From: ngninja@baptist.email   
      
   Bible Reading for December 17   
      
   Titus Chapter 1   
      
   1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to   
   the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is   
   after godliness;   
      
   2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before   
   the world began;   
      
   3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is   
   committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;   
      
   4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and   
   peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.   
      
   5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order   
   the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had   
   appointed thee:   
      
   6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children   
   not accused of riot or unruly.   
      
   7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled,   
   not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;   
      
   8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy,   
   temperate;   
      
   9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be   
   able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.   
      
   10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially   
   they of the circumcision:   
      
   11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching   
   things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.   
      
   12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians   
   are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.   
      
   13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be   
   sound in the faith;   
      
   14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn   
   from the truth.   
      
   15 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.   
      
   16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being   
   abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.   
      
   Titus Chapter 2   
      
   1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:   
      
   2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in   
   charity, in patience.   
      
   3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh   
   holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good   
   things;   
      
   4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their   
   husbands, to love their children,   
      
   5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own   
   husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.   
      
   6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.   
      
   7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine   
   shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,   
      
   8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the   
   contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.   
      
   9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please   
   them well in all things; not answering again;   
      
   10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn   
   the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.   
      
   11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,   
      
   12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should   
   live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;   
      
   13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the   
   great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;   
      
   14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity,   
   and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.   
      
   15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no   
   man despise thee.   
      
   Titus Chapter 3   
      
   1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey   
   magistrates, to be ready to every good work,   
      
   2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all   
   meekness unto all men.   
      
   3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived,   
   serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful,   
   and hating one another.   
      
   4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man   
   appeared,   
      
   5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his   
   mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the   
   Holy Ghost;   
      
   6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;   
      
   7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according   
   to the hope of eternal life.   
      
   8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm   
   constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to   
   maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.   
      
   9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and   
   strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.   
      
   10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;   
      
   11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being   
   condemned of himself.   
      
   12 When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come   
   unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.   
      
   13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that   
   nothing be wanting unto them.   
      
   14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses,   
   that they be not unfruitful.   
      
   15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the   
   faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. (It was written to Titus, ordained   
   the first bishop of the church of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of   
   Macedonia.)   
      
   Philemon Chapter 1   
      
   1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto   
   Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,   
      
   2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the   
   church in thy house:   
      
   3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.   
      
   4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,   
      
   5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus,   
   and toward all saints;   
      
   6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the   
   acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.   
      
   7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels   
   of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.   
      
   8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that   
   which is convenient,   
      
   9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul   
   the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.   
      
   10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:   
      
   11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to   
   thee and to me:   
      
   12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own   
   bowels:   
      
   13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have   
   ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)