Book of Common Prayer

¹⁶ Thanks be to God, who put in the heart of Titus the same good mind toward you. ¹⁷ For he accepted the request; yea rather, he was so well willing, that of his own accord he has gone to you. ¹⁸ And we have sent with him that brother whose renown is in the gospel throughout all the congregations. ¹⁹ And not only this, he has also been chosen by the congregations to be a fellow traveler with us in our journey concerning this gift, which is ministered by us for the praise of the Lord, and to stir up your ready mind. ²⁰ For we want to guard against anyone finding fault with us in this large distribution that we are attending to, ²¹ and therefore provide for things to be beyond reproach, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of men. ²² And we have sent with them a brother of ours whom we have often found eager to help in many things, but now much more eager.

The great confidence that I have in you has caused me to do this – ²³ partly for the sake of Titus, who is my fellow and helper concerning you all, and partly because of others who are our brethren, and the messengers of the congregations, and the glory of Christ. ²⁴ Therefore show them the proof of your love, and of our boasting about you, so that the congregations may see it.

⁹ And he put forth this similitude to certain people who trusted in themselves, that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰ Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a publican. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus within himself: God, I thank you that I am not like other men are: extortioners, unjust, adulterers – or like this publican. ¹² I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess. ¹³ But the publican stood afar off, and would not lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God be merciful to me, a sinner. ¹⁴ I tell you, this man departed home to his house justified more than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be brought low, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.