Titus 1-3 - Qualifications of Elders

Greetings and Grace

Tit 1:1-3 LSB - 

[1] Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, 

for the faith of God's elect 

and the full knowledge of the truth 

which is according to godliness, 

[2] in the hope of eternal life, 

which the God who cannot lie promised from all eternity, 

[3] but at the proper time manifested His word in preaching, 

with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior,

Qualifications of Elders

Tit 1:6 LSB - [6] [namely], if any man is beyond reproach, 

the husband of one wife, 

having faithful children, [who are] not accused of dissipation, or rebellious.

Tit 1:7-9 LSB - 

[7] For the overseer must be beyond reproach as God's steward, 

not self-willed, 

not quick-tempered, 

not addicted to wine, 

not pugnacious, 

not fond of dishonest gain, 

[8] but hospitable, 

loving what is good, 

sensible, 

righteous, holy, 

self-controlled, 

[9] holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, 

so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to reprove those who contradict.

Instructions for the Older and Younger

Tit 2:2 LSB - [2] Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

Tit 2:7-8 LSB - 

[7] in all things 

show yourself to be a model of good works, 

[with] purity in doctrine, 

dignified, 

[8] sound [in] word which is irreproachable, 

so that the opponent will be put to shame, 

having nothing bad to say about us.

Tit 2:10 LSB - [10] not pilfering, 

but demonstrating all good faith 

so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in everything.

Tit 2:11-13 LSB - 

[11] For the grace of God has appeared, 

bringing salvation to all men, 

[12] instructing us that, 

denying ungodliness and worldly desires, 

we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 

[13] looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Tit 2:13-14 LSB - 

[13] looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of 

our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 

[14] who gave Himself for us 

that He might redeem us from all lawlessness, 

and purify for Himself 

a people for His own possession, zealous for good works.

Be Ready for Every Good Work

Tit 3:1-2 LSB - [1] Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, [2] to slander no one, to be peaceable, considerate, demonstrating all gentleness to all men.

Tit 3:4-6 LSB - 

[4] But when the kindness and affection of God our Savior appeared, 

[5] He saved us, 

not by works which we did in righteousness, 

but according to His mercy, 

through the washing of regeneration and 

renewing by the Holy Spirit, 

[6] whom He poured out upon us richly 

through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Tit 3:7 LSB - [7] so that having been justified by His grace, 

we would become heirs according to [the] hope of eternal life.

Personal Instructions and Greetings

2 Chronicles 34-36 - The Land Kept Sabbath

Josiah Reigns over Judah

2Ch 34:1-2 LSB - [1] Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. [2] And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

2Ch 34:3 LSB - [3] Now in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, the graven images, and the molten images.

Josiah Repairs the House of Yahweh

2Ch 34:9 LSB - [9] And they came to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the doorkeepers, had gathered from the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law

2Ch 34:21 LSB - [21] "Go, inquire of Yahweh for me and those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book which has been found, for great is the wrath of Yahweh which is poured out against us, because our fathers have not kept the word of Yahweh, to do according to all that is written in this book."

Josiah Will Not See Yahweh’s Wrath

2Ch 34:26-28 LSB - [26] "But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, thus you shall say to him, 'Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, "[Regarding] the words which you have heard, [27] because your heart was soft and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and [because] you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you," declares Yahweh. [28] "Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, so your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants."'" So they brought back word to the king.

Josiah Cuts a Covenant with Yahweh

2Ch 34:30 LSB - [30] And the king went up to the house of Yahweh and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests and the Levites and all the people, from the greatest to the least; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of Yahweh.

2Ch 34:31-33 LSB - [31] Then the king stood in his place and cut a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to do the words of the covenant that were written in this book. [32] Moreover, he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand [with him]. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. [33] And Josiah took away all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel to serve Yahweh their God. Throughout his lifetime they did not turn away from following Yahweh, the God of their fathers.

Josiah Celebrates the Passover

2Ch 35:3 LSB - [3] He also said to the Levites who provided understanding to all Israel [and] who were holy to Yahweh, "Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built; it will be a burden on [your] shoulders no longer. Now serve Yahweh your God and His people Israel.

2Ch 35:18 LSB - [18] And there had not been celebrated a Passover like it in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; nor had any of the kings of Israel celebrated such a Passover as Josiah celebrated with the priests, the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Josiah Dies in War

2Ch 35:22 LSB - [22] However, Josiah would not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to make war with him; nor did he listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to make war on the plain of Megiddo.

Judah’s Decline

2Ch 36:12 LSB - [12] And he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh his God; he did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet [who spoke] from the mouth of Yahweh.

Jerusalem Captured and Burned

2Ch 36:15-16 LSB - [15] And Yahweh, the God of their fathers, sent [word] to them again and again by the hand of His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His habitation; [16] but they [continually] mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of Yahweh arose against His people, until there was no remedy.

2Ch 36:21 LSB - [21] to fulfill the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had made up for its sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept sabbath until seventy years were fulfilled.

The Proclamation of Cyrus

2Ch 36:22-23 LSB - [22] Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia--in order to complete the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah--Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he had a proclamation pass throughout all his kingdom, and also [put it] in writing, saying, [23] "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may Yahweh his God be with him, and let him go up!'"

2 Chronicles 31-33 - Manasseh entreated Yahweh his God

Hezekiah Organizes the Priests

2Ch 31:2 LSB - [2] And Hezekiah set up the divisions of the priests and the Levites by their divisions, each according to his service, [both] the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister and to give thanks and to praise in the gates of the camp of Yahweh.

Sennacherib Invades Judah

2Ch 32:7-8 LSB - [7] "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the multitude that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. [8] "With him is [only] an arm of flesh, but with us is Yahweh our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people were sustained by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Sennacherib Reproaches Yahweh

2Ch 32:19 LSB - [19] And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of men's hands.

Yahweh Wipes Out the Men of Assyria

2Ch 32:20 LSB - [20] But King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed about this and cried out to heaven.

Manasseh Reigns over Judah

2Ch 33:2 LSB - [2] And he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh dispossessed before the sons of Israel.

Manasseh Removes Foreign Idols

2Ch 33:12-13 LSB - [12] And when he was in distress, he entreated Yahweh his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. [13] Then he prayed to Him, and He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and returned him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Yahweh [was] God.

Amon Reigns over Judah

2 Chronicles 28-30 - come to the house of Yahweh

Ahaz Reigns over Judah

Judah Defeated

2Ch 28:10 LSB - [10] "So now you are intending to subdue for yourselves the people of Judah and Jerusalem for male and female slaves. Surely, [do] you not [have] your own [matters of] guilt against Yahweh your God?

2Ch 28:19 LSB - [19] For Yahweh humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had caused [it] to be out of control in Judah and was very unfaithful to Yahweh.

Hezekiah Reigns over Judah

Hezekiah Cleanses the Temple

Hezekiah Brings an Offering

2Ch 29:36 LSB - [36] Then Hezekiah and all the people were glad over what God had prepared for the people, because the thing came about suddenly.

Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover

2Ch 30:1 LSB - [1] And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel.

2Ch 30:8 LSB - [8] "Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but give your hand to Yahweh and enter His sanctuary which He has set apart as holy forever, and serve Yahweh your God, that His burning anger may turn away from you.

2Ch 30:10-11 LSB - [10] So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they were laughing at them to scorn and mocking them. [11] Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.

2Ch 30:27 LSB - [27] Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came to His holy habitation, to heaven.

2 Chronicles 25-27

Amaziah Reigns over Judah

2Ch 25:2 LSB - [2] And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh, yet not with a whole heart.

Amaziah’s Victories

Amaziah’s Idolatry

2Ch 25:14 LSB - [14] Now it happened that after Amaziah came from striking down the Edomites, he brought the gods of the sons of Seir, set them up as his gods, worshiped them, and burned incense to them.

Israel Defeats Amaziah

Uzziah Reigns over Judah

2Ch 26:4-5 LSB - [4] And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. [5] And he continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought Yahweh, God made him succeed.

Uzziah’s Pride and Punishment

2Ch 26:16 LSB - [16] But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to Yahweh his God. And he entered the temple of Yahweh to burn incense on the altar of incense.

2Ch 26:21 LSB - [21] So King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death; and he lived in a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of Yahweh. And Jotham his son [was] over the king's house, judging the people of the land.

Jotham Reigns over Judah

2Ch 27:2 LSB - [2] And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; however he did not enter the temple of Yahweh. But the people continued acting corruptly.

2Ch 27:6 LSB - [6] So Jotham became strong because he established his ways before Yahweh his God.

2 Chronicles 22-24

Ahaziah Reigns in Judah

2Ch 22:3 LSB - [3] He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly.

Athaliah Reigns in Judah

2Ch 22:10 LSB - [10] Now Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son had died. So she rose and destroyed all the royal seed of the house of Judah.

Jehoiada Makes Joash King

2Ch 23:1 LSB - [1] Now in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took commanders of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, [and they entered] into a covenant with him.

2Ch 23:11 LSB - [11] Then they brought out the king's son and put the crown on him, and [gave him] the testimony and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, "[Long] live the king!"

Athaliah Put to Death

Jehoiada Cuts a Covenant

2Ch 23:16 LSB - [16] Then Jehoiada cut a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the people of Yahweh.

Joash Repairs the Temple

2Ch 24:17-18 LSB - [17] But after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and bowed down to the king, and the king listened to them. [18] And they forsook the house of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols; so wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their guilt.

Joash’s Treachery

2Ch 24:22 LSB - [22] Thus Joash the king did not remember the lovingkindness which his father Jehoiada had shown him, but he killed his son. And as he died he said, "May Yahweh see and avenge!"

Joash Assassinated

2Ch 24:25 LSB - [25] When they had gone from him (for they left him very sick), his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.

2 Chronicles 19-21 - Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahaziah

Jehoshaphat’s Reforms

2Ch 19:2 LSB - [2] And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out [to meet him] to his face and said to King Jehoshaphat, "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate Yahweh and so [bring] wrath on yourself from Yahweh?

2Ch 19:11 LSB - [11] "And behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in all that pertains to Yahweh, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all that pertains to the king. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Be strong and act, and Yahweh be with the one who is good."

Jehoshaphat’s Prayer

2Ch 20:4 LSB - [4] So Judah gathered together to seek [help] from Yahweh; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek Yahweh.

2Ch 20:12 LSB - [12] "O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; and we do not know what we should do, but our eyes are on You."

2Ch 20:14-15 LSB - [14] Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of Yahweh came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph; [15] and he said, "Pay attention, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says Yahweh to you, 'Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.

2Ch 20:17 LSB - [17] 'You [need] not fight in this [battle]; take your stand--stand and see the salvation of Yahweh on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for Yahweh is with you."

2Ch 20:20 LSB - [20] And they rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, establish your faith in Yahweh your God and you will be established. Establish your faith in His prophets and succeed."

2Ch 20:22 LSB - [22] When they began singing for joy and praising, Yahweh set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were defeated.

Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahaziah

2Ch 20:35 LSB - [35] Afterwards, Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. He acted wickedly in so doing.

Jehoram Reigns in Judah

2Ch 21:4 LSB - [4] So Jehoram arose over the kingdom of his father and strengthened himself, and he killed all his brothers with the sword, and some of the commanders of Israel also.

2Ch 21:6 LSB - [6] And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for Ahab's daughter was his wife; and he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh.

2Ch 21:10 LSB - [10] So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time from under his hand, because he had forsaken Yahweh, the God of his fathers.