TO TITUS.

PAUL, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ CH. I. for the faith of God's elect and full knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in hope of life 2 everlasting, which God that cannot lie promised before everlasting times, but in its own seasons manifested his 3 word in preaching, with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour; to Titus a true 4 child after the common faith. Grace and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

For this cause I left thee behind in Crete, that thou 5 shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I commanded thee; if any 6 one is blameless, husband of one wife, having believing children who are not accused of riot or unruly. For the 7 bishop must be blameless as God's steward; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, not a striker, not greedy of gain; but hospitable, a lover of good, 8 soberminded, righteous, holy, temperate; holding fast the 9 faithful word according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the sound doctrine and to convict the gainsayers. For there are many unruly, vain talkers 10 and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, whose 11 mouths must be stopped, who overturn whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of filthy gain. One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, 12 The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. This witness is true. Wherefore convict them sharply, 13 that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to 14 Jewish fables, and commandments of men that turn away from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but 15

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unto them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and conscience have been 16 defiled. They confess that they know God, but in works deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

CH. II.

BUT speak thou the things which become the sound 2 doctrine. That aged men be temperate, grave, sober3 minded, sound in faith, in love, in patience; aged women likewise, in behaviour as becomes holiness, not calumniators, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of 4 good things; that they instruct the young women to be lovers of their husbands, lovers of their children, 5 soberminded, chaste, workers at home, good, subject to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blas6 phemed. The younger men likewise exhort to be sober7 minded about all things, rendering thyself a type of good 8 works, in the doctrine shewing incorruption, gravity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned, in order that he who is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no bad 9 thing to say of us. Exhort servants to be subject unto their own masters, in all things to be well-pleasing, 10 not gainsaying, not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

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For the grace of God bringing salvation to all men 12 appeared, admonishing us by chastisement, in order that having denied ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, and righteously, and godly, in the present 13 world; waiting for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God, and of our Saviour Christ Jesus, 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

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CH. III.

These things speak, and exhort, and convict with all command; let no one despise thee.

REMIND them to be subject to principalities, to authorities, 2 to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to blaspheme no one, not contentious, forbearing, shewing all

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.

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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 сH. 1. 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