Letters to the Churches

Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee; for he is useful to me for ministering.

But Tychicus I sent to Ephesus.

The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, bring when thou comest, and the books, especially the parchments.

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord will render to him according to his works:

of whom do thou also beware; for he greatly withstood our words.

At my first defence no one took my part, but all forsook me: may it not be laid to their account.

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 save me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus.

Erastus remained at Corinth: but Trophimus I left at Miletus sick.

Give diligence to come before winter. Eubulus saluteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.

The Lord be with thy spirit. Grace be with you.

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal;

but in his own seasons manifested his word in the message, wherewith I was intrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

to Titus, my true child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge;

if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly.

For the bishop must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;

but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled;

holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.

For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision,

whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons.

This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,