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

Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,

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 malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for 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 ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life 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 Savior and His love for mankind 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.

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

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

whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

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.

so that being justified by His grace we would 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.

This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for 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 avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

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.

Reject a factious man after a first and second warning,

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

knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned. Personal Concerns

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 send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.

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

Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for 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.

Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.

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

All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.