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Titus
Chapter 1
1
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's chosen people and the knowledge of the truth that agrees with godliness,
2
with the hope of everlasting life that God, who does not lie, promised before all the ages of time.
3
At the right time he revealed his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted according to the command of God our Savior.
4
To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
5
For this purpose I left you in Crete, that you might set in order things not yet complete and ordain elders in every city as I directed you.
6
An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with faithful children not accused of being reckless or disobedient.
7
It is necessary for the overseer, as a manager of the household of God, to be blameless. He must not be arrogant, not be easily angered, not addicted to wine, not a brawler, and not a greedy man.
8
Instead, he should be hospitable, loving goodness, sensible, upright, holy, and self-controlled.
9
He should hold tightly to the trustworthy message that was taught, so that he may be able to encourage others with truthful teaching and correct those who oppose him.
10
For there are many rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision.
11
It is necessary to stop them. They are upsetting whole families by teaching for disgraceful profit what they should not teach.
12
One of their own prophets has said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."
13
This testimony is true. Therefore, correct them severely, so that they may be truthful in the faith,
14
not paying any attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
15
To those who are pure, all things are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their minds and their consciences have been corrupted.
16
They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, and worthless for any good work.
Chapter 2
1
But you, speak what fits with truthful instruction.
2
Teach older men to be temperate, dignified, sensible, and sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance.
3
In the same way, teach older women to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or being slaves to much wine, but to be teachers of what is good,
4
and so train the younger women to love their husbands and to love their children,
5
to be sensible, pure, good housekeepers, and to be obedient to their own husbands, so that God's word may not be spoken of as evil.
6
In the same way, encourage the younger men to use good sense.
7
In all ways present yourself as an example of good works. In your teaching, show integrity, dignity,
8
and a truthful message that is above criticism, so that anyone who opposes you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
9
Slaves are to be submissive to their masters in everything, to please them and not argue with them,
10
to not steal from them, but instead to demonstrate all good faith, so that in every way they may bring credit to the teaching about God our Savior.
11
For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all people.
12
It trains us to reject godlessness and worldly desires, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this age,
13
while we look forward to receiving our blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
14
Jesus gave himself for us in order to redeem us from all lawlessness and to make pure for himself a special people who are eager to do good works.
15
Speak of these things, encourage people to do them, and give correction with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Chapter 3
1
Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey them, to be ready for every good work,
2
to insult no one, to not be eager to fight, and to be gentle, showing all humility toward everyone.
3
For once we ourselves were thoughtless and disobedient. We were led astray and enslaved by various desires and pleasures. We lived in evil and envy. We were detestable and hated one another.
4
But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,
5
it was not by works of righteousness that we did, but by his mercy that he saved us, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
6
whom God richly poured on us through our Savior Jesus Christ,
7
so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
8
This message is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to engage themselves in good works. These things are good and useful for everyone.
9
But avoid foolish debates and genealogies and strife and conflict about the law. Those things are unprofitable and worthless.
10
Reject anyone who is causing divisions among you, after one or two warnings,
11
knowing that such a person has turned from the right way and is sinning and condemns himself.
12
When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, hurry and come to me at Nicopolis, where I have decided to spend the winter.
13
Do everything you can to send on their way Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, so that they lack nothing.
14
Our people must learn to engage themselves in good works that provide for urgent needs, and so not be unfruitful.
15
All those who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in faith. Grace be with all of you.
Philemon
Chapter 1
1
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and the brother Timothy, to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker,
2
and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home:
3
May grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4
I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers,
5
because I hear about the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and the love you have for all his holy people.
6
I pray that the sharing of your faith may be effective, so you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
7
For I have had much joy and comfort because of your love, because the hearts of God's holy people have been refreshed by you, brother.
8
Therefore, although I have all the boldness in Christ to command you to do what you should do,
9
yet because of love, I appeal to you instead—I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
10
I am appealing to you concerning my child Onesimus, whom I have fathered in my chains.
11
For he once was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.
12
I have sent him back to you, he who is my very heart.
13
I wish I could have kept him with me so he could serve me for you while I am in chains for the sake of the gospel.
14
But I did not want to do anything without your consent. I did not want your good deed to be from necessity but from good will.
15
Perhaps for this he was separated from you for a time, so that you might have him back forever.
16
No longer would he be a slave, but better than a slave, a beloved brother. He is beloved especially to me, and much more so to you, in both the flesh and in the Lord.
17
So if you have me as a partner, receive him as me.
18
If he has wronged you or owes you anything, charge that to me.
19
I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I myself will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your own self!
20
Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
21
Confident about your obedience, I am writing to you. I know that you will do even more than I ask.
22
At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be returned to you.
23
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.
24
So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
James
Chapter 1
1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion: Greetings!
2
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you experience various troubles.
3
You know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4
Let endurance complete its work so that you may become fully developed and complete, not lacking anything.
5
But if any of you needs wisdom, let him ask for it from God, the one who gives generously and without rebuke to all who ask, and he will give it to him.
6
But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing. For anyone who doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven by the wind and tossed around.
7
For that person must not think that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9
Let the lowly brother boast of his high position,
10
but the rich man of his low position, because he will pass away as a wild flower in the grass.
11
For the sun rises with burning heat and dries up the grass. The flower falls off, and its beauty perishes. In the same way, the rich man will fade away in the middle of his journey.
12
Blessed is the man who endures testing. For after he has passed the test, he will receive the crown of life, which has been promised to those who love God.
13
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," because God is not tempted by evil, nor does he himself tempt anyone.
14
But each person is tempted by his own desire, which drags him away and entices him.
15
Then after the desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and after the sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.
16
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. It comes down from the Father of lights. With him there is no changing or shadow because of turning.
18
God chose to give us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all his creatures.
19
You know this, my beloved brothers: Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
20
For the anger of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.
21
Therefore, take off all sinful filth and abundant amounts of evil. In humility receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22
Be doers of the word and not only hearers, deceiving yourselves.
23
For if anyone is a hearer of the word but not a doer, he is like a man who examines his natural face in a mirror.
24
He examines himself and then goes away and immediately forgets what he was like.
25
But the person who looks carefully into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so, not just being a hearer who forgets, this man will be blessed in his actions.
26
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not control his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
27
Religion that is pure and unspoiled before our God and Father is to help the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Chapter 2
1
My brothers, do not hold to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality toward certain people.
2
Suppose that someone enters your meeting wearing gold rings and splendid clothes, and there also enters a poor man in dirty clothes.
3
If you look at the person wearing fine clothes and say, "You sit here in a good place," but you say to the poor man, "You stand over there" or "Sit by my footstool,"
4
are you not judging among yourselves? Have you not become judges with evil thoughts?
5
Listen, my beloved brothers, did not God choose the poor of the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
6
But you have dishonored the poor! Is it not the rich who oppress you? Are they not the ones who drag you to court?
7
Do they not insult the good name by which you have been called?
8
If, however, you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you do well.
9
But if you favor certain people, you are committing sin, and you are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10
For whoever obeys the whole law, except that he stumbles in just a single way, has become guilty of breaking the whole law.
11
For the one who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery, but if you do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12
So speak and act as those who will be judged by means of the law of freedom.
13
For judgment comes without mercy to those who have shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14
What profit is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
15
Suppose that a brother or sister is badly clothed and lacks food for the day.
16
Suppose that one of you says to them, "Go in peace, stay warm and be filled." If you do not give them the things necessary for the body, what profit is that?
17
In the same way faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18
Yet someone may say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19
You believe that there is one God; you do well. But even the demons believe that, and they tremble.
20
Do you want to know, foolish man, that faith without works is useless?
21
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
22
You see that faith worked with his works, and that by works his faith was completed.
23
The scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness," and he was called a friend of God.
24
You see that it is by works that a man is justified, and not only by faith.
25
In the same way also, was not Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them away by another road?
26
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.
Chapter 3
1
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
2
For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in words, he is a perfect man, able to control even his whole body.
3
Now if we put bits into horses' mouths for them to obey us, we can also direct their whole bodies.
4
Notice also that ships, although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, are steered by a very small rudder to wherever the pilot desires.
5
In this way, the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts great things. Notice also how small a fire sets on fire a large forest.
6
The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil set among our members. The tongue defiles the whole body, sets on fire the course of life, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7
For every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is being tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
8
But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9
With it we praise the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.
10
Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things should not happen.
11
Does a spring pour out from its opening both sweet and bitter water?
12
Does a fig tree, my brothers, make olives? Or a grapevine, figs? Neither can salty water produce sweet water.
13
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let that person show a good life by his works in the humility of wisdom.
14
But if you have bitter jealousy and ambition in your heart, do not boast and lie against the truth.
15
This is not the wisdom that comes down from above. Rather, it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16
For where there are jealousy and ambition, there is confusion and every evil practice.
17
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
18
The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace among those who make peace.
Chapter 4
1
Where do quarrels and disputes among you come from? Do they not come from your desires that fight among your members?
2
You desire, and you do not have. You murder and covet, and you are not able to obtain. You fight and quarrel. You do not possess because you do not ask.
3
You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, in order that you may use it for your desires.
4
You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility against God? So whoever desires to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5
Or do you think the scripture says in vain, "The Spirit he caused to live in us is deeply envious"?
6
But God gives more grace, so the scripture says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
7
So submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8
Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded people.
9
Grieve, mourn, and cry! Let your laughter turn into mourning and your joy into gloom.
10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
11
Do not speak evil about another, brothers. The person who speaks evil about a brother or judges his brother speaks evil about the law and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12
Only one is the lawgiver and judge. He is the one who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you, you who judge your neighbor?
13
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into this city, spend a year there, trade, and make a profit."
14
Who knows what will happen tomorrow, and what is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears.
15
Instead, you should say, "If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that."
16
But now you are boasting about your arrogant plans. All such boasting is evil.
17
So for anyone who knows to do good but does not do it, for him it is sin.
Chapter 5
1
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail because of the miseries coming on you.
2
Your riches have rotted, and your clothes have become moth-eaten.
3
Your gold and your silver have become tarnished and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. You have stored up your treasure for the last days.
4
Look, the wages you kept back from the laborers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
5
You have lived in luxury on the earth and indulged yourselves. You have fattened your hearts for a day of slaughter.
6
You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not oppose you.
7
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit from the ground and he is patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains.
8
You, too, be patient. Strengthen your hearts because the Lord's coming is near.
9
Do not complain, brothers, against one another, so that you will not be condemned. See, the judge is standing at the door.
10
Take an example, brothers, from the suffering and patience of the prophets, those who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11
See, we regard those who endured as blessed. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you know the purpose of the Lord, how he is very compassionate and merciful.
12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by the earth, or by any other oath. Rather, let your "Yes" mean "Yes" and your "No" mean "No," so you do not fall under judgment.
13
Is anyone among you suffering hardship? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
14
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him. Let them anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15
The prayer of faith will heal the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, God will forgive him.
16
So confess your sins to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very strong in its working.
17
Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain in the land for three years and six months.
18
Then Elijah prayed again. The heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
19
My brothers, if anyone among you strays from the truth, and someone brings him back,
20
that person should know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and will cover over a great number of sins.
Jude
Chapter 1
1
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:
2
May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.
3
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write to you about our common salvation, I had to write to you to exhort you to struggle earnestly for the faith that was entrusted once for all to God's holy people.
4
For certain men have slipped in secretly among you. These men were marked out for condemnation. They are ungodly men who have changed the grace of our God into sensuality, and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
5
Now I wish to remind you—although once you fully knew it—that the Lord saved a people out of the land of Egypt, but that afterward he destroyed those who did not believe.
6
Also, angels who did not keep to their own position of authority, but who left their proper dwelling place—God has kept them in everlasting chains, in utter darkness, for the judgment on the great day.
7
So also Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them gave themselves over to sexual immorality and perverse sexual acts. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
8
Yet in the same way, these dreamers also defile their bodies. They reject authority and they slander the glorious ones.
9
But even Michael the archangel, when he was arguing with the devil and disputing with him about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous judgment against him, but he said, "May the Lord rebuke you!"
10
But these people insult whatever they do not understand; and what they do understand naturally, like unreasoning animals, these are the very things that destroy them.
11
Woe to them! For they have walked in the way of Cain and have plunged into Balaam's error for profit. They have perished in Korah's rebellion.
12
These people are dangerous reefs at your love feasts, feasting with you fearlessly—shepherds who only feed themselves. They are clouds without rain, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit—twice dead, uprooted.
13
They are violent waves in the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of complete darkness has been reserved forever.
14
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them, saying, "Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy ones.
15
He is coming to execute judgment on everyone. He is coming to convict all the ungodly of all the works they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the bitter words that ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
16
These are grumblers, complainers, following their evil desires. Their mouths speak loud boasts, flattering others for profit.
17
But you, beloved, remember the words that were spoken in the past by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
18
They said to you, "In the last time there will be mockers who will follow their own ungodly desires."
19
It is these who cause divisions; they are worldly, and they do not have the Spirit.
20
But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith, and pray in the Holy Spirit.
21
Keep yourselves in God's love, and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings you eternal life.
22
Be merciful to those who doubt.
23
Save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
24
Now to the one who is able to keep you from stumbling and to cause you to stand before his glorious presence without blemish and with great joy,
25
to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time, now, and forever. Amen.