Categories
2 Timothy

2 Timothy 2

1 And as for you, my son, be strengthened by the grace which is in Christ Jesus,

2 and by the things which you have heard from me through many witnesses. These things encourage faithful men, who shall then be suitable to teach others also.

3 Labor like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

4 No man, acting as a soldier for God, entangles himself in worldly matters, so that he may be pleasing to him for whom he has proven himself.

5 Then, too, whoever strives in a competition is not crowned, unless he has competed lawfully.

6 The farmer who labors ought to be the first to share in the produce.

7 Understand what I am saying. For the Lord will give you understanding in all things.

8 Be mindful that the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the offspring of David, has risen again from the dead, according to my Gospel.

9 I labor in this Gospel, even while chained like an evildoer. But the Word of God is not bound.

10 I endure all things for this reason: for the sake of the elect, so that they, too, may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with heavenly glory.

11 It is a faithful saying: that if we have died with him, we will also live with him.

12 If we suffer, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us.

13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful: he is not able to deny himself.

14 Insist on these things, testifying before the Lord. Do not be contentious about words, for this is useful for nothing but the subversion of listeners.

15 Be solicitous in the task of presenting yourself before God as a proven and unashamed worker who has handled the Word of Truth correctly.

16 But avoid profane or empty talk. For these things advance one greatly in impiety.

17 And their word spreads like a cancer: among these are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

18 who have fallen away from the truth by saying that the resurrection is already complete. And so they have subverted the faith of certain persons.

19 But the firm foundation of God remains standing, having this seal: the Lord knows those who are his own, and all who know the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.

20 But, in a large house, there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also those of wood and of clay; and certainly some are held in honor, but others in dishonor.

21 If anyone, then, will have cleansed himself from these things, he shall be a vessel held in honor, sanctified and useful to the Lord, prepared for every good work.

22 So then, flee from the desires of your youth, yet truly, pursue justice, faith, hope, charity, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart.

23 But avoid foolish and undisciplined questions, for you know that these produce strife.

24 For the servant of the Lord must not be contentious, but instead he must be meek toward everyone, teachable, patient,

25 correcting with self-restraint those who resist the truth. For at any time God may give them repentance, so as to recognize the truth,

26 and then they may recover from the snares of the devil, by whom they are held captive at his will.

Categories
2 Timothy

2 Timothy 3

1 And know this: that in the last days perilous times will press near.

2 Men will be lovers of themselves, greedy, self-exalting, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked,

3 without affection, without peace, false accusers, unchaste, cruel, without kindness,

4 traitorous, reckless, self-important, loving pleasure more than God,

5 even having the appearance of piety while rejecting its virtue. And so, avoid them.

6 For among these are ones who penetrate houses and lead away, like captives, foolish women burdened with sins, who are led away by means of various desires,

7 always learning, yet never achieving knowledge of the truth.

8 And in the same manner that Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so also will these resist the truth, men corrupted in mind, reprobates from the faith.

9 But they will not advance beyond a certain point. For the folly of the latter shall be made manifest to all, just as that of the former.

10 But you have fully comprehended my doctrine, instruction, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,

11 persecutions, afflictions; such things as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; how I endured persecutions, and how the Lord rescued me from everything.

12 And all those who willingly live the piety in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and deceivers will advance in evil, erring and sending into error.

14 Yet truly, you should remain in those things which you have learned and which have been entrusted to you. For you know from whom you have learned them.

15 And, from your infancy, you have known the Sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you toward salvation, through the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All Scripture, having been divinely inspired, is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in justice,

17 so that the man of God may be perfect, having been trained for every good work.

Categories
2 Timothy

2 Timothy 4

1 I testify before God, and before Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead through his return and his kingdom:

2 that you should preach the word urgently, in season and out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke, with all patience and doctrine.

3 For there shall be a time when they will not endure sound doctrine, but instead, according to their own desires, they will gather to themselves teachers, with itching ears,

4 and certainly, they will turn their hearing away from the truth, and they will be turned toward fables.

5 But as for you, truly, be vigilant, laboring in all things. Do the work of an Evangelist, fulfilling your ministry. Show self-restraint.

6 For I am already being worn away, and the time of my dissolution presses close.

7 I have fought the good fight. I have completed the course. I have preserved the faith.

8 As for the remainder, a crown of justice has been reserved for me, one which the Lord, the just judge, will render to me in that day, and not only to me, but also to those who look forward to his return. Hurry to return to me soon.

9 For Demas has abandoned me, out of love for this age, and he has departed for Thessalonica.

10 Crescens has gone to Galatia; Titus to Dalmatia.

11 Luke alone is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you; for he is useful to me in the ministry.

12 But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.

13 When you return, bring with you the supplies that I left with Carpus at Troas, and the books, but especially the parchments.

14 Alexander the coppersmith has shown me much evil; the Lord will repay him according to his works.

15 And you should also avoid him; for he has strongly resisted our words.

16 At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them!

17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the preaching would be accomplished, and so that all the Gentiles would hear. And I was freed from the mouth of the lion.

18 The Lord has freed me from every evil work, and he will accomplish salvation by his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

19 Greet Prisca, and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

20 Erastus remained at Corinth. And Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.

21 Hurry to arrive before winter. Eubulus, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers greet you.

22 May the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. May grace be with you. Amen.

Categories
Titus

Titus 1

1 Paul, 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 piety,

2 in the hope of the eternal life that God, who does not lie, promised before the ages of time,

3 which, 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 Savior;

4 to Titus, beloved son according to the common faith. Grace and peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Savior.

5 For 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 you)

6 if such a man is without offense, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of self-indulgence, nor of insubordination.

7 And a bishop, as a steward of God, must be without offense: not arrogant, not short-tempered, not a drunkard, not violent, not desiring tainted profit,

8 but instead: hospitable, kind, sober, just, holy, chaste,

9 embracing 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 contradict.

10 For there are, indeed, many who are disobedient, who speak empty words, and who deceive, especially those who are of the circumcision.

11 These must be reproved, for they subvert entire houses, teaching things which should not be taught, for the favor of shameful gain.

12 A certain one of these, a prophet of their own kind, said: “The Cretans are ever liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

13 This testimony is true. Because of this, rebuke them sharply, so that they may be sound in the faith,

14 not paying attention to Jewish fables, nor to the rules of men who have turned themselves away from the truth.

15 All 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 polluted.

16 They 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.

Categories
Titus

Titus 2

1 But you are to speak the things that befit sound doctrine.

2 Old men should be sober, chaste, prudent, sound in faith, in love, in patience.

3 Old women, similarly, should be in holy attire, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teaching well,

4 so that they may teach prudence to the young women, so that they may love their husbands, love their children,

5 be sensible, chaste, restrained, have concern for the household, be kind, be subordinate to their husbands: so that the Word of God may be not blasphemed.

6 Exhort young men similarly, so that they may show self-restraint.

7 In all things, present yourself as an example of good works: in doctrine, with integrity, with seriousness,

8 with sound words, irreproachably, so that he who is an opponent may dread that he has nothing evil to say about us.

9 Exhort servants to be submissive to their masters, in all things pleasing, not contradicting,

10 not cheating, but in all things showing good fidelity, so that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

11 For the grace of God our Savior has appeared to all men,

12 instructing us to reject impiety and worldly desires, so that we may live soberly and justly and piously in this age,

13 looking forward to the blessed hope and the advent of the glory of the great God and of our Savior Jesus Christ.

14 He 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 works.

15 Speak and exhort and argue these things with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Categories
Titus

Titus 3

1 Admonish them to be subordinate to the rulers and authorities, to obey their dictates, to be prepared for every good work,

2 to speak evil of no one, not to be litigious, but to be reserved, displaying all meekness toward all men.

3 For, 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 another.

4 But then the kindness and humanity of God our Savior appeared.

5 And 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 Spirit,

6 whom he has poured out upon us in abundance, through Jesus Christ our Savior,

7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

8 This 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 men.

9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, as well as arguments against the law. For these are useless and empty.

10 Avoid a man who is a heretic, after the first and second correction,

11 knowing that one who is like this has been subverted, and that he offends; for he has been condemned by his own judgment.

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, hurry to return to me at Nicopolis. For I have decided to winter there.

13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollo ahead with care, and let nothing be lacking to them.

14 But let our men also learn to excel in good works pertaining to the necessities of life, so that they may not be unfruitful.

15 All 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.

Categories
Philemon

Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow laborer,

2 and to Apphia, most beloved sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in your house.

3 Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I give thanks to my God, always keeping remembrance of you in my prayers,

5 (for I am hearing of your charity and faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus and with all the saints)

6 so that the participation of your faith may become evident by the recognition of every good work which is in you in Christ Jesus.

7 For I have found great joy and consolation in your charity, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

8 Because of this, I have enough confidence in Christ Jesus to command you concerning certain things,

9 but 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 Christ.

10 I beg you, on behalf of my son, whom I have begotten in my chains, Onesimus.

11 In times past, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to me and to you.

12 So I have sent him back to you. And may you receive him like my own heart.

13 I 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 Gospel.

14 But 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 willingly.

15 So perhaps, then, he departed from you for a time, so that you might receive him again for eternity,

16 no 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 Lord!

17 Therefore, if you hold me to be a companion, receive him as you would me.

18 But if he has harmed you in any way, or if he is in your debt, charge it to me.

19 I, 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 me.

20 So it is, brother. May I delight with you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.

21 I have written to you, trusting in your obedience, knowing, too, that you will do even more than what I say.

22 But also, at once, prepare a lodging for me. For I am hoping, through your prayers, to present myself to you.

23 Greet Epaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus,

24 and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my helpers.

25 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Categories
Hebrews

Hebrews 1

1 In many places and in many ways, in past times, God spoke to the fathers through the Prophets;

2 lastly, in these days, he has spoken to us through the Son, whom he appointed as the heir of all things, and through whom he made the world.

3 And since the Son is the brightness of his glory, and the figure of his substance, and is carrying all things by the Word of his virtue, thereby accomplishing a purging of sins, he sits at the right hand of Majesty on high.

4 And having been made so much better than the Angels, he has inherited a name so much greater than theirs.

5 For to which of the Angels has he ever said: “You are my Son; today have I begotten you?” Or again: “I will be a Father to him, and he shall be a Son to me?”

6 And again, when he brings the only-begotten Son into the world, he says: “And let all the Angels of God adore him.”

7 And about the Angels, certainly, he says: “He makes his Angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.”

8 But about the Son: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of equity.

9 You have loved justice, and you have hated iniquity. Because of this, God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of exultation, above your companions.”

10 And: “In the beginning, O Lord, you founded the earth. And the heavens are the work of your hands.

11 These shall pass away, but you will remain. And all will grow old like a garment.

12 And you will change them like a cloak, and they shall be changed. Yet you are ever the same, and your years will not diminish.”

13 But to which of the Angels has he ever said: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool?”

14 Are they not all spirits of ministration, sent to minister for the sake of those who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?

Categories
Hebrews

Hebrews 2

1 For this reason, it is necessary for us to observe more thoroughly the things that we have heard, lest we let them slip away.

2 For if a word that was spoken through the Angels has been made firm, and every transgression and disobedience has received the recompense of a just retribution,

3 in what way might we escape, if we neglect such a great salvation? For though initially it had begun to be described by the Lord, it was confirmed among us by those who heard him,

4 with God testifying to it by signs and wonders, and by various miracles, and by the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, in accord with his own will.

5 For God did not subject the future world, about which we are speaking, to the Angels.

6 But someone, in a certain place, has testified, saying: “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the Son of man, that you visit him?

7 You have reduced him to a little less than the Angels. You have crowned him with glory and honor, and you have set him over the works of your hands.

8 You have subjected all things under his feet.” For in as much as he has subjected all things to him, he has left nothing not subject to him. But in the present time, we do not yet perceive that all things have been made subject to him.

9 Yet we understand that Jesus, who was reduced to a little less than the Angels, was crowned with glory and honor because of his Passion and death, in order that, by the grace of God, he might taste death for all.

10 For it was fitting for him, because of whom and through whom all things exist, who had led many children into glory, to complete the authorship of their salvation through his Passion.

11 For he who sanctifies, and those who are sanctified, are all from One. For this reason, he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying:

12 “I will announce your name to my brothers. In the midst of the Church, I will praise you.”

13 And again: “I will be faithful in him.” And again: “Behold, I and my children, whom God has given to me.”

14 Therefore, because children have a common flesh and blood, he himself also, in like manner, has shared in the same, so that through death, he might destroy him who held the dominion of death, that is, the devil,

15 and so that he might free those who, through the fear of death, had been condemned to servitude throughout their entire life.

16 For at no time did he take hold of the Angels, but instead he took hold of the offspring of Abraham.

17 Therefore, it is fitting for him to be made similar to his brothers in all things, so that he might become a merciful and faithful High Priest before God, in order that he might bring forgiveness to the offenses of the people.

18 For in as much as he himself has suffered and has been tempted, he also is able to assist those who are tempted.

Categories
Hebrews

Hebrews 3

1 Therefore, holy brothers, sharers in the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession: Jesus.

2 He is faithful to the One who made him, just as Moses also was, with his entire house.

3 For this Jesus was considered worthy of greater glory than Moses, so much so that the house which he has built holds a greater honor than the former one.

4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the One who has created all things.

5 And certainly Moses was faithful, with his entire house, like any servant, as a testimony to those things that would soon be said.

6 Yet truly, Christ is like a Son in his own house. We are that house, if we firmly retain the faithfulness and the glory of hope, even unto the end.

7 Because of this, it is just as the Holy Spirit says: “If today you hear his voice,

8 harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, the very day of temptation, in the desert,

9 where your fathers tested me, even though they had seen and examined my works for forty years.

10 For this reason, I was enraged against this generation, and I said: They always wander astray in heart. For they have not known my ways.

11 So it is as I swore in my wrath: They shall not enter into my rest!”

12 Be cautious, brothers, lest perhaps there may be, in any of you, an evil heart of unbelief, turning aside from the living God.

13 Instead, exhort one another every day, while it is still called ‘today,’ so that none of you may become hardened through the falseness of sin.

14 For we have been made participants in Christ. This is only so, if we firmly retain the beginning of his substance, even unto the end.

15 For it has been said: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts, in the same manner as in the former provocation.”

16 For some of those listening did provoke him. But not all of these had set forth from Egypt through Moses.

17 So against whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not those who had sinned, whose dead bodies lay prostrate in the desert?

18 But to whom did he swear that they would not enter into his rest, except to those who were incredulous?

19 And so, we perceive that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.