SOUND TEACHING AND CHRISTIAN LIVING

2 But you are to proclaim things consistent with sound teaching.af 2 Older menag are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love,ah and endurance. 3 In the same way, older womenai are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submissionaj to their husbands, so that God’s wordak will not be slandered.

6 In the same way, encourage the young menal to be self-controlled 7 in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignityA in your teaching. 8 Your message is to be sound beyond reproach,am so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us.

9 Slaves are to submit to their mastersan in everything, and to be well-pleasing,ao not talking back 10 or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Saviorap in everything.

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvationB for all people,aq 12 instructing us to deny godlessnessar and worldly lustsas and to live in a sensible, righteous,at and godlyau way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope,av the appearing of the gloryaw of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave himself for usax to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession,ay eager to do good works.

15 Proclaim these things; encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregardC you.

CHRISTIAN LIVING AMONG OUTSIDERS

3 Remind them to submita to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentlenessb to all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passionsc and pleasures,d living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,e 5 he saved usf—not by works of righteousness that we had done,g but according to his mercyh—through the washing of regenerationi and renewal by the Holy Spirit.j 6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantlyk through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by his grace,l we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.m 8 This saying is trustworthy.n I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone. 9 But avoid foolish debates,o genealogies,p quarrels,q and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 Reject a divisiver person after a first and second warning.s 11 For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned.

FINAL INSTRUCTIONS AND CLOSING

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you,t make every effort to come to meu in Nicopolis, because I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollosv on their journey, so that they will lackw nothing.

14 Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works for pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.x 15 All those who are with me send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.y

PHILEMON

GREETING

Paul,a a prisonerb of Christ Jesus,c and Timothyd our brother:

To Philemon our dear friend and coworker, 2 to Apphia our sister,A to Archippuse our fellow soldier,f and to the church that meets in your home.g

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

PHILEMON’S LOVE AND FAITH

4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your loveh for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your participation in the faith may become effectivei through knowing every good thingj that is in usB for the glory of Christ. 7 For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshedk through you, brother.

AN APPEAL FOR ONESIMUS

8 For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, 9 I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly manC and now also as a prisonerl of Christ Jesus, 10 appeal to you for my son,m Onesimus.D,n I became his fathero while I was in chains. 11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back to you—I am sending my very own heart.E,F 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. 15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but how much more to you, both in the fleshp and in the Lord.q

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcomer him as you would me. 18 And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.s 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand:t I will repay it—not to mention to you that you owe me even your very self. 20 Yes, brother, may I benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 Meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, since I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

FINAL GREETINGS

23 Epaphras,u my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, and so do 24 Mark,v Aristarchus,w Demas, and Luke,x my coworkers.

25 The grace of the LordA,y Jesus Christ be with your spirit.z

HEBREWS

THE NATURE OF THE SON

1 Long ago God spokea to our ancestors by the prophetsb at different times and in different ways.c 2 In these last days,d he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all thingse and made the universeA,f through him. 3 The Son is the radianceB of God’s glory and the exact expressionC of his nature,g sustaining all things by his powerful word.h After making purification for sins,D he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.E,i 4 So he became superior to the angels, just as the name he inherited is more excellent than theirs.j

THE SON SUPERIOR TO ANGELS

5 For to which of the angels did he ever say,

You are my Son;

today I have become your Father,F,G

or again,

I will be his Father,

and he will be my Son?H,k

6 Again, when heI brings his firstborn into the world,l he says,

And let all God’s angels worship him.J,m

7 And about the angels he says:

He makes his angels winds,K

and his servantsL a fiery flame,M,n

8 but toN the Son:

Your throne, God,

is forever and ever,

and the scepter of your kingdom

is a scepter of justice.o

9 You have loved righteousness

and hated lawlessness;

this is why God, your God,

has anointed you

with the oil of joyp

beyond your companions.O,P

10 And:

In the beginning, Lord,

you established the earth,

and the heavens are the works of your hands;q

11 they will perish, but you remain.

They will all wear out like clothing;r

12 you will roll them up like a cloak,Q

and they will be changed like clothing.

But you are the same,

and your years will never end.R,s

13 Now to which of the angels has he ever said:

Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies your footstool?S,t

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?u