meekness unto all men. obedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in viciousness and envy, hateful, hating one another; but 4 when the goodness and the love to man of our Saviour God appeared, not by works in righteousness which we did, but 5 according to his mercy he saved us, through the laver of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he 6 poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that having been justified by his grace, we should become 7 heirs according to the hope of everlasting life. Faithful 8 is the saying, and concerning these things I wish thee to affirm strongly, in order that they who have believed in God may be careful to practise good works. These are good and profitable unto men. But avoid foolish discussions, 9 and genealogies, and contention, and fights about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A heretical 10 man after the first and second admonition refuse; know- 11 ing that such an one has been subverted and sins, being self-condemned.

For we also were once foolish, dis- 3

When I shall send Artemas unto thee or Tychicus, be 12 anxious to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. Zenas the lawyer and Apollos send 13 forward diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them. And let our people also learn to practise good works for 14 the necessary wants, that they be not unfruitful.

All that are with me salute thee. Salute them that love 15 us in faith.

Grace be with you all.

TO PHILEMON.

1

PAUL, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy the brother, unto Philemon our beloved and fellow-labourer, 2 and to Apphia the sister, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, 3 and to the church in thy house. Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God, always making mention of thee on my 5 prayers, hearing of thy love and the faith which thou hast 6 toward the Lord Jesus, and to all the saints; in order that the fellowship of thy faith may become effective in the full knowledge of every good thing which is in you unto 7 Christ. For I had much joy and consolation in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by 8 thee, brother. Wherefore, though I have much openness 9 in Christ to command thee that which is fitting, for love's sake I rather beseech; being such an one as Paul an 10 aged man, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus, I

beseech thee for mine own child, whom I begat in the 11 bonds, Onesimus, who was once to thee unprofitable, 12 but now profitable both to thee and to me; whom I sent 13 back to thee, himself, that is, mine own heart. Whom I

wished to retain with me, that in thy stead he might 14 minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel; but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy good service should not be as it were according to necessity, but according to 15 free-will; for perhaps he was separated for a season on 16 this account, that thou mightest have him for ever, no longer as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more unto thee, 17 both in the flesh and in the Lord: if therefore thou 18 countest me as a partner, receive him as myself. And

if he wronged thee in aught, or owes thee, put that to mine account. I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will 19 repay; not to say unto thee that thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. Yea, brother, let me have 20 profit of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.

Having confidence in thy obedience I write unto thee, 21 knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say. But 22 at the same time prepare me also a lodging; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you.

Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes 23 thee; Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow- 24 labourers.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. 25

TO THE HEBREWS.

GOD, having in many parts and in many ways spoken CH. I. of old unto the fathers in the prophets, at the end of 2 these days spake to us in the Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; who being an effulgence of the glory and express 3 image of his substance, and bearing all things by the word of his power, having made purification of sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; having become so much better than the angels, as he has 4 inherited a more excellent name than they. For unto 5 which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? But when he shall 6 have again introduced the firstborn into the world, he says, And let all angels of God worship him. And of 7 the angels indeed he says, Who makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire, but of the Son, Thy 8 throne, O God, is for ever and ever; and the sceptre of

9 right is thy kingdom's sceptre. Thou lovedst righteousness and hatedst iniquity; therefore thy God anointed thee, O 10 God, with oil of exultation above thy fellows. And, Thou,

Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the 11 earth, and the heavens are works of thine hands; they shall perish, but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old 12 as does a garment, and as a vesture thou wilt change them, and they shall be changed; but thou art the same, and thy 13 years shall not fail. But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies 14 thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth for ministry on account of them who are about to inherit salvation?

CH. II.

ON this account we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things heard, lest we glide aside from them. 2 For if the word spoken through angels became stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just 3 reward, how shall we escape if we have neglected so great salvation? which having begun to be spoken by the 4 Lord was confirmed unto us by them that heard; God bearing witness to it with them, both by signs and wonders, and by divers mighty works, and distributions of the Holy Spirit according to his will.

5

For not unto angels did he put in subjection the world 6 to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified fully, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of 7 him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? Thou madest him for some little time lower than angels, thou crownedst 8 him with glory and honour, thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put in subjection to him; but now we see not yet all things put in subjection to 9 him. But him, who was made for some little time lower than angels, Jesus, we see on account of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour; in order that he by 10 the grace of God should taste death for every one. For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, as one who brought many sons unto glory,

And 13

to make the prince of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifies and they who 11 are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy 12 name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will be trusting in him. again, Behold I and the children whom God gave me. For- 14 asmuch then as the children are partakers of blood and flesh, he himself also likewise took part in the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that has the might of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver 15 as many as through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he helps not angels; 16 but it is the seed of Abraham that he helps. Wherefore 17 in all things it behoved him to be made like unto the brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For inasmuch as he has 18 suffered, having been himself tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

CH.

WHEREFORE, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly II. calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus, who is faithful to him that made him, as 2 also was Moses in all his house. For the same has 3 been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who prepared the house has more honour than the house. For every house is prepared by some one but he 4 that prepared all things is God. And Moses verily was 5 faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken, but Christ as a son 6 over his house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the openness and the glorying of the hope stedfast unto the end.

Wherefore as the Holy Spirit says, To-day if ye will 7 hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provoca- 8 tion at the day of the temptation in the wilderness, where 9 your fathers tempted in proving me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with this generation, and 10 said, They are always deceived in the heart; but they knew not