1 T each your people to obey the leaders of their country. They should be ready to do any good work.

Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work,

2 T hey must not speak bad of anyone, and they must not argue. They should be gentle and kind to all people. God Saved Us from All These Things

to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men.

3 T here was a time when we were foolish and did not obey. We were fooled in many ways. Strong desires held us in their power. We wanted only to please ourselves. We wanted what others had and were angry when we could not have them. We hated others and they hated us.

For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

4 B ut God, the One Who saves, showed how kind He was and how He loved us

But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and his love toward man, appeared,

5 b y saving us from the punishment of sin. It was not because we worked to be right with God. It was because of His loving-kindness that He washed our sins away. At the same time He gave us new life when the Holy Spirit came into our lives.

not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

6 G od gave the Holy Spirit to fill our lives through Jesus Christ, the One Who saves.

which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 B ecause of this, we are made right with God by His loving-favor. Now we can have life that lasts forever as He has promised.

that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

8 W hat I have told you is true. Teach these things all the time so those who have put their trust in God will be careful to do good things. These things are good and will help all men.

Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men:

9 D o not argue with people about foolish questions and about the Law. Do not spend time talking about all of your early fathers. This does not help anyone and it is of no use.

but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

10 T alk once or twice to a person who tries to divide people into groups against each other. If he does not stop, have nothing to do with him.

A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse;

11 Y ou can be sure he is going the wrong way. He is sinning and he knows it.

knowing that such a one is perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned.

12 I will send Artemas or Tychicus to you. As soon as one of them gets there, try to come to me in the city of Nicopolis. I have decided to spend the winter there.

When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, give diligence to come unto me to Nicopolis: for there I have determined to winter.

13 Z enas, the man who knows the law, and Apollos are going on a trip. Do everything you can to help them.

Set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.

14 O ur people must learn to work hard. They must work for what they need and be able to give to others who need help. Then their lives will not be wasted.

And let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

15 A ll those with me here greet you. Greet my Christian friends there. May you have God’s loving-favor.

All that are with me salute thee. Salute them that love us in faith. Grace be with you all.