Study Desk

For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires,

As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come.

From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

for Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry.

Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will pay him back for his deeds.

You also must beware of him, for he strongly opposed our message.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness,

I left you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you should put in order what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you:

For a bishop, as God's steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain;

they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach.

That testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith,

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

But as for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,

while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,