10

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Use diligence to come to me shortly. For Demas for sook me, because he loved the present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with 12 thee; for he is useful to me for the ministry.

Tychicus I sent to Ephesus.

But

13 The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest bring with thee, and the books, especially the parchments.

14

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil; the 15 Lord will reward him according to his works; of whom do thou also beware; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

16

At my first defence no one came forward with me, but 17 all forsook me. May it not be laid to their charge! But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that the preaching might be fully accomplished by me, and that all the gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of 18 the lion's mouth. The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed, and preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom; to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

19

Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

20 Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left at 21 Miletus sick. Use diligence to come before winter. Pudens, and Linus, and

Eubulus saluteth thee, and

22 Claudia, and all the brethren.

spirit. Grace be with you.

The Lord be with thy

TO TITUS.

I. PAUL, a servant of God, and an apostle of Christ Jesus, for the faith of God's elect, and the knowledge of the truth 2 which is according to godliness, in hope of everlasting life,

which God, who cannot lie, promised from the most an3 cient times, but in his own seasons manifested his word through the preaching with which I was intrusted by the 4 commandment of God our Saviour: to Titus, true child after the common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

5 For this cause I left thee behind in Crete, that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting, and 6 appoint elders in every city, as I directed thee; if any one is without reproach, the husband of one wife, having believing children, that are not accused of dissoluteness, or 7 unruly. For a bishop must be without reproach, as God's steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given 8 to wine, not a striker, not greedy of base gain, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, discreet, just, holy, tem9 perate, holding fast the sure word according to what he was taught, that he may be able by sound teaching both to exhort, and to refute the gainsayers.

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For there are many unruly vain talkers and deceivers, 11 especially they of the circumcision; whose mouths must be stopped, since they overturn whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of base gain. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said: "The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slothful glut13 tons." This testimony is true; for which cause rebuke

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 18 to be his own, zealous in good works. These things speak

and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise thee. III. Put them in mind to submit themselves to govern

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ments, 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 cration, 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 good and profitable to men; but avoid foolish question. ings, and genealogies, and strifes, and contentions about the Law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

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.