one wife, having faithful children, not accused of riot, or unruly. 7 For a Bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God: not self willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre, 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate, 9 Holding fast the faithful word, as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. Duty of servants. 8 Sound speech that cannot be condemned, that he that is of the contrary part, may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things, not answering again: 10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world, 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said: The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true: wherefore re-zealous of good works. buke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men that turn from the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure, but unto them that are defiled, and unbelieving, is nothing pure but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. CHAP. II. 2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.. 3 The aged women likewise that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own hushands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 15 These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. PUT them CHAP. III. The things he should teach. in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man ap. peared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the holy Ghost, 6 Which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour: 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these 6 Young men likewise exhort, to be things I will that thou affirm constantly, sober minded. 7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, that they which have believed in God, might be careful to maintain good works: these things are good and profitable un to men. PA for Onesimus 13 Bring Zenas the lawyer, and Apol los, on their journey diligently, that no thing be wanting unto them. 14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. 15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. ¶ It was written to Titus ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of Macedonia. T The Epistle of PAUL to PHILEMON. He desireth him to forgive Onesimus. | ministered unto me in the bonds of the AUL a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Gospel. Timothy our brother unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow labourer, 2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the Church in thy house: 3 Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5 Hearing of thy love, and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all Saints: 6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing, which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. 8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient; 9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds, 11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable but now profitable to thee and to me: 12 Whom I have sent again: thou there. fore receive him, that is mine own bowels. 13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have 14 But without thy mind would I do nothing, that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. 15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever: 16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord ? 17 If thou count me therefore a part. ner, receive him as myself. 18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught, put that on mine account. 19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me, even thine own self besides: 20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. 21 Having confidence in thy obedience, I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. 22 But withal prepare me also a lodg ing: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. 23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus: 24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow labourers. 25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. ¶ Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant. The Epistle of PAUL the Apostle to the HEBREWS. CHAP. I. Christ is preferred above the Angels. GOD, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds, 3 Who being the brightness of his glo. ry, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 Being made so much better than the Angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto 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. 6 And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the Angels of God worship him. 7 And of the Angels he saith: Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But unto the Son, he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity, therefore God, even thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 10 And, thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the works of thine hands. 11 They shall perish, but thou remainest and they all shall wax old as doth a garment. 12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed, but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail? 13 But to which of the Angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them, who shall be heirs of salvation? Christ made like to us so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him, 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the holy Ghost, according to his own will? 5 For unto the Angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one in a certain place testified, saying: What is man, that thou art mindful of him: or the son of man that thou visitest him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the Angels, thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands. 8 Thou hast 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 under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the Angels, for the suf fering of death, crowned with glory and honour, that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 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, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the Church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him and again, Behold, I, and the children which God hath given me. 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil: 15 And deliver them, who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels: but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful Christ is more worthy than Moses. WHEREFORE holy brethren, par takers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and high Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, God's word forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in, because of unbelief. CHAP. IV. The rest of Christians. ET us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us, of entering into his 2 Who was faithful to him that ap-rest, any of you should seem to come pointed him, as also Moses was faithful short of it. in all his house. 3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house, hath more honour than the house. 4 For every house is builded by some man, but he that built all things is God. 5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after. 6 But Christ as a Son over his own house, whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence, and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. 7 Wherefore as the holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart, and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest. 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end. 15 Whilst it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16 For some when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved 2 For unto us was the Gospel preach. ed, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest, although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise: And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again: If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached, entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, say. ing in 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 rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after whe same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the divid ing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discern er of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked, and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Christ's priesthood. CHAP. V, VI. God's promise 14 Seeing then that we have a great | unskilful in the word of righteousness: high Priest, that is passed into the hea. for he is a babe. vens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not a high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities: but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain and find grace to help in time mercy, of need. Fo CHAP. V. Our Saviour's Priesthood. OR every high Priest taken from among men, is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: 2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. 3 And by reason hereof he ought as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 5 So also, Christ glorified not himself, to be made a High Priest: but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears, unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard, in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience, by the things which he suffered : 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him, 10 Called of God a high Priest after the order of Melchizedek: 11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the Oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk, is 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. TH CHAP. VI. He exhorteth not to fall back. 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of 5 And have tasted the good word of 6 If they shall fall away, to renew 7 For the earth which drinketh in the 9 But beloved, we are persuaded bet ter things of you, and things that ac company salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous, to forget your work and labour of love, which that ye have ministered to the saints, ye have shewed toward his name, in and do minister. 11 And we desire, that every one of you do shew the same diligence, to the 12 That ye be not slothful, but folfull assurance of hope unto the end: lowers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely, blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so after he had patiently en - 215 dured, he obtained the promise. |