The New Testament

Here is 2 John in the NEV. Since it’s short, this time you get the whole thing, notes and all! d

2 JOHN

Greeting

1 The elder, to a chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth—and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth—2 for the sake of the truth that abides in¹ us, and that will be with us forever; 3 that will be with us—in grace, mercy, and peace—from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Walking in Love

4 It has given me great joy to find certain of your children walking in truth, just as the Father commanded us to do.² 5 And now I ask of you, beloved lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the very one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. (6 And this is love for the Father: that we walk according to His commandments.) This is his³ commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning; and he means that⁴ you should walk in it.

Beware of Deceivers

7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who do not confess Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh; this is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 So watch over yourselves, that you might not lose the things we have labored for, but rather that you might receive a full reward.

9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the teaching of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not greet him as a brother; 11 for he who greets him as a brother is participating in his evil deeds.

Farewell

12 Though I had many other things to write to you, I did not want to communicate using paper and ink; instead, I hope to come to you and speak with you face to face, that our² joy may be full.

13 The children of your chosen sister greet you.

Notes

1. Or among

2. Lit. just as we received a commandment from the Father

3. Lit. the

4. Lit. in order that, so that

5. Some mss your

Here is Paul’s letter to Philemon in the New Eclectic Version. And here is one of my favorite parts of the letter, in which the wiley apostle, without forcing Philemon’s will, piles on reason after reason to extend the love that he (Paul) knew was already in his heart.

A Plea for Onesimus

Therefore, though I have great liberty in Christ to order you to do the proper thing, yet for love’s sake I choose instead to appeal to you, being the kind of man people refer to as “Paul, the aged”, and now as a prisoner of Jesus Christ as well. I appeal to you, then, concerning my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while yet in my chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. I am sending him—which is to say my very heart—back to you in person. I wanted to keep him here with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me during my imprisonment for the cause of the gospel; but I was unwilling to do anything without your knowledge or consent, so that your good deed might not seem to be by compulsion, but rather by your own free will. For perhaps for a little while he was separated from you for this reason, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but as more than a slave: as a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord!

Here is Paul’s letter to Titus in the New Eclectic Version. And below is chapter 2 of that letter, which is loaded with both doctrine and application:

But as for you, speak of the qualities that go along with sound instruction: namely, that older men must be temperate, dignified, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. 

Likewise, older women must be reverent in their conduct, neither malicious gossips nor slaves of much wine, but instead teachers of what is good, and so equipped to train the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, and to be sensible, chaste, devoted to home-making, good, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God may not fall into reproach.

Likewise, urge the young men to be sensible and self-controlled, in every respect presenting your life as a pattern for good works. In your teaching you must demonstrate integrity, sobriety, and sound instruction that is above criticism, so that he who opposes you may be put to shame, finding nothing evil to say about us.

Urge slaves to be submissive to their own masters in all things, and to be well pleasing, neither talking back nor pilfering, but instead showing all good fidelity, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in every way.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live sensibly, righteously, and devoutly in the present age, eagerly watching for our blessed hope: the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that he might redeem us from every lawless act and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.

Speak of these things—and exhort and convict with all authority. Let no one despise or disregard you.

I hope I have at least touch of Wm. Carey in me, the part that loved to say, “I can plow.”

In any case, here is 2 Timothy in the New Eclectic Version, leaving me just 9 books to go (but don’t tell anyone how LONG four of them are)! I praise the Lord for his faithfulness; the joy of doing this work abides, and I am truly grateful.

One might excerpt many passages from this little gem, but here is a favorite of mine that may encourage you:

6 For this reason, I would remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands; 7 for God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and self-control. 8 Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, grace that was granted us in Christ Jesus measureless ages ago, 10 but now has been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and brought to light both life and immortality through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a herald, an apostle, and a teacher. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; yet I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to keep what I have entrusted to him with a view to that Day.

Here is 1 Timothy in the NEV, and also a favorite selection. Hope you enjoy it! d

Glory to God for His Grace

12 I am grateful to the One who has empowered me—Christ Jesus our Lord—because He deemed me faithful and placed me in his service, 13 even though in former times I was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent aggressor. Yet I found mercy, because I acted ignorantly and in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord towards me was exceedingly abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy saying, deserving of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am first of all. 16 And yet for this very reason I obtained mercy, so that in me, as first, Christ Jesus might display all longsuffering, and so provide an example for those who would believe on Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible—the one and only God—be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen!