Day 351 of 364

¹Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, ²to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men. ³For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. ⁴But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, ⁵not 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, ⁶whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior; ⁷that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ⁸This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you insist confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men; ⁹but shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. ¹⁰Avoid a factious man after a first and second warning, ¹¹knowing that such a one is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned. ¹²When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me to Nicopolis, for I have determined to winter there. ¹³Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey speedily, that nothing may be lacking for them. ¹⁴Let our people also learn to maintain good works to meet necessary needs, that they may not be unfruitful. ¹⁵All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

¹Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, ²to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house: ³Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, ⁵hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, ⁶that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. ⁷For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. ⁸Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate, ⁹yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. ¹⁰I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have become the father of in my chains, ¹¹who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me. ¹²I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, ¹³whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News. ¹⁴But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will. ¹⁵For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have him forever, ¹⁶no 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. ¹⁷If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. ¹⁸But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account. ¹⁹I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides). ²⁰Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord. ²¹Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say. ²²Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you. ²³Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, ²⁴as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. ²⁵The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

^1:1God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ^1:2has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. ^1:3His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, ^1:4having become as much better than the angels as the more excellent name he has inherited is better than theirs. ^1:5For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father?” and again, “I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?” ^1:6When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.” ^1:7Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire.” ^1:8But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom. ^1:9You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.” ^1:10And, “You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands. ^1:11They will perish, but you continue. They all will grow old like a garment does. ^1:12You will roll them up like a mantle, and they will be changed; but you are the same. Your years won’t fail.” ^1:13But which of the angels has he told at any time, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?” ^1:14Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? ^2:1Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away. ^2:2For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, ^2:3how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard, ^2:4God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will? ^2:5For he didn’t subject the world to come, of which we speak, to angels. ^2:6But one has somewhere testified, saying, “What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him? ^2:7You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor. ^2:8You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t yet see all things subjected to him. ^2:9But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone. ^2:10For it became him, for whom are all things and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. ^2:11For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers, ^2:12saying, “I will declare your name to my brothers. Among the congregation I will sing your praise.” ^2:13Again, “I will put my trust in him.” Again, “Behold, here I am with the children whom God has given me.” ^2:14Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, ^2:15and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. ^2:16For most certainly, he doesn’t give help to angels, but he gives help to the offspring of Abraham. ^2:17Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. ^2:18For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.