1 1-4 From Paul, hoping for the eternal life, promised by God, who can't lie, before the world began, to Titus.
5 I left you in Crete to ordain elders in every city.
6-8 A bishop must have one wife, have well-behaved children, be sober, a lover of good men, and be just and holy.
10-11 There are many vain deceivers, especially among the Jews, whose mouths must be stopped.
12 As a Cretan philosopher has rightly said, The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and slow bellies.
13And that's the truth. So rebuke them soundly, so they stay in the faith.
14 Don't listen to Jewish fables and commandments.
15 To those who are pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Even their mind and conscience is defiled.
16 They are abominable, disobedient and reprobate.
2 4-5 Teach the young women to be obedient to their husbands, so the word of God isn't blasphemed.
9-10 Tell the slaves to obey their masters, and to please them in all things, not talking back, but being perfectly faithful, and thereby follow the Savior's doctrine.
13 We are waiting for the appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who will redeem us from all iniquity.
15 Say these things to everyone. Don't let anyone despise you.
3 1 Do all the good things that you can.
2 Don't speak badly about others. Be gentle to others.
5 We aren't saved by works, but by washing with the Holy Ghost.
9 Avoid foolish genealogies.
10-11 Reject heretics after warning them once or twice, knowing that their minds are subverted and have already condemned themselves.
14 Do good works.
15 Amen.
1 From Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy to Philemon, Apphia, and Archippus, and the church at your house.
7 The bowels of the saints are refreshed by you, brother.
10 I'm writing to you about Onesimus, whom I have converted while in prison.
12 I ask you to receive him again, as though he were my own bowels.
13-14 I 'd like to keep him here with me, but I wouldn't do that without your consent.
15-16 Perhaps now he can return and serve you, not as a slave but as a brother.
18 If he has wronged you or owes you anything, I'll make it up to you.
19 I'm writing this letter with my own hand.
20 So refresh my bowels in the Lord.
25 Amen.
Most scholars believe that this letter was written by Paul; it is the only undisputed letter of Paul to a single individual. (Although the letter is said to be from Paul and Timothy, and it is also addressed to Apphia, and Archippus, it's clear from the text that it was written by Paul to Philemon.)
Paul wrote this letter to Philemon while he was in prison. Philemon must have been a wealthy man, since he sponsored the local church. One of his slaves, Onesimus, had ran away and met Paul in prison, where he became a Christian. Paul is writing to Philemon on his behalf.
If Paul opposed slavery, this would have been a good time to say so. But no, he returned Onesimus to Philemon, since he was, in Paul's mind, his rightful owner.
See 1 Cor 7:21-24 for Paul's views on slavery.
Paul is suggesting here that Philemon not punish Onesimus for running away (a punishment that could be execution), but rather let him serve him forever, not as a slave, but as a fellow believer. This request by Paul is used on both sides of the slavery debate. Paul asked for a slave to be set free, but he didn't command it - or condemn slavery itself.
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