专心行善

你要提醒众人顺服执政掌权者,遵守法令,随时准备做善事。 不要毁谤,不要争吵,要谦和、恭敬地对待每一个人。 从前我们也愚蠢、悖逆、易受迷惑,受各种私欲和享乐的驱使,心里充满了嫉妒和恶念,令人憎恶,也彼此憎恨。 但我们的救主上帝向人彰显了祂的恩慈和仁爱, 借着重生之洗和圣灵的更新拯救了我们,这并非因为我们有义行,而是因为祂的怜悯。 上帝借着我们的救主耶稣基督把圣灵丰丰富富地浇灌在我们身上。 这样,我们既然靠着祂的恩典而被称为义人,就可以成为后嗣,有永生的盼望。 以上这些话是可信的,希望你认真教导,使信上帝的人专心行善。这都是造福众人的美事。

要避免愚昧的争论、有关家谱的辩驳和律法上的争执,因为这些毫无益处。 10 对于制造分裂的人,警告过一两次后,要和他断绝来往。 11 因为你知道这种人已经背道犯罪,自定己罪。

信末的嘱咐与问候

12 我会派亚提马或者推基古去见你。到时候,你要立刻到尼哥波立来见我,因为我决定在那里过冬。 13 你要为西纳律师和亚波罗送行,尽力帮助他们,让他们路上一无所缺。 14 我们的弟兄姊妹也要学习行善,供应有急需的人,免得毫无贡献。

15 这里的弟兄姊妹都问候你,也请你问候那些因信仰而爱我们的人。

愿恩典常与你们众人同在!

正确的生活道路

你要不断地提醒众人,叫他们顺从统治者和当权者,要服从他们,要随时随地乐于行善。 不要诽谤人,要爱好和平,要温和,以礼待人。

因为我们也曾愚昧、不顺从,并上当受骗,我们也曾是各种欲望和享乐的奴隶,生活在罪恶和嫉妒之中,我们曾被人憎恨,也曾彼此憎恨过。 但是当我们的救主-上帝显示他对人类的爱时, 他拯救了我们,不是因为我们的行为,而是靠他的怜悯、重生的洗礼和使我们更新的圣灵。 上帝通过耶稣基督,我们的救世主,慷慨地把圣灵倾注给了我们, 所以,现在我们靠上帝的恩典,在他面前是清白的,从而得以成为他的继承人,实现了我们对永生的盼望。 这是可以信赖的话。

我要你强调这些事,以便使信仰上帝的人关心行善,这些是美好的,有利于人民。

但是要避免愚蠢的争议,避免家谱和律法问题上的争论,因为这些事情即无益,也无用。 10 如果一个人受了一两次警告后,依旧引起分歧,就要疏远他, 11 因为你知道,这样的人已经背道而驰,在犯罪,他已经为自己定了罪。

最后的指示和问候

12 我派亚提马或推基古去你那里后,你要尽快到尼哥波立来见我,因为我已经决定在那里过冬。 13 尽力帮助西纳律师和亚波罗,帮他们准备好旅行的一切,不要让他们缺少什么。 14 我们的人应该关心一心行善,帮助有需要的人们,免得他们没有成效。

15 所有和我在一起的人都问你好,也向那些在信仰里爱我们的人问好!愿上帝的恩典与你们所有的人同在。

Graces of the Heirs of Grace

Remind them (A)to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, (B)to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For (C)we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when (D)the kindness and the love of (E)God our Savior toward man appeared, (F)not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through (G)the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, (H)whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace (I)we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

(J)This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

Avoid Dissension

But (K)avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 (L)Reject a divisive man after the first and second [a]admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

Final Messages

12 When I send Artemas to you, or (M)Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Send Zenas the lawyer and (N)Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. 14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

Farewell

15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Titus 3:10 warning

Saved in Order to Do Good

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities,(A) to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,(B) to slander no one,(C) to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

At one time(D) we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness(E) and love of God our Savior(F) appeared,(G) he saved us,(H) not because of righteous things we had done,(I) but because of his mercy.(J) He saved us through the washing(K) of rebirth and renewal(L) by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us(M) generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace,(N) we might become heirs(O) having the hope(P) of eternal life.(Q) This is a trustworthy saying.(R) And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.(S) These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

But avoid(T) foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels(U) about the law,(V) because these are unprofitable and useless.(W) 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.(X) 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

Final Remarks

12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus(Y) to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.(Z) 13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos(AA) on their way and see that they have everything they need. 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good,(AB) in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.

15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.(AC)

Grace be with you all.(AD)