GREETINGS

¹From Small Man (Paul), a sacred servant of the Great Spirit and a message bearer for Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One. I have been sent to strengthen the spiritual ways of Creator’s chosen ones and their understanding of the truth that guides them on this sacred path. ²This way of trusting and understanding rest on the hope of the life of the world to come that never fades away, full of beauty and harmony. It was long ago, before the beginning of time, that the Great Spirit, who always speaks the truth, promised this life to us. ³So when the time was right, the Great Spirit, who is our Sacred Deliverer, trusted me with this message and told me to make it known to all who will hear.

⁴To Big Man (Titus), my true son in our spiritual ways.1 I greet you with the gift of great kindness that comes from our Father the Great Spirit and from Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One, our Sacred Deliverer.

CHOOSING SPIRITUAL LEADERS

⁵I left you behind at Flesh Eater Island (Crete) so you would finish setting things in order for the sacred family who gathers there and put in place the elders who will be the spiritual leaders in all the villages, just as I have instructed you.

⁶These spiritual leaders must be free from accusation, faithful in marriage,2 and have children who are not wild and rebellious, but respectful followers of our spiritual ways. ⁷Because they represent the Great Spirit, the elders who watch over the sacred family must have a good reputation with outsiders. They must not be stubborn, hot-headed, heavy drinkers, violent, or greedy for possessions.

⁸Instead, they must be willing to open their homes to others, love what is good, and think clearly. With self-discipline, they must walk with a good heart in our sacred ways ⁹and stay true to the faithful message they have been taught. Then these elders will be able to encourage others by teaching the truth about our spiritual ways. Then they will be able to stand up to and prove wrong those who oppose them.

A WARNING ABOUT TROUBLEMAKERS

¹⁰There are many troublemakers with forked tongues and empty words. Most of them are from our own Tribal Members, flesh cutters who require others to participate in the cutting of the flesh ceremony. ¹¹These men must be silenced, for they are troubling whole families by teaching wrong things. They are behaving like tricksters using people for their own gain.

¹²One of their own prophets said, “People from Flesh Eater Island (Crete) always speak with forked tongues. They are evil beasts who are lazy and eat too much.” ¹³I have found this to be true of some of them. So speak sharply to them, that they may learn to find health in our spiritual ways.3 ¹⁴Tell them not to listen to made-up stories from our Tribal Members or to instructions from those who are turning away from the truth.

¹⁵To the pure, all things are pure. But to those who are unclean because they do not believe the truth, nothing is pure, for both in their minds and deep within their hearts they have been made unclean. ¹⁶They represent themselves as those who know the Great Spirit, but the path they walk proves they do not. They show themselves to be disgusting, rebellious, and worthless for any kind of good deed.

GUIDANCE FOR THE SACRED FAMILY

¹But as for you, teach those things that lead to a healthy spiritual walk. ²Expect the older men to be sober-minded, worthy of respect, and self-disciplined as they walk with firm steps on a path of trust and love. ³In the same way, expect the elder women to walk a sacred path. They should not talk in a bad way about others or be heavy drinkers. They should be wisdomkeepers, ⁴teaching young women to love their husbands and their children. ⁵They should show the young women how to be self-disciplined, pure-minded, working at home, kind, and following the loving guidance of their husbands. In this way, they will not bring dishonor to the message of the Great Spirit.

⁶In the same manner, urge the young men to be self-disciplined in every way. ⁷As for yourself, be an example to them by the good deeds you do, and in the heartfelt and respectful ways you teach. ⁸Speak with firm words and with an honesty that cannot be spoken against, so that those who oppose will be put to shame, with nothing bad to say about you.

⁹As for those sacred family members who are slaves, teach them to do all that their masters require in a good way, and not to argue ¹⁰or steal from them. Instead, they should show that they can be fully trusted. In this way, they will properly show the beauty of the teaching of the Great Spirit, our Sacred Deliverer.

WALKING WITH WISDOM

¹¹For the gift of Creator’s great kindness that sets people free has shined its light on all human beings. ¹²It instructs us to turn away from all that does not honor our Creator and from the desire to walk in the ways of this world. It instructs us to walk with straight and firm steps on a good and sacred path in this present world. ¹³For we are looking and waiting for the blessing of the bright-shining appearance of the one who set us free and made us whole—our Great Spirit, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One. ¹⁴He paid the highest price to set us free from all our wrongdoings and purify for himself a people whose hearts burn with fire to do good deeds.

¹⁵So speak out boldly about these things. Strengthen the hearts of the ones who are doing good and set straight the ones who are doing wrong. Let no one ignore you.

MORE GUIDANCE AND WISDOM

¹Remind the sacred family members to give way to the powers and authorities that rule the land. They must follow their laws and be ready to do any good deed. ²Make sure they do not speak evil of anyone. Instead, they should be peacemakers who are gentle and humble toward all people. ³For it was not that long ago that we were also foolish and misled rebels who let our evil desires rule over us. Some of us were even bad-hearted, jealous troublemakers, hated by others and hating each other.

⁴But then the kindness of the Great Spirit who sets us free and makes us whole appeared, along with his love for all human beings. ⁵He set us free from our bad hearts and broken ways, not because of any good thing we did to deserve this, but because in his love he took pity on us. He set us free by the washing that birthed us into a new life through the power of the Holy Spirit. ⁶Creator freely rained down his Spirit on us through Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One, our Sacred Deliverer. ⁷We have been given good standing by his great kindness, so that we now can have our share in the hope of the life of the world to come that never fades away, full of beauty and harmony.

STAY AWAY FROM FOOLISH ARGUMENTS

⁸You can be sure that the things I have told you are true and good and helpful for everyone. I want you to speak boldly about these things, so that those who trust in Creator will give themselves to doing good things for others. ⁹But stay away from foolish arguments about ancestors, from things that cause division, and from conflicts about our tribal law. Arguments like these are worthless and will not help anyone. ¹⁰If anyone among you keeps stirring up division, warn him once, then a second time. After that have nothing more to do with him. ¹¹For you know that people like this are walking in broken and twisted ways that show how guilty they are.

FINAL WORDS

¹²After I send Free from Harm (Artemas) or He Is at Ease (Tychicus) to you, make it your aim to come to me at Village of Victory (Nicopolis). I have decided to stay there for the winter. ¹³Do all you can to give traveling help to Counsel Giver (Zenas), who is an expert in tribal law, and He Tears Down (Apollos), so they will have all they need. ¹⁴Our sacred family members must learn to give themselves to doing good for others when they are in need. In this way, they will not fail to bear good fruit in their lives.

¹⁵All who are with me send greetings to you. Pass on our greetings to all who share our deep friendship in our spiritual ways.4

May the gift of Creator’s great kindness rest on all of you.