done, but, in accord with his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and by the renovation of the Holy Spirit6whom he has poured out upon us in abundance, through Jesus Christ our Savior7so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs according to the hope of eternal life8This is a faithful saying. And I want you to confirm these things, so that those who believe in God may take care to excel in good works. These things are good and useful to men9But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, as well as arguments against the law. For these are useless and empty10Avoid a man who is a heretic, after the first and second correction11knowing that one who is like this has been subverted, and that he offends; for he has been condemned by his own judgment12When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, hurry to return to me at Nicopolis. For I have decided to winter there13Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollo ahead with care, and let nothing be lacking to them14But let our men also learn to excel in good works pertaining to the necessities of life, so that they may not be unfruitful15All those who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. May the grace of God be with you all. Amen
Philemon
1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow laborer2and to Apphia, most beloved sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in your house3Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ4I give thanks to my God, always keeping remembrance of you in my prayers5(for I am hearing of your charity and faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus and with all the saints6so that the participation of your faith may become evident by the recognition of every good work which is in you in Christ Jesus7For I have found great joy and consolation in your charity, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother8Because of this, I have enough confidence in Christ Jesus to command you concerning certain things9but I beg you instead, for the sake of charity, since you are so much like Paul: an old man and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ10I beg you, on behalf of my son, whom I have begotten in my chains, Onesimus11In times past, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to me and to you12So I have sent him back to you. And may you receive him like my own heart13I myself wanted to retain him with me, so that he might minister to me, on your behalf, while I am in the chains of the Gospel14But I was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly15So perhaps, then, he departed from you for a time, so that you might receive him again for eternity16no longer as a servant, but, in place of a servant, a most beloved brother, especially to me: but how much so more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord17Therefore, if you hold me to be a companion, receive him as you would me18But if he has harmed you in any way, or if he is in your debt, charge it to me19I, Paul, have written this with my own hand: I will repay. And I need not tell you, that you are also in debt yourself, to me20So it is, brother. May I delight with you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ21I have written to you, trusting in your obedience, knowing, too, that you will do even more than what I say22But also, at once, prepare a lodging for me. For I am hoping, through your prayers, to present myself to you23Greet Epaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus24and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my helpers25May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen