Hebrews 6

The Peril of Falling Away

1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

3 And this we will do, if God permits.

4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

6 andthenhave fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

7 For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;

8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

Better Things for You

9 But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.

10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,

12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,

14 saying, “Iwill surely bless you andIwillsurely multiply you.”

15 And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.

16 For men swear by one greaterthan themselves,and with them an oathgivenas confirmation is an end of every dispute.

17 In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath,

18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.

19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, ahopeboth sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,

20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/HEB/6-d3d79f047a28b856bf96a7a9c847d0a9.mp3?version_id=100—

Hebrews 7

Melchizedek’s Priesthood Like Christ’s

1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of allthe spoils,was first of all, by the translationof his name,king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.

3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.

5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.

6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.

7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

8 In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case onereceives them,of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.

9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes,

10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further needwas therefor another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?

12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.

13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.

14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,

16 who has becomesuchnot on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.

17 For it is attestedof Him,

“You are a priest forever

According to the order ofMelchizedek.”

18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

20 And inasmuch asit wasnot without an oath

21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,

“TheLord has sworn

Andwill not changeHis mind,

‘You are a priestforever'”);

22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

23 Theformerpriests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,

24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.

25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;

27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for thesinsof the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law,appointsa Son, made perfect forever.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/HEB/7-728188162f1e364024cc28d0cb88fb33.mp3?version_id=100—

Hebrews 8

A Better Ministry

1 Now the main point in what has been saidis this:we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,

2 a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.

3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that thishigh priestalso have something to offer.

4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law;

5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warnedby Godwhen he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you makeall thingsaccording to the pattern which was shown you on themountain.”

6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

A New Covenant

7 For if that firstcovenanthad been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.

8 For finding fault with them, He says,

“Behold,days are coming,says theLord,

WhenIwill effecta new covenant

With the house ofIsrael and with the house ofJudah;

9 Not like the covenant whichImade withtheir fathers

On the day whenItook them by the hand

To lead them out of the land ofEgypt;

For they did not continue inMy covenant,

AndIdid not care for them,says theLord.

10 “For this is the covenant thatIwillmake with the house ofIsrael

After those days,says theLord:

Iwill putMy laws into their minds,

AndIwill write themon their hearts.

AndIwill be theirGod,

And they shall beMy people.

11 “And they shall not teach everyone hisfellow citizen,

And everyone his brother,saying, ‘Know theLord,’

Forall will knowMe,

Fromthe least to the greatest of them.

12 “ForIwill be merciful to their iniquities,

AndIwill remember their sins no more.”

13 When He said, “A newcovenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/HEB/8-583d3b51f39b7c5d6adff68d856a7394.mp3?version_id=100—

Hebrews 9

The Old and the New

1 Now even the firstcovenanthad regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.

2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in whichwerethe lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place.

3 Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,

4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant;

5 and above itwerethe cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship,

7 but into the second, only the high priestentersonce a year, not withouttakingblood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.

8 The Holy Spiritissignifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing,

9 whichisa symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience,

10 since theyrelateonly to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.

11 But when Christ appearedasa high priest of the good thingsto come,He enteredthrough the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;

12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that werecommittedunder the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it.

17 For a covenant is validonlywhen men are dead,for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.

18 Therefore even the firstcovenantwas not inaugurated without blood.

19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,

20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenantwhichGod commanded you.”

21 And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood.

22 And according to the Law,one mayalmostsay,all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, amerecopy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own.

26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after thiscomesjudgment,

28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation withoutreference tosin, to those who eagerly await Him.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/HEB/9-7bb1e140fd345249c8aecee3cb56daa6.mp3?version_id=100—

Hebrews 10

One Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient

1 For the Law, since it hasonlya shadow of the good things to comeandnot the very form of things,can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.

2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?

3 But in thosesacrificesthere is a reminder of sins year by year.

4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says,

“Sacrifice and offeringYou have not desired,

Buta bodyYou have prepared forMe;

6 In whole burnt offerings andsacrificesfor sinYou have taken no pleasure.

7 “ThenIsaid, ‘Behold, Ihave come

(Inthe scroll of the book it is written ofMe)

To doYour will, OGod.'”

8 After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings andwhole burnt offerings andsacrificesfor sinYou have not desired,nor haveYou taken pleasurein them” (which are offered according to the Law),

9 then He said, “Behold, Ihave come to doYour will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second.

10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;

12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time,sat down at the right hand ofGod,

13 waiting from that time onwarduntilHisenemies be made a footstool forHis feet.

14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

16 “This is the covenant thatIwill make with them

After those days,says theLord:

Iwill putMy laws upon their heart,

And on their mindIwill write them,”

He then says,

17 “And their sins and their lawless deeds

Iwill remember no more.”

18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longeranyoffering for sin.

A New and Living Way

19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,

20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,

21 and sincewe havea great priest over the house of God,

22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkledcleanfrom an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,

25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouragingone another;and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Christ or Judgment

26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment andthefury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.

28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy onthe testimony oftwo or three witnesses.

29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance isMine, Iwill repay.” And again, “TheLord will judgeHis people.”

31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings,

33 partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated.

34 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.

35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

37 For yet in a very little while,

He who is coming will come,and will not delay.

38 ButMy righteous one shall live by faith;

And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/HEB/10-992a6453fe8186be428997b4229980f7.mp3?version_id=100—

Hebrews 11

The Triumphs of Faith

1 Now faith is the assurance ofthingshoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

2 For by it the men of old gained approval.

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death;and he was not found becauseGod took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.

6 And without faith it is impossible to pleaseHim,for he who comes to God must believe that He is andthatHe is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

7 By faith Noah, being warnedby Godabout things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreignland,dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;

10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that,as many descendantsas the stars of heaven in number,and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

15 And indeed if they had been thinking of thatcountryfrom which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

16 But as it is, they desire a bettercountry,that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begottenson;

18 it was heto whom it was said, “InIsaac yourdescendants shall be called.”

19 He considered that God is able to raisepeopleeven from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped,leaningon the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,

26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.

28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as thoughthey were passingthrough dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,

33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performedacts ofrighteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,

34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

35 Women receivedbacktheir dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;

36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.

37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two,they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

38 (menof whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/HEB/11-f45f3fe9b2a1e5005152356f49d5539a.mp3?version_id=100—

Hebrews 12

Jesus, the Example

1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

A Father’s Discipline

4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,

“My son,do not regard lightly the discipline of theLord,

Norfaint when you are reproved byHim;

6 For thosewhom theLord lovesHe disciplines,

AndHe scourges every son whomHe receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whomhisfather does not discipline?

8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but Hedisciplines usforourgood, so that we may share His holiness.

11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,

13 and make straight paths for your feet, so thatthe limbwhich is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

16 thatthere beno immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for asinglemeal.

17 For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

Contrast of Sinai and Zion

18 For you have not come toa mountainthat can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind,

19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words whichsound was such thatthose who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them.

20 For they could not bear the command, “If even a beast touches the mountain,it will be stoned.”

21 And so terrible was the sight,thatMoses said, “Iam full of fearand trembling.”

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,

23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits oftherighteous made perfect,

24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better thanthe bloodof Abel.

The Unshaken Kingdom

25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warnedthemon earth, much lesswillweescapewho turn away from Him whowarnsfrom heaven.

26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once moreIwill shake not only the earth,but also the heaven.”

27 Thisexpression,”Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;

29 for our God is a consuming fire.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/HEB/12-e0b519325f8168972a8fdf6594a386e0.mp3?version_id=100—

Hebrews 13

The Changeless Christ

1 Let love of the brethren continue.

2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

3 Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them,andthose who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.

4 Marriageis to be heldin honor among all, and themarriagebedis to beundefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

5 Make sure thatyour character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “Iwill never desert you,nor willIever forsakeyou,”

6 so that we confidently say,

“TheLord is my helper, Iwill not be afraid.

What will man do to me?”

7 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

8 Jesus Christisthe same yesterday and today and forever.

9 Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priestas an offeringfor sin, are burned outside the camp.

12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

13 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seekingthe citywhich is to come.

God-pleasing Sacrifices

15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

17 Obey your leaders and submitto them,for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.

19 And I urgeyouall the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction

20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant,evenJesus our Lord,

21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whombethe glory forever and ever. Amen.

22 But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.

23 Take notice that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you.

24 Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

25 Grace be with you all.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/HEB/13-0d29280ba8500f64e28c0a47d86292f8.mp3?version_id=100—

Philemon 1

Salutation

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our belovedbrotherand fellow worker,

2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;

6 and I praythat the fellowship of your faith may become effectivethrough the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.

7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order youto dowhat is proper,

9 yet for love’s sake I rather appealto you-since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus-

Plea for Onesimus, a Free Man

10 I appeal to you for my childOnesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,

11 who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.

12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is,sendingmy very heart,

13 whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;

14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.

15 For perhaps he was for this reason separatedfrom youfor a while, that you would have him back forever,

16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If then you regard me a partner, accept him asyou wouldme.

18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account;

19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).

20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

22 At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

24 as doMark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/PHM/1-39ab1cf5f2e09fd96dd5ed25e4b014bd.mp3?version_id=100—

Titus 1

Salutation

1 Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,

3 but at the proper time manifested,evenHis word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior,

4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Qualifications of Elders

5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,

6 namely,if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.

7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,

8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,

9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should notteachfor the sake of sordid gain.

12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,

14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

15 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.

16 They profess to know God, but bytheirdeeds they denyHim,being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/TIT/1-35848bc6be9eb33def3db452a747873a.mp3?version_id=100—