Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.

When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you.

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,

That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ,as I teach them everywhere in every church.

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

They only were hearing it said, "He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy."

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.

and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;

Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.

I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,

I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. read more. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, read more. who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

Honor widows who are truly widows.

(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)

for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.

Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus.

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you-- if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. read more. For an overseer,as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,

For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.

not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.

When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.

At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,

And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are." Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. read more. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,

Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.