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14 them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not

giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men 15 who turn away from the truth. To the pure all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure, but both their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and for every good work reprobate.

II. But do thou speak the things which become sound 2 teaching; that aged men be sober, grave, discreet, sound 3 in faith, in love, in patience; that aged women likewise be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, 4 not enslaved to much wine, teachers of what is good, that they may teach the young women to love their husbands, 5 to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, workers at home, good, in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

6 The younger men likewise exhort to be sober-minded; 7 in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works, in 8 teaching showing uncorruptness, gravity, sound speech that

cannot be condemned; that he that is opposed to us may 9 be put to shame, having no evil thing to say of us. Exhort bond-servants to be in subjection to their own masters, in all things to be well-pleasing to them, not contradicting, 10 not purloining, but showing all good faith; that they may adorn the teaching of God our Saviour in all things. 11 For the grace of God, that bringeth salvation to all men, 12 was manifested, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and

worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, 13 in the present world; looking for the blessed hope, and ap

pearing of the glory of the great God and of our Saviour 14 Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a people 15 to be his own, zealous in good works. These things speak

III.

and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise thee.

Put them in mind to submit themselves to governments, to authorities, to obey magistrates, to be ready for 2 every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be averse to strife, forbearing, showing all meekness to all men. 3 For we ourselves also were once foolish, disobedient, going astray, slaves to divers lusts and pleasures, living 4 in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness and love for men of God our Saviour 5 appeared, not by works of righteousness which we did, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the bath of regen6 eration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he poured. out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, 7 that having been accepted as righteous by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of everlasting 8 life. True is the saying; and these things I desire that thou affirm earnestly, that they who have believed in God may be careful to practise good works. These things are 9 good and profitable to men; but avoid foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and contentions about the Law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

10 A man that stirs up divisions, after a first and second 11 admonition, avoid; knowing that he that is such is utterly perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned.

12

When I shall have sent Artemas to thee, or Tychicus, use diligence to come to me to Nicopolis; for there I have determined to pass the winter.

13 Zenas the lawyer and Apollos forward on their journey 14 diligently, that nothing may be wanting to them. And let

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those also who belong to us learn to practise good works for the necessary wants that arise, that they may not be unfruitful.

All that are with me salute thee. Salute those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.

TO PHILEMON.

1 PAUL, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy the brother, to Philemon our beloved friend and fellow-la2 borer, and to the beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our 3 fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4

I thank my God at all times, making mention of thee 5 in my prayers, hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints; 6 that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us, for 7 Christ Jesus. For we have great thankfulness and comfort on account of thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.

8

Wherefore, though I have much boldness in Christ to 9 enjoin upon thee that which is befitting, yet for love's sake I beseech thee rather; being such a one as Paul 10 an old man, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus, I

beseech thee for my child, whom I begot in my bonds, 11 Onesimus; who in time past was unprofitable to thee, 12 but is now profitable to thee and to me; whom I have sent back; and do thou [receive] him, that is, my own flesh.

Ver. 11.

unprofitable. There is an allusion here to the meaning of

the name Onesimus, which signifies "profitable." — A.

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead 14 he might minister to me in the bonds of the gospel; but

I chose to do nothing without thy consent, that thy benefit 15 may be not as from necessity, but willingly. For perhaps he was separated from thee for a season to this end, that thou shouldst receive him back as thine for 16 ever; no longer as a bond-servant, but above a bond-ser

vant, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much 17 more to thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord!

If

thou then regardest me as a partner, receive him as my18 self. And if he wronged thee in anything, or oweth thee, 19 put that to my account. I Paul have written it with my own hand, I will repay it; not to say to thee, that to me 20 thou owest even thy own self besides. Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord; refresh my heart in 21 Christ. Having confidence in thy obedience I have written to thee, knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say.

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And at the same time make ready a lodging for me; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted 23 to you. Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, 24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-laborers, sa25 lute thee. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Ver. 13. in thy stead; otherwise, according to the common meaning of the Greek preposition, in thy behalf. A.

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Ver. 15. was separated; according to the more common use of the word, separated himself, departed; but the apostle has happily chosen an expression which may be understood as in the text, suiting his indirect reference to the Divine providence. ---- A.

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-joy; or, profit; perhaps another allusion to the name Onesi

TO THE HEBREW S.

I.

GOD, who at different times and in different ways 2 spoke of old to the fathers by the prophets, hath at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, by whom he also made the 3 worlds, who being a brightness from his glory and an image of his being, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself accomplished a cleansing of sins, sat down on the right hand of the 4 Majesty on high; having become so much superior to the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.

5 For to which of the angels did he ever say:

"Thou

art my Son, I this day have begotten thee?"* and again: "I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a 6 Son?"† And again, when he hath brought in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith: "And let all the 7 angels of God pay him homage." And of the angels he saith: "Who maketh his angels winds, and his ministers 8 a flame of fire;"§ but of the Son: "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; and the sceptre of thy kingdom is 9 a sceptre of righteousness. Thou lovedst righteousness,

Chap. I. 3. — a brightness from, &c. Perhaps rayed-forth likeness of his glory expresses the writer's conception.

* Ps. ii. 7.

2 Sam. vii. 14.

Ps. xcvii. 7. § Ps. civ. 4.

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