Paul's Letter to the Ephesians, from the World English Bible. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians, from the World English Bible, Chapter 1 Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love. Having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely bestowed favor on us in the beloved, in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in him 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 were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will, to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ. In whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the good news of your salvation, in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is a pledge of our inheritance to the redemption of God's own possession to the praise of his glory. For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you and the love which you have toward all the saints, don't cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened that you may know what is the hope of his calling and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe according to that working of the strength of his might which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him sit at his right hand in the heavenly places far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named not only in this age but also in that which is to come. He put all things in subjection under his feet and gave him to behead over all things for the assembly which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Chapter 2 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins in which you once walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the powers of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy for his great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved and raised us up with him and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God not of works that no one would boast for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared before that we would walk in them. Therefore remember that once you the Gentiles in the flesh who are called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision in the flesh made by hands that you were at that time separate from Christ alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of the promise having no hope and without God in the world but now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ for he is our peace who made both one and broke down the middle wall of partition having abolished in the flesh the hostility the law of commandments contained in ordinances that he might create in himself one new man of the two making peace and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross having killed the hostility thereby he came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near for through him we both have our access in one spirit to the Father so then you are no longer strangers and foreigners but you are fellow citizens with the saints of the household of God being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone in whom the whole building fitted together grows into a holy temple in the Lord in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the spirit Chapter 3 For this cause I, Paul, and the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me as I wrote before in few words by which when you read you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ which in other generations was not made known to the children of men as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the spirit that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the good news of which I was made a servant according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power to me the very least of all saints was this grace given to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him therefore I ask that you may not lose heart at my troubles for you which are your glory for this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory that you may be strengthened with power through his spirit in the inward man that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith to the end that you being rooted and grounded in love may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know Christ's love which surpasses knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever Amen I therefore the prisoner in the Lord beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called with all lowliness and humility with patience bearing with one another in love being eager to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace there is one body and one spirit even as you also were called in one hope of your calling one Lord, one faith, one baptism one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in us all but to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ therefore he says when he descended on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men now this he ascended what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth he who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens that he might fill all things he gave some to be apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some shepherds and teachers for the perfecting of the saints to the work of serving to the building up of the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a full grown man to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ that we may no longer be children tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men in craftiness after the wiles of error but speaking truth in love we may grow up in all things into him who is the head Christ from whom all the body being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies according to the working in measure of each individual part makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love this I say therefore and testify in the Lord that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk in the futility of their mind being darkened in their understanding alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them because of the hardening of their hearts who having become callous gave themselves up to lust to work all uncleanness with greediness but you did not learn Christ that way if indeed you heard him and were taught in him even as truth is in Jesus that you put away as concerning your former way of life the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new man who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth therefore putting away falsehood speak truth each one with his neighbor for we are members of one another be angry and don't sin don't let the son go down on your wrath neither give place to the devil let him who stole steal no more but rather let him labor working with his hands the thing that is good may have something to give to him who has need let not corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth but such as is good for building up as the need may be that it may give grace to those who hear don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry and slander be put away from you with all malice and be kind to one another tender-hearted, forgiving each other just as God also in Christ forgave you Chapter 5 be therefore imitators of God as beloved children walk in love even as Christ also loved you and gave himself up for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance but sexual immorality and all uncleanness or covetousness let it not even be mentioned among you as become saints nor filthiness, nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not appropriate but rather giving of thanks know this for sure that no sexually immoral person nor unclean person nor covetous man who is an idolater has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God let no one deceive you with empty words for because of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience therefore don't be partakers with them for you were once darkness but are now light in the Lord walk as children of light for the fruit of the Spirit in all goodness and righteousness and truth proving what is well pleasing to the Lord have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather even reprove them for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of but all things when they are reproved are revealed by the light for everything that reveals is light therefore he says awake you who sleep and rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you therefore watch carefully how you walk not as unwise but as wise redeeming the time because the days are evil therefore don't be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is don't be drunken with wine in which is dissipation but be filled with the Spirit speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs singing and singing praises in your heart to the Lord giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God even the Father subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ wives be subject to your own husbands as to the Lord for the husband is the head of the wife and Christ also is the head of the assembly being himself the saviour of the body but as the assembly is subject to Christ so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for it that he might sanctify it having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies he who loves his own wife loves himself for no man ever hated his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it even as the Lord also does the assembly because we are members of his body of his flesh and bones for this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife the two will become one flesh this mystery is great but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself and let the wife see that she respects her husband Chapter 6 children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right honour your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth you fathers don't provoke your children to wrath but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord servants be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters with fear and trembling in singleness of your heart as to Christ not in the way of service only when eyes are on you as men pleasers but as servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart with good will doing service as to the Lord and not to men knowing that whatever good thing each one does he will receive the same again from the Lord whether he is bound or free you masters do the same things to them and give up threatening knowing that he who is both their master and yours is in heaven and there is no partiality with him finally be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil for our wrestling is not against flesh and blood but against the principalities against the powers against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places therefore put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand stand therefore having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the good news of peace above all taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the spoken word of God with all prayer and requests praying at all times in the spirit and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints on my behalf that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the good news for which I am an ambassador in chains that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak but that you also may know my affairs how I am doing because the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord will make known to you all things whom I have sent to you for this very purpose that you may know our state and that he may comfort your hearts peace be to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love Amen End of Paul's letter to the Ephesians Paul's letter to the Philippians Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi with the overseers and servants Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ I thank my God whenever I remember you always in every request of mine on behalf of you all making my requests with joy for your partnership in furtherance of the good news from the first day until now being confident of this very thing that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ it is even right for me to think this way on behalf of you all because I have you in my heart because both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the good news you all are partakers with me of grace for God is my witness how I long after all of you with the tender mercies of Christ Jesus this I pray that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and all discernment so that you may approve the things that are excellent that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God now I desire to have you know brothers that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the good news so that it became evident to the whole palace guard and to all the rest that my bonds are in Christ and that most of the brothers in the Lord being confident through my bonds are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife and some out of a good will the former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition thinking that they add affliction to my chains but the latter out of love knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the good news what does it matter only that in every way whether in pretense or in truth Christ is proclaimed I rejoice in this yes and will rejoice for I know that this will turn out to my salvation through your supplication and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ according to my earnest expectation and hope that I will in no way be disappointed but with all boldness as always now also Christ will be magnified in my body whether by life or by death for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain but if I live on in the flesh this will bring fruit from my work yet I don't know what I will choose but I am in a dilemma between the two having the desire to depart and be with Christ which is far better yet to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake having this confidence I know that I will remain yes and remain with you all for your progress and joy in the faith that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again only let your way of life be worthy of the good news of Christ that whether I come and see you or am absent I may hear of your state that you stand firm in one spirit with one soul striving for the faith of the good news and in nothing frightened by the adversaries which is for them a proof of destruction but to you of salvation and that from God because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him but also to suffer on his behalf having the same conflict which you saw in me and now here is in me if there is therefore any exhortation in Christ any consolation of love if any fellowship of the spirit if any tender mercies and compassion make my joy full by being like-minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit but in humility each counting others better than himself each of you not just looking to his own things but each of you also to the things of others have this in your mind which was also in Christ Jesus who existing in the form of God didn't consider equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself taking the form of a servant being made in the likeness of men and being found in human form he humbled himself becoming obedient to death yes the death of the cross therefore God also highly exalted him and gave to him the name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven those on earth and those under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father so then my beloved even as you have always obeyed not only in my presence but now much more in my absence work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure do all things without murmurings and disputes that you may become blameless and harmless children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you are seen as lights in the world holding up the word of life that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ that I didn't run in vain nor labor in vain yes, if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith I rejoice and rejoice with you all in the same way you also rejoice and rejoice with me but I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon that I may also be cheered up when I know how you are doing for I have no one else like-minded who will truly care about you for they all seek their own not the things of Jesus Christ but you know the proof of him that as a child serves a father so he served with me in the furtherance of the good news therefore I hoped to send him at once as soon as I see how it will go with me but I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly but I counted it necessary to send to you a pathroditus my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier and your apostle and servant of my need since he longed for you all and was indeed troubled because you had heard that he was sick for indeed he was sick nearly to death but God had mercy on him and not on him only but on me also that I might not have sorrow on sorrow I have sent him therefore the more diligently that when you see him again you may rejoice that I may be the less sorrowful receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy and hold such in honour because for the work of Christ he came near to death risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me finally my brothers rejoice in the Lord to write the same things to you to me indeed is not tiresome but for you it is safe beware of the dogs beware of the evil workers beware of the false circumcision for we are the circumcision we who worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh if any other man thinks he has confidence in the flesh yet I more circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin a Hebrew of Hebrews concerning the law a Pharisee concerning zeal persecuting the assembly concerning the righteousness which is in the law found blameless however what things were gained to me these things have I counted loss for Christ yes most certainly and I count all things to be lost for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I suffered the loss of all things I counted them but refuse that I may gain Christ and be found in him not having a righteousness of my own which is of the law but that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness which is from God by faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings becoming conformed to his death if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead not that I have already obtained or am already made perfect but I press on if it is so that I may take hold of that for which I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus brothers I don't regard myself as yet having taken hold but one thing I do forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus let us therefore as many as are perfect think this way if in anything you think otherwise God will also reveal that to you nevertheless to the extent that we have already attained let us walk by the same rule let us be of the same mind brothers be imitators together of me and note those who walk this way even as you have us for an example for many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping as the enemies of the cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is the belly and whose glory is their shame who think about earthly things for our citizenship is in heaven from where we also await a savior the Lord Jesus Christ who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself therefore my brothers my beloved and longed for my joy and my crown so stand firm in the Lord my beloved I exhort you Odea and I exhort Sintakey to think the same way in the Lord yes I beg you also true yoke fellow help these women for they labored with me in the good news fellow workers whose names are in the book of life rejoice in the Lord always again I will say rejoice let your gentleness be known to all men the Lord is at hand in nothing be anxious but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus finally brethren whatever things are true whatever things are honorable whatever things are just whatever things are pure whatever things are lovely whatever things are of good report if there is any virtue and if there is any praise think about these things the things which you learned received heard and saw in me do these things and the God of peace will be with you but I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your thought for me in which you did indeed take thought but you lacked opportunity not that I speak in respect to lack for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content in it I know how to be humbled and I know how to abound in everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and angry both to abound and to be in need I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me however you did well that you shared in my affliction you yourselves also know you Philippians that in the beginning of the good news when I departed from Macedonia no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only for even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need not that I seek for the gift but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account but I have all things and abound I am filled having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you a sweet smelling sacrifice and acceptable and well pleasing sacrifice to God my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus now to our God and Father be the glory for ever and ever Amen greet every saint in Christ Jesus the brothers who are with me greet you all the saints greet you especially those who are of Caesar's household the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen End of the Book of Philippians The Book of Colossians from the World English Bible This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Reading by Robin Cotter October 2007 The Book of Colossians from the World English Bible Paul's Letter to the Colossians Paul an Apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God and Timothy our brother to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ praying always for you having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have for the saints because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the good news which has come to you even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing as it does in you also since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth even as you learned to us your love in the Spirit for this cause we also since the day we heard this don't cease praying and making requests for you that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding that you may walk worthily of the Lord to please him in all respects bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God strengthened with all power according to the might of his glory for all endurance and perseverance with joy giving thanks to the Father who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light who delivered us out of the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love in whom we have our redemption the forgiveness of our sins who is the image of the invisible God the firstborn of all creation for by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth things visible and things invisible whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers all things have been created through him and for him he is before all things and in him all things are held together he is the head of the body the assembly who is the beginning the firstborn from the dead that in all things he might have the preeminence for all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him and through him to reconcile all things to himself by him whether things on the earth or things in the heavens having made peace through the blood of his cross you being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and without blemish and blameless before him if it is so that you continue faith grounded and steadfast and not moved away from the hope of the good news which you heard which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven of which I, Paul, was made a servant now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake which is the assembly of which I was made a servant and the stewardship of God which was given me toward you to fulfill the word of God the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations but now it has been revealed to his saints to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory whom we proclaim admonishing every man that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus for which I also labor striving according to his working which works in me mightily for I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you and for those at Ladocia and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh that their hearts may be comforted they being knit together in love and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding you may know the mystery of God both of the Father and of Christ in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden now this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech for though I am absent in the flesh yet am I with you in the spirit rejoicing and seeing your order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ as therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord walk in him and built up in him and established in the faith even as you were taught a bounding in it in thanksgiving be careful that you don't let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men after the elements of the world and not after Christ for in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily and in him you are made full who is the head of all principality in whom you are also circumcised with the circumcision not made with hands in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ having been buried with him in baptism in which you are also raised with him through faith in the working of God who raised him from the dead you were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh he made you alive together with him having forgiven us all our trespasses wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us and he has taken it out of the way nailing it to the cross having stripped the principalities and the powers he made a show of them openly triumphing over them in it let no man therefore judge you in eating or in drinking or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day which are a shadow of the things to come but the body of Christ let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshiping of the angels dwelling in the things which he has not seen vainly puffed up by his fleshy mind and not holding firmly to the head from whom all the body being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments grows with God's growth if you died with Christ from the elements of the world why is though living in the world protect yourselves to ordinances don't handle nor taste nor touch all of which perish with use according to the precepts and doctrines of men which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship and humility and severity to the body but aren't of any value against the indulgence of the flesh if then you were raised together with Christ seek the things that are above where Christ is on the right hand of God set your mind on the things that are above not on the things that are on the earth for you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God when Christ our life is revealed then you will also be revealed with him in glory put to death therefore your members which are on the earth sexual immorality uncleanness depraved passion evil desire and covetousness which is idolatry for which things sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience you also once walked in those when you lived in them but now you also put them all away anger, wrath, malice, slander and shameful speaking out of your mouth don't lie to one another seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings and have put on the new man who is being renewed in knowledge later where there can't be Greek and Jew circumcision and uncircumcision Barbarian, Scythian Bondservant, Freeman but Christ is all and in all put on therefore as God's chosen ones holy and beloved a heart of compassion kindness, lowliness humility and perseverance bearing with one another and forgiving each other as Christ forgave you so you also do above all these things walk in love which is the bond of perfection and let the peace of God rule in your hearts to which also you are called in one body and be thankful let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your heart to the Lord whatever you do in word or indeed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him wives be in subjection to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord husbands love your wives and don't be bitter against them children obey your parents in all things for this pleases the Lord fathers don't provoke your children so that they won't be discouraged parents obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh not just when they are looking as men pleasers but in singleness of heart fearing God and whatever you do work heartily as for the Lord and not for men knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ but he who does wrong there is no partiality masters give to your servants that which is just and equal knowing that you also have a master in heaven continue steadfastly in prayer watching therein with thanksgiving praying together for us also that God may open to us a door for the word to speak the mystery of Christ for which I am also in bonds that I may reveal it as I ought to speak walk in wisdom toward those who are outside redeeming the time let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt that you may know how you ought to answer each one all my affairs will be made known to you by Tichicus the beloved brother faithful servant and fellow bond servant in the Lord I am sending him to you for this very purpose that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts together with Onesemus a faithful and a beloved brother who is one of you they will make known to you everything that is going on here a restarchess my fellow prisoner greets you and mark the cousin of Barnabas concerning whom you received commandments if he comes to you receive him and Jesus who is called justice who were of the circumcision these are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God men who have been a comfort to me Epaphras who is one of you a servant of Christ salutes you always striving for you in his prayers that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God for I testify about him that he has great zeal for you and for those in Ladocia and for those in Heropoulos Luke the beloved physician and Demus greet you greet the brothers who are in Ladocia and Nymphus the assembly that is in his house when this letter has been read among you cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Ladocians that you also read the letter from Ladocia tell Archipas take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord that you fulfill it the salutation of me Paul with my own hand remember my bonds grace be with you End of the Book of Colossians The First Book of Thessalonians from the World English Bible This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Reading by Robin Cotter October 2007 The First Book of Thessalonians from the World English Bible Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians Paul, Sylvanus and Timothy to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ We always give thanks to God for all of you mentioning you in our prayers remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ before our God and Father We know, brothers loved by God that you are chosen and that our good news came to you not in word only but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much assurance to be among you for your sake You became imitators of us and of the Lord having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit so that you became an example to all who believed in Macedonia and in Ikea for from you the word of the Lord has been declared not only in Macedonia and Ikea but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out so that we need not to say anything concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God and to wait for his son from heaven whom he raised from the dead Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come For you yourselves know, brothers our visit to you wasn't in vain but having suffered before and been shamefully treated as you know at Philippi we grew bold in our God the good news of God in much conflict for our exhortation is not of error nor of uncleanness nor in deception but even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the good news so we speak not as pleasing men but God who tests our hearts for neither were we at any time found using words of flattery as you know nor a cloak of covetousness seeking glory from men neither from you nor from others when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ but we were gentle among you like a nursing mother cherishes her own children even so affectionately longing for you we were well pleased to impart to you not the good news of God only but also our own souls because you had become very dear to us for you remember brothers our labor and travail for working night and day that we might not burden any of you we preach to you the good news of God you were witnesses with God how holy, righteously and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe as you know we exhorted comforted and implored every one of you as a father does his own children to the end that you should walk worthily of God who calls you into his own kingdom for this cause we also thank God without ceasing that when you received from us the word of the message of God you accepted it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which also works in you who believe for you brothers became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and drove us out and didn't please God and are contrary to all men forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved to fill up their sins always but wrath has come on them to the uttermost but we brothers being bereaved of you for a short season in presence not in heart tried even harder to see your face in the mirror because we wanted to come to you indeed I, Paul once and again but Satan hindered us for what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing isn't it even you before our Lord Jesus at his coming for you are our glory and our joy therefore when we couldn't stand it any longer we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone your brother and God's servant in the good news of Christ to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith that no one be moved by these afflictions for you know that we are appointed to this task for most certainly when we were with you we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction even as it happened and you know for this cause I also when I couldn't stand it any longer sent that I might know your faith that by any means the tempter had tempted you and our labor would have been in vain but when Timothy came just now to us from you and brought us glad news of your faith and love and that you have good memories of us always longing to see us even as we also long to see you for this cause brothers we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith for now we live if you stand fast for what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way to you and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another and toward all men even as we also do toward you to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints finally then brothers we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God that you abound more and more for you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus through the will of God your sanctification that you abstain from sexual immorality that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor not in the passion of lust even as the Gentiles who don't know God that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter because the Lord is an Avenger in all these things as also we forewarned you for God called us not for uncleanness but in sanctification therefore he who rejects this doesn't reject man but God who is also given his Holy Spirit to you but concerning brotherly love you have no need that one write to you for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia but we exhort you brothers that you abound more and more and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and to do your own business and to work with your own hands even as we instructed you that you may walk properly toward those who are outside and may have need of nothing would we don't want you to be ignorant brothers concerning those who have fallen asleep so that you don't grieve like the rest who have no hope that Jesus died and rose again even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus for this we tell you by the word of the Lord that we who are alive who are left to the coming of the Lord will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel and with God's trumpet the dead in Christ will rise first then we who are alive who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air so we will be with the Lord forever therefore comfort one another with these words but concerning the times and the seasons brothers you have no need that anything be written to you for you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night for when they are saying peace then sudden destruction will come on them like birth pains on a pregnant woman and they will in no way escape but you brothers aren't in darkness that the day should overtake you like a thief you are all children of light and children of the day we don't belong to the night nor to darkness so then let's not sleep as the rest do but let's watch and be sober for those who sleep and those who are drunk are drunk in the night but let us, since we belong to the day be sober putting on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation for God didn't appoint us to wrath but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him therefore exhort one another and hold each other up even as you also do but we beg you brothers to know those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to respect and honor them in love for their works sake be at peace among yourselves we exhort you brothers admonish the disorderly encourage the faint-hearted support the weak be patient toward all which is good for one another and for all rejoice always pray without ceasing in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you don't quench the spirit don't despise prophecies test all things and hold firmly that which is good abstain from every form of evil may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely be faithful and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ he who calls you is faithful who will also do it brothers pray for us greet all the brothers with the holy kiss I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you amen end of the first book of Thessalonians from the World English Bible this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Kalinda second Thessalonians from the World English Bible Paul, Sylvanus and Timothy to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ we are bound to always give thanks to God for you brothers even as it is appropriate because your faith grows exceedingly and the love of each and every one of you towards one another abounds so that we ourselves boast about you in the assemblies of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure this is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God to the end that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which you also suffer since it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire giving vengeance to those who don't know God and to those who don't obey the good news of our Lord Jesus who will pay the penalty eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might when he comes to be glorified in his saints and to be admired among all those who have believed because our testimony to you was believed in that day to this end we also pray always for you that our God may count you worthy of your calling and fulfill every desire of goodness and work of faith with power that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ now brothers concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him we ask you not to be quickly shaken in your mind nor yet be troubled either by spirit or by word or by letter as from us saying that the day of Christ had come to receive you in any way for it will not be unless the departure comes first and the man of sin is revealed the son of destruction he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped so that he sits as God in the temple of God setting himself up as God don't you remember that when I was still with you I told you these things now you know what is restraining him he is revealed in his own season for the mystery of lawlessness already works only there is one who restrains now until he is taken out of the way then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the manifestation of his coming even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deception of wickedness or being lost because they didn't receive the love of the truth that they might be saved because of this God sends them a working of error that they should believe a lie that they all might be judged who didn't believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness but we are bound to always give thanks to God for you brothers loved by the Lord because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief in the truth to which he called you through our good news for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ so then brothers stand firm and hold the traditions which you were taught by us whether by word or by letter now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace comfort your hearts and establish you good work and word finally brothers pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified even as also with you and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men for not all have faith but the Lord is faithful who will establish you and guard you from the evil one we have confidence in the Lord concerning you that you both do and will do the things we command the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ now we command you brothers in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion and not after the tradition which they received from us for you know how you ought to imitate us for we didn't behave ourselves rebelliously among you neither did we eat bread from anyone's hand without paying for it but in labor and travail we might and day that we might not burden any of you not because we don't have the right but to make ourselves an example to you that you should imitate us for even when we were with you we commanded you this if anyone will not work neither let him eat for we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion who don't work at all but are busy bodies now those who are that way with quietness they work and eat their own bread but you brothers don't be weary in doing well if any man doesn't obey our word in this letter note that man that you have no company with him to the end that he may be ashamed don't count him as an enemy but admonish him as a brother now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways the Lord be with you all the greeting of me Paul with my own hand which is the sign in every letter this is how I write the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen end of 2nd Thessalonians recorded by Kalinda in Raymond, New Hampshire on November 16th, 2007 or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Paul's first letter to Timothy from the World English Bible chapters 1 through 6 chapter 1 Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope to Timothy my true child in faith grace mercy and peace Father and Christ Jesus our Lord as I urged you when I was going into Macedonia stay at Ephesus that you might command certain men not to teach a different doctrine neither to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies which cause disputes rather than God's stewardship which is in faith but the goal of this command is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience in faith from which things some having missed the mark have turned aside to vain talking desiring to be teachers of the law though they understand neither what they say nor about what they strongly affirm but we know that the law is good if a man uses it lawfully as knowing this that law is not made for a righteous man but for the lawless and insubordinate sinners for the unholy and profane for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers for manslayers for the sexually immoral for homosexuals for slave traders for liars for perjurers and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine according to the good news of the glory of the blessed God which was committed to my trust to me, Christ Jesus our Lord because he counted me faithful appointing me to service although I was before a blasphemer, a persecutor and insolent however I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus the saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance of the world to save sinners of whom I am chief however for this cause I obtained mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might display all his patience for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life now to the king eternal immortal, invisible to God who alone is wise be honor and glory for ever and ever this instruction I commit to you my child Timothy according to the prophecies which led the way to you that by them you may wage the good warfare holding faith and a good conscience which some having thrust away made a shipwreck concerning the faith of whom is Hymenias and Alexander whom I delivered to Satan that they might be taught not to blaspheme Chapter 2 I exhort therefore first of all that petitions, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men for kings and all who are in high places that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth one God and one mediator between God and men the man, Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all the testimony in its own times to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle I am telling the truth in Christ not lying a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth I desire therefore that the men in every place pray holy hands without anger and doubting in the same way that women also adorn themselves in decent clothing with modesty and propriety not just with braided hair gold, pearls or expensive clothing but which becomes women professing godliness with good works let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection but I don't permit a woman to teach nor to exercise authority over a man but to be in quietness for Adam was first formed then Eve Adam wasn't deceived but the woman being deceived has fallen into disobedience but she will be saved through her childbearing if they continue in faith, love and sanctification with sobriety Chapter 3 This is a faithful saying if a man seeks the office of an overseer he desires a good work the overseer therefore must be without reproach the husband of one wife temperate, sensible modest, hospitable good at teaching not a drinker, not violent not greedy for money but gentle not quarrelsome, not covetous one who rules his own house well having children in subjection reverence but if a man doesn't know how to rule his own house how will he take care of the assembly of God not a new convert blessed being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil moreover he must have a good testimony from those who are outside to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil servants in the same way must be reverent, not double-tongued not addicted to much wine not greedy for money holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience let them also first be tested then let them serve if they are blameless their wives in the same way must be reverent not slanderers temperate, faithful in all things let servants be husbands of one wife ruling their children and their own houses well for those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus these things I write to you hoping to come to you shortly but if I wait long that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God which is the assembly of the living God the pillar and ground of the truth without controversy the mystery of godliness is great God was revealed in the flesh justified in the spirit seen by angels preached among the nations believed on in the world and received up in glory Chapter 4 But the spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth for every creature of God is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer if you instruct the brothers of these things as a servant of Christ Jesus nourished in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed but refuse profane and old wives fables exercise yourself toward godliness for bodily exercise has some value but godliness has value in all things having the promise of the life which is now and of that which is to come this saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance for to this end we both labor and suffer reproach because we have set our trust in the living God who is the saviour of all men especially of those who believe command and teach these things let no man despise your youth but be an example to those who believe in word in your way of life in love in spirit in faith and in purity until I come pay attention to reading to exhortation and to teaching don't neglect the gift that is in you which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the elders be diligent in these things give yourself holy to them that your progress may be revealed to all pay attention to yourself and to your teaching continue in these things for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you don't rebuke an older man but exhort him as a father the younger men as brothers the elder women as mothers the younger as sisters in all purity honor widows who are widows indeed but if any widow has children or grandchildren let them learn first show piety towards their own family and to repay their parents for this is acceptable in the sight of God now she who is a widow indeed and desolate has her hope set on God and continues in petitions and prayers night and day but she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives also command these things that they may be without reproach but if any one doesn't provide for his own and especially his own household he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever let no one be enrolled as a widow under 60 years old having been the wife of one man being approved by good works if she has brought up children if she has been hospitable to strangers if she has washed the saints feet if she has relieved the afflicted and if she has diligently followed every good work but refuse younger widows for when they have grown wanton against Christ they desire to marry having condemnation because they have rejected their first pledge besides they also learn to be idle going about from house to house not only idle but also gossips and busybodies saying things which they ought not I desire therefore to younger widows marry bear children rule the household and give no occasion to the adversary for reviling for already some have turned aside after Satan if any man or woman who believes has widows let them relieve them and don't let the assembly be burdened that it might relieve those who are widows indeed let the elders who rule well especially those who labor in the word and in teaching for the scripture says you shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain and the laborer is worthy of his wages don't receive an accusation against an elder except at the word of two or three witnesses those who sin reprove in the sight of all that the rest also may be in fear I command you in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels that you observe these things without prejudice doing nothing by partiality lay hands hastily on no one neither be a participant in other men's sins keep yourself pure be no longer a drinker of water only but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities some men's sins are evident preceding them to judgment and some also follow later in the same way also there are good works that are obvious and those that are otherwise can't be hidden Chapter 6 let as many as our bond-servants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed those who have believing masters let them not despise them because they are brothers but rather let them serve them because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved teach and exhort these things if anyone teaches a different doctrine and doesn't consent to sound words the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness he is conceited knowing nothing arguments disputes and word-battles from which come envy strife, reviling evil suspicions constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth who suppose that godliness is a means of gain withdraw yourself from such that godliness with contentment is great gain for we brought nothing into the world and we certainly can't carry anything out but having food and clothing we will be content with that but those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts such as drowned men, in ruin and destruction for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil some have been led astray from the faith in their greed and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows but you, man of god flee these things and follow after righteousness godliness, faith, love patience and gentleness fight the good fight of faith lay hold of the eternal life to which you are called and you confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses I command you before God who gives life to all things and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession that you keep the commandment without spot blameless until the appearing of our lord Jesus Christ which in its own times he will show who is the blessed and only ruler the king of kings and lord of lords who alone has immortality dwelling in unapproachable light whom no man has seen nor can see to whom be honor and eternal power Amen Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty nor have their hopes set on the uncertainty of riches but on the living god who richly provides us with everything to enjoy that they do good that they be rich in good works that they be ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold of eternal life Timothy guard that which is committed to you turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called which some professing have aired concerning the faith Grace be with you Amen End of the book of First Timothy from the World English Bible The book of Second Timothy from the World English Bible This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Paul's second letter to Timothy from the World English Bible chapters 1 through 4 Chapter 1 Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God according to the promise of the life in Christ Jesus to Timothy, my beloved child Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father in Christ Jesus our Lord I thank God whom I serve as my forefathers did with a pure conscience How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day longing to see you remembering your tears that I may be filled with joy having been reminded of the unfamed faith that is in you which lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and I am persuaded in you also For this cause I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands for God didn't give us a spirit of fear but of power, love and self-control therefore don't be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord nor of me, his prisoner but endure hardship for the good news according to the power of God who saved us and called us with a holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus who has accomplished death and brought life and immortality to light through the good news for this I was appointed as a preacher an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles for this cause I also suffer these things yet I am not ashamed for I know him whom I have believed and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day that pattern of sound words which you have heard from me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus that good thing which was committed to you guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us this you know that all who are in Asia turned away from me of whom are Fajellis and Hermogenes may the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiferous for he often and was not ashamed of my chain but when he was in Rome he sought me diligently and found me the Lord grant to him to find the Lord's mercy in that day and in how many things he served at Ephesus you know very well Chapter 2 you there for my child be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus the things which you have heard from me and your witnesses commit the same to faithful men who will be able to teach others also you there for must endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus no soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier also if anyone competes in athletics he isn't crowned unless he has competed by the rules the farmers who labor must be the first to get a share of the crops consider what I say and may the Lord give you understanding in all things remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead of the seed of David according to my good news in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal but God's word isn't chained therefore I endure all things in one's sake that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory this saying is faithful for if we died with him we will also live with him if we endure we will also reign with him if we deny him he also will deny us if we are faithless he remains faithful he can't deny himself remind them of these things charging them in the sight of the Lord that they don't argue about words to no profit to the subverting of those who hear give diligence to present yourself approved by God a workman who doesn't need to be ashamed properly handling the word of truth but shun empty chatter for they will proceed further in ungodliness and their word will consume like gangrene of whom is Hymenias and Philetus men who have erred concerning the truth saying that the resurrection is already past and overthrowing the faith of son however God's firm foundation stands having this seal the Lord knows those who are his and let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver but also of wood and of clay some are for honor and some for dishonor if anyone therefore purges himself from these he will be a vessel for honor sanctified and suitable for the master's use prepared for every good work flee from youthful lust but pursue righteousness, faith love and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart but refuse foolish and ignorant questionings knowing that they generate strife the Lord's servant must not quarrel but be gentle towards all able to teach patient and gentleness correcting those who oppose him perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth and they may recover themselves out of the devil's snare taken captive by him to his will but know this that in the last days grievous times will come for men will be lovers of self lovers of money boastful arrogant, blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankful, unholy without natural affection unforgiving, slanderers without self-control fears, no lovers of good traitors, headstrong conceited lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God holding a form of godliness that having denied the power thereof turn away from these also for of these are those who creep into houses and take captive gullible women loaded down with sins let away by various lusts always learning men were able to come to the knowledge of the truth even as Janus and John Reyes opposed Moses so did these also oppose the truth men corrupted in mind reprobate concerning the faith but they will proceed no further for their folly will be evident to all men as theirs also came to be but you did follow my teaching conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love steadfastness persecutions and sufferings those things that happen to me at Antioch, Iconium and Lystra I endured those persecutions out of them all the Lord delivered me yes and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution but evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived but you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of knowing from whom you have learned them from infancy you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus every writing inspired by God is profitable for teaching for reproof for correction and for instruction which is in righteousness that the man of God may be complete thoroughly equipped for every good work Chapter 4 I command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom preach the word be urgent in season and out of season reprove, rebuke and exhort with all patience and teaching for the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine but having itching ears will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts and will turn away their ears from the truth and turn aside to fables but you be sober in all things suffer hardship do the work of any evangelist and fulfill your ministry for I am already being offered and the time of my departure has come I have fought the good fight I have finished the course I have kept the faith from now on there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge will give to me on that day and not to me only but also to all those who have loved his appearing be diligent to come to me soon for Demus left me having loved this present world and went to Thessalonica to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia only Luke is with me take Mark and bring him with you for he is useful to me for service but I sent Tychicus to Ephesus bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus when you come and the books especially the Parchments Alexander the Coppersmith did much evil to me the Lord will repay him according to his works of whom you also must beware for he greatly opposed our words at my first defense no one came to help me but all left me may it not be held against them but the Lord stood by me and strengthened me that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and that all the Gentiles might hear and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me for his heavenly kingdom to whom be the glory for ever and ever Amen Greek Prisca and Aquila and the House of Onesiferous Erastus remained at Corinth but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick be diligent to come before winter Ubulus salutes you as do Pudans, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit grace be with you Amen End of the Book of Second Timothy from the World English Bible Chapter 1 to 3 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of God's chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth which is according to Godliness in hope of eternal life which God, who can't lie promised before time began but in his own time revealed his word in the message with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior to Titus my true child according to a common faith grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior I left you in creed for this reason that you would set in order the things that were lacking and appoint elders in every city as I directed you if anyone is blameless the husband of one wife having children who believe Jews are unruly behavior for the overseer must be blameless as God's to it not self pleasing not easily angered not given to wine, not violent not greedy for dishonest gain but given to hospitality as a lover of good sober-minded, fair, holy self-controlled holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching that he may be able to exhort and to convict those who contradict him for there are also many unruly men vain talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision whose mouths must be stopped men who overthrow whole houses teaching things which they ought not for dishonest gainsake one of them a prophet of their own said cretins are always liars evil beasts and idle gluten this testimony is true for this cause reprove them sharply that they may be sound in the faith not paying attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth to the pure all things are pure but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure but both their mind and their conscience are defiled they profess that they know God but by their works they deny him being abominable disobedient and unfit for any good work but say the things which fit sound doctrine that all the men should be temperate sensible so be minded sound in faith in love and in patience and that all the women likewise be reverent in behavior not slanderers nor enslave too much wine teachers of that which is good that they may train the young women to love their husbands to love their children to be so be minded chased workers at home kind being in subjection to their own husbands that God's word may not be blasphemed likewise exhort the younger men to be so be minded in all things showing yourself an example of good works in your teaching showing integrity seriousness incorruptibility and soundness of speech that can't be condemned that he who opposes you may be ashamed having no evil thing to say about us exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters and to be well pleasing in all things not contradicting not stealing but showing all good fidelity that they may adorn the doctrine of God in all things for the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men instructing us to the intent that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we would live sobly, righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people for his own possession zealous for good works say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority let no man despise you Chapter 3 remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities to be obedient to be ready for every good work to speak evil of no one not to be contentious to be gentle to what all men for we were also once foolish disobedient, deceived serving various lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hateful and hating one another but when the kindness of God our Savior and his love to what mankind appeared not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves but according to his mercy he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior that being justified by his grace we might be made as according to the hope of eternal life this saying is faithful and concerning these things I desire that you affirm confidently so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works these things are good and profitable to men but shun foolish questionings genealogies, trifes and disputes about the law for they are unprofitable and vain avoid a factious man after a first and second warning knowing that such one is perverted and sins being self-condemned when I send Artemis to you or Tychicus be diligent to come to me to Nicopolis for I have determined to winter there send Zenos the lawyer and Apollos on their journey speedily that nothing may be lacking for them let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses that they may not be unfruitful all who are with me greet you greet those who love us in faith Grace be with you all Amen End of Titus Philemon from the World English Bible This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Iswa Philemon from the World English Bible Chapter 1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus and Timothy, our brother to Philemon our beloved fellow worker to the beloved Ephia to Archipus, our fellow soldier to the assembly in your house Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus for we have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate yet for love's sake I've read a bag being such a one as Paul the aged but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ I beg you for my child whom I have become the father of in my chains onesimus was useless to you but now is useful to you and to me I am sending him back therefore receive him that is my own heart whom I decide to keep with me that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the good news but I was willing to do nothing without your consent that your goodness would not be as of necessity but of free will for perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have him forever no longer as a slave but more than a slave a beloved brother especially to me but how much rather to you both in the flesh and in the Lord if then you count me a partner receive him as you would receive me but if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything put that to my account I Paul my own hand I will repay it not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides yes brother let me have joy from you in the Lord refresh my heart in the Lord having confidence in your obedience I write to you knowing that you will do even beyond what I say also prepare a guest room for me for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you Epaphras my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus greets you as do Mark Ari Starkas Deimos and Luke my fellow workers the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit Amen End of file Eamon