Today’s Reading:   Titus  1 – 3  and  Philemon 1     (KJV)

Titus 1

Tit 1:1  Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

Tit 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Tit 1:3  But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

Tit 1:4  To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Tit 1:5  For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Tit 1:6  If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

Tit 1:7  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;

Tit 1:8  But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

Tit 1:9  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.

Tit 1:10  For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision:

Tit 1:11  Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

Tit 1:12  One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

Tit 1:13  This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Tit 1:14  Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

Tit 1:15  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.

Tit 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Titus 2

Tit 2:1  But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Tit 2:2  That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

Tit 2:3  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

Tit 2:4  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Tit 2:5  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Tit 2:6  Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

Tit 2:7  In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

Tit 2:8  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.

Tit 2:9  Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

Tit 2:10  Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Tit 2:15  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Titus 3

Tit 3:1  Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

Tit 3:2  To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.

Tit 3:3  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Tit 3:4  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

Tit 3:5  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;

Tit 3:6  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Tit 3:7  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Tit 3:8  This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Tit 3:9  But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Tit 3:10  A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject;

Tit 3:11  Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

Tit 3:12  When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.

Tit 3:13  Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.

Tit 3:14  And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

Tit 3:15  All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Philemon 1

Phm 1:1  Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow labourer,

Phm 1:2  And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house:

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

Phm 1:4  I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

Phm 1:5  Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

Phm 1:6  That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Phm 1:7  For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

Phm 1:8  Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

Phm 1:9  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.

Phm 1:10  I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

Phm 1:11  Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

Phm 1:12  Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

Phm 1:13  Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

Phm 1:14  But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

Phm 1:15  For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever;

Phm 1:16  Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord?

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

Phm 1:18  If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught, put that on mine account;

Phm 1:19  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.

Phm 1:20  Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

Phm 1:21  Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

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

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

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

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