so that we exhorted Titus, that, as he had previously begun, so he would bring to an end this gift among you also.

Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.

We do not exceed our due limits, and take credit for other men's labours; but we entertain the hope that, as your faith grows, we shall gain promotion among you--still keeping within our own sphere--promotion to a larger field of labour,

I wish you would now listen to a little folly of mine. Please do listen to me!

You put up with it all right, when some interloper preaches a second Jesus (not the Jesus I preached), or when you are treated to a Spirit different from the Spirit you once received, and to a different gospel from what I gave you! Why not put up with me?

When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn't a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.

I repeat: No one should consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, so I too may boast a little.

For you listen to a man, if he makes you his slave, or spends your money for his living, or cheats you, or puts on airs, or slaps you in the face.

I say that I was weak, and yet for whatever reason any one is bold (I speak in mere folly) I too am bold.

Are they servants of Christ?--I am speaking as though I were beside myself--I [am] more so, with far greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with beatings to a much greater degree, in [danger of] death many times.

thrice was I whip'd with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I was shipwreck'd; a night and a day I was floating on the deep:

For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except [for the fact] that I did not burden you [with my financial support]? Forgive me [for doing you] this injustice!

Put yourselves to a test; see if you are [really] in the faith [i.e., see if you are genuine Christians]; examine yourselves! Or, do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in your hearts, unless [of course] you fail the test [i.e., unless you are counterfeit Christians].

I wonder that ye thus quickly change, from him that called you in Christ's grace, to a different gospel,

But I make known to you, brethren, the gospel was preached to me, that it is not according to a man;

For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism, that to an extraordinary degree I was persecuting the church of God, and trying to destroy it,

I went up in obedience to a revelation of God's will; and I explained to them the Good News which I proclaim among the Gentiles. To the leaders of the Church this explanation was made in private, lest by any means I should be running, or should already have run, in vain.

(for He Who wrought for Peter with regard to an apostleship of the circumcision, wrought for me also with regard to the gentiles).

Brothers, I am speaking according to a human perspective. Nevertheless, [when] the covenant of a man has been ratified, no one declares [it] invalid or adds additional provisions [to it].

But to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, To seeds, as unto many persons; but as to an individual, and to thy seed, which is Christ.

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,

(Now it is always good to be devoted to a good cause, even when I am not with you.)

My little children, of whom I do as it were travail in birth again,

It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].

For the passion of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the passion of the Spirit against the flesh ??the two are at issue, so that you are not free to do as you please.

So then as we have time, let us work what is good toward all men, and especially toward those belonging to a household of the faith.

But far be it from me to have glory in anything, but only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which this world has come to an end on the cross for me, and I for it.

having predestinated us in love to an adoption through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him;

in whom also we have been chosen to an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will,

You too, as you have heard the message of the truth, the good news that means your salvation, and as you have trusted in Him too, have been stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit,

So, you Gentiles by birth should remember what you once were. You are called "Uncircumcision" by those who are called "Circumcision" [i.e., the Jews], (which refers to a physical procedure performed by people).

And [that He] might reconcile them both [Jew and Gentile, united] in one body to God through the cross, thereby putting to death the hostility.

in whom all the building fitted together increases to a holy temple in the Lord;

according to a purpose of the ages, which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord,

yes, to attain to a knowledge of the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ, so that you may be made complete in accordance with God's own standard of completeness.

till we may all come to the unity of the faith and of the recognition of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to a measure of stature of the fulness of the Christ,

which are overspread with darkness, and averse to a religious life, thro' their innate ignorance and obduracy:

Let the thief steal no more; rather let him work and put his hands to an honest task, so as to have something to contribute to the needy.

and make not sorrowful the Holy Spirit of God, in which ye were sealed to a day of redemption.

so that He could dedicate her [to Himself], after cleansing her by means of the washing of water [i.e., immersion], accompanied by the word. [Note: "The word" here refers either to a person's profession of faith (See Rom. 10:9) or to the Gospel message (See Rom. 10:17), both of which are associated with immersion].

for your proving the things that differ, that ye may be pure and offenceless -- to a day of Christ,

And I wish you to know, brethren, that the things concerning me, rather to an advancement of the good news have come,

the word of life holding forth, for rejoicing to me in regard to a day of Christ, that not in vain did I run, nor in vain did I labour;

And ye know his proof, that, as a child to a father, he served with me in the good news.

circumcised, as I was, on the eighth day, a member of the race of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew sprung from Hebrews; as to the Law a Pharisee;

I would know him in the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, with my nature transformed to die as he died,

I don't imagine, my brethren, that I am arriv'd at the goal; but this I do, unmindful of what is pass'd, I stretch towards that which is in view,

I have now receiv'd the whole, and have more than sufficient: I am loaded with the presents you sent by Epaphroditus, which I have receiv'd as grateful incense, as a sacrifice which God accepts and approves.

May their hearts be comforted! May they be knit together in love! May they gain in all its riches the full assurance of their understanding! May they come to a perfect knowledge of the secret truth of God, which is Christ himself.

having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God, [as displayed] when He raised Christ from the dead.

Therefore let no one judge you in regard to food and drink or in regard to [the observance of] a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.

Let no one disqualify you, insisting on ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm and inflated without cause by his unspiritual mind.

(Rules which are all to come to an end with their use) after the orders and teaching of men?

Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—

on the contrary, notwithstanding the outrages, you know we suffer'd at Philippi, we had still the resolution, by the divine assistance, to preach the gospel of God to you without reserve against all opposition.

God has not called us to an unclean life, but to one of purity.

When people say, "There is peace and security," destruction will strike them as suddenly as labor pains come to a pregnant woman, and they will not be able to escape.

but you, my brethren, are too well inform'd to be surpriz'd by that day, as by a thief.

Do not allow anyone to deceive you in any way, for it will not occur until the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness becomes evident. [Note: This "rebellion" refers to a significant falling away from the teaching and practice of true Christianity (See I Tim. 4:1), characterized by the rise of an authoritarian religious leader]. This man is doomed to be destroyed

Then the lawless one [the Antichrist] will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by the appearance of His coming.

Whose, presence, shall be according to an inworking of Satan, with all manner of mighty work and sign and wonders of falsehood,

unto which He called you through our Gospel, to an obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

not that we have not a right [to a support], but that we may make ourselves an example for you to follow us.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to a command of God our Saviour, and of the Lord Jesus Christ our hope,

and the attention they bestow on mere fables and endless pedigrees, such as lead to controversy rather than to a true stewardship for God, which only exists where there is faith. And I make the same request now.

Now we know that, excellent, is the law, if one put it to a lawful use: -

knowing this, that law has not its application to a righteous person, but to the lawless and insubordinate, to the impious and sinful, to the unholy and profane, to smiters of fathers and smiters of mothers; to murderers,

who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

who gave Himself as a ransom [a substitutionary sacrifice to atone] for all, the testimony given at the right and proper time.

for this I was establish'd a herald and an apostle, I speak the truth without disguise, a doctor to instruct the Gentiles in the true faith.

I do not consent to a woman's becoming a teacher, or exercising authority over a man; she ought to be silent.

This is a faithful saying, "If any man is seeking the office of a minister he is aspiring to a noble task."

not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the devil;

Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not devoted to a lot of wine, not greedy for money;

for they who duly discharge that office, prepare their way to a higher degree, and may promote the christian faith with the greater freedom.

Do not neglect [using] the gift [i.e., of serving as an evangelist. See II Tim. 4:5], which was given to you in response to a prophetic message [or, prediction], along with the laying on of the elders' hands [i.e., signifying your appointment].

Never administer a sharp reprimand to a man older than yourself; but entreat him as if he were your father, and the younger men as brothers;

the elder women too as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, with perfect modesty.

Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it comes from two or three witnesses.

Fight the good battle of the faith; take hold of never ending life, to which you were called [i.e., by the Gospel. See II Thess. 2:14], [when] you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. [Note: This "confession" probably refers to a person's acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord and Christ prior to his immersion. See Acts 2:36; Rom. 10:9-10].

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, through the will of God, according to a promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago],

But shun the profane babblings; for they will go on to a higher degree of ungodliness;

in meekness instructing those opposing -- if perhaps God may give to them repentance to an acknowledging of the truth,

and they may yet come to a sober mind, and escape from the snares of the Devil, when captured by the Lord's Servant to do the will of God.

They will hold to an outward form of godliness but deny its power. Stay away from such people.

always learning, and never to a knowledge of truth able to come,

But they will not progress to a greater extent, for their folly will be quite evident to everyone, as also the [folly] of those [two] was.

For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold,

You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist's work, fulfill your ministry.

Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to stimulate faith in God's chosen people and to lead them on to a full knowledge of religious truth,

(and He manifested in proper times His word,) in preaching, which I was entrusted with, according to a charge of God our Saviour,

to Titus -- true child according to a common faith: Grace, kindness, peace, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour!

If a man is inclined to a sect, after warning him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him.

And I pray that your participation in the Faith may result in action, as you come to a fuller realization of everything that is good and Christlike in us.

but I would not do a single thing about it without your consent, so that this kindness of yours to me might not seem to come by compulsion but voluntarily.

They will come to an end, but you will remain forever. They will all wear out like clothes.

and, as though they were a mantle Thou wilt roll them up; yes, like a garment, and they will undergo change. But Thou art the same, and Thy years will never come to an end."