Titus 3

Godly Living

1  Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,2  to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.3  For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.4  But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,5  He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,6  whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,7  so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.8  This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.9  But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.10  Reject a factious man after a first and second warning,

11  knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

Personal Concerns

12  When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.13  Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them.

14  Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.

15  All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.

Philemon 1

Salutation

1  Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker,2  and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

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

Philemon's Love and Faith

4  I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,5  because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;6  and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.

7  For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
8  Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,9  yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you --since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus--

Plea for Onesimus, a Free Man

10  I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,11  who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.12  I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart,13  whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;14  but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.15  For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever,

16  no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17  If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me.18  But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account;19  I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).

20  Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

21  Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

22  At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.
23  Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

24  as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.
25  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Hebrews 1

God's Final Word in His Son

1  God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,2  in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.3  And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

4  having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

5  For to which of the angels did He ever say,
“You are My Son ,
Today I have begotten You ”?
And again,
“I will be a Father to Him
And He shall be a Son to Me ”?

6  And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says,
“And let all the angels of God worship Him .”

7  And of the angels He says,
“Who makes His angels winds ,
And His ministers a flame of fire .”

8  But of the Son He says,
“Your throne , O God , is forever and ever ,
And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom .

9 
“You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness ;
Therefore God , Your God , has anointed You
With the oil of gladness above Your companions .”

10  And,
“You , Lord , in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth ,
And the heavens are the works of Your hands ;

11 
They will perish , but You remain ;
And they all will become old like a garment ,

12 
And like a mantle You will roll them up ;
Like a garment they will also be changed .
But You are the same ,
And Your years will not come to an end .”

13  But to which of the angels has He ever said,
“Sit at My right hand ,
Until I make Your enemies
A footstool for Your feet ”?
14  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?