The New Testament Part 37

4 [4:25]Wherefore, laying aside lying let every one speak the truth to his neighbor, for we are members one of another. [4:26]Be angry and sin not; let not the sun go down on your wrath, [4:27]neither give place to the devil. [4:28]Let him that has stolen steal no more, but rather let him labor, doing that which is good with his hands, that he may have to give to him that needs. [4:29]Let no evil word proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good for useful edification, that it may afford benefit to those that hear. [4:30]And grieve not the Holy Spirit of G.o.d, by which you were sealed to the day of redemption.

[4:31]Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and blasphemy, be banished from among you, with all malice. [4:32]But be kind one to another, merciful, giving one to another, as G.o.d also in Christ gave to you. [5:1]Be therefore followers of G.o.d, as dear children, [5:2]and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to G.o.d of good odor.

5 [5:3]Let not fornication and any impurity or covetousness be named among you, as becomes saints, [5:4]nor indecorum and foolish talking, or jesting, things not becoming, but rather giving of thanks. [5:5]For you know this, that no fornicator, or impure, or covetous person, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of G.o.d.

[5:6]Let no man deceive you with vain words; for on account of these comes the wrath of G.o.d on the children of disobedience. [5:7]Be not therefore partakers with them. [5:8]For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,-- [5:9]for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,-- [5:10]proving what is well pleasing to the Lord, [5:11]and be not partakers of the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. [5:12] For the things which are done by them in secret it is base even to mention; [5:13]but all things proved to be wrong are made manifest by the light; for every thing which makes manifest is light.

[5:14]Wherefore he says, Awake you that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.

6 [5:15]See then that you walk discreetly, not as unwise but as wise, [5:16] redeeming the time, because the days are evil. [5:17]Be not foolish therefore, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

[5:18]And be not drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the spirit, [5:19]speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, [5:20]giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to the G.o.d and Father, [5:21]being subject one to another in the fear of Christ. [5:22]Let wives [be subject] to their husbands as to the Lord, [5:23]for the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church; he is the savior of the body. [5:24]But as the church is subject to Christ, so also let wives be subject to husbands in every thing. [5:25] Husbands, love your wives as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, [5:26]that he might sanctify it, purifying it with the was.h.i.+ng of water with the word, [5:27]that he might present the church to himself glorious, not having a spot or wrinkle or any thing of the kind, but that it should be holy and blameless. [5:28]Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself; [5:29]for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ also the church; [5:30]for we are members of his body. [5:31]For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. [5:32]This is a great mystery; but I speak of Christ and the church. [5:33]But do you also, individually, each one so love his wife as himself, and the wife [see] that she reverences the husband.

7 [6:1]Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right.

[6:2]Honor your father and your mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, [6:3]that it may be well with you, and you shall live long in the land. [6:4] And, fathers, provoke not your children, but bring them up in the instruction and admonition of the Lord.

8 [6:5]Servants, be subject to masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your hearts as to Christ, [6:6]not with eye service as pleasing men, but as servants of Christ doing the will of G.o.d from the heart, [6:7]performing service kindly as to the Lord and not to men, [6:8] knowing that whatever good each one does, for this he shall receive from the Lord, whether a servant or a freeman. [6:9]And, masters, do the same things to them, forbearing threatening, knowing also that their master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him.

9 [6:10]Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

[6:11] Put on the whole armor of G.o.d that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; [6:12]for our conflict is not against flesh and blood, but against princ.i.p.alities, against powers, against the potentates of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual [hosts] of evil in the heavenly [worlds]. [6:13] Take therefore the whole armor of G.o.d, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all to stand. [6:14]Stand, therefore, girded about your loins with truth, and having put on the cuira.s.s of righteousness, [6:15] and bound your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [6:16]over all, taking the s.h.i.+eld of the faith, with which you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of evil. [6:17]And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of G.o.d, [6:18]praying with all prayer and supplication on every occasion with the spirit, and watching in the same with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, [6:19]and for me, that a word may be given me at the opening of my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, [6:20]in behalf of which I perform an emba.s.sy in bonds, that I may speak boldly in them, as I ought to speak.

10 [6:21]But that you may also know the things concerning me, how I do, Tichycus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will inform you of all things; [6:22]whom I have sent to you for this purpose, that you may know the things concerning us and that he may comfort your hearts. [6:23]Peace and love be to the brothers with faith, from G.o.d our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [6:24]The grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with constancy.

THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS.

ROME, A.D. 63. (ACTS, 25:4.)

CHAPTER I.

PAUL'S LOVE FOR THE PHILIPPIANS, AFFAIRS AT ROME, MORAL DUTIES, ETC.

1 [1:1]PAUL and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons. [1:2]Grace be to you and peace from G.o.d our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 [1:3]I thank my G.o.d at every remembrance of you, [1:4]always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, [1:5]for your fellows.h.i.+p in the gospel from the first day till now, [1:6]having this same confidence, that he who has begun a good work in you will carry it on till the day of Jesus Christ, [1:7]as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you being all partakers of my grace. [1:8]For G.o.d is my witness, how much I desire you all with the tender affections of Christ Jesus. [1:9]And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all understanding, [1:10]that you may prove the excellent, that you may be without fault and without offense in the day of Christ, [1:11]filled with the fruit of righteousness, through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of G.o.d.

3 [1:12]But I wish you to know, brothers, that the things as to me have resulted in the advancement of the gospel, [1:13]so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the Praetorium and in all other places, [1:14]and many of the brothers having been made confident by my bonds in the Lord have more abundant courage to speak the word without fear.

[1:15]For some indeed preach Christ because of envy and strife, and some also because of good will; [1:17]those from love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel, [1:16]but those from contention preach Christ not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction for my bonds. [1:18]What then? nevertheless, in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached, and in this I rejoice. But I also will rejoice; [1:19]for I know that this will result in salvation to me, through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, [1:20]according to my expectation and hope that I shall be ashamed in nothing, but with all boldness as always also now Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

[1:21]Because for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. [1:22]But if to live in the flesh [is allowed me], I have this fruit of my work, and which I shall choose I know not. [1:23]But I am in a strait between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ; for this is far better; [1:24]but to continue in the flesh is more necessary for you.

[1:25]And fully believing this, I know that I shall continue, and continue with you all, for your advancement and joy of the faith, [1:26]that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus by me through my coming again to you.

4 [1:27]Only conduct yourselves as citizens worthily of the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you, or be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand firm in one spirit, striving together with one mind for the faith of the gospel, [1:28]terrified in nothing by the adversaries, which is to them a token of destruction, but to you of salvation, and this from G.o.d; [1:29]because it was given to you in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him but also to suffer for him, [1:30]having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear of in me.

5 [2:1]If therefore there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort in love, if any partic.i.p.ation of the Spirit, if any affections and compa.s.sions, [2:2] fulfil my joy, that you have the same mind, having the same love, sympathizing with each other, having one opinion.

[2:3]Do nothing in strife or vain glory, but in humility let each esteem others better than himself, [2:4]and let each consider not his own interests, but also those of others. [2:5]Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, [2:6]who being in the form of G.o.d thought it not a robbery to be equal with G.o.d; [2:7]but he abased himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of man, [2:8]and being found in form like a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient even till death, and the death of the cross.

[2:9]Wherefore G.o.d also highly exalted him, and gave him a name which is above every name, [2:10]that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of beings in heaven and in the earth and under the earth, [2:11]and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of G.o.d the Father.

6 [2:12]And so, my beloved, as you always obeyed, not in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; [2:13]for G.o.d works in you both to will and to work of his good pleasure. [2:14]Do all things without complainings and disputations, [2:15]that you may be blameless and sincere, children of G.o.d without blame in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you s.h.i.+ne as luminaries in the world, [2:16]holding fast the word of life, for my glorying in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain, nor labor in vain. [2:17]But if I am even poured out as a libation on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and congratulate you all; [2:18]do you also rejoice with the same joy and congratulate me.

7 [2:19]But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I may be refreshed when I know your affairs. [2:20]For I have no one like minded who really will care for your interests; [2:21]for all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. [2:22]But you know his tried virtue, that as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. [2:23]Him therefore I hope to send to you as soon as I know how it will be with me; [2:24]and I hope in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.

8 [2:25]But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, the brother and my fellow-laborer and fellow-soldier, but your apostle and servant of my need, [2:26]for he greatly desired you all and was anxious, because you heard that he was sick. [2:27]For indeed he was sick nigh to death; but G.o.d had mercy on him, and not on him only but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. [2:28]I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that seeing him again you may rejoice and I be less sorrowful. [2:29]Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and have such in estimation, [2:30]because on account of the work he was nigh to death, not having consulted properly for his life, that he might fully supply your lack of service to me.

CHAPTER II.

JUDAIZING TEACHERS, EXHORTATIONS, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, ETC.

1 [3:1]FINALLY, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord; for to write the same things to you is not grievous to me, and is safe for you. [3:2]Beware of the dogs, beware of evil laborers, beware of the concision. [3:3]We are the circ.u.mcision, who serve G.o.d in spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and trust not in the flesh, [3:4]although I have ground of confidence in the flesh. If any other one thinks he may trust in the flesh, I [may] more; [3:5]circ.u.mcised the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, as to the law a Pharisee, [3:6]as to zeal persecuting the church, as to righteousness by the law being blameless. [3:7]But whatever things were my gain, these I have considered a loss for the sake of Christ.

[3:8]But for the same reason also I consider all things to be a loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and consider them worthless that I may gain Christ [3:9]and be found in him, not having my righteousness by the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness of G.o.d by the faith, [3:10]that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the partic.i.p.ation of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, [3:11]that I may attain the resurrection from the dead. [3:12]Not that I have already obtained it, or have been already made perfect; but I follow on that I may attain that for which also I was arrested by Christ. [3:13]I consider not myself, brothers, to have attained it; but this one thing I do; forgetting the things behind, and reaching forward to those before, [3:14]I press forward to the mark for the prize of the high call of G.o.d in Christ Jesus. [3:15]Let us, as many as are perfect therefore, be of this mind; and if any one thinks at all otherwise, G.o.d shall also reveal this to you; [3:16]but in what we have attained, in this let us walk.

2 [3:17]Be followers of me, brothers, and observe those who walk so as you have us for an example. [3:18]For many walk, of whom I told you often and now also tell you weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ; [3:19]whose end is destruction, whose G.o.d is their stomach, and their glory in their shame; who regard earthly things. [3:20]But our kingdom is in heaven, from which also we expect the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, [3:21]who will change our humble body, and make it like his glorious body, by the power by which he is able also to subject all things to himself. [4:1]So, my beloved and much desired brothers, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, beloved.

3 [4:2]I beseech Euodias and I beseech Syntyche to have the same mind in the Lord. [4:3]Yes, I beseech you also, faithful yoke-fellow, help those women who strove in the gospel with me, with Clement and the rest of my co-laborers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 [4:4]Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. [4:5]Let your gentleness be known to all men; the Lord is near. [4:6]Be anxious for nothing, but with all prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to G.o.d. [4:7]And may the peace of G.o.d which pa.s.ses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

5 [4:8]Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are reputable, if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, consider these things; [4:9]and what you learned and received and heard and knew in me, these things do; and the G.o.d of peace shall be with you.

6 [4:10]But I rejoice greatly in the Lord, that now at length you began again to care for me, for whom also you did care, but had no opportunity [to serve me]. [4:11]Not that I speak of want; for I have learned in whatever circ.u.mstances I am to be contented. [4:12]I know both how to be humbled, and I know how to abound; in every thing and in all conditions I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer want. [4:13]I endure all things with him that strengthens me. [4:14]But you did well to communicate with my affliction, [4:15]And you know also, Philippians, that at the beginning of the gospel, when I went out from Macedonia, no church communicated with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you only; [4:16]for even in Thessalonica and once and again you sent to my need.

[4:17]Not that I desire a gift, but I desire the fruit which abounds to your account. [4:18]But I have all things and abound, I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the things from you, a perfume of good odor, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to G.o.d.

[4:19]And G.o.d shall fully supply all your need, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. [4:20]To our G.o.d and Father be the glory forever and ever; amen.

7 [4:21]Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers with me salute you. [4:22]All the saints salute you, especially those of Caesar's family. [4:23] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits.

THE EPISTLE TO t.i.tUS.

PHILIPPI, A.D. 64.

CHAPTER I.

A CHARGE TO t.i.tUS IN RESPECT TO HIS MINISTRY.

1 [1:1]PAUL, a servant of G.o.d, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of G.o.d's elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to piety, [1:2]for the hope of eternal life, which G.o.d who cannot lie announced before eternal ages, [1:3]but manifested his word in the times which were suitable for it by the preaching with which I was intrusted, according to the command of our Saviour G.o.d, [1:4]to t.i.tus my faithful son in the common faith; grace and peace from G.o.d the Father, and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

2 [1:5]For this cause I left you in Crete, that you might regulate things which are deficient, and appoint elders in every city, as I charged you, [1:6]if any one is blameless, a husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of intemperance or of insubordination. [1:7]For a bishop must be blameless as a steward of G.o.d, not self-indulgent, not soon angry, not given to wine, not contentious, not devoted to base gain, [1:8]but a lover of hospitality, kind, sober, just, holy, self-denying, [1:9]holding firmly the faithful word taught, that he may be able both to exhort with sound instruction and to convince those who contradict. [1:10]For there are many disorderly wranglers and deceivers, especially those of the circ.u.mcision, [1:11]whom it is necessary to silence, who mislead whole families, teaching for base gain what they ought not.

3 [1:12]A certain one of them, their own poet, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gormandizers. [1:13]This testimony is true.

Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, [1:14]not attending to Jewish myths, and commandments of men who subvert the truth. [1:15]To the pure all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but their mind and conscience are defiled. [1:16]They profess to know G.o.d, but by works deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and as to every good work reprobate.

4 [2:1]Speak things which become sound teaching. [2:2]That the aged men be sober, grave, of sound mind, sound in faith, in love, in patience; [2:3]that the aged women, in like manner, be of behavior becoming holiness, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of what is good, [2:4]that they may instruct the young women to be lovers of their husbands, lovers of their children, [2:5]sober, pure, fond of home, kind, subject to their husbands, that the word of G.o.d may not be blasphemed.