Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today, we read the epistle of St.
Paul to Titus, chapters 1 to 3, as well as his
second epistle to Timothy, also known as his
farewell epistle, chapters 1 to 4. Titus, chapter
1. Paul, a bondservant of God. and an apostle
of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's
elect and the acknowledgement of the truth which
accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life,
which God, who cannot lie, promised before time
began, but has in due time manifested his word
through preaching, which was committed to me
according to the commandment of God our Savior,
to Titus, a true son in our common faith, grace,
mercy and peace, from God the Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. For this reason
I left you in Crete, that you should set in order
the things that are lacking, and appoint elders
in every city, as I commanded you. If a man is
blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful
children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward
of God, not self -willed. not quick -tempered,
not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for
money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good,
sober -minded, just, holy, self -controlled,
holding fast the faithful word as he has been
taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine,
both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers
and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision.
whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole
households, teaching things which they ought
not, for the sake of dishonest gain. One of them,
a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always
liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. This testimony
is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, that
they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed
to Jewish fables and commandments of men who
turn from the truth. To the pure all things are
pure. But to those who are defiled and unbelieving,
nothing is pure. But even their mind and conscience
are defiled. They profess to know God, but in
works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient,
and disqualified for every good work. Chapter
2 But as for you, speak the things which are
proper for sound doctrine, that the older men
be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith,
in love, in patience. The older women likewise,
that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers,
not given too much wine, teachers of good things,
that they admonish the young women to love their
husbands, to love their children, to be discreet,
chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own
husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober -minded,
in all things showing yourself to be a pattern
of good works, in doctrine showing integrity,
reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that
cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent
may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of
you. Exhort bond -servants to be obedient to
their own masters, to be well -pleasing in all
things, not answering back, not pilfering, but
showing all good fidelity. that they may adorn
the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has
appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly in the present
age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious
appearing of our great God and Savior. Jesus
Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might
redeem us from every lawless deed and purify
for himself his own special people, zealous for
good works. Speak these things, exhort and rebuke
with all authority. Let no one despise you. Remind
them to be subject to rulers and authorities,
to obey, to be ready for every good work, to
speak evil of no one, to be peaceable. gentle,
showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves
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 and the love of God our
Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to His mercy,
He saved us, through the washing of regeneration
and renewing of the Holy Spirit. whom he poured
out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Savior, that having been justified by his grace,
we should become heirs according to the hope
of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and
these things I want you to affirm constantly,
that those who have believed in God should be
careful to maintain good works. These things
are good and profitable to men. But avoid foolish
disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings
about the law, for they are unprofitable and
useless. Reject a divisive man after the first
and second admonition, knowing that such a person
is warped and sinning, being self -condemned.
When I send Artemis to you, or Tychicus, be diligent
to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided
to spend the winter there. Send Zenos the lawyer
and Apollos on their journey with haste, that
they may lack nothing. And let our people also
learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent
needs, that they may not be unfruitful. All who
are with me greet you. Greet those who love us
in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. 2
Timothy chapter 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ
by the will of God, according to the promise
of life, which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy,
a beloved son. Grace, mercy, and peace from God
the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank
God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as
my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember
you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring
to see you, being mindful of your tears, that
I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance
the genuine faith that is in you. which dwelt
first in your grandmother Lois and your mother
Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore
I remind you to stir up the gift of God which
is in you through the laying on of my hands.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but
of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore
do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
nor of me his prisoner. But share with me in
the sufferings for the gospel according to the
power of God, who has 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 time began.
but has now been revealed by the appearing of
our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death
and brought life and immortality to light through
the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher,
an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For
this reason I also suffer these things. Nevertheless,
I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed
and am persuaded that he is able to keep what
I have committed to him until that day. Hold
fast the pattern of sound words which you have
heard from me in faith and love which are in
Christ Jesus, that good thing which was committed
to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in
us. This you know, that all those in Asia have
turned away from me, among whom are Phagellus
and Hermogenes. The Lord grant mercy to the household
of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and
was not ashamed of my chain. But when he arrived
in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and
found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find
mercy from the Lord in that day. And you know
very well how many ways he ministered to me at
Ephesus. You therefore must endure hardship as
a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged
in warfare entangles himself with the affairs
of this life, that he may please him who enlisted
him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes
in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes
according to the rules. The hardworking farmer
must be first to partake of the crops. Consider
what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding
in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ Of
the seed of David was raised from the dead according
to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an
evildoer, even to the point of chains. But the
word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure
all things for the sake of the elect, that they
also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ
Jesus with eternal glory. This is a faithful
saying. For if we died with him, we shall also
live with him. If we endure, we shall also reign
with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us.
If we are faithless, he remains faithful. He
cannot deny himself. Remind them of these things,
charging them before the Lord not to strive about
words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God,
a worker who does not need to be ashamed. rightly
dividing the word of truth. But shun profane
and idle babblings, for they will increase to
more ungodliness, and their message will spread
like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this
sort, who have strayed concerning the truth,
saying that the resurrection is already past,
and they overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless,
the solid foundation of God stands, having this
seal, the Lord knows those who are his, and Let
everyone who names the name of Christ depart
from iniquity. But in a great house there are
not only vessels of gold and silver, but also
of wood and clay, some for honor and some for
dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself
from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor,
sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared
for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts,
but pursue righteousness, faith, love. peace
with those who call on the Lord out of a pure
heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes,
knowing that they generate strife. And a servant
of the Lord must not quarrel, but be gentle to
all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting
those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will
grant them repentance, so that they may know
the truth, and that they may come to their senses
and escape the snare of the devil, having been
taken captive by him. To do his will. Chapter
3 Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
having a form of godliness but denying its power,
and from such people turn away. For of this sort
are those who creep into households and make
captives of gullible women, loaded down with
sins, led away by various lusts, always learning
and never able to come to the knowledge of the
truth. Now as Jans and Jambors resisted Moses,
so do these also resist the truth, men of corrupt
minds. This approved concerning the faith, but
they will progress no further, for their folly
will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
But you have carefully followed my doctrine,
manner of life, purpose, faith, long -suffering,
love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions,
which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium,
at Lystra. What persecutions I endured, and 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 must continue in the things
which you have learned and been assured of, knowing
from whom you have learned them, and that from
childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures,
which are able to make you wise for salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, that the man of
God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for
every good work. I charge 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 ready in season
and out of season. convince, rebuke, exhort,
with all longsuffering and teaching. For the
time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine, but according to their own desires.
Because they have itching ears, they will heap
up for themselves teachers, and they will turn
their ears away from the truth, and be turned
aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things,
endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist,
fulfill your ministry. For I am already being
poured out as a drink offering, and the time
of my departure is at hand. I have fought the
good fight, I have finished the race, I have
kept the faith. Finally, there is laid 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 who
have loved his appearing. Be diligent to come
to me quickly, for the mass has forsaken me.
having loved this present world, and has departed
for Thessalonica. Crescents for Galatia, Titus
for Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark
and bring him with you, for he is useful to me
for ministry. Antichicus I have sent to Ephesus.
Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas
when you come, and the books, especially the
parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me
much harm. May the Lord repay him according to
his works. You also must beware of him, for he
has greatly resisted our words. At my first defense,
no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May
it not be charged against them. But the Lord
stood with me and strengthened me, so that the
message might be preached fully through me, and
that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was
delivered out of the mouth of the lion. and the
Lord will deliver me from every evil work and
preserve me for his heavenly kingdom. To him
be glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet Prisca
and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have
left in Miletus sick. Do your utmost to come
before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as
Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.
The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace
be with you. Ameen I hope you enjoyed today's
reading as much as I did and I look forward to
seeing you again tomorrow to continue on our
journey. God bless you and have a great day.