Part 37
PAUL, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of the elect of God, and the knowledge of truth which leads to godliness; (2)in hope of life eternal, which God, who cannot lie, hath promised before time had a being; (3)but hath manifested in his own appointed season his word by the preaching, with which I have been entrusted, according to the command of our Saviour God; (4)to Titus, my genuine son after the common faith, be grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
(5)For this purpose I left thee behind me at Crete, that thou mightest direct the regulations which remained to be executed, and that thou shouldest appoint presbyters in every city, as I charged thee to do: (6)if there be a man blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not under an accusation or debauchery, or disorderly conduct. (7)For a bishop ought to be irreproachable, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not irritable, not addicted to wine, not quarrelsome, not greedy of filthy lucre; (8)but the stranger's host, the good man's friend, grave, just, holy, temperate; (9)firmly attached to the faithful word, according to the doctrine delivered, that he may be able to exhort with sound instruction and to confute the opposers. (10)For there are many disorderly persons vainly talkative, and under a spirit of delusion, especially some of the circumcised; (11)whose mouths ought to be muzzled, who pervert whole families, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of base gain. (12)One of them, a poet of their own nation, hath said, The Cretans are always liars, wicked beasts, slothful gluttons. (13)This testimony is true. For which cause rebuke them with severity, that they may be sound in the faith; (14)not attending to Jewish fables, and injunctions of men, who have turned away from the truth. (15)All things indeed are clean to the clean: but to the defiled and to the unbelievers there is nothing clean; but their very mind and conscience are defiled. (16)They profess to know God; but in works deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
CHAP. II.
BUT speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: (2)that the elder men be sober, grave, discreet, sound in faith, in love, in patience. (3)That the elder women also be sacredly becoming in their behaviour, not slanderers, not enslaved by much wine, teachers of propriety; (4)that they instruct the young women to be discreet, to love their husbands, to love their children, (5)to be sober, domestic, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not ill reported of. (6)The younger men in like manner exhort to be sober minded. (7)In all things approving thyself as a pattern of good works: in thy teaching, shewing integrity, gravity, incorruptibility, (8)sound discourse, incapable of confutation; that he who is in opposition may be confounded, having nothing faulty to say of you.
(9)Let servants be subject to their own masters, in all things to be agreeable to them; not contradicting; (10)not embezzling their property, but demonstrating all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
(11)For the grace of God which leads to salvation hath appeared unto all men, (12)instructing us, that denying ungodliness and worldly affections, we should live soberly and righteously, and godly in the present day; (13)expecting the blessed hope, and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; (14)who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (15)These things speak and enjoin, and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
CHAP. III.
REMIND them to be subject to princes and those invested with authority, to obey magistrates, to be ready for every good work, (2)to slander no man, to be inoffensive, gentle, shewing all meekness to all men. (3)For we ourselves also in time past were thoughtless, disobedient, erroneous, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. (4)But even then the kindness and love of God our Saviour to man shone forth, (5)not for works of righteousness which we had done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the laver of regeneration, and by renovation of the Holy Spirit; (6)which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (7)that justified by his grace, we might become heirs in hope of eternal life.
(8)Faithful is the saying, and of these things I wish thee firmly to testify, that they who have believed in God be careful to be pre-eminent in good works. These are becoming and advantageous to men. (9)But foolish disquisitions, and genealogies, and disputes, and contentions about the law avoid; for they are unprofitable and vain.
(10)An heretical person after a first and second admonition reject; (11)knowing that such a one is perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned.
(12)When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, hasten to come to me unto Nicopolis: for there I have determined to pass the winter.
(13)Send forward diligently Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, that nothing may be wanting for them. (14)And let those who belong to us learn also to be pre-eminent in good works for all necessary calls, that they be not without fruits.
(15)All that are with me salute thee. Salute those who love us with fidelity.
Grace be with you all. Amen.
This epistle was written to Titus appointed by suffrage first bishop of the church of Crete, from Nicopolis in Macedonia.
THE EPISTLE of PAUL the APOSTLE, TO PHILEMON.
PAUL, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy a brother, to Philemon the beloved, and our fellow-labourer, (2)and to Apphia the beloved, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church at thy house: (3)grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(4)I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers, (5)hearing of thy love and faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and unto all the saints; (6)that there may be an operative communication of thy faith made known by every good thing, which is in you towards Jesus Christ. (7)For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother. (8)Wherefore, though I have in Christ great liberty to enjoin thee what is becoming, (9)I rather for love's sake entreat, being such as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner for Jesus Christ. (10)I entreat thee for my son, whom I have begotten during my bonds, Onesimus: (11)who in time past hath been an unprofitable servant to thee, but now very profitable to thee and to me: (12)whom I have sent back; thou therefore receive him, even as my own bowels: (13)whom I wished to detain about myself, that in thy stead he might have waited upon me during my bonds for the gospel: (14)but without thy consent would I do nothing; that this good deed of thine might not be as of necessity, but from thy own choice. (15)For to this end perhaps was he separated from thee for a season, that thou mightest receive him for ever; (16)no longer as a slave, but above a slave, as a brother beloved, especially by me, but how much more by thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? (17)If therefore thou holdest me a sharer with thee, receive him as myself. (18)If he hath injured thee or oweth thee ought, put that to my account; (19)I Paul have given it under my own hand, I will repay it, not to say to thee, that thou owest even thine own self unto me. (20)Yea, brother, I wish to have joy in thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. (21)Having confidence in thy obedience, I have written unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do more than I say. (22)But at the same time prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
(23)There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus; (24)Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-labourers.
(25)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Amen.
Written to Philemon from Rome, by Onesimus one of his household.
THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS.
CHAP. I.
GOD, who spake to the fathers of old at various times, and in different manners by the prophets, (2)in these last days hath spoken to us by a Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (3)who being the splendour of his glory, and the very impress of his substance, and upholding all things with his powerful word, by himself having effected the cleansing of our sins, he sat down at the right hand of Majesty on high; (4)made as much superior to the angels, as he hath inherited a more distinguished name than they. (5)For to which of the angels ever said he, "My Son art thou, I have to-day begotten thee[120]?" And again, "I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son[121]?" (6)And again, when he introduces the first-begotten into the world, he saith, "Let all the angels of God also worship him[122]." (7)And concerning the angels indeed he thus speaks: "Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministering servants a flame of fire[123]." (8)But to the Son, "Thy throne, O God, is unto eternity; a sceptre of rectitude is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (9)Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of exultation above those who partake with thee[124]." (10)"And thou from the beginning, O Lord, hast founded the earth, and the heavens are the works of thine hands. (11)They will be destroyed, but thou remainest; and they all will grow old as a garment, (12)and as a cloak thou wilt wrap them up, and they will undergo a change: but thou art the same, and thy years will never end[125]." (13)Unto which indeed of the angels said he ever, "Sit at my right hand until I put thine enemies for a footstool of thy feet[126]?" (14)Are they not all ministerial spirits, sent to perform service on account of those who are about to inherit salvation?
CHAP. II.
FOR this reason we ought to attend more diligently to the things which have been heard, lest by any means we let them flow by us. (2)For if the discourse spoken by angels was confirmed, and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment as its due, (3)how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which, commencing at the beginning to be spoken by the Lord, was confirmed unto us by those who had heard him; (4)God superadding his testimony with them, by signs, and wonders, and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
(5)For he hath not subjected the future world, of which we are speaking, to the angels. (6)But one in a certain passage testifieth, saying, "What is man, that thou rememberest him, or a son of man, that thou regardest him?" (7)"Thou hast made him for a little while lower than angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honour, and hast placed him over the works of thy hands: (8)thou hast subjected all things under his feet[127]." Now in subjecting all things to him, he left nothing unsubjected to him; but at present we see not yet all things subjected to him. (9)But we see Jesus for a little while made lower than angels, by the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour, that, by the grace of God, he might taste of death for every one.
(10)For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to perfect the Author of their salvation by sufferings. (11)For both he that sanctifies, and they who are sanctified, are all of one. For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, (12)saying, "I will declare thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the church I will sing hymns to thee[128]." (13)And again, "I will place my confidence in him[129]." And again, "Behold! Here am I, and the children which God hath given me[130]."
(14)Seeing therefore that the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he also himself, in exact resemblance, partook of the same, that by death he might destroy him who held the power of death, that is, the devil; (15)and deliver those, even as many as through their whole life were subjects of bondage to the fear of death. (16)For he verily took not on him the angelic nature, but assumed that of the seed of Abraham. (17)Wherefore he ought in all things to be made like to his brethren, in order to become a merciful and faithful high-priest in those things which relate to God, to make a propitiation for the sins of the people: (18)for inasmuch as he hath himself suffered, having been tempted, he is able to succour those who are tempted.
CHAP. III.
WHEREFORE, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, contemplate the apostle and high-priest whom ye confess, Jesus Christ; (2)who was faithful to him who appointed him, as Moses also was in all his house. (3)For this personage hath been counted worthy of higher glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who built it, hath greater honour than the house. (4)For every house is built by some person; but he who is the architect of all things is God. (5)And Moses indeed was faithful in all that house of his as a servant, to bear testimony of the things which should be after spoken; (6)but Christ as a son over his own house: whose house are we, if we hold firmly the confidence and glorying of hope stedfast unto the end. (7)Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith[131], To day if ye will hear his voice, (8)harden not your hearts, as in that bitter provocation, at the day of the temptation in the wilderness; (9)when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works during forty years. (10)Wherefore I was provoked against that generation, and said, They are always deluded in heart, and they have not known my ways: (11)so I swore in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest. (12)Take heed, brethren, that there be not in any one of you a wicked heart of infidelity, _evident_ in departure from the living God: (13)but exhort one another daily, whilst to-day remains, that no one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (14)For we are partakers with Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end; (15)while it is said, To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation. (16)For some, though they had heard, provoked him; yet not all who came out of Egypt by Moses. (17)But against whom was he incensed forty years? Was it not against those who had sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? (18)And to whom did he swear that they should not enter into his rest, but to those who did not believe? (19)So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
CHAP. IV.
LET us fear then lest, though a promise be left of entering into his rest, any one of you should appear to fail of obtaining it. (2)For we are hearing the same gospel preached as they did; but the word heard did not profit them, not being incorporated by faith with those who heard it. (3)For we who have believed, have entered into the rest, even as he said, "So, I sware in my wrath, that they shall not enter into my rest;" and that notwithstanding the works were done from the foundation of the world. (4)For he said in a certain passage concerning the seventh day to this purport, "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works[132]." (5)And in this passage again, "They shall not enter into my rest." (6)Forasmuch therefore as it remaineth for some to enter into it, and they who first had the gospel preached to them entered not in because of unbelief; (7)again he limiteth a certain day, saying by David, To-day, after so long a time; as it is said, "To-day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts." (8)For if Joshua had given them the rest, he would not afterwards have spoken of another day. (9)A sabbatical rest then still remaineth for the people of God. (10)For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath rested from his works, as God did from his own. (11)Let us then earnestly endeavour to enter into that rest, lest any person fall after the same example of unbelief. (12)For the word of God is quickening, and energetic, and sharper than every two-edged sword, and piercing through and through, so as to divide both soul and spirit, both joints and spinal marrow, and critically judges the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13)Even creation is not invisible before him, but all things are naked, and fully displayed before his eyes, to whom we must give our account.
(14)Having then a great high-priest passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the confession. (15)For we have not an high-priest incapable of a fellow-feeling with our infirmities, but one tempted in all points, in exact resemblance with ourselves, sin excepted. (16)Let us therefore approach with boldness the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and find grace for seasonable help.
CHAP. V.
FOR, every high-priest taken from among men, is constituted on behalf of men for those services which relate to God, that he should offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: (2)being able to feel tenderly for the ignorant and erroneous; forasmuch as he is himself encompassed with infirmity. (3)And on this account he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifice for sins. (4)And no man assumes to himself this honour, but he who is called of God, even as Aaron was. (5)So Christ also did not himself assume the glory to become high-priest, but he _gave it_ who spake to him, "Thou art my Son; I have this day begotten thee." (6)As he saith also in another passage, "Thou art priest forever after the order of Melchisedec[133];" (7)who in the days of his flesh, with strong crying and tears, having offered up prayers and supplications to him who was able to save him from death, and being heard for his reverential awe, (8)though he was a son, he learned obedience from the things which he suffered: (9)and complete himself, he became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him; (10)publicly proclaimed of God high-priest after the order of Melchisedec.
(11)Concerning whom we have much to discourse, and of difficult interpretation to explain, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (12)For though ye ought for the time to be teachers of others, ye have again need that some one teach you the leading principles of the oracles of God; and are become as those who need milk, and not solid food. (13)For every one who useth milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness: for he is an infant. (14)But solid nourishment is proper for grown men, even as many as by habit have their organs of perception exercised for the discernment both of good and evil.
CHAP. VI.
WHEREFORE, desisting from initiatory discourse respecting Christ, let us advance towards perfection; not again laying a foundation of repentance from dead works, and faith in God, (2)of the doctrine of ablutions, and of imposition of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3)And so we will do, if God permit. (4)For it is not possible to renew again unto repentance those who have been once illuminated, and have tasted the celestial gift, and have been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5)and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (6)and yet have fallen away: for they crucify again to themselves the Son of God, and expose him to public infamy. (7)For the earth which imbibes the rain which often falls upon it, and bringeth forth herbage suitable for those by whom it is cultured, receiveth a blessing from God; (8)but if it produceth thorns and thistles, it is abandoned, and near the curse _of barrenness_, whose end will be for burning.
(9)But, beloved, we are persuaded concerning you that things are better, and connected with salvation, though we thus speak. (10)For God is not unjust, to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have demonstrated in his name, having ministered assistance to the saints, and still ministering. (11)But we earnestly desire that every one of you do manifest the same diligence, in order to obtain the full assurance of hope unto the end: (12)that ye be not slothful, but imitators of those who, by faith and long suffering, are inheriting the promises. (13)For God when he gave the promise to Abraham forasmuch as he had nothing greater to swear by, sware by himself, (14)saying, "Verily, blessing, I will bless thee, and multiplying, I will multiply thee[134]." (15)And so after long patient waiting he obtained the promise. (16)For men indeed swear by something greater than themselves; and an oath for confirmation is with them conclusive in all disputes. (17)And thus God, designing more abundantly to demonstrate to the heirs of promise the immutability of his will, pledged himself by oath, (18)that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us; (19)which, as an anchor for our soul, we hold both sure and stedfast, and entering into the sanctuary within the vail, (20)into which the forerunner for us is entered, even Jesus, made after the order of Melchisedec an high-priest for ever.
CHAP. VII.
FOR this Melchisedec, king of Salem, a priest of God most high, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; (2)to whom also Abraham gave a tenth share of all the spoil: being, as the interpretation of his name imports, first, King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, that is, King of peace: (3)without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but in exact resemblance with the Son of God, abideth a priest for ever. (4)Now observe how great is this _Melchisedec_, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave the tenth of the spoils. (5)For they indeed of the sons of Levi, who are admitted to priesthood, have an order to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though also sprung from the loins of Abraham. (6)But he who derived not his genealogy from them, received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises; (7)but without all dispute the inferior receives benediction from the superior. (8)And here indeed dying men receive the tithes, but there he hath a testimony borne to him that he liveth. (9)And, if I may so say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes. (10)For he was as yet in the loins of his father when Melchisedec met him. (11)If therefore there was perfection by the Levitical priesthood (for under that the people had the law given to them), what farther need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? (12)For the priesthood being transferred, there is of necessity an abrogation of the law also. (13)For he to whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, in which no man approached the altar. (14)For it is evident that our Lord sprang from Judah; to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning the priesthood; (15)and it is yet more abundantly evident, that there should arise another priest after the likeness of Melchisedec, (16)who was not made such by the law of a carnal commandment, but by the power of a life indissoluble. (17)For the testimony is, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (18)For there is indeed an abrogation of the preceding command, because of its weakness and inutility. (19)For the law led to no perfection, but was an introduction to a better hope, by which we draw nigh unto God.