For He saved us and called us with a holy call, not in accordance with anything that we had done, but in accordance with His own purpose and unmerited favor which was shown us through union with Christ Jesus eternal ages ago,

but now [that extraordinary purpose and grace] has been fully disclosed and realized by us through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus who [through His incarnation and earthly ministry] abolished death [making it null and void] and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Of the gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher; and that is the reason I am now undergoing these sufferings.

This is why I am suffering so, but I am not ashamed of it, for I know whom I have trusted and I am absolutely sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

Continue to be an example in wholesome instructions which you learned from me, in the faith and love that come through union with Christ Jesus.

Guard the good consignment through the Holy Spirit that dwells in us.

You know that everyone here who belongs to the Roman province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

The Lord grant mercy unto the house, of Onesiphorus, in that, ofttimes, hath he refreshed me, and, as regardeth my chain, hath not been put to shame,

The Lord grant that he may find mercy at His hands on that day. And you very well know yourself how great were the services he rendered me at Ephesus.

So you, my son, must keep renewing your strength in the spiritual blessing that comes through union with Christ Jesus.

And the things which I have said to you before a number of witnesses, give to those of the faith, so that they may be teachers of others.

No soldier ever allows himself to be involved in the business affairs of life, so that he may please the officer who enlisted him.

The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

Consider what I say, for I pray that the Lord may give you understanding in all things.

Continue to remember Jesus Christ as risen from the dead, and descended from David, in accordance with the good news that I preach,

for that [gospel] I am suffering even to [the point of] wearing chains like a criminal; but the word of God is not chained or imprisoned!

For this reason I am bearing anything for the sake of His chosen people, so that they too may obtain the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

it is an undoubted truth, that if we die for him, we shall live with him:

If we endure, we will also reign together. If we renounce him, that man will also renounce us.

If we are unfaithful, that man remains faithful. He cannot renounce himself.

Of these things, be putting them in remembrance, adjuring them before God not to be waging word-battles, - useful, for nothing, occasioning a subversion of them that hearken.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Avoid all that profane jargon, for it leads people still further into irreligion,

and what they say will spread everywhere like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are like that.

who have missed the truth by saying that the resurrection has already taken place, are undermining some people's faith.

Howbeit, the firm foundation of God, standeth, having this seal - The Lord hath acknowledged them who are his, and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord stand aloof from unrighteousness.

he that is clear of vice, is a vessel of the first kind, sanctified and fit for the master's use, and qualified for every virtuous action.

Run away from youthful lusts—pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those [believers] who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Always avoid foolish discussions with ignorant men, for you know that they breed quarrels,

With gentleness he must correct his opponents, for God might grant them repentance that would lead them to a full knowledge of the truth,

And they should wake up to sobriety out of, the adversary's, snare, - though they have been taken alive by him for, that one's, will.

Now you must know that in the last days there are going to be hard times.

Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts,

that are always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so also do these men withstand the truth; being corrupt in mind and worthless in all that concerns the faith.

But they will not advance in much more, for their folly will be evident to all men, as also that of those men came to be.

along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all.

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

But see that you keep to the teaching you have been given and the things of which you are certain, conscious of who has been your teacher;

and that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures which can give you wisdom that leads to salvation through the faith that leans on Christ Jesus.

Every Scripture, seeing that it is God-breathed, is also profitable for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

so that the man of God may be perfectly fit, thoroughly equipped for every good enterprise.

for the time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine, but get teachers of their own corrupt taste, to sooth their ears that itch for flattery:

Now the crown for doing right awaits me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day, and not only me but also all who have loved His appearing.

Bring the cloak that I left behind at Troas with Carpus when thou come, and the books, especially the parchments.

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that the message preached by me might have its full effect and all the heathen might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's jaws.

Paul, a servant of God - an apostle moreover of Jesus Christ, - according to the faith of the chosen ones of God, and the personal knowledge of the truth that is according to godliness, -

in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.

but at the proper time made known as His message through the message that I preach with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Saviour;

To: Titus, a genuine child in the faith that we share. May grace and peace from God the Father and the Messiah, Jesus our Savior, be yours!

I left you in Crete for this express purpose, to set in order the things that are lacking, and to appoint elders in each town, as I directed you --

Men having a good record, husbands of one wife, whose children are of the faith, children of whom it may not be said that they are given to loose living or are uncontrolled.

For it is needful that the overseer be - unaccusable, as God's steward, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, not ready to wound, not seeking gain by base means,

but harborous, one that loveth goodness, sober minded, righteous, holy, temperate,

and a man who continues to cling to the trustworthy message as he was taught it, so that he may be competent to encourage others with wholesome teaching and to convict those who oppose him.

For there are many that spurn authority--idle, talkative and deceitful persons, who, for the most part, are adherents of the Circumcision.

who must be muzzled, men who subvert whole houses, teaching things that they ought not, for sake of ugly profit.

One of their very own prophets said, "Liars ever, men of Crete, savage brutes that live to eat."

Now this tendency is true. So continue correcting them severely, that they may be healthy in faith,

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

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.

They profess to know God, but by their deeds they disown him; in that they are detestable, disobedient, and reprobate for good work of any sort.

But speak thou the things that are fitting for the sound doctrine.

that the older men be self-controlled, serious and sober-minded, sound in faith, in love, in patience;

that older women likewise be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers or slaves to much wine, but teachers of what is right.

so that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

to be serious-minded, pure, homemakers, good, submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

that the word of God may not be blasphemed. the young men likewise exhort to be modest.

In all things see that you are an example of good works; holy in your teaching, serious in behaviour,

let your message be wholesome and unobjectionable, so that our opponent may be put to shame at having nothing evil to say about us.

That servants submit to their own masters, that they be obedient in all things; not speaking back;

not pilfering, but demonstrating all good fidelity, so that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

disciplining us, so that, having denied irreverence and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and piously in the present age.

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

who gave himself for us, so that he might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify to himself a special people, a zealot of good works.

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke, with all commanding. See that no man despise thee.

Make clear to them that they are to put themselves under rulers and authorities, to do what they are ordered, to be ready for every good work,

that they speak evil of no man, that they be no fighters, but soft, showing all meekness unto all men.

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

He saved us, not for upright deeds that we had done, but in accordance with His mercy, through the bath of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

so that we might come into right standing with God through His unmerited favor and become heirs of eternal life in accordance with our hope.

It is a message to be trusted, and I want you to be emphatic about these things, so that those who believe in God may be careful to take the lead in doing good. These things are right and render service to mankind.

A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

for you may be sure that such a man is crooked and sinful, even self-condemned.

Give a hearty send-off to Zenas the lawyer, and Apollos, so that they may want for nothing.

And also let our men learn to be in the lead of good works for the essential needs, so that they may not be unfruitful.

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

to our sister Apphia, to our fellow-soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets at your house:

hearing of thy love and faith that thou hast unto the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,

and I pray that their sharing of your faith may result in their recognition in us of everything that is right with reference to Christ.

For, much joy, have I had, and encouragement, by occasion of thy love, in that, the tender affections of the saints, have had rest given them by thee, brother.

Therefore, though I have much boldness in Christ to command thee that which is befitting,

yet out of [mutual] love, I appeal to you [to do what I ask]. For I Paul, am an old man, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus. [Note: Most calculations suggest that Paul was approximately 60 years old, which was considered a relatively advanced age in that day].

I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus,

And thou should welcome him, that is, my bowels.

Whom I wanted to keep back for myself, so that in thy behalf he might serve me in the bonds of the good-news.

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.