Month: December 2019

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2 Timothy

2 Timothy 1

1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, sent to proclaim the promised life which we have in union with Christ Jesus—

2 To Timothy, my dear son:

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

Thanksgiving and Encouragement

3 I give thanks to God, whom I serve with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did. I thank him as I remember you always in my prayers night and day.

4 I remember your tears, and I want to see you very much, so that I may be filled with joy.

5 I remember the sincere faith you have, the kind of faith that your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice also had. I am sure that you have it also.

6 For this reason I remind you to keep alive the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you.

7 For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control.

8 Do not be ashamed, then, of witnessing for our Lord; neither be ashamed of me, a prisoner for Christ’s sake. Instead, take your part in suffering for the Good News, as God gives you the strength for it.

9 He saved us and called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace by means of Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

10 but now it has been revealed to us through the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus. He has ended the power of death and through the gospel has revealed immortal life.

11 God has appointed me as an apostle and teacher to proclaim the Good News,

12 and it is for this reason that I suffer these things. But I am still full of confidence, because I know whom I have trusted, and I am sure that he is able to keep safe until that Day what he has entrusted to me.

13 Hold firmly to the true words that I taught you, as the example for you to follow, and remain in the faith and love that are ours in union with Christ Jesus.

14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit, who lives in us, keep the good things that have been entrusted to you.

15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia, including Phygelus and Hermogenes, has deserted me.

16 May the Lord show mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he cheered me up many times. He was not ashamed that I am in prison,

17 but as soon as he arrived in Rome, he started looking for me until he found me.

18 May the Lord grant him his mercy on that Day! And you know very well how much he did for me in Ephesus.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/2TI/1-32b501346b7eb8d0e5421500d6e24724.mp3?version_id=68—

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2 Timothy

2 Timothy 2

A Loyal Soldier of Christ Jesus

1 As for you, my son, be strong through the grace that is ours in union with Christ Jesus.

2 Take the teachings that you heard me proclaim in the presence of many witnesses, and entrust them to reliable people, who will be able to teach others also.

3 Take your part in suffering, as a loyal soldier of Christ Jesus.

4 A soldier on active duty wants to please his commanding officer and so does not get mixed up in the affairs of civilian life.

5 An athlete who runs in a race cannot win the prize unless he obeys the rules.

6 The farmer who has done the hard work should have the first share of the harvest.

7 Think about what I am saying, because the Lord will enable you to understand it all.

8 Remember Jesus Christ, who was raised from death, who was a descendant of David, as is taught in the Good News I preach.

9 Because I preach the Good News, I suffer and I am even chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not in chains,

10 and so I endure everything for the sake of God’s chosen people, in order that they too may obtain the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus and brings eternal glory.

11 This is a true saying:

“If we have died with him,

we shall also live with him.

12 If we continue to endure,

we shall also rule with him.

If we deny him,

he also will deny us.

13 If we are not faithful,

he remains faithful,

because he cannot be false to himself.”

An Approved Worker

14 Remind your people of this, and give them a solemn warning in God’s presence not to fight over words. It does no good, but only ruins the people who listen.

15 Do your best to win full approval in God’s sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God’s truth.

16 Keep away from profane and foolish discussions, which only drive people farther away from God.

17 Such teaching is like an open sore that eats away the flesh. Two men who have taught such things are Hymenaeus and Philetus.

18 They have left the way of truth and are upsetting the faith of some believers by saying that our resurrection has already taken place.

19 But the solid foundation that God has laid cannot be shaken; and on it are written these words: “The Lord knows those who are his” and “Those who say that they belong to the Lord must turn away from wrongdoing.”

20 In a large house there are dishes and bowls of all kinds: some are made of silver and gold, others of wood and clay; some are for special occasions, others for ordinary use.

21 Those who make themselves clean from all those evil things, will be used for special purposes, because they are dedicated and useful to their Master, ready to be used for every good deed.

22 Avoid the passions of youth, and strive for righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who with a pure heart call out to the Lord for help.

23 But keep away from foolish and ignorant arguments; you know that they end up in quarrels.

24 As the Lord’s servant, you must not quarrel. You must be kind toward all, a good and patient teacher,

25 who is gentle as you correct your opponents, for it may be that God will give them the opportunity to repent and come to know the truth.

26 And then they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the Devil, who had caught them and made them obey his will.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/2TI/2-dd7bbb776cfe018a669e2dbe7601a837.mp3?version_id=68—

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2 Timothy

2 Timothy 3

The Last Days

1 Remember that there will be difficult times in the last days.

2 People will be selfish, greedy, boastful, and conceited; they will be insulting, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and irreligious;

3 they will be unkind, merciless, slanderers, violent, and fierce; they will hate the good;

4 they will be treacherous, reckless, and swollen with pride; they will love pleasure rather than God;

5 they will hold to the outward form of our religion, but reject its real power. Keep away from such people.

6 Some of them go into people’s houses and gain control over weak women who are burdened by the guilt of their sins and driven by all kinds of desires,

7 women who are always trying to learn but who can never come to know the truth.

8 As Jannes and Jambres were opposed to Moses, so also these people are opposed to the truth—people whose minds do not function and who are failures in the faith.

9 But they will not get very far, because everyone will see how stupid they are. That is just what happened to Jannes and Jambres.

Last Instructions

10 But you have followed my teaching, my conduct, and my purpose in life; you have observed my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance,

11 my persecutions, and my sufferings. You know all that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, the terrible persecutions I endured! But the Lord rescued me from them all.

12 Everyone who wants to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted;

13 and evil persons and impostors will keep on going from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.

14 But as for you, continue in the truths that you were taught and firmly believe. You know who your teachers were,

15 and you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is usefulfor teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living,

17 so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/2TI/3-026a9f4780ad1cf68179712916fa53ad.mp3?version_id=68—

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2 Timothy

2 Timothy 4

1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and because he is coming to rule as King, I solemnly urge you

2 to preach the message, to insist upon proclaiming it (whether the time is right or not), to convince, reproach, and encourage, as you teach with all patience.

3 The time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but will follow their own desires and will collect for themselves more and more teachers who will tell them what they are itching to hear.

4 They will turn away from listening to the truth and give their attention to legends.

5 But you must keep control of yourself in all circumstances; endure suffering, do the work of a preacher of the Good News, and perform your whole duty as a servant of God.

6 As for me, the hour has come for me to be sacrificed; the time is here for me to leave this life.

7 I have done my best in the race, I have run the full distance, and I have kept the faith.

8 And now there is waiting for me the victory prize of being put right with God, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day—and not only to me, but to all those who wait with love for him to appear.

Personal Words

9 Do your best to come to me soon.

10 Demas fell in love with this present world and has deserted me, going off to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he can help me in the work.

12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

13 When you come, bring my coat that I left in Troas with Carpus; bring the books too, and especially the ones made of parchment.

14 Alexander the metalworker did me great harm; the Lord will reward him according to what he has done.

15 Be on your guard against him yourself, because he was violently opposed to our message.

16 No one stood by me the first time I defended myself; all deserted me. May God not count it against them!

17 But the Lord stayed with me and gave me strength, so that I was able to proclaim the full message for all the Gentiles to hear; and I was rescued from being sentenced to death.

18 And the Lord will rescue me from all evil and take me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

Final Greetings

19 I send greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and to the family of Onesiphorus.

20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus in Miletus, because he was sick.

21 Do your best to come before winter.

Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and Claudia send their greetings, and so do all the other Christians.

22 The Lord be with your spirit.

God’s grace be with you all.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/2TI/4-47ae1d031fba416070d86a620547830f.mp3?version_id=68—

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Titus

Titus Introduction

Introduction

Titus was a Gentile convert to Christianity who became a fellow worker and assistant to Paul in his missionary work.

Paul’s Letter to Titus

is addressed to his young helper in Crete, who had been left there to supervise the work of the church. The letter expresses three main concerns.

First, Titus is reminded of the kind of character that church leaders should have, especially in view of the bad character of many Cretans. Next, Titus is advised how to teach the various groups in the church, the older men, the older women (who are, in turn, to teach the younger women), the young men, and the slaves. Finally, the writer gives Titus advice regarding Christian conduct, especially the need to be peaceful and friendly, and to avoid hatred, argument, and division in the church.

Outline of Contents

Introduction (1.1-4)

Church officers (1.5-16)

Duties of various groups in the church (2.1-15)

Exhortations and warning (3.1-11)

Conclusion (3.12-15)

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Titus

Titus 1

1 From Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.

I was chosen and sent to help the faith of God’s chosen people and to lead them to the truth taught by our religion,

2 which is based on the hope for eternal life. God, who does not lie, promised us this life before the beginning of time,

3 and at the right time he revealed it in his message. This was entrusted to me, and I proclaim it by order of God our Savior.

4 I write to Titus, my true son in the faith that we have in common.

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace.

Titus’ Work in Crete

5 I left you in Crete, so that you could put in order the things that still needed doing and appoint church elders in every town. Remember my instructions:

6 an elder must be without fault; he must have only one wife,and his children must be believers and not have the reputation of being wild or disobedient.

7 For since a church leader is in charge of God’s work, he should be without fault. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered, or a drunkard or violent or greedy for money.

8 He must be hospitable and love what is good. He must be self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

9 He must hold firmly to the message which can be trusted and which agrees with the doctrine. In this way he will be able to encourage others with the true teaching and also to show the error of those who are opposed to it.

10 For there are many, especially the converts from Judaism, who rebel and deceive others with their nonsense.

11 It is necessary to stop their talk, because they are upsetting whole families by teaching what they should not, and all for the shameful purpose of making money.

12-13 It was a Cretan himself, one of their own prophets, who spoke the truth when he said, “Cretans are always liars, wicked beasts, and lazy gluttons.” For this reason you must rebuke them sharply, so that they may have a healthy faith

14 and no longer hold on to Jewish legends and to human commandments which come from people who have rejected the truth.

15 Everything is pure to those who are themselves pure; but nothing is pure to those who are defiled and unbelieving, for their minds and consciences have been defiled.

16 They claim that they know God, but their actions deny it. They are hateful and disobedient, not fit to do anything good.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/TIT/1-8ef31b22c9092eb710f7108b2b4afbe7.mp3?version_id=68—

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Titus

Titus 2

Sound Doctrine

1 But you must teach what agrees with sound doctrine.

2 Instruct the older men to be sober, sensible, and self-controlled; to be sound in their faith, love, and endurance.

3 In the same way instruct the older women to behave as women should who live a holy life. They must not be slanderers or slaves to wine. They must teach what is good,

4 in order to train the younger women to love their husbands and children,

5 to be self-controlled and pure, and to be good housewives who submit themselves to their husbands, so that no one will speak evil of the message that comes from God.

6 In the same way urge the young men to be self-controlled.

7 In all things you yourself must be an example of good behavior. Be sincere and serious in your teaching.

8 Use sound words that cannot be criticized, so that your enemies may be put to shame by not having anything bad to say about us.

9 Slaves are to submit themselves to their masters and please them in all things. They must not talk back to them

10 or steal from them. Instead, they must show that they are always good and faithful, so as to bring credit to the teaching about God our Savior in all they do.

11 For God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all people.

12 That grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world,

13 as we wait for the blessed Day we hope for, when the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christwill appear.

14 He gave himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to him alone and are eager to do good.

15 Teach these things and use your full authority as you encourage and rebuke your hearers. Let none of them look down on you.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/TIT/2-1c8108f8800f92aede805fc0071677a1.mp3?version_id=68—

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Titus

Titus 3

Christian Conduct

1 Remind your people to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey them, and to be ready to do good in every way.

2 Tell them not to speak evil of anyone, but to be peaceful and friendly, and always to show a gentle attitude toward everyone.

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and wrong. We were slaves to passions and pleasures of all kinds. We spent our lives in malice and envy; others hated us and we hated them.

4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was revealed,

5 he saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us.

6 God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior,

7 so that by his grace we might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for.

8 This is a true saying.

I want you to give special emphasis to these matters, so that those who believe in God may be concerned with giving their time to doing good deeds, which are good and useful for everyone.

9 But avoid stupid arguments, long lists of ancestors, quarrels, and fights about the Law. They are useless and worthless.

10 Give at least two warnings to those who cause divisions, and then have nothing more to do with them.

11 You know that such people are corrupt, and their sins prove that they are wrong.

Final Instructions

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me in Nicopolis, because I have decided to spend the winter there.

13 Do your best to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos to get started on their travels, and see to it that they have everything they need.

14 Our people must learn to spend their time doing good, in order to provide for real needs; they should not live useless lives.

15 All who are with me send you greetings. Give our greetings to our friends in the faith.

God’s grace be with you all.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/TIT/3-26fc4e9ad3deb849c51d5434d192e5ff.mp3?version_id=68—

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Philemon

Philemon Introduction

Introduction

Philemon was a prominent Christian, probably a member of the church at Colossae and the owner of a slave named Onesimus. This slave had run away from his master, and then somehow he had come in contact with Paul, who was then in prison. Through Paul, Onesimus became a Christian.

Paul’s Letter to Philemon

is an appeal to Philemon to be reconciled to his slave, whom Paul is sending back to him, and to welcome him not only as a forgiven slave but as a Christian brother.

Outline of Contents

Introduction (1-3)

Praise for Philemon (4-7)

Appeal for Onesimus (8-22)

Conclusion (23-25)

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Philemon

Philemon 1

1 From Paul, a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy—

To our friend and fellow worker Philemon,

2 and the church that meets in your house, and our sister Apphia, and our fellow soldier Archippus:

3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

4 Brother Philemon, every time I pray, I mention you and give thanks to my God.

5 For I hear of your love for all of God’s people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus.

6 My prayer is that our fellowship with you as believers will bring about a deeper understanding of every blessing which we have in our life in union with Christ.

7 Your love, dear brother, has brought me great joy and much encouragement! You have cheered the hearts of all of God’s people.

A Request for Onesimus

8 For this reason I could be bold enough, as your brother in Christ, to order you to do what should be done.

9 But because I love you, I make a request instead. I do this even though I am Paul, the ambassador of Christ Jesus, and at present also a prisoner for his sake.

10 So I make a request to you on behalf of Onesimus, who is my own son in Christ; for while in prison I have become his spiritual father.

11 At one time he was of no use to you, but now he is usefulboth to you and to me.

12 I am sending him back to you now, and with him goes my heart.

13 I would like to keep him here with me, while I am in prison for the gospel’s sake, so that he could help me in your place.

14 However, I do not want to force you to help me; rather, I would like for you to do it of your own free will. So I will not do anything unless you agree.

15 It may be that Onesimus was away from you for a short time so that you might have him back for all time.

16 And now he is not just a slave, but much more than a slave: he is a dear brother in Christ. How much he means to me! And how much more he will mean to you, both as a slave and as a brother in the Lord!

17 So, if you think of me as your partner, welcome him back just as you would welcome me.

18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to my account.

19 Here, I will write this with my own hand:I, Paul, will pay you back.(I should not have to remind you, of course, that you owe your very self to me.)

20 So, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord’s sake; as a brother in Christ, cheer me up!

21 I am sure, as I write this, that you will do what I ask—in fact I know that you will do even more.

22 At the same time, get a room ready for me, because I hope that God will answer the prayers of all of you and give me back to you.

Final Greetings

23 Epaphras, who is in prison with me for the sake of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings,

24 and so do my co-workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke.

25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PHM/1-342961ce3e47cc2434c94178a825487b.mp3?version_id=68—