The Right Way to Live

3 Remind the believers to ·yield to the authority of [submit/be subject to] rulers and ·government leaders [authorities], to obey them, to be ready to do ·good [whatever is good; ^Levery good work], ² to ·speak no evil about anyone [slander no one], to ·live in peace [avoid fighting], and to be gentle and ·polite [considerate; courteous] to all people.

³ In the past we also were foolish. We did not obey, we were ·wrong [mislead; deceived], and we were slaves to ·many things our bodies wanted and enjoyed [^Lvarious passions and pleasures]. We spent our lives doing evil and being ·jealous [envious]. People hated us, and we hated each other. ⁴ But when the kindness and ·love [love of humanity] of God our Savior ·was shown [appeared; was revealed], ⁵ he saved us because of his mercy. It was not because of ·good deeds we did to be right with him [or righteous deeds we did]. He saved us through the washing ·that made us new people [^Lof new-birth/regeneration and renewal] ·through [by] the Holy Spirit. ⁶ God poured out ·richly [generously; abundantly] upon us that Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Savior. ⁷ Being [^L…so that having been] ·made right with God [justified; declared righteous] by his grace, we could ·have the hope of receiving [^Lbecome heirs with the hope/expectation of] ·the life that never ends [eternal life].

⁸ This ·teaching is true [saying/word is trustworthy; 1 Tim. 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11], and I want you to ·be sure the people understand [or insist on] these things. Then those who ·believe [trust; have faith] in God will ·be careful to use their lives for [devote themselves to; or take the lead in] doing good. These things are good and will ·help [be beneficial for] everyone.

⁹ But ·stay away from [avoid] foolish ·arguments [controversies; debates] and ·talk about useless family histories [^Lgenealogies; 1 Tim. 1:4] and ·arguments [quarrels; disputes] and ·quarrels [fights] about the law [1:10, 14; 1 Tim. 1:3–7]. Those things are ·worth nothing [unprofitable] and ·will not help anyone [empty]. ¹⁰ After a first and second warning, ·avoid [reject; have nothing to do with] someone who ·causes arguments [is divisive; causes factions]. ¹¹ You can know that such people are ·evil [warped; perverted; corrupt] and sinful; ·their own sins prove them wrong [^L…being self-condemned].

Some Things to Remember

¹² When I send Artemas or Tychicus [Acts 20:4; Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:12] to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis [^Ca city located on the west coast of Greece], because I have decided to stay there this winter. ¹³ ·Do all you can [Make every effort] to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos [Acts 18:24, 27; 1 Cor. 1:12; 3:4–6] on their journey so that they have everything they need. ¹⁴ Our people must learn to ·use their lives for [devote themselves to; or take the lead in] doing good deeds to ·provide what is necessary [meet urgent needs] so that their lives will not be ·useless [unfruitful].

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

Grace be with you all.