Thursday, December 30

5For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—

6if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.

7For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

8but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,

9holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

10For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

11whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

12One of them, a prophet of their own, said, 'Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.'

13This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

14not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.

15To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

16They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

1But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:

27Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him.

28And they said to Him, 'By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?'

29But Jesus answered and said to them, 'I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things:

30The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.'

31And they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

32But if we say, 'From men' '—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.

33So they answered and said to Jesus, 'We do not know.' And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.'