教导纯正的教义

你的教导要符合纯正的教义。 劝年长的男子要节制、庄重、自律,有全备的信心、爱心和耐心。 劝年长的妇女要过敬虔的生活,不说长道短,不做酒的奴隶,要以身作则。 这样,她们就能教导年轻的妇女爱丈夫、爱儿女、 自制、贞洁,持家、和善、顺服丈夫,免得上帝的道被人毁谤。

劝勉年轻的男子要自制。 你自己要在各样的善行上做众人的榜样,在教导上要诚恳、认真、 言语纯全、无可指责,让那些反对的人无话可说、自觉羞愧。

劝勉做奴仆的要凡事顺服主人,让主人满意,不顶撞主人, 10 不偷拿主人的东西,为人要忠信可靠,好凡事尊崇我们救主上帝的教导。

11 因为上帝拯救世人的恩典已经显明了, 12 这恩典教导我们除掉不敬虔的心和世俗的私欲,在今世过自律、公义、敬畏上帝的生活, 13 怀着美好的盼望等候耶稣基督——我们伟大的上帝和救主的荣耀显现。 14 主耶稣为我们牺牲自己,要救赎我们脱离一切罪恶,并洁净我们,使我们做祂的子民,成为热心行善的人。

15 你要讲明这些事,运用各样权柄劝勉人、责备人,别让人轻看你。

Promote Right Teaching

As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.

Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers.[a] Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes,[b] to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.

In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back 10 or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.

11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

15 You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don’t let anyone disregard what you say.

Footnotes

  1. 2:3 Greek be enslaved to much wine.
  2. 2:5 Some manuscripts read to care for their homes.

Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel

You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.(A) Teach the older men(B) to be temperate,(C) worthy of respect, self-controlled,(D) and sound in faith,(E) in love and in endurance.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers(F) or addicted to much wine,(G) but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women(H) to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled(I) and pure, to be busy at home,(J) to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands,(K) so that no one will malign the word of God.(L)

Similarly, encourage the young men(M) to be self-controlled.(N) In everything set them an example(O) by doing what is good.(P) In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.(Q)

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything,(R) to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior(S) attractive.(T)

11 For the grace(U) of God has appeared(V) that offers salvation to all people.(W) 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,(X) and to live self-controlled,(Y) upright and godly lives(Z) in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing(AA) of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,(AB) 14 who gave himself for us(AC) to redeem us from all wickedness(AD) and to purify(AE) for himself a people that are his very own,(AF) eager to do what is good.(AG)

15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.