rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise you.
CHAPTER 3 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness to all men.
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that you affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
The Bible tells us that God created everything with things that are not seen. See Hebrews 9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
10 A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sins, being condemned of himself.
12 When I shall send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.
13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting to them.
14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
15 All that are with me salute you. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
3:2 This is the spirit in which we should share our faith. See James 3:17.
3:3 This is why we should never have a holier-than-thou attitude toward the unsaved (see also 1 Corinthians 6:9–11).
3:3 The deceitfulness of sin. Two women from Southern California were about to cross the Mexican border to return to the U.S. when they saw what looked like a very small, sick animal in the ditch beside their car. As they examined it in the darkness of the night, they saw that it was a tiny Chihuahua. There they decided to take it home with them and nurse it back to health. However, because they were afraid that they were breaking the law, they put it in the trunk of their car, and drove across the border. Once they were in the U.S., they retrieved the animal and nursed it until they arrived home.
One of the women was so concerned for the ailing dog that she actually took it to bed with her, and reached out several times during the night to touch the tiny animal and reassure it that she was still present.
The dog was so sick the next morning, she decided to take it to the veterinarian. That's when she found out that the animal wasn't a tiny sick dog. It was a Mexican water rat, dying of rabies.
The world, in the blackness of its ignorance, thinks that sin is a puppy to be played with. It is the light of God's Law that enlightens the sinner to the fact that he is in bed with a deadly rat.
We were once "deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures," but now, if we are truly converted, our eyes have been opened. We see sin for the sugar-coated venom that it is.
3:5 New birth—its necessity for salvation. See 1 Peter 1:3.
3:5 For those trusting in good works, see Galatians 2:16 comment.
3:10 It is wise to avoid those brethren who only want to argue about doctrine. Rather, put your energy into reaching the lost.
Philemon PAUL, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow-laborer, 2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in your house:
"The Bible is the best book in the world. It contains more than all the libraries I have seen."
3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 Hearing of your love and faith, which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6 That the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ
7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by you, brother.
8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin you that which is convenient, 9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech you, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10 I beseech you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
11 Which in time past was to you unprofitable, but now profitable to you and to me:
12 Whom I have sent again: therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
Great Leaders Speak About the Bible "Here is a Book worth more than all the other books which were ever printed."
Patrick Henry "That book, Sir, is the Rock upon which our republic rests." Andrew Jackson "The more profoundly we study this wonderful Book, and the more closely we observe its divine precepts, the better citizens we will become and the higher will be our destiny as a nation." William McKinley "The best religion the world has ever known is the religion of the Bible. It builds up all that is good." Rutherford B. Hayes "There are a good many problems before the American people today, and before me as President, but I expect to find the solution of those problems just in the proportion that I am faithful in the study of the Word of God."
Woodrow Wilson "The whole inspiration of our civilization springs from the teachings of Christ and the lessons of the prophets. To read the Bible for these fundamentals is a necessity of American life." Herbert Hoover "I say to you, Search the Scriptures! The Bible is the book of all others, to be read at all ages, and in all conditions of human life; not to be read once or twice or thrice through, and then laid aside, but to be read in small portions of one or two chapters every day, and never to be intermitted, unless by some overruling necessity." John Quincy Adams
"We cannot read the history of our rise and development as a nation, without reckoning the place the Bible has occupied in shaping the advances of the Republic." Franklin D.
Roosevelt "Within the covers of the Bible are all the answers for all the problems men face. The Bible can touch hearts, order minds and refresh souls." Ronald Reagan "In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength." Robert E. Lee "I have read the Bible through many times, and now make it a practice to read it through once every year. It is a book of all others for lawyers, as well as divines; and I pity the man who cannot find in it a rich supply of thought and of rules for conduct. It fits a man for life—it prepares him for death." Daniel
Webster 13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in your stead he might have ministered to me in the bonds of the gospel:
14 But without your mind would I do nothing; that your benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that you should receive him for ever; 16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
17 If you count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
18 If he has wronged you, or owes you anything, put that on my account; 19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to you how you owe to me even your own self besides.
20 Yes, brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21 Having confidence in your obedience I wrote to you, knowing that you will also do more than I say.
22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given to you.
23 There salute you Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; 24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-laborers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
*** For untrue things the world says, see 1 Corinthians 3:19 comment.
*** 4–6 For the "communication" of our faith to be "effectual" (active, operative, and powerful), we must not confine our love to the Lord Jesus and the saints. Philemon's love went beyond the walls of the church building.
He communicated his faith. This is what made Paul prayerfully thankful.
11 Now that the runaway slave was a Christian, upon return to Philemon he would be "profitable." The world gains unspeakable profit from the presence of Christians. People who once were filled with corruption, upon conversion live as law-abiding, useful members of society. Onesimus ("useful") would be a faithful servant for God's kingdom. He would work not only for his earthly master, but also for his heavenly
Master, to whom he had submitted himself as a willing slave.