Chapter 41

3:3. For we ourselves also were some time unwise, incredulous, erring, slaves to divers desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

3:4. But when the goodness and kindness of God our Saviour appeared:

3:5. Not by the works of justice which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us, by the laver of regeneration and renovation of the Holy Ghost.

3:6. Whom he hath poured forth upon us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour:

3:7. That, being justified by his grace, we may be heirs according to hope of life everlasting.

3:8. It is a faithful saying. And these things I will have thee affirm constantly, that they who believe in God may be careful to excel in good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

3:9. But avoid foolish questions and genealogies and contentions and strivings about the law. For they are unprofitable and vain.

3:10. A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, avoid:

3:11. Knowing that he that is such an one is subverted and sinneth, being condemned by his own judgment.

By his own judgment. . .Other offenders are judged, and cast out of the church, by the sentence of the pastors of the same church. Heretics, more unhappy, run out of the church of their own accord, and by doing so, give judgment and sentence against their own souls.

3:12. When I shall send to thee Artemas or Tychicus, make haste to come unto me to Nicopolis. For there I have determined to winter.

3:13. Send forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollo, with care that nothing be wanting to them.

3:14. And let our men also learn to excel in good works for necessary uses: that they be not unfruitful.

3:15. All that are with me salute thee. Salute them that love us in the faith. The grace of God be with you all. Amen.

THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO PHILEMON

Philemon, a noble citizen of Colossa, had a servant named Onesimus, who robbed him and fled to Rome, where he met St. Paul, who was then a prisoner there the first time. The apostle took compassion on him and received him with tenderness and converted him to the faith; for he was a Gentile before. St. Paul sends him back to his master with this Epistle in his favour: and though he beseeches Philemon to pardon him, yet the Apostle writes with becoming dignity and authority. It contains divers profitable instructions and points out the charity and humanity that masters should have for their servants.

Philemon Chapter 1

He commends the faith and charity of Philemon; and sends back to him his fugitive servant, whom he had converted in prison.

1:1. Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother: to Philemon, our beloved and fellow labourer,

1:2. And to Appia, our dearest sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in thy house.

1:3. Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:4. I give thanks to my God, always making a remembrance of thee in my prayers.

1:5. Hearing of thy charity and faith, which thou hast in the Lord Jesus and towards all the saints:

1:6. That the communication of thy faith may be made evident in the acknowledgment of every good work that is in you in Christ Jesus.

1:7. For I have had great joy and consolation in thy charity, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.

1:8. Wherefore, though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus to command thee that which is to the purpose:

1:9. For charity sake I rather beseech, whereas thou art such a one, as Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ.

1:10. I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus,

1:11. Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee but now is profitable both to me and thee:

1:12. Whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as my own bowels.

1:13. Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bands of the gospel.

1:14. But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.

1:15. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season from thee that thou mightest receive him again for ever:

1:16. Not now as a servant, but instead of a servant, a most dear brother, especially to me. But how much more to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord?

1:17. If therefore thou count me a partner, receive him as myself.

1:18. And if he hath wronged thee in any thing or is in thy debt, put that to my account.

1:19. I Paul have written it with my own hand: I will repay it: not to say to thee that thou owest me thy own self also.

1:20. Yea, brother. May I enjoy thee in the Lord! Refresh my bowels in the Lord.

1:21. Trusting in thy obedience, I have written to thee: knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

1:22. But withal prepare me also a lodging. For I hope that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

1:23. There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus:

1:24. Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow labourers.

1:25. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE HEBREWS

St. Paul wrote this Epistle to the Christians in Palestine, the most part of whom being Jews before their conversion, they were called Hebrews. He exhorts them to be thoroughly converted and confirmed in the faith of Christ, clearly shewing them the preeminence of Christ's priesthood above the Levitical, and also the excellence of the new law above the old. He commends faith by the example of the ancient fathers: and exhorts them to patience and perseverance and to remain in fraternal charity. It appears from chap. 13 that this Epistle was written in Italy, and probably at Rome, about twenty-nine years after our Lord's Ascension.

Hebrews Chapter 1

God spoke of old by the prophets, but now by his Son, who is incomparably greater than the angels.

1:1. God, who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all,

1:2. In these days, hath spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world.

1:3. Who being the brightness of his glory and the figure of his substance and upholding all things by the word of his power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the majesty on high:

The figure. . .that is, the express image, and most perfect resemblance. Making purgation. . .That is, having purged away our sins by his passion.

1:4. Being made so much better than the angels as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.

1:5. For to which of the angels hath he said at any time: Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee? And again: I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

1:6. And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith: And let all the angels of God adore him.

1:7. And to the angels indeed he saith: He that maketh his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire.

1:8. But to the Son: Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of justice is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

1:9. Thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

1:10. And: Thou in the beginning, O Lord, didst found the earth: and the works of thy hands are the heavens.

1:11. They shall perish: but thou shalt continue: and they shall all grow old as a garment.

1:12. And as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shalt be changed. But thou art the selfsame: and thy years shall not fail.

1:13. But to which of the angels said he at any time: Sit on my right hand, until I make thy enemies thy footstool?

1:14. Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?

Hebrews Chapter 2

The transgression of the precepts of the Son of God is far more condemnable than of those of the Old Testament given by angels.

2:1. Therefore ought we more diligently to observe the things which we have heard lest perhaps we should let them slip.

2:2. For if the word spoken by angels became steadfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward:

2:3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? Which, having begun to be declared by the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.

2:4. God also bearing them witness by signs and wonders and divers miracles and distributions of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will.

2:5. For God hath not subjected unto angels the world to come, whereof we speak.

2:6. But one in a certain place hath testified, saying: What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

2:7. Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels: thou hast crowned him with glory and honour and hast set him over the works of thy hands.

2:8. Thou hast subjected all things under his feet. For in that he hath subjected all things to him he left nothing not subject to him. But now we see not as yet all things subject to him.

2:9. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour: that, through the grace of God he might taste death for all.

2:10. For it became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things, who had brought many children into glory, to perfect the author of their salvation, by his passion.

Perfect by his passion. . .By suffering, Christ was to enter into his glory, Luke 24.26, which the apostle here calls being made perfect.

2:11. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one. For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying:

2:12. I will declare thy name to my brethren: in the midst of the church will I praise thee.

2:13. And again: I will put my trust in him. And again: Behold I and my children, whom God hath given me.

2:14. Therefore because the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner hath been partaker of the same: that, through death, he might destroy him who had the empire of death, that is to say, the devil:

2:15. And might deliver them, who through the fear of death were all their lifetime subject to servitude.

2:16. For nowhere doth he take hold of the angels: but of the seed of Abraham he taketh hold.

No where doth he, etc. . .That is, he never took upon him the nature of angels, but that of the seed of Abraham.

2:17. Wherefore, it behoved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest before God, that he might be a propitiation for the sins of the people.

2:18. For in that wherein he himself hath suffered and been tempted he is able to succour them also that are tempted.

Hebrews Chapter 3

Christ is more excellent than Moses. Wherefore we must adhere to him by faith and obedience.

3:1. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly vocation consider the apostle and high priest of our confession, Jesus:

3:2. Who is faithful to him that made him, as was also Moses in all his house.

3:3. For this man was counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, by so much as he that hath built the house hath greater honour than the house.

3:4. For every house is built by some man: but he that created all things is God.

3:5. And Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be said:

3:6. But Christ, as the Son in his own house: which house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and glory of hope unto the end.

3:7. Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith: To-day if you shall hear his voice,

3:8. Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the desert,

3:9. Where your fathers tempted me, proved and saw my works,

3:10. Forty years: for which cause I was offended with this generation, and I said: They always err in heart. And they have not known my ways.

3:11. As I have sworn in my wrath: If they shall enter into my rest.

3:12. Take heed, brethren, lest perhaps there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, to depart from the living God.

3:13. But exhort one another every day, whilst it is called to day, that none of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

3:14. For we are made partakers of Christ: yet so, if we hold the beginning of his substance firm unto the end.

3:15. While it is said: To day, if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in that provocation.

3:16. For some who heard did provoke: but not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

3:17. And with whom was he offended forty years? Was it not with them that sinned, whose carcasses were overthrown in the desert?

3:18. And to whom did he swear, that they should not enter into his rest: but to them that were incredulous?

3:19. And we see that they could not enter in, because of unbelief.

Hebrews Chapter 4

The Christian's rest. We are to enter into it through Jesus Christ.

4:1. Let us fear therefore lest, the promise being left of entering into his rest, any of you should be thought to be wanting.

4:2. For unto us also it hath been declared in like manner as unto them. But the word of hearing did not profit them, not being mixed with faith of those things they heard.

4:3. For we, who have believed, shall enter into rest; as he said: As I have sworn in my wrath: If they shall enter into my rest; and this indeed when the works from the foundation of the world were finished.

4:4. For in a certain place he spoke of the seventh day thus: And God rested the seventh day from all his works.

4:5. And in this place again: If they shall enter into my rest.

4:6. Seeing then it remaineth that some are to enter into it, and they to whom it was first preached did not enter because of unbelief:

4:7. Again he limiteth a certain day, saying in David; To day, after so long a time as it is above said: To day if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

4:8. For if Jesus had given them rest he would never have afterwards spoken of another day.

Jesus. . .Josue, who in Greek is called Jesus.

4:9. There remaineth therefore a day of rest for the people of God.

4:10. For he that is entered into his rest, the same also hath rested from his works, as God did from his.

4:11. Let us hasten therefore to enter into that rest: lest any man fall into the same example of unbelief.

4:12. For the word of God is living and effectual and more piercing than any two edged sword; and reaching unto the division of the soul and the spirit, of the joints also and the marrow: and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

4:13. Neither is there any creature invisible in his sight: but all things are naked and open to his eyes, to whom our speech is.

4:14. Having therefore a great high priest that hath passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God: let us hold fast our confession.

4:15. For we have not a high priest who cannot have compassion on our infirmities: but one tempted in all things like as we are, without sin.

4:16. Let us go therefore with confidence to the throne of grace: that we may obtain mercy and find grace in seasonable aid.

Hebrews Chapter 5

The office of a high priest. Christ is our high priest.

5:1. For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in the things that appertain to God, that he may offer up gifts and sacrifices for sins:

5:2. Who can have compassion on them that are ignorant and that err: because he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

5:3. And therefore he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

5:4. Neither doth any man take the honour to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was.

5:5. So Christ also did not glorify himself, that he might be made a high priest: but he that said unto him: Thou art my Son: this day have I begotten thee.

5:6. As he saith also in another place: Thou art a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech.

5:7. Who in the days of his flesh, with a strong cry and tears, offering up prayers and supplications to him that was able to save him from death, was heard for his reverence.

5:8. And whereas indeed he was the Son of God, he learned obedience by the things which he suffered.

5:9. And being consummated, he became, to all that obey him, the cause of eternal salvation:

5:10. Called by God a high priest, according to the order of Melchisedech.

5:11. Of whom we have much to say and hard to be intelligibly uttered: because you are become weak to hear.

5:12. For whereas for the time you ought to be masters, you have need to be taught again what are the first elements of the words of God: and you are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat.

5:13. For every one that is a partaker of milk is unskilful in the word of justice: for he is a little child.

5:14. But strong meat is for the perfect: for them who by custom have their senses exercised to the discerning of good and evil.

Hebrews Chapter 6

He warns them of the danger of falling by apostasy and exhorts them to patience and perseverance.

6:1. Wherefore, leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us go on to things more perfect: not laying again the foundation of penance from dead works and of faith towards God,

The word of the beginning. . .The first rudiments of the Christian doctrine.

6:2. Of the doctrine of baptisms and imposition of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

6:3. And this will we do, if God permit.

6:4. For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, have tasted also the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

It is impossible, etc. . .The meaning is, that it is impossible for such as have fallen after baptism, to be again baptized; and very hard for such as have apostatized from the faith, after having received many graces, to return again to the happy state from which they fell.

6:5. Have moreover tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come,

6:6. And are fallen away: to be renewed again to penance, crucifying again to themselves the Son of God and making him a mockery.

6:7. For the earth, that drinketh in the rain which cometh often upon it and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is tilled, receiveth blessing from God.

6:8. But that which bringeth forth thorns and briers is reprobate and very near unto a curse: whose end is to be burnt.

6:9. But, my dearly beloved, we trust better things of you, and nearer to salvation; though we speak thus.

6:10. For God is not unjust, that he should forget your work and the love which you have shewn in his name, you who have ministered and do minister to the saints.

6:11. And we desire that every one of you shew forth the same carefulness to the accomplishing of hope unto the end:

6:12. That you become not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience shall inherit the promises.

6:13. For God making promises to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom he might swear, swore by himself,

6:14. Saying: Unless blessing I shall bless thee and multiplying I shall multiply thee.

6:15. And so patiently enduring he obtained the promise.

6:16. For men swear by one greater than themselves: and an oath for confirmation is the end of all their controversy.

6:17. Wherein God, meaning more abundantly to shew to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed an oath:

6:18. That by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have the strongest comfort, we who have fled for refuge to hold fast the hope set before us.

6:19. Which we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, and which entereth in even within the veil:

6:20. Where the forerunner Jesus is entered for us, made a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.

Hebrews Chapter 7

The priesthood of Christ according to the order of Melchisedech excels the Levitical priesthood and puts an end both to that and to the law.

7:1. For this Melchisedech was king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him:

7:2. To whom also Abraham divided the tithes of all: who first indeed by interpretation is king of justice: and then also king of Salem, that is, king of peace:

7:3. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but likened unto the Son of God, continueth a priest for ever.

Without father, etc. . .Not that he had no father, etc., but that neither his father, nor his pedigree, nor his birth, nor his death, are set down in scripture.

7:4. Now consider how great this man is, to whom also Abraham the patriarch gave tithes out of the principal things.

7:5. And indeed they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is to say, of their brethren: though they themselves also came out of the loins of Abraham.

7:6. But he, whose pedigree is not numbered among them, received tithes of Abraham and blessed him that had the promises.

7:7. And without all contradiction, that which is less is blessed by the better.

7:8. And here indeed, men that die receive tithes: but there, he hath witness that he liveth.

7:9. And (as it may be said) even Levi who received tithes paid tithes in Abraham:

7:10. For he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchisedech met him.

7:11. If then perfection was by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchisedech: and not be called according to the order of Aaron?

7:12. For the priesthood being translated, it is necessary that a translation also be made of the law,

7:13. For he of whom these things are spoken is of another tribe, of which no one attended on the altar.

7:14. For it is evident that our Lord sprung out of Juda: in which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

7:15. And it is yet far more evident: if according to the similitude of Melchisedech there ariseth another priest,

7:16. Who is made, not according to the law of a law of a carnal commandment, but according to the power of an indissoluble life.

7:17. For he testifieth: Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.

7:18. There is indeed a setting aside of the former commandment, because of the weakness and unprofitableness thereof:

7:19. For the law brought nothing to perfection: but a bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh to God.

7:20. And inasmuch as it is not without an oath (for the others indeed were made priests without an oath:

7:21. But this with an oath, by him that said unto him: The Lord hath sworn and he will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever).

7:22. By so much is Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

7:23. And the others indeed were made many priests, because by reason of death they were not suffered to continue:

Many priests, etc. . .The apostle notes this difference between the high priests of the law, and our high priest Jesus Christ; that they being removed by death, made way for their successors; whereas our Lord Jesus is a priest for ever, and hath no successor; but liveth and concurreth for ever with his ministers, the priests of the new testament, in all their functions. Also, that no one priest of the law, nor all of them together, could offer that absolute sacrifice of everlasting redemption, which our one high priest Jesus Christ has offered once, and for ever.

7:24. But this, for that he continueth for ever, hath an everlasting priesthood: