Beginning

Salutation

1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness, ² in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began, ³ and has in due time revealed His word through preaching, with which I was entrusted according to the command of God our Savior,

⁴ To Titus, my own son in the common faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

Titus’ Work in Crete

⁵ For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I commanded you: ⁶ any man who is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children who are not accused of being wild or unruly. ⁷ For an overseer must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not easily angered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain, ⁸ but hospitable, a lover of what is good, self-controlled, just, holy, temperate, ⁹ holding firmly the trustworthy word that is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to convince those who oppose it.

¹⁰ For there are many unruly men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ who must be silenced, who subvert whole houses by teaching for dishonest gain things they ought not teach. ¹² One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons!” ¹³ This witness is true. So rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith, ¹⁴ not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who reject the truth. ¹⁵ To the pure, all things are pure. But to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Even their minds and consciences are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess that they know God, but in their deeds they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and worthless for every good work.

The Teaching of Sound Doctrine

2 But as for you, teach what is fitting of sound doctrine: ² Older men should be sober, serious, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience.

³ Likewise, older women should be reverent in behavior, and not be false accusers, not be enslaved to much wine, but teachers of good things, ⁴ that they may teach the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ and to be self-controlled, pure, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored.

⁶ Likewise, exhort young men to be self-controlled, ⁷ in all things presenting yourself as an example of good works: in doctrine showing integrity, gravity, incorruptibility, ⁸ and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that the one who opposes you may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

⁹ Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, to please them well in everything, not answering back, ¹⁰ or stealing, but showing complete fidelity, so that they may exemplify the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, righteously, and in godliness in this present world, ¹³ as we await the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all lawlessness and purify for Himself a special people, zealous of good works.

¹⁵ Teach these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Maintain Good Deeds

3 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey them, to be ready for every good work, ² to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, but gentle, showing all humility toward everyone.

³ We also were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various desires and pleasures, living in evil and envy, filled with hatred and hating each other. ⁴ But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward mankind appeared, ⁵ not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of rebirth and the renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, being justified by His grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ⁸ This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you constantly to affirm, so that those who have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to everyone.

⁹ But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, contentions, and arguments about the law, for they are unprofitable and useless. ¹⁰ Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition, ¹¹ knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

Personal Instructions and Greetings

¹² When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, be diligent to come to me in Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. ¹³ Diligently send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey. See that they lack nothing. ¹⁴ And let our people also learn to continue doing good works to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unproductive.

¹⁵ All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all. Amen.

Salutation

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon, our beloved fellow laborer, ² and to beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

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

Philemon’s Love and Faith

⁴ I thank my God, always mentioning you in my prayers, ⁵ whenever I hear of your love and faith, which you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, ⁶ that the sharing of your faith may be most effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you from Christ Jesus. ⁷ For we have great joy and encouragement on account of your love, because the hearts of the saints are refreshed through you, brother.

Paul Pleads for Onesimus

⁸ Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you to do that which is proper, ⁹ yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— ¹⁰ I appeal to you on behalf of my son Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, ¹¹ who in the past was unprofitable to you, but now he is profitable to you and to me.

¹² I have sent him back. Therefore receive him as my own heart. ¹³ I wanted to keep him with me, so that in your place he might serve me during my imprisonment for the gospel. ¹⁴ But without your consent I would do nothing, so that your goodness would not be forced, but given willingly. ¹⁵ Perhaps this was why he departed for a while, that you might receive him forever, ¹⁶ no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

¹⁷ If then you consider me a partner, receive him as you would me. ¹⁸ If he wronged you or owes you anything, charge this to my account. ¹⁹ I, Paul, have written this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me even your own self. ²⁰ Yes, brother, help me rejoice in the Lord, refresh my heart in the Lord. ²¹ Being convinced of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will also do more than I say.

²² But, in addition, prepare also lodging for me, for I hope that through your prayers I shall be graciously restored to you.

Final Greetings

²³ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, ²⁴ as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow laborers.

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