In the Field Audio Scriptures

Purity Muthoni is the pastor of the Pool of Healing Ministry. She is located in Nairobi, Kenya, and is a widow blessed with three children, one girl, age 21, and two boys, ages 19 and 10. To this day, Pastor Purity still proclaims that God has been good to her and her family.

When Pastor Purity was widowed suddenly at age 37, it was the worst thing ever happening to her. The foundation of her world collapsed, and now she was the only parent to her three grieving children. She had to learn to manage the micro-financial empire of her household and do all the other things her husband once did. But most of all, she had to cope with her own pain. It was the most terrible pain she had ever experienced, which left big scars inside her. Nothing made sense. People around her spoke, professionals spoke, and nothing made sense because the answer she wanted to hear was that "it's a dream.”  Pastor Purity describes it as a fire she had to walk through to get to the other side. And she did, eventually, even with deep scars. Since then, she has felt stronger in dealing with life’s wounds.

Pastor Purity’s mission is to speak to widows about doing something new that they have never done without undermining themselves. She claims that people will always talk, but God has his best interest in you. Don't allow people to take advantage of your vulnerability. Look unto God, and he will see you through. God will never put you through something that you cannot handle. Pastor Purity also advises that God lifts you up and gives you strength. Believing in the struggle and coming through on the other side was when Pastor Purity built an altar for God.

Listen to the words of this woman of faith, a woman of God whose struggle is one that many people can understand. This person may be you. I want you to know you are not alone as you listen to today’s new message titled How to Trust God Even in Difficult Times with Pastor Purity Muthoni.

The Historical Timeline

The timeline leading to when the three women went to the tomb to finish caring for Jesus stems from the Hebrew calendar month Nisan, which is the first month of spring in the Gregorian equivalent calendar that we know today. Starting from the last day of Passover, it is this evening that the Lord’s Supper is held, Jesus prays at the Garden of Gethsemane, arrested in Jerusalem, and tried before the Sanhedrin charged with blasphemy before sent to Pontius Pilate for judgment and condemnation. According to the Hebrew calendar, in the month of Nisan, the Last Supper, arrest and trial were held on Tuesday into Wednesday. Jesus was crucified and placed in the tomb on Wednesday evening before sunset and the Sabbath's start. The tomb was sealed with stone and guarded with Roman soldiers on Thursday. The women purchased the spices to anoint Jesus’ body on Friday, as Saturday was a regular Sabbath. As noted in Jonah, Jesus fulfilled the three full days and nights prophecy and His duties as the Messiah. 

The Empty Tomb

Biblical scholar Paul Gould provides no distinctive reasoning as to why the empty tomb occurred when writing about this hypothetical theory that “Mary and company mistakenly went to a tomb other than that of Jesus.” Immediately he is left with more questions than answers, leaving this theory to be the shortest of his five. It was these three women that found the stone miraculously rolled back, supposed to be guarded by Roman soldiers, and saw that Jesus was not in the tomb. “And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments” (Luke 24:4, NKJV). The first argument is that this perplexity is not to be misconceived as only a time of mourning, but it must be noted that it was important that “[t]he faithful women are present as witnesses to the correct site.” Confirmation, given by the two angels standing before the women, implied that the women should have known they would not find Jesus in the tomb, as He told them earlier that He would “on the third day rise again” (Luke 24:7). Just as Mary was sitting at Jesus’ tomb, she had also sat at Lazarus’ tomb where she discovered Jesus’ power over death when He raised Lazarus from the dead. “Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again’” (John 11:23). 

The First Witness

The second argument is the angels’ reminder to the women, which was the starting point, opening their minds that Jesus’ words, preaching, and teaching now made sense in His ministry. The importance of Mary Magdalene is paramount as she “appears in all four Gospels,” “identified as ‘a woman disciple of the Lord,’” as “her women friends discover the empty tomb, are invited to look in, [and] then run away afraid.” Mary, the most faithful woman to Jesus, was chosen to see the resurrected Jesus first. He called her by name in the tomb where she stood weeping, bewildered over the missing Jesus, the One she felt closest to. Regardless of the events leading up and including the discovery of the empty tomb, Mary Magdalene is the one constant who is the first witness to Jesus’ resurrection. Being the first and continuous witness provides a counterargument to biblical scholars that the women went to the wrong tomb. Biblical scholar Claudia Setzer claims that in the three events of Jesus, Mary Magdalene was the “one who saw Jesus’ death and burial and discovered the empty tomb.” Mary Magdalene also witnesses the fourth event, which is the first person to see the risen Jesus. God sent Mary Magdalene to the apostles to tell them about Jesus and His Resurrection. At this point, we read that John, one of Jesus’ disciples, along with Simon Peter, run to the tomb to validate that it is empty. John outruns Simon Peter to see inside it first. Therefore, two of Jesus’ closest believers, Mary Magdalene and John, who stood at the foot of His cross, are “the first to believe in the risen Jesus.” 

Ryan Sutton is a dynamic pastor and evangelist who preaches with passion in the power of the Spirit. He is the pastor of The Grace Center, a lively, multicultural church in Festus, Missouri. He is the founder and president of Ryan Sutton Ministries, which covers his evangelistic ministry in the United States and his international missions.

After attending Ozark Bible Institute and Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, where he holds pastoral ministry and bible literature degrees, Ryan surrendered to the call to preach under the ministry of B. H. Clendennen at Victory Temple in Beaumont, Texas, in 1997 at the age of fourteen. Ryan preached his first full sermon the following Sunday and has been preaching ever since. He attended B. H. Clendennen’s School of Christ International several times and traveled with him in Europe, Scandinavia, and India. Ryan also preached regularly in crusades in Africa when he was fifteen and sixteen, and with Brother Clendennen’s encouragement, Ryan was ordained to pastor in April 2000 at seventeen.

In addition to pastoral ministry, he has continued to travel throughout the states and internationally, praying fervently for revival, souls, and victory wherever the Lord sends him to minister. Ryan’s beautiful wife and two daughters support his calling and the local and global communities he serves.

I know you are ready to listen to today’s message, so I hope you enjoy the sermon titled, Why I Believe in the Resurrection, with Pastor Ryan Sutton.

In this chapter, Peter teaches women about submitting to their husbands. If we take this phrase word-for-word, which the Apostle Paul uses similar wording in his epistles, many angry women will refuse to “submit” to their husbands. So, let’s take the word “submit” and analyze it biblically, or what we say in the hermeneutical sense, adding archaeological context, culture, and God’s Plan to it.

First, in a Christian marriage, the husband and wife submit to each other through the Holy Spirit, committing each other to God. Listen-to-me-again; they commit who? “Each other” to God. Peter’s advice to Christian wives is a new commitment to God, as godly women can win their husbands to Christ simply through their conduct and behavior. She does not have to say a word, but her motions and behaviors will set her apart from ungodliness. Her behavior will add curiosity to her husband, leaving him to want to know more about her faith. It is the woman who can change her husband’s life before God.

Second, the bible does not teach women that they cannot make decisions on their own or that she is her husband’s servant, rather God shows favor to the couple so that the husband is the spiritual leader of the home, and together, the husband and wife are to submit themselves to Christ.

Finally, holy women of God are not under the authority of their husbands or any man for that matter; rather, women should submit themselves to the Lord first and then to their husbands. Because the husband and wife come together in marriage before God, they have equal worth before Him. There is a balancing act between the husband and wife, as she may be physically weaker than him, lessening him to be gentler and kind.

So, let’s review: Women, we are not to take offense with Peter, or Paul for that matter, when the bible states that we are to submit to our husbands. First, the husband and wife submit to each other through the Holy Spirit, committing each other to God. Second, God favors the couple so that the husband is the spiritual leader of the home, and together, the husband and wife are to submit themselves to Christ. And finally, women should submit themselves to the Lord first and then to their husbands. And why? Because when the husband and wife come together in marriage before God, they will have equal worth before Him.

Pastor Jones Britus was born in August 1969 and raised in a village in Southeast Haiti, the commune of Marigot. He is married and blessed with two daughters. After primary school, Pastor Jones’ parents could not afford to pay for his schooling. He was supported by one of his uncles in high school. Before finishing high school, his uncle had great financial problems and could not continue to support him. Pastor Jones did not want to stop high school, so he went to work in a primary school to pay his schooling fees in the afternoon. Since then, God made a way for Pastor Jones to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and now places him as a Ph.D. student working in Economic Sciences, Specialising in Analysis and Evaluation of Projects.

Since 2012, he has been the founding director of the non-profit organization "Alliance Haitienne/Haitian Alliance” for development and particularly for empowering orphans, vulnerable children, and the young without family support, which God entrusted to him in a dream. Then, in April 2019, he founded a home for orphaned children called "Univers des Enfants/ Children's Universe.” In 2021, he also founded an evangelism association called " Missionnaires de Jésus-Christ en Action/ Missionaries of Jesus Christ in Action" after a revelation from God.

Pastor Jones is also the founding pastor of two young churches in Haiti called "Evangelical Church Unity of God." Jesus showed him in a vision that He would use him to plant other churches in Haiti. You can see several pictures on the In the Field Worship Radio’s website donation page of Pastor Jones’ church, the people he serves, and the orphans he and his family care for.

As you can hear, ministry carries a common denominator with the pastors that have served here on In the Field Worship Radio. Their paths may differ, but their journey is the same, and it is held, directed, and brightened by the light of God. We are each called at different times in our lives to serve Him. His light does not discriminate, rather, it captivates us in a period of our lives when we may have little money, maybe in a strained relationship, or perhaps suffer from an illness. Regardless, God chooses us at a specific period in our lives that opens up our season of service – a season when the multitudes will stop what they are doing, listen to what we have to say and watch us through our prayer life, and the joyous glow that we carry, and then they will tell others about the Word of God. If you ever doubt why you are here on earth, know that you are loved and are to love one another by bringing a person to Christ. Now, you know why I say at the end of each broadcast to bring a friend when you return next Sunday. You are here for a reason, and Jesus is calling you now.

I know you are ready to listen to today’s new message, so I hope you enjoy today's sermon, Operating from Heaven, with Pastor Jones Britus.

Peter acknowledges that pilgrims, or Christians, are to distance themselves from fleshly lusts, earthly wants, or tangible items that may cause one to sin. As the pilgrim pulls away from these sinful ways, he must also conduct himself lovingly. This way, he presents himself before believers and unbelievers, representing how Christ would submit Himself before others.

There are two types of submissions. First, obedience to authority must be followed according to the bible unless this authority turns to immoral or bad behaviors. Therefore, we must submit to one’s master but not suffer due to another’s wrongdoing. Second, we must submit to the government as loyal subjects to authority, not ungodly behavior.

Peter reminds us to keep in the front of our minds the question of where our daily walk is heading and whether we are in stride or step with Jesus. Remember the bracelets we used to wear with WWJD? What would Jesus do? Now, you know where it is in the scriptures.

So, let us review: As pilgrims, we must pull away from sinful acts while conducting ourselves in a way that Jesus would expect. There are two types of submission: first, we are to submit to one’s master, and second, to submit to the government. Even though we try to be faithful to an enduring, loving God, we must still know the difference between right and wrong, keeping ourselves closer to Him.

Welcome to this 3-part bible study series titled Comparison of Christ & Melchizedek. In this study, we will see that Melchizedek lays the foundation for a higher priest coming forward, fulfilling priesthood and king duties beyond his own. This higher priest will result from Hebrew law and yet represent a new law, saving humankind from its sins while mediating between humanity and divinity in God.

The author of Hebrews recognizes Melchizedek as having similar characteristics to Christ. There is a need for “another priest . . . according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron” (7:11), rising from Judah and breaking the Levite lineage, becoming “a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (7:17). Melchizedek and Christ share the commonality of having no beginning or end in genealogy, both were priests outside of Levitical law, and both were kings of righteousness and peace (vv. 1-3).

God appointed Melchizedek, recognizing the need to change the law, allowing the divine King of Christ to enter as the High Priest and reign forever. Learning from the purpose of Melchizedek and Jesus, the question is whether Christians can lose their salvation, and if so, whether they recover it based on the righteousness, repetition, and compassion displayed by these two high priests.

Melchizedek shows himself to be in the image of Christ with his kingship and priesthood; however, it is through his order that Christ emerges as the King and High Priest. For Christ to be the High Priest, God changed the lineage so His Son would receive the realm of sitting in His right seat.

Melchizedek may have stemmed the priestly order, but David's kingship fell in line. Through preponderance of repetition, believers can rest in Him, answering whether Christians can indeed lose their salvation. The answer is simply yes, but it can be regained by fully believing in Christ, as Melchizedek intended.

I hope you will take the time to learn about Jesus’ lineage, the correlation between the Old Testament and the New, and the High Priest who sits at the right hand of God. This study proves God’s purpose for His Son, the pathway for His Son to enter the earthly world, and the salvation His Son will provide you and me.

This study is exciting to learn about historical and divine purposes. So, click the Bible Study tab at the top of the In the Field Audio Scriptures website to learn more about the lineage God placed on His people to ensure His Son is King and that He can be the One that saves us from our sins.

This sermon features Evangelist Darrell Richardson of Hilton Head Island, SC, in the United States. This southeastern coastal location decorates the terrain with palm trees and sea turtles. Sailboats enter the harbor with pink, purple, and green, coloring the sunsets and resting over the stillness of the ocean.

Darrell was born on April 7, 1946, in a small town in eastern Tennessee, where he grew up on a small farm. He loved to play basketball & baseball and studied music, playing the piano and organ in his local church. He is known as a father, business leader, role model, teacher, evangelist, and follower of Jesus Christ. After retiring from more than a 50-year aviation career, God called him to serve as an evangelist and full-time missionary to both Haiti & Kenya. He helped to establish a primary school in Kenya that provides an education each year to hundreds of students in a small village made up mostly of farmers. He also preached many sermons and taught Sunday School classes throughout the Kenyan countryside, helping people turn in their old lives for new ones in Christ.

His glidepath to God has not always been a smooth one. There was some turbulence, but he made a smooth landing. He has a strong relationship with Jesus and tells the story that Jesus told him one day, "Go tell them who I am." So, in the end, he sold everything so that he could follow Jesus' command, serving Him in the outback of Kenya as a missionary.

It is a pleasure to have Darrell share his obedience and dedication to God with us, and I hope you enjoy today's sermon titled, Defining Evangelism with Evangelist Darrell Richardson.

Peter writes the first letter in a question/answer format. One must know who he is, in this case, Peter knows that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ, but who is everyone else? A pilgrim. A pilgrim is a person who is living away from home. The next question is, where is everyone from? On earth, people migrate from one place or area to another. Our heavenly home still awaits us; therefore, Peter saw “everyone” as pilgrims.

To understand who this pilgrim is, we must understand that with movement comes rest. Resting in God’s Word provides the opportunity to understand that the Spirit of Christ solidifies the truth and is secured in the scriptures as it is written. Now we must be holy. Peter claims that holiness is not to be confused with morality, as morality is an outward set of standards, whereas holiness is an inward transformation. Hope joins holiness producing harmony, and in the end, love should be sincere, enduring God’s Word forever.

Now it should make a little more sense how Christians are to love the Lord whom they have not seen before, as His Word endures forever.

So let’s review: Peter details who he is before Christ and whom the rest of the population is before Christ, representing pilgrims. Each person or pilgrim must learn to rest in God’s Word; however, in order to do so, one must understand the difference between the outwardness of morality and the inwardness of holiness. It is the holiness that has transformation, producing harmony and love, completing the circle of resting in God’s Word forever.

This sermon features Pastor Lephen Kumar of South Carolina in the United States. Lephen was born and raised in India, where he worked as a school teacher, a pastor, and a director of a non-profit organization. His involvement in school education and child and community development continues to embrace and uplift his theological training.

Lephen, his beautiful wife, Lydia, his son Sam, and his daughter Saakshiyah moved from India to the United States, answering God’s call as a way of obeying a turning point in his ministry.

Growing up as a pastor’s son, Lephen felt the call to commit his life to ministry after high school. He knew the Lord was calling him to serve and preach the gospel, realizing this call involved more of an international mission, which can be seen in his work in the church he pastors here in South Carolina.

Even as a pastor, Lephen felt something was still missing in his ministry. A friend introduced him to chaplaincy and clinical pastoral education. Lephen started his chaplaincy with two extended training units and then completed a full year’s chaplain residency program at a local hospital. Lephen’s new ministry helped him connect with people enduring injuries, diseases, and end-of-life while allowing him to slow down and open his heart and mind to the suffering. Patients need someone to walk alongside them, and Lephen becomes their person.

Building relationships with people is very important, proving that God continues His work in us. Therefore, having a heart for God, Lephen continues to serve his local community here in South Carolina and back home in his village in India.

It is a pleasure to have Lephen share his love and inspiration for God with us, and I hope you enjoy today’s sermon titled, I Need Rest, with Pastor Lephen Kumar.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele was born in July 1986 and raised in a small village in western Kenya near the Uganda border called Bungoma. He is married and blessed with three children - one girl and two boys, whom he and his family call Bungoma home. Cleophas grew up as an orphan, and with missionaries' help, he went through elementary and high school, later joining media college to pursue videography and photography. Once again, working with missionaries, Cleophas continued to serve in different capacities for over eight years, but this time in Eldoret, east of Bungoma, in Kenya.

Years later, in 2018, after praying and seeking the LORD for his direction, Cleophas, and the leaders he discipled, planted a church in the village where he grew up, calling it New Life Celebration Center. Cleophas' passion for teaching the Word of God and serving orphans and vulnerable children in their community directly reflects his upbringing. His ultimate passion is to give back and be the mentor to his community that the missionaries were to him by providing people the opportunity to learn, grow, and serve the LORD.

Besides being a pastor of the fastest-growing church in the rural areas, Cleophas is also the Community Director of the small grassroots organization Friends of Watoto Kenya, empowering orphans, vulnerable children, and young single mothers.

Hope and encouragement are abundant in his words, but the inspiration that he provides in his voice is a testament that God answers prayer. I hope you enjoy today's sermon titled It's Time to Do It with Pastor Cleophas Muyelele.

A true definition of fear, resulting in love and faith in God, divides this chapter into two parts. The first part is verses 1-6, where testing the spirits is necessary, ensuring that the messages heard are true from God. Exposing false teachers proves their mischievous teaching methods misalign their words with those from the Word of God. The second part is verses 7-21, where John shows how God can love His people when He loves through us. God’s love for us through His people removes the fear on the day of judgment, as we know that Jesus will be our advocate, standing beside us.

Our obedience to love and faith results from knowing that if people love God, they love one another. This love is so unique that if His children stray, He will receive repentant believers again. Jesus bore God’s wrath, so we will not have to, proving that we have a forgiving, loving God.

Welcome to the reading of the First Epistle of John Chapter Five with In the Field Audio Bible. My name is Christie, your host for this episode.

This fifth and final chapter of 1 John answers the two most important questions that are even asked today: whether one is truly a child of God and whether there is love for God and for one another. Both questions are proven if one believes that Jesus is Christ.

There is victory to celebrate, knowing that even Christ had to overcome temptations and troubles to take loving ownership of His people.

John writes about three witnesses proving that Jesus is God: water– Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River; the blood – Jesus died on the cross for our sins; and the Spirit – each person can bear witness to Christ.

Finally, each person was more likely than not to be born with a birthmark on their body; however, John writes that there are five birthmarks, or tests, of a believer. First is the faith test, aligning what we believe with the Word of God. Second is the life test on how we keep God’s commandments. Third, love tests us on whether or not we love one another. Fourth, the growth test measures how far we are going in our way with Christ. Finally, the last one is the sin test, measuring our continuation to commit sin and whether it justifies meeting our human needs.

Let’s review: First, the two most important questions asked are whether one is truly a child of God and whether there is love for God and one another, with the answer resting in Christ. Second, there are three witnesses proving that Jesus is God: water, the blood, and the Spirit. Last, a believer has five birthmarks or tests: faith, life, love, growth, and sin.

I hope you are in your quiet place with your favorite coffee or tea while enjoying this reading of the First Epistle of John Chapter 5.

This sermon features Evangelist Hezron Marwa of Kehancha, Kenya. This location is in the southwest corner of the country, nestled between the bordering countries of Uganda and Tanzania in East Africa.

Evangelist Hezron, considers himself to be an Mwanafunzi Wa Yesu, meaning a Disciple of Christ in Kiswahili, the Swahili language, wearing several titles, such as motivator, educator, community leader, business coach, mentor, media personality, and public speaker. He is well-known in the southwest corner of Kenya and surrounding areas as a director, who is a resilient businessman and media personality, relentlessly balancing various aspects of entrepreneurship with godly living. Growing up in the church, it is only fitting that Hezron is called "evangelist," as his ministry is expressed through his artistic and business abilities, making it easy for everyone in his path to follow the word he preaches - God's Word. I hope you enjoy today’s sermon message titled the Importance of Faith with Evangelist Hezron Marwa.

In this chapter, John tells us how to love one another. There is a yearning for us to love people and for them to love us back. Personally, I have always wanted to know “how” to love others. It is a weird question because we should already know, or so we thought. John puts forth three elements on how Christians are supposed to love one another. If you ever have wanted a biblical instruction manual, this is it.

First, we are to love “unconditionally.” So, let us go back to what I said earlier. There is a yearning for us to love people and for them to love us back. This give-and-take process is “conditional.” If you love me, I will love you back. This is the earthly way we love one another. However, John says that we are to love “unconditionally.”

Second, we are to love “sacrificially.” Remember John 3:16? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God demonstrated His love for the lost humankind by sending His only begotten Son to pay the debt for our sins. Think of a time when you sacrificed something so that another person could benefit from it. You did so out of love so that it would provide comfort to this person. Knowing that you would do without, this difference shows our earthly take on what divine love is supposed to look and feel like, achieving it through Him.

Finally, we are to love “personally.” The only Christ most people will ever see is the Christ they see in us, and you may be the one person. Therefore, we are to show God’s love for others through our demonstration of love to His Son, Jesus Christ.

Again, we are to love one another unconditionally, sacrificially, and personally, and do so, centering our love on Jesus.

John is now the last apostle, living as an old man, writing this letter to his children. He first distinguishes knowing God from doing God’s work on earth. John claims that he does not add new commandments or statutes but emphasizes the most important command – love. This two-fold process involves loving one another and loving God. John also distinguishes between loving worldly things from loving the Father. If we believe and love worldly, earthly things, we take away from loving the One who created them.

It is now that we see John start to touch on what would be the final book of the bible – Revelation. Toward the end of this chapter, John introduces us to the Tribulation with what it looks like with periods of intense judgment on the unbelieving world. Within this period, the intensity will be terrible for the Jewish people, but the Deliverer will come out of Zion, saving them. The Antichrist is here now, placing discerning Christians on alert for Christ’s coming.

It is at the end of this chapter that God’s true children recognize Jesus as both fully God and fully man with the only way to salvation being through Him.

We have a lot to unpack and listen to with this chapter. It may take a few times listening to it to start understanding the importance of love and its place in the upcoming Tribulation. This chapter is the precursor and the preparation of what we know as the final book of the bible – The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

This final epistle of John reflects not only love but John’s position of authority and influence. He recognizes Gaius as a faithful believer in the truth to people he knows and those he does not. Gaius shows us how opening one’s home to others keeps us steadfast in the truth.

For those of us who serve or may soon be called to mission life, John details the difference between taking from others rather than letting God put forth people He needs to help us serve Him. And in this epistle, God used Gaius to support the mission of helping others so they could spread the Gospel.

1 I, the elder, am writing this letter. I am sending it to the lady chosen by God and to her children.

2 I love all of you because of the truth. I’m not the only one who loves you. So does everyone who knows the truth. I love you because of the truth that is alive in us. This truth will be with us forever.

3 God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son will give you grace, mercy and peace. These blessings will be with us because we love the truth.

4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children living by the truth. That’s just what the Father commanded us to do.

5 Dear lady, I’m not writing you a new command. I’m writing a command we’ve had from the beginning. I’m asking that we love one another.

6 The way we show our love is to obey God’s commands. He commands you to lead a life of love. That’s what you have heard from the beginning.

7 I say this because many people have tried to fool others. These people have gone out into the world. They don’t agree that Jesus Christ came in a human body. People like this try to trick others. These people are like the great enemy of Christ.

8 Watch out that you don’t lose what we have worked for. Make sure that you get your full reward.

9 Suppose someone thinks they know more than we do. So they don’t follow Christ’s teaching. Then that person doesn’t belong to God. But whoever follows Christ’s teaching belongs to the Father and the Son.

10 Suppose someone comes to you and doesn’t teach these truths. Then don’t take them into your house or welcome them.

11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their evil work.

12 I have a lot to write to you. But I don’t want to use paper and ink. I hope I can visit you instead. Then I can talk with you face to face. That will make our joy complete.

13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.

Welcome to In the Field Audio Bible. I am your host, Christie Richardson. 

I invite you to immerse yourself in the bible in a new way - simply by listening. Whether you follow along in your personal bible, listen to the audio bible while commuting, or take a moment for yourself, listening to the bible one chapter at a time allows you to have a moment with God that you may not otherwise have given yourself. 

The New International Reader’s Version, or the NIRV, provides the listener with a more conversational translation, making the text easily understood by everyday persons like you and me. This translation is also valuable to students whose native language is other than English, complementing their English language studies. In the end, this audio bible is a podcast that also provides bible studies helping you, the listener, continue the conversation. Prayer requests are accepted and kept confidential, as they are prayed over daily. 

And finally, this podcast runs like a virtual church. As this digital ministry continues to grow globally, so does the monetary need to keep it running. If you find it in your heart to make an offering, you may click the Donate button at the top of your screen. No amount is too small and 100% of the donations support this ministry. 

Again, I want to welcome you to In the Field Audio Bible. You are my brothers and sisters in Christ. And together, we will grow and listen to the bible one chapter at a time.

1 I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am a prisoner because of Christ Jesus. Our brother Timothy joins me in writing. Philemon, we are sending you this letter. You are our dear friend. You work together with us. 

2 We are also sending it to our sister Apphia and to Archippus. He is a soldier of Christ together with us. And we are sending it to the church that meets in your home. 

3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 

4 I always thank my God when I remember you in my prayers. 

5 That’s because I hear about your love for all God’s people. I also hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus. 

6 I pray that what we share by believing will help you understand even more. Then you will completely understand every good thing we share by believing in Christ. 

7 Your love has given me great joy. It has encouraged me. My brother, you have renewed the hearts of the Lord’s people. 

8 Because of the authority Christ has given me, I could be bold. I could order you to do what you should do anyway. 

9 But we love each other. And I would rather appeal to you on the basis of that love. I, Paul, am an old man. I am now also a prisoner because of Christ Jesus. 

10 I am an old man, and I’m in prison. This is how I make my appeal to you for my son Onesimus. He became a son to me while I was being held in chains. 

11 Before that, he was useless to you. But now he has become useful to you and to me. 

12 I’m sending Onesimus back to you. All my love for him goes with him. 

13 I’m being held in chains because of the good news. So I would have liked to keep Onesimus with me. And he could take your place in helping me. 

14 But I didn’t want to do anything unless you agreed. Any favor you do must be done because you want to do it, not because you have to. 

15 Onesimus was separated from you for a little while. Maybe that was so you could have him back forever. 

16 You could have him back not as a slave. Instead, he would be better than a slave. He would be a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even more dear to you. He is dear to you not only as another human being. He is also dear to you as a brother in the Lord. 

17 Do you think of me as a believer who works together with you? Then welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me. 

18 Has he done anything wrong to you? Does he owe you anything? Then charge it to me. 

19 I’ll pay it back. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I won’t even mention that you owe me your life. 

20 My brother, we both belong to the Lord. So I wish I could receive some benefit from you. Renew my heart. We know that Christ is the one who really renews it. 

21 I’m sure you will obey. So I’m writing to you. I know you will do even more than I ask. 

22 There is one more thing. Have a guest room ready for me. I hope I can return to all of you in answer to your prayers. 

23 Epaphras sends you greetings. Together with me, he is a prisoner because of Christ Jesus. 

24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke work together with me. They also send you greetings. 

25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

1 My brothers and sisters, in this way remain strong in the Lord. I love you and long for you. Dear friends, you are my joy and my crown.

2 Here is what I’m asking Euodia and Syntyche to do. I’m asking them to work together in the Lord. That’s because they both belong to the Lord.

3 My true companion, here is what I ask you to do. Help these women, because they have served at my side. They have worked with me to spread the good news. So have Clement and the rest of those who have worked together with me. Their names are all written in the book of life.

4 Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful!

5 Let everyone know how gentle you are. The Lord is coming soon.

6 Don’t worry about anything. No matter what happens, tell God about everything. Ask and pray, and give thanks to him.

7 Then God’s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds. He will do this because you belong to Christ Jesus. God’s peace can never be completely understood.

8 Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things.

9 Do what you have learned or received or heard from me. Follow my example. The God who gives peace will be with you.

10 At last you are concerned about me again. That makes me very happy. We belong to the Lord. I know that you were concerned. But you had no chance to show it.

11 I’m not saying this because I need anything. I have learned to be content no matter what happens to me.

12 I know what it’s like not to have what I need. I also know what it’s like to have more than I need. I have learned the secret of being content no matter what happens. I am content whether I am well fed or hungry.

13 I am content whether I have more than enough or not enough. I can do all this by the power of Christ. He gives me strength.

14 But it was good of you to share in my troubles.

15 And you believers at Philippi know what happened when I left Macedonia. Not one church helped me in the matter of giving and receiving. You were the only one that did. That was in the early days when you first heard the good news.

16 Even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help when I needed it. And you did it more than once.

17 It is not that I want your gifts. What I really want is what is best for you.

18 I have received my full pay and have more than enough. I have everything I need. That’s because Epaphroditus brought me the gifts you sent. They are a sweet-smelling offering. They are a gift that God accepts. He is pleased with it.

19 My God will meet all your needs. He will meet them in keeping with his wonderful riches. These riches come to you because you belong to Christ Jesus.

20 Give glory to our God and Father for ever and ever. Amen.

21 Greet all God’s people. They belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings.

22 All God’s people here send you greetings. Most of all, those who live in the palace of Caesar send you greetings.

23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

The epistles of John are written differently than those of Paul. The difference rests in that John knew Jesus because he heard, saw, looked upon, and handled the affairs of Jesus, especially after the crucifixion.

The epistles of John are even written differently from the Gospel, as John finishes each letter with the purpose of Jesus, which is love. This love divides itself into light and darkness. Even though you and I know that God’s light is His love and favor, to be in darkness means that, even though we may stray from Him, there is always a way back to His light. We must acknowledge the truth of the gospel, confess our sins, and walk in the light of His presence, coming full circle to stand in front of Christ.

The bigger circle of John is apparent as the opening of this epistle’s first chapter parallels its counterpart in the Gospel, stating that Jesus is the eternal Son of God and that He is greater than all.

The eternal Jesus brings life, salvation, miracles, and divine dependence to rest in Him. With John, he brings a clear statement of purpose through eyewitness testimonies that can serve to both stimulate new beliefs and substantiate existing ones. The accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which are known as the Synoptic Gospels, all take a biographical (or chronological) approach to Jesus' life. On the other hand, John follows a theological one by adding more reflection and perspective to what people already know about the Son named Jesus.

Luke writes briefly of the birth of Jesus, acknowledging that whoever and wherever you are in the human race, Jesus is the Son of God sent for your salvation. There was never a time when Jesus was not, the preexistent Son of God, and because of this, a special divine arrangement was required for Him to enter into humanity: the miracle of the virgin birth of Christ. God allowed the eternal Son of God to be implanted in the temporal womb of Mary. She carried the seed of the eternal Son of God until He was born into human flesh.

The rule of God has come to earth. This is what the story of Israel is about. Jesus came from the family line of Abraham, the ancestor of all the tribes of Israel, continuing to the great King David. This biblical scripture is proof that God had kept his ancient promises, beginning the Christmas Story with the birth of Jesus.

1 We, Paul and Timothy, are writing this letter. We serve Christ Jesus. We are sending this letter to you, all God’s holy people in Philippi. You belong to Christ Jesus. We are also sending this letter to your leaders and deacons. 

2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 

4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.

5 I am happy because you have joined me in spreading the good news. You have done so from the first day until now.  

6 God began a good work in you. And I am sure that he will carry it on until it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns.

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you. I love you with all my heart. I may be held by chains, or I may be standing up for the truth of the good news. Either way, all of you share in God’s grace together with me. 

8 God is my witness that I long for all of you. I love you with the love that Christ Jesus gives.

9 I pray that your love will grow more and more. And let it be based on knowledge and understanding. 

10 Then you will be able to know what is best. Then you will be pure and without blame for the day that Christ returns.

11 You will be filled with the fruit of right living produced by Jesus Christ. All these things bring glory and praise to God.

12 Brothers and sisters, here is what I want you to know. What has happened to me has actually helped to spread the good news. 

13 One thing has become clear. I am being held by chains because I am a  witness for Christ. All the palace guards and everyone else know it. 

14 And because I am a prisoner, most of the believers have become bolder in the Lord. They now dare even more to preach the good news without fear.

15 It’s true that some preach about Christ because they are jealous. But others preach about Christ to help me in my work.

16 The last group acts out of love. They know I have been put here to be a witness for the good news. 

17 But the others preach about Christ only to get ahead. They preach Christ for the wrong reasons. They think they can stir up trouble for me while I am being held by chains. 

18 But what does it matter? Here is the important thing. Whether for right or wrong reasons, Christ is being preached about. That makes me very glad. And I will continue to be glad.

19 I  know that you are praying for me. I also know that God will give me the  Spirit of Jesus Christ to help me. So no matter what happens, I’m sure I  will still be set free. 

20 I  completely expect and hope that I won’t be ashamed in any way. I’m sure  I will be brave enough. Now as always Christ will receive glory because of what happens to me. He will receive glory whether I live or die. 

21 For me, life finds all its meaning in Christ. Death also has its benefits.

22 Suppose  I go on living in my body. Then I will be able to carry on my work. It will bear a lot of fruit. But what should I choose? I don’t know! 

23 I can’t decide between the two. I long to leave this world and be with Christ. That is better by far. 

24 But it is more important for you that I stay alive. 

25 I’m sure of this. So I know I will remain with you. And I will continue with all of you to help you grow in your faith. I will also continue to help you be joyful in what you have been taught. 

26 I’m sure I will be with you again. Then you will be able to boast in Christ Jesus even more because of me.

Refer to https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians%201&version=NIRV for the remainder of the verse.

1 So does belonging to Christ help you in any way? Does his love comfort you at all? Do you share anything in common because of the Holy Spirit? Has Christ ever been gentle and loving toward you? 

2 If any of these things has happened to you, then agree with one another. Have the same love. Be one in spirit and in the way you think and act. By doing this, you will make my joy complete. 

3 Don’t do anything only to get ahead. Don’t do it because you are proud. Instead, be humble. Value others more than yourselves. 

4 None of you should look out just for your own good. Each of you should also look out for the good of others. 

5 As you deal with one another, you should think and act as Jesus did. 

6 In his very nature he was God. Jesus was equal with God. But Jesus didn’t take advantage of that fact. 

7 Instead, he made himself nothing. He did this by taking on the nature of a servant. He was made just like human beings. 

8 He appeared as a man. He was humble and obeyed God completely. He did this even though it led to his death. Even worse, he died on a cross! 

9 So God lifted him up to the highest place. God gave him the name that is above every name. 

10 When the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone will kneel down to worship him. Everyone in heaven and on earth and under the earth will kneel down to worship him. 

11 Everyone’s mouth will say that Jesus Christ is Lord. And God the Father will receive the glory. 

12 My dear friends, you have always obeyed God. You obeyed while I was with you. And you have obeyed even more while I am not with you. So continue to work out your own salvation. Do it with fear and trembling. 

13 God is working in you. He wants your plans and your acts to fulfill his good purpose. 

14 Do everything without complaining or arguing. 

15 Then you will be pure and without blame. You will be children of God without fault among sinful and evil people. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. 

16 You will shine as you hold on tight to the word of life. Then I will be able to boast about you on the day Christ returns. I can be happy that I didn’t run or work for nothing. 

17 But my life might even be poured out like a drink offering on your sacrifices. I’m talking about the way you serve because you believe. Even so, I am glad. I am joyful with all of you. 

18 So you too should be glad and joyful with me. 

19 I hope to send Timothy to you soon if the Lord Jesus allows it. Then I will be encouraged when I receive news about you. 

20 I have no one else like Timothy. He will truly care about how you are doing. 

21 All the others are looking out for their own interests. They are not looking out for the interests of Jesus Christ. 

22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself. He has served with me like a son with his father in spreading the good news. 

23 So I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 

24 And I’m sure I myself will come soon if the Lord allows it. 

25 But I think it’s necessary to send Epaphroditus back to you. He is my brother in the Lord. He is a worker and a soldier of Christ together with me. He is also your messenger. You sent him to take care of my needs. 

26 He longs for all of you. He is troubled because you heard he was sick.

27 He was very sick. In fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him. He also had mercy on me. God spared me sadness after sadness. 

Refer to https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2&version=NIRV for remainder of the verse.

1 Further, my brothers and sisters, be joyful because you belong to the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write about some important matters to you again. If you know about them, you will have a safe path to follow. 

2 Watch out for those dogs. They are people who do evil things. When they circumcise, it is nothing more than a useless cutting of the body. 

3 But we have been truly circumcised. We serve God by the power of his Spirit. We boast about what Christ Jesus has done. We don’t put our trust in who we are or what we can do. 

4 I have many reasons to trust in who I am and what I have done. Someone else may think they have reasons to trust in these things. But I have even more.

5 I was circumcised on the eighth day. I am part of the people of Israel. I am from the tribe of Benjamin. I am a pure Hebrew. As far as the law is concerned, I am a Pharisee. 

6 As far as being committed is concerned, I opposed and attacked the church. As far as keeping the law is concerned, I kept it perfectly.

7 I thought things like that were really something great. But now I consider them to be nothing because of Christ. 

8 Even more, I consider everything to be nothing compared to knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. To know him is worth much more than anything else. Because of him I have lost everything. But I consider all of it to be garbage so I can know Christ better. 

9 I want to be joined to him. Being right with God does not come from my obeying the law. It comes because I believe in Christ. It comes from God because of faith. 

10 I want to know Christ better. Yes, I want to know the power that raised him from the dead. I want to join him in his sufferings. I want to become like him by sharing in his death. 

11 Then by God’s grace I will rise from the dead.

12 I have not yet received all these things. I have not yet reached my goal. Christ Jesus took hold of me so that I could reach that goal. So I keep pushing myself forward to reach it. 

13 Brothers and sisters, I don’t consider that I have taken hold of it yet. But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me. 

14 I push myself forward toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself.

15 So all of us who are grown up in the faith should see things this way. Maybe you think differently about something. But God will make it clear to you. 

16 Only let us live up to what we have already reached.

17 Brothers and sisters, join together in following my example. You have us as a model. So pay close attention to those who live as we do. 

18 I have told you these things many times before. Now I tell you again with tears in my eyes. Many people live like enemies of the cross of Christ. 

19 The only thing they have coming to them is death. Their stomach is their god. They brag about what they should be ashamed of. They think only about earthly things. 

20 But we are citizens of heaven. And we can hardly wait for a Savior from there. He is the Lord Jesus Christ. 

21 He has the power to bring everything under his control. By his power he will change our earthly bodies. They will become like his glorious body.

1 I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus, just as God our Savior commanded. Christ Jesus also commanded it. We have put our hope in him.

2 Timothy, I am sending you this letter. You are my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy and peace.

3 Timothy, stay there in Ephesus. That is what I told you to do when I went into Macedonia. I want you to command certain people not to teach things that aren’t true.

4 And command them not to spend their time on stories that are made up. They must not waste time on family histories that never end. These things only lead to fights about ideas. They don’t help God’s work move forward. His work is done by faith.

5 Love is the purpose of my command. Love comes from a pure heart. It comes from a good sense of what is right and wrong. It comes from faith that is honest and true.

6 Some have turned from these teachings. They would rather talk about things that have no meaning.

7 They want to be teachers of the law. And they are very sure about that law. But they don’t know what they are talking about.

8 We know that the law is good if it is used properly.

9 We also know that the law isn’t made for godly people. It is made for those who break the law. It is for those who refuse to obey. It is for ungodly and sinful people. It is for those who aren’t holy and who don’t believe. It is for those who kill their fathers or mothers. It is for murderers.

10 It is for those who commit sexual sins. It is for those who commit homosexual acts. It is for people who buy and sell slaves. It is for liars. It is for people who tell lies in court. It is for those who are a witness to things that aren’t true. And it is for anything else that is the opposite of true teaching.

11 True teaching agrees with the good news about the glory of the blessed God. He trusted me with that good news.

12 I am thankful to Christ Jesus our Lord. He has given me strength. I thank him that he considered me faithful. I thank him for appointing me to serve him.

13 I used to speak evil things against Jesus. I tried to hurt his followers. I really pushed them around. But God showed me mercy anyway. I did those things without knowing any better. I wasn’t a believer.

14 Our Lord poured out more and more of his grace on me. Along with it came faith and love from Christ Jesus.

15 Here is a saying that you can trust. It should be accepted completely. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the worst sinner of all.

16 But for that very reason, God showed me mercy. And I am the worst of sinners. He showed me mercy so that Christ Jesus could show that he is very patient. I was an example for those who would come to believe in him. Then they would receive eternal life.

17 The eternal King will never die. He can’t be seen. He is the only God. Give him honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

18 My son Timothy, I am giving you this command. It is in keeping with the prophecies once made about you. By remembering them, you can fight the battle well.

19 Then you will hold on to faith. You will hold on to a good sense of what is right and wrong. Some have not accepted this knowledge of right and wrong. So they have destroyed their faith. They are like a ship that has sunk.

20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are among them. I have handed them over to Satan. That will teach them not to speak evil things against God.

1 First, I want you to pray for all people. Ask God to help and bless them. Give thanks for them.

2 Pray for kings. Pray for everyone who is in authority. Pray that we can live peaceful and quiet lives. And pray that we will be godly and holy.

3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior. He wants all people to be saved.

4 He wants them to come to know the truth.

5 There is only one God. And there is only one go-between for God and human beings. He is the man Christ Jesus.

6 He gave himself to pay for the sins of all people. We have been told this message at just the right time.

7 I was appointed to be a messenger and an apostle to preach the good news. I am telling the truth. I’m not lying. God appointed me to be a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

8 So I want the men in every place to pray. I want them to lift up holy hands. I don’t want them to be angry when they pray. I don’t want them to argue.

9 In the same way, I want the women to be careful how they dress. They should wear clothes that are right and proper. They shouldn’t wear their hair in very fancy styles. They shouldn’t wear gold or pearls. They shouldn’t wear clothes that cost a lot of money.

10 Instead, they should put on good works as if good works were their clothes. This is proper for women who claim to worship God.

11 When a woman is learning, she should be quiet. She should follow her leaders in every way.

12 I do not let women teach or take authority over a man. They must be quiet.

13 That’s because Adam was made first. Then Eve was made.

14 Adam was not the one who was tricked. The woman was tricked and became a sinner.

15 Will women be saved by having children? Only if they keep on believing, loving, and leading a holy life in a proper way.

1 Here is a saying you can trust. If anyone wants to be a leader in the church, they want to do a good work for God and people.

2 A leader must be free from blame. He must be faithful to his wife. In anything he does, he must not go too far. He must control himself. He must be worthy of respect. He must welcome people into his home. He must be able to teach.

3 He must not get drunk. He must not push people around. He must be gentle. He must not be a person who likes to argue. He must not love money.

4 He must manage his own family well. He must make sure that his children obey him. And he must do this in a way that gains him respect.

5 Suppose someone doesn’t know how to manage his own family. Then how can he take care of God’s church?

6 The leader must not be a new believer. If he is, he might become proud. Then he would be judged just like the devil.

7 The leader must also be respected by those who are outside the church. Then he will not be put to shame. He will not fall into the devil’s trap.

8 In the same way, deacons must be worthy of respect. They must be honest and true. They must not drink too much wine. They must not try to get money by cheating people.

9 They must hold on to the deep truths of the faith. Even their own minds tell them to do that.

10 First they must be tested. Then let them serve as deacons if there is nothing against them.

11 In the same way, the women must be worthy of respect. They must not say things that harm others. In anything they do, they must not go too far. They must be worthy of trust in everything.

12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife. He must manage his children and family well.

13 Those who have served well earn the full respect of others. They also become more sure of their faith in Christ Jesus.

14 I hope I can come to you soon. But now I am writing these instructions to you.

15 Then if I have to put off my visit, you will know how people should act in God’s family. The family of God is the church of the living God. It is the pillar and foundation of the truth.

16 There is no doubt that true godliness comes from this great mystery. Jesus came as a human being. The Holy Spirit proved that he was the Son of God. He was seen by angels. He was preached among the nations. People in the world believed in him. He was taken up to heaven in glory.

1 The Holy Spirit clearly says that in the last days some people will leave the faith. They will follow spirits that will fool them. They will believe things that demons will teach them.

2 Teachings like those come from liars who pretend to be what they are not. Their sense of what is right and wrong has been destroyed. It’s as though it has been burned with a hot iron.

3 They do not allow people to get married. They order them not to eat certain foods. But God created those foods. So people who believe and know the truth should receive them and give thanks for them.

4 Everything God created is good. You shouldn’t turn anything down. Instead, you should thank God for it.

5 The word of God and prayer make it holy.

6 Point out these things to the brothers and sisters. Then you will serve Christ Jesus well. You will show that you’ve grown in the truths of the faith. You will show that you’ve been trained by the good teaching you’ve obeyed.

7 Don’t have anything to do with godless stories and silly tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.

8 Training the body has some value. But being godly has value in every way. It promises help for the life you are now living and the life to come.

9 This is the truth you can trust and accept completely.

10 This is why we work and try so hard. It’s because we have put our hope in the living God. He is the Savior of all people. Most of all, he is the Savior of those who believe.

11 Command and teach these things.

12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Set an example for the believers in what you say and in how you live. Also set an example in how you love and in what you believe. Show the believers how to be pure.

13 Until I come, spend your time reading Scripture out loud to one another. Spend your time preaching and teaching.

14 Don’t fail to use the gift the Holy Spirit gave you. He gave it to you through a prophecy from God. It was given when the elders placed their hands on you.

15 Keep on doing these things. Give them your complete attention. Then everyone will see how you are coming along.

16 Be careful of how you live and what you believe. Never give up. Then you will save yourself and those who hear you.

1 Correct an older man in a way that shows respect. Make an appeal to him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as if they were your brothers. Treat older women as if they were your mothers.

2 Treat younger women as if they were your sisters. Be completely pure in the way you treat them.

3 Take care of the widows who really need help.

4 But suppose a widow has children or grandchildren. They should first learn to put their faith into practice. They should care for their own family. In that way they will pay back their parents and grandparents. That pleases God.

5 A widow who really needs help and is left all alone puts her hope in God. Night and day she keeps on praying. Night and day she asks God for help.

6 But a widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still living.

7 Give these instructions to the people. Then no one can be blamed.

8 Everyone should provide for their own relatives. Most of all, everyone should take care of their own family. If they don’t, they have left the faith. They are worse than someone who doesn’t believe.

9 No widow should be put on the list of widows unless she is more than 60 years old. She must also have been faithful to her husband.

10 She must be well known for the good things she does. That includes bringing up children. It includes inviting guests into her home. It includes washing the feet of the Lord’s people. It includes helping those who are in trouble. A widow should spend her time doing all kinds of good things.

11 Don’t put younger widows on that kind of list. They might want pleasure more than they want Christ. Then they would want to get married again.

12 If they do that, they will be judged. They have broken their first promise.

13 Besides, they get into the habit of having nothing to do. They go around from house to house. They waste their time. They also bother other people and say things that make no sense. They shouldn’t say those things.

14 So here is the advice I give to younger widows. Get married. Have children. Take care of your own homes. Don’t give the enemy the chance to tell lies about you.

15 In fact, some have already turned away to follow Satan.

16 Suppose a woman is a believer and takes care of widows. She should continue to help them. She shouldn’t let the church pay the expenses. Then the church can help the widows who really need it.

17 The elders who do the church’s work well are worth twice as much honor. That is true in a special way of elders who preach and teach.

18 Scripture says, “Do not stop an ox from eating while it helps separate the grain from the straw.” (Deuteronomy 25:4) Scripture also says, “Workers are worthy of their pay.” (Luke 10:7)

19 Don’t believe a charge against an elder unless two or three witnesses bring it.

20 But those elders who are sinning should be corrected in front of everyone. This will be a warning to the others.

21 I command you to follow these instructions. I command you in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels. Treat everyone the same. Don’t favor one person over another.

22 Don’t be too quick to place your hands on others to set them apart to serve God. Don’t take part in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

23 Stop drinking only water. If your stomach is upset, drink a little wine. It can also help the other sicknesses you often have.

24 The sins of some people are easy to see. They are already being judged. Others will be judged later.

25 In the same way, good works are easy to see. But even good works that are hard to see can’t stay hidden forever.

1 All who are forced to serve as slaves should consider their masters worthy of full respect. Then people will not speak evil things against God’s name and against what we teach.

2 Some slaves have masters who are believers. They shouldn’t show their masters disrespect just because they are also believers. Instead, they should serve them even better. That’s because their masters are loved by them as believers. These masters are committed to caring for their slaves. These are the things you are to teach. Try hard to get the believers to do them.

3 Suppose someone teaches something different than I have taught. Suppose that person doesn’t agree with the true teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. Suppose they don’t agree with godly teaching.

4 Then that person is proud and doesn’t understand anything. They like to argue more than they should. They can’t agree about what words mean. All of this results in wanting what others have. It causes fighting, harmful talk, and evil distrust.

5 It stirs up trouble all the time among people whose minds are twisted by sin. The truth they once had has been taken away from them. They think they can get rich by being godly.

6 You gain a lot when you live a godly life. But you must be happy with what you have.

7 We didn’t bring anything into the world. We can’t take anything out of it.

8 If we have food and clothing, we will be happy with that.

9 People who want to get rich are tempted. They fall into a trap. They are tripped up by wanting many foolish and harmful things. Those who live like that are dragged down by what they do. They are destroyed and die.

10 Love for money causes all kinds of evil. Some people want to get rich. They have wandered away from the faith. They have wounded themselves with many sorrows.

11 But you are a man of God. Run away from all these things. Try hard to do what is right and godly. Have faith, love and gentleness. Hold on to what you believe.

12 Fight the good fight along with all other believers. Take hold of eternal life. You were chosen for it when you openly told others what you believe. Many witnesses heard you.

13 God gives life to everything. Christ Jesus told the truth when he was a witness in front of Pontius Pilate. In the sight of God and Christ, I give you a command.

14 Obey it until our Lord Jesus Christ appears. Obey it completely. Then no one can find fault with it or you.

15 God will bring Jesus back at a time that pleases him. God is the blessed and only Ruler. He is the greatest King of all. He is the most powerful Lord of all.

16 God is the only one who can’t die. He lives in light that no one can get close to. No one has seen him. No one can see him. Honor and power belong to him forever. Amen.

17 Command people who are rich in this world not to be proud. Tell them not to put their hope in riches. Wealth is so uncertain. Command those who are rich to put their hope in God. He richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

18 Command the rich to do what is good. Tell them to be rich in doing good things. They must give freely. They must be willing to share.

19 In this way, they will store up true riches for themselves. It will provide a firm basis for the next life. Then they will take hold of the life that really is life.

20 Timothy, guard what God has trusted you with. Turn away from godless chatter. Stay away from opposing ideas that are falsely called knowledge.

21 Some people believe them. By doing that they have turned away from the faith. May God’s grace be with you all.

1 I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. He sent me to tell about the promise of life found in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy, I am sending you this letter. You are my dear son. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy and peace.

3 I thank God, whom I serve as did our people of long ago. I serve God, knowing that what I have done is right. Night and day I thank God for you. Night and day I always remember you in my prayers.

4 I remember your tears. I long to see you so that I can be filled with joy.

5 I remember your honest and true faith. It was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice. And I am certain that it is now alive in you also.

6 This is why I remind you to help God’s gift grow, just as a small spark grows into a fire. God put his gift in you when I placed my hands on you.

7 God gave us his Spirit. And the Spirit doesn’t make us weak and fearful. Instead, the Spirit gives us power and love. He helps us control ourselves.

8 So don’t be ashamed of the message about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, his prisoner. Instead, join with me as I suffer for the good news. God’s power will help us do that.

9 God has saved us. He has chosen us to live a holy life. It wasn’t because of anything we have done.

10 It was because of his own purpose and grace. Through Christ Jesus, God gave us this grace even before time began. It has now been made known through the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus. He has broken the power of death. Because of the good news, he has brought life out into the light. That life never dies.

11 I was appointed to announce the good news. I was appointed to be an apostle and a teacher.

12 That’s why I’m suffering the way I am. But this gives me no reason to be ashamed. That’s because I know who I have believed in. I am sure he is able to take care of what I have given him. I can trust him with it until the day he returns as judge.

13 Follow what you heard from me as the pattern of true teaching. Follow it with faith and love because you belong to Christ Jesus.

14 Guard the truth of the good news that you were trusted with. Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

15 You know that all the believers in Asia Minor have deserted me. They include Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16 May the Lord show mercy to all who live in the house of Onesiphorus. He often encouraged me. He was not ashamed that I was being held by chains.

17 In fact, it was just the opposite. When he was in Rome, he looked everywhere for me. At last he found me.

18 May Onesiphorus find mercy from the Lord on the day Jesus returns as judge! You know very well how many ways Onesiphorus helped me in Ephesus.

1 Here is what I want you to know. There will be terrible times in the last days.

2 People will love themselves. They will love money. They will brag and be proud. They will tear others down. They will not obey their parents. They won’t be thankful or holy.

3 They won’t love others. They won’t forgive others. They will tell lies about people. They will be out of control. They will be wild. They will hate what is good.

4 They will turn against their friends. They will act without thinking. They will think they are better than others. They will love what pleases them instead of loving God.

5 They will act as if they were serving God. But what they do will show that they have turned their backs on God’s power. Have nothing to do with these people.

6 They are the kind who trick their way into the homes of some women. These women are ready to believe anything. And they take control over these women. These women are loaded down with sins. They give in to all kinds of evil desires.

7 They are always learning. But they are never able to come to know the truth.

8 Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. In the same way, the teachers I’m talking about oppose the truth. Their minds are twisted. As far as the faith is concerned, God doesn’t accept them.

9 They won’t get very far. Just like Jannes and Jambres, their foolish ways will be clear to everyone.

10 But you know all about my teaching. You know how I live and what I live for. You know about my faith and love. You know how patient I am. You know I haven’t given up.

11 You know that I was treated badly. You know that I suffered greatly. You know what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. You know how badly I have been treated. But the Lord saved me from all my troubles.

12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be treated badly.

13 Evil people and pretenders will go from bad to worse. They will fool others, and others will fool them.

14 But I want you to continue to follow what you have learned and are sure about. You know the people you learned it from.

15 You have known the Holy Scriptures ever since you were a little child. They are able to teach you how to be saved by believing in Christ Jesus.

16 God has breathed life into all Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right.

17 By using Scripture, the servant of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing.

1 I give you a command in the sight of God and Christ Jesus. Christ will judge the living and the dead. Because he and his kingdom are coming, here is the command I give you. 

2 Preach the word. Be ready to serve God in good times and bad. Correct people’s mistakes. Warn them. Encourage them with words of hope. Be very patient as you do these things. Teach them carefully. 

3 The time will come when people won’t put up with true teaching. Instead, they will try to satisfy their own desires. They will gather a large number of teachers around them. The teachers will say what the people want to hear. 

4 The people will turn their ears away from the truth. They will turn to stories that aren’t true. 

5 But I want you to keep your head no matter what happens. Don’t give up when times are hard. Work to spread the good news. Do everything God has given you to do.

6 I am already being poured out like a drink offering. The time when I will leave is near. 

7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. 

8 Now there is a crown waiting for me. It is given to those who are right with God. The Lord, who judges fairly, will give it to me on the day he returns. He will not give it only to me. He will also give it to all those who are longing for him to return.

9 Do your best to come to me quickly. 

10 Demas has deserted me. He has gone to Thessalonica. He left me because he loved this world. Crescens has gone to Galatia. Titus has gone to Dalmatia. 

11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you. He helps me in my work for the Lord. 

12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 

13 When you come, bring my coat. I left it with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books. Most of all, bring the ones made out of animal skins.

14 Remember Alexander, the one who works with metal. He did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will pay him back for what he has done. 

15 You too should watch out for him. He strongly opposed our message.

16 The first time I was put on trial, no one came to help me. Everyone deserted me. I hope they will be forgiven for it. 

17 The Lord stood at my side. He gave me the strength to preach the whole message. Then all the Gentiles heard it. I was saved from the lion’s mouth. 

18 The Lord will save me from every evil attack. He will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Give him glory for ever and ever. Amen.

19 Greet Priscilla and Aquila. Greet those who live in the house of Onesiphorus.

20 Erastus stayed in Corinth. I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. 

21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you. So do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.

22 May the Lord be with your spirit. May God’s grace be with you all.

1 I, Paul, am writing this letter. I serve God, and I am an apostle of Jesus Christ. God sent me to help his chosen people believe in Christ more and more. God sent me to help them understand even more the truth that leads to godly living.

2 That belief and understanding lead to the hope of eternal life. Before time began, God promised to give that life. And he does not lie.

3 Now, at just the right time, he has made his promise clear. He did this through the preaching that he trusted me with. God our Savior has commanded all these things.

4 Titus, I am sending you this letter. You are my true son in the faith we share. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace.

5 I left you on the island of Crete. I did this because there were some things that hadn’t been finished. I wanted you to put them in order. I also wanted you to appoint elders in every town. I told you how to do it.

6 An elder must be without blame. He must be faithful to his wife. His children must be believers. They must not give anyone a reason to say that they are wild and don’t obey.

7 A church leader takes care of God’s family. That’s why he must be without blame. He must not look after only his own interests. He must not get angry easily. He must not get drunk. He must not push people around. He must not try to get money by cheating people.

8 Instead, a church leader must welcome people into his home. He must love what is good. He must control his mind and feelings. He must do what is right. He must be holy. He must control the desires of his body.

9 The message as it has been taught can be trusted. He must hold firmly to it. Then he will be able to use true teaching to comfort others and build them up. He will be able to prove that people who oppose it are wrong.

10 Many people refuse to obey God. All they do is talk about things that mean nothing. They try to fool others. No one does these things more than the circumcision group.

11 They must be stopped. They are making trouble for entire families. They do this by teaching things they shouldn’t. They do these things to cheat people.

12 One of Crete’s own prophets has a saying. He says, “People from Crete are always liars. They are evil beasts. They don’t want to work. They live only to eat.”

13 This saying is true. So give a strong warning to people who refuse to obey God. Then they will understand the faith correctly.

14 Then they will pay no attention to Jewish stories that aren’t true. They won’t listen to the mere human commands of people who turn away from the truth.

15 To people who are pure, all things are pure. But to those who have twisted minds and don’t believe, nothing is pure. In fact, their minds and their sense of what is right and wrong are twisted.

16 They claim to know God. But their actions show they don’t know him. They are hated by God. They refuse to obey him. They aren’t fit to do anything good.

1 But what you teach must agree with true teaching.

2 Tell the older men that in anything they do, they must not go too far. They must be worthy of respect. They must control themselves. They must have true faith. They must love others. They must not give up.

3 In the same way, teach the older women to lead a holy life. They must not tell lies about others. They must not let wine control them. Instead, they must teach what is good.

4 Then they can advise the younger women to love their husbands and children.

5 The younger women must control themselves and be pure. They must take good care of their homes. They must be kind. They must follow the lead of their husbands. Then no one will be able to speak evil things against God’s word.

6 In the same way, help the young men to control themselves.

7 Do what is good. Set an example for them in everything. When you teach, be honest and serious.

8 No one can question the truth. So teach what is true. Then those who oppose you will be ashamed. That’s because they will have nothing bad to say about us.

9 Teach slaves to obey their masters in everything they do. Tell them to try to please their masters. They must not talk back to them.

10 They must not steal from them. Instead, they must show that they can be trusted completely. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior appealing in every way.

11 God’s grace has now appeared. By his grace, God offers to save all people.

12 His grace teaches us to say no to godless ways and sinful desires. We must control ourselves. We must do what is right. We must lead godly lives in today’s world.

13 That’s how we should live as we wait for the blessed hope God has given us. We are waiting for Jesus Christ to appear in his glory. He is our great God and Savior.

14 He gave himself for us. By doing that, he set us free from all evil. He wanted to make us pure. He wanted us to be his very own people. He wanted us to desire to do what is good.

15 These are the things you should teach. Encourage people and give them hope. Correct them with full authority. Don’t let anyone look down on you.

1 Remind God’s people to obey rulers and authorities. Remind them to be ready to do what is good.

2 Tell them not to speak evil things against anyone. Remind them to live in peace. They must consider the needs of others. They must always be gentle toward everyone.

3 At one time we too acted like fools. We didn’t obey God. We were tricked. We were controlled by all kinds of desires and pleasures. We were full of evil. We wanted what belongs to others. People hated us, and we hated one another.

4 But the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared.

5 He saved us. It wasn’t because of the good things we had done. It was because of his mercy. He saved us by washing away our sins. We were born again. The Holy Spirit gave us new life.

6 God poured out the Spirit on us freely. That’s because of what Jesus Christ our Savior has done.

7 His grace made us right with God. So now we have received the hope of eternal life as God’s children.

8 You can trust this saying. These things are important. Treat them that way. Then those who trust in God will be careful to commit themselves to doing good. These things are excellent. They are for the good of everyone.

9 But keep away from foolish disagreements. Don’t argue about family histories. Don’t make trouble. Don’t fight about what the law teaches. Don’t argue about things like that. It doesn’t do any good. It doesn’t help anyone.

10 Warn anyone who tries to get believers to separate from one another. Warn that person more than once. After that, have nothing to do with them.

11 You can be sure that people like this are twisted and sinful. Their own actions judge them.

12 I will send Artemas or Tychicus to you. Then do your best to come to me at Nicopolis. I’ve decided to spend the winter there.

13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos. Send them on their way. See that they have everything they need.

14 Our people must learn to commit themselves to doing what is good. Then they can provide for people when they are in great need. If they do that, their lives won’t turn out to be useless.

15 Everyone who is with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. May God’s grace be with you all.

Jude and James were brothers of Jesus. James was a leader in the church in Jerusalem. He was the writer of the book of James. Jude also had authority as a leader in the church. Jude most likely wrote this letter to Jewish believers. This letter would have special meaning for these believers. That’s because it talks about Israel’s history and about angels. And it talks about other writings that would have meaning for them.

Jude speaks about the problem of false teachers in the church. They are teaching against the true faith. These false teachers claim they have had inspired dreams. They reject the authority of the church leaders. And they use their bodies in unholy ways. These false teachers claim that they are bringing God’s message. But they don’t show that they have the spirit of God in them. They live following their own ungodly desires. Jude warns the believers to actively resist these false teachers. He tells them to clean out their community by saying no to these false teachings.

It seems that the apostle Peter received a copy of Jude’s letter. Peter then wrote a letter of his own. Peter’s letter supported what Jude had said. It stated that Jude had faithfully presented the teachings of Jesus’ own apostles.