New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures Reference Bible

1 Paul, a slave+ of God and an apostle+ of Jesus Christ according to the faith of God’s chosen+ ones and the accurate knowledge+ of the truth+ which accords with godly devotion+ 2 upon the basis of a hope of the everlasting life+ which God, who cannot lie,+ promised before times long lasting,*+ 3 whereas in his own due times he made his word manifest in the preaching* with which I was entrusted,+ under command of our Savior,+ God;* 4 to Titus, a genuine child+ according to a faith shared in common:

May there be undeserved kindness and peace from God [the] Father+ and Christ Jesus our Savior.+

5 For this reason I left you in Crete,+ that you might correct the things that were defective and might make appointments+ of older men* in city after city, as I gave you orders;+ 6 if there is any man free from accusation,+ a husband of one wife,+ having believing children that were not under a charge of debauchery nor unruly.+ 7 For an overseer* must be free from accusation+ as God’s steward,*+ not self-willed,+ not prone to wrath,+ not a drunken brawler,+ not a smiter,+ not greedy of dishonest gain,+ 8 but hospitable,*+ a lover of goodness, sound in mind,+ righteous, loyal,+ self-controlled,+ 9 holding firmly to the faithful word as respects his [art of] teaching,+ that he may be able both to exhort by the teaching that is healthful+ and to reprove+ those who contradict.

10 For there are many unruly men,* profitless talkers,+ and deceivers of the mind, especially those men who adhere to the circumcision.+ 11 It is necessary to shut the mouths of these, as these very men keep on subverting entire households+ by teaching things they ought not for the sake of dishonest gain.+ 12 A certain one of them, their own prophet,* said: “Cretans are always liars, injurious+ wild beasts, unemployed gluttons.”*

13 This witness is true. For this very cause keep on reproving them with severity,+ that they may be healthy+ in the faith, 14 paying no attention to Jewish fables+ and commandments of men+ who turn themselves away from the truth.+ 15 All things are clean to clean [persons].+ But to [persons] defiled+ and faithless+ nothing is clean, but both their minds and their consciences+ are defiled. 16 They publicly declare they know God,+ but they disown him by their works,+ because they are detestable and disobedient and not approved+ for good work of any sort.

2 You, however, keep on speaking what things are fitting for healthful+ teaching. 2 Let the aged men+ be moderate in habits, serious,+ sound in mind, healthy in faith,+ in love, in endurance.+ 3 Likewise let the aged women+ be reverent in behavior, not slanderous,+ neither enslaved to a lot of wine, teachers of what is good; 4 that they may recall the young women to their senses* to love their husbands,+ to love their children,+ 5 to be sound in mind, chaste,+ workers at home, good, subjecting+ themselves to their own husbands, so that the word of God may not be spoken of abusively.*+

6 Likewise keep on exhorting the younger men to be sound in mind,+ 7 in all things showing yourself an example of fine works;+ showing uncorruptness+ in your teaching,+ seriousness, 8 wholesome speech which cannot be condemned;+ so that the man on the opposing side may get ashamed, having nothing vile to say about us.+ 9 Let slaves+ be in subjection to their owners in all things,+ and please them well, not talking back,+ 10 not committing theft,*+ but exhibiting good fidelity to the full,+ so that they may adorn the teaching of our Savior,+ God, in all things.

11 For the undeserved kindness+ of God which brings salvation+ to all sorts of men+ has been manifested,+ 12 instructing us to repudiate ungodliness+ and worldly desires+ and to live with soundness of mind and righteousness and godly devotion*+ amid this present system of things,*+ 13 while we wait for the happy hope+ and glorious+ manifestation of the great God and of [the] Savior of us, Christ Jesus,* 14 who gave himself+ for us that he might deliver+ us from every sort of lawlessness and cleanse+ for himself a people peculiarly his own,+ zealous for fine works.+

15 Keep on speaking these things and exhorting and reproving with full authority to command.*+ Let no man ever despise+ you.

3 Continue reminding them to be in subjection+ and be obedient to governments and authorities as rulers,+ Rom.13:1-6 to be ready for every good work,+ 2 to speak injuriously of no one, not to be belligerent,*+ to be reasonable,*+ exhibiting all mildness toward all men.+ 3 For even we were once senseless, disobedient, being misled, being slaves to various desires and pleasures, carrying on in badness and envy, abhorrent, hating one another.+

4 However, when the kindness+ and the love for man* on the part of our Savior,+ God, was manifested,+ 5 owing to no works+ in righteousness that we had performed,+ but according to his mercy+ he saved us through the bath+ that brought us to life*+ and through the making of us new by holy spirit.+ 6 This [spirit] he poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior,+ 7 that, after being declared righteous+ by virtue of the undeserved kindness of that one,+ we might become heirs+ according to a hope of everlasting life.+

8 Faithful is the saying,+ and concerning these things I desire you to make firm assertions constantly, in order that those who have believed God may keep their minds on maintaining fine works.+ These things are fine and beneficial to men.

9 But shun foolish questionings+ and genealogies+ and strife+ and fights over the Law,+ for they are unprofitable and futile. 10 As for a man that promotes a sect,*+ reject+ him after a first and a second admonition;*+ 11 knowing that such a man has been turned out of the way* and is sinning, he being self-condemned.+

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus+ to you, do your utmost to come to me at Nicopolis, for there is where I have decided to winter.+ 13 Carefully supply Zenas, who is versed in the Law,* and Apollos for their trip, that they may not lack anything.+ 14 But let our people also learn to maintain fine works so as to meet their pressing needs,+ that they may not be unfruitful.+

15 All those with me send you their greetings.+ Give my greetings to those who have affection for us in the faith.

May the undeserved kindness be with all of YOU people.+
 

Philemon

   1 Paul, a prisoner+ for the sake of Christ Jesus,* and Timothy,+ [our] brother, to Philemon,* our beloved one and fellow worker,+ 2 and to Apphia, our sister, and to Archippus,+ our fellow soldier,+ and to the congregation that is in your house:+

3 May YOU people have undeserved kindness and peace from God our Father and [the] Lord Jesus Christ.+

4 I always thank my God when I make mention of you in my prayers,+ 5 as I keep hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the holy ones;+ 6 in order that the sharing of your faith+ may go into action* by your acknowledging* of every good thing among us as related to Christ. 7 For I got much joy and comfort over your love,+ because the tender affections* of the holy ones have been refreshed+ through you, brother.

8 For this very reason, though I have great freeness of speech* in connection with Christ to order+ you to do what is proper, 9 I am exhorting* you rather on the basis of love,+ seeing that I am such as I am, Paul an aged man,* yes, now also a prisoner+ for the sake of Christ Jesus; 10 I am exhorting you concerning my child,+ to whom I became a father+ while in my [prison] bonds, Onesimus,*+ 11 formerly useless to you but now useful to you and to me.+ 12 This very one I am sending back to you, yes, him, that is, my own tender affections.*+

13 I would like to hold him back for myself that in place of you+ he might keep on ministering* to me in the [prison] bonds+ I bear for the sake of the good news.* 14 But without your consent I do not want to do anything, so that your good act may be, not as under compulsion,* but of your own free will.*+ 15 Perhaps really on this account he broke away for an hour, that you may have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave+ but as more than a slave,+ as a brother beloved,+ especially so to me, yet how much more so to you both in fleshly relationship and in [the] Lord. 17 If, therefore, you consider me a sharer,+ receive+ him kindly the way you would me. 18 Moreover, if he did you any wrong or owes you anything, keep this charged to my account.* 19 I Paul am writing with my own hand:+ I will pay it back—not to be telling you that, besides, you owe me even yourself. 20 Yes, brother, may I derive profit from you in connection with [the] Lord: refresh my tender affections+ in connection with Christ.

21 Trusting in your compliance,* I am writing you, knowing you will even do more than the things I say.+ 22 But along with that, also get lodging+ ready for me, for I am hoping that through the prayers+ of YOU people I shall be set at liberty+ for YOU.

23 Sending you greetings is Epaphras+ my fellow captive in union with Christ, 24 [also] Mark, Aristarchus,+ Demas,+ Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ [be] with the spirit YOU people [show].*+