做善工的重要性

你提醒他们要服从统治者和掌权者,要顺从,并要为一切美善的工作做好准备; 不要毁谤人、不要争吵;要谦和,在一切事上对所有的人都要显出温柔。 其实,我们从前也是无知、悖逆、被迷惑的,做各种欲望和享乐的奴仆,活在恶毒和嫉妒中,是可憎恶的,又彼此相恨。

但是,当神我们救主的仁慈和他对人的爱显明的时候,
他拯救了我们;
这不是本于我们所做的义行,
而是照着他的怜悯,
藉着重生的洗涤和圣灵的更新。
神藉着我们的救主耶稣基督,
将圣灵丰丰富富地倾注在我们身上,
使我们藉着他的恩典被称为义,
可以照着永恒生命的盼望成为继承人。

这话是信实的。我希望你强调这些事,好让那些信了神的人专心投入美好的工作;这些事对人是好事,是有益处的。 至于愚拙的辩论、家谱、纷争和律法上的争执,你都要避免;因为这些都是无用的,是虚妄的。 10 对那制造分裂的人,在第一次、第二次的警戒以后,就要弃绝他, 11 因为你知道,这样的人已经背道,一直犯罪,定了自己的罪。

结尾的教导

12 我派阿特马斯特其库斯到你那里以后,你要尽快到尼科波利斯来见我,因为我已经决定在那里过冬。 13 你要尽快送齐纳斯律师和阿波罗上路,好让他们一无所缺。

14 我们自己的人,为了紧要的需用也应该学会投入美好的工作,免得成为不结果子的人。 15 所有与我在一起的人都问候你。请问候那些在信仰上爱我们的人。愿恩典与你们大家同在![a]

Footnotes

  1. 提多书 3:15 有古抄本附“阿们。”

要常常留心作善工

你要提醒他们服从执政的和掌权的,听从他们,随时准备作各种善工。 不可毁谤人,要与人无争,谦恭有礼,向众人表现充分温柔的心。 我们从前也是无知、不顺服、受了迷惑、被各种私欲和逸乐所奴役,生活在恶毒和嫉妒之中,是可憎可恶的,并且互相仇视。 然而,到了 神我们的救主显明他的恩慈和怜爱的时候, 他就救了我们,并不是由于我们所行的义,而是照着他的怜悯,借着重生的洗和圣灵的更新。 圣灵就是 神借着我们的救主耶稣基督丰丰富富浇灌在我们身上的, 使我们既然因着他的恩典得称为义,就可以凭着永生的盼望成为后嗣。

这话是可信的,我愿你确实地强调这些事,使信 神的人常常留心作善工;这些都是美事,并且是对人有益的。 你要远避愚昧的辩论、家谱、纷争和律法上的争执,因为这都是虚妄无益的。 10 分门结党的人,警戒一两次之后,就要和他绝交。 11 你知道这种人已经背道,常常犯罪,定了自己的罪。

嘱咐和问安

12 我派亚提马或推基古到你那里去的时候,你要赶快到尼哥波立来见我,因为我已决定在那里过冬。 13 你要尽力资助西纳律师和亚波罗的旅程,使他们不致缺乏。 14 我们自己的人也应当学习作善工,供应日常的需要,免得不结果子。

15 同我在一起的人都向你问安。请你问候那些因信而爱我们的人。愿恩惠与你们众人同在。

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!

Conduct Toward Those Outside the Church

Remind them to be subject to rulers and[a] authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. They must not slander[b] anyone, but be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people. For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another. [c] But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us in full measure[d] through Jesus Christ our Savior. And so,[e] since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.”[f]

Summary of the Letter

This saying[g] is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths,[h] so that those who have placed their faith in God may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good and beneficial for all people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies,[i] quarrels, and fights about the law,[j] because they are useless and empty. 10 Reject a divisive person after one or two warnings. 11 You know[k] that such a person is twisted by sin[l] and is conscious of it himself.[m]

Final Instructions and Greeting

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Make every effort to help[n] Zenas the lawyer[o] and Apollos on their way; make sure they have what they need.[p] 14 Here is another way that our people[q] can learn[r] to engage in good works to meet pressing needs and so not be unfruitful. 15 Everyone with me greets you. Greet those who love us in the faith.[s] Grace be with you all.[t]

Footnotes

  1. Titus 3:1 tc Most later witnesses (D1 0278 1241 1505 M lat sy) have καί (kai, “and”) after ἀρχαῖς (archais, “rulers”), though the earliest and best witnesses (א A C D* F G Ψ 33 104 1739 1881) lack the conjunction. Although the καί is most likely not authentic, it has been added in translation due to the requirements of English style. For more discussion, see TCGNT 586.
  2. Titus 3:2 tn Or “discredit,” “damage the reputation of.”
  3. Titus 3:4 tn Verses 4-7 are set as poetry in NA28. These verses probably constitute the referent of the expression “this saying” in v. 8.
  4. Titus 3:6 tn Or “on us richly.”
  5. Titus 3:7 tn This is the conclusion of a single, skillfully composed sentence in Greek encompassing Titus 3:4-7. Showing the goal of God’s merciful salvation, v. 7 begins literally, “in order that, being justified…we might become heirs…”
  6. Titus 3:7 tn Grk “heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
  7. Titus 3:8 sn This saying (Grk “the saying”) refers to the preceding citation (Titus 3:4-7). See 1 Tim 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11 for other occurrences of this phrase.
  8. Titus 3:8 tn Grk “concerning these things.”
  9. Titus 3:9 tn Cf. 1 Tim 1:4.
  10. Titus 3:9 sn Fights about the law were characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus as well as in Crete (cf. 1 Tim 1:3-7; Titus 1:10, 14).
  11. Titus 3:11 tn Grk “knowing” (as a continuation of the previous clause).
  12. Titus 3:11 tn Grk “is perverted and is sinning.”
  13. Titus 3:11 tn Grk “is sinning, being self-condemned.”
  14. Titus 3:13 tn Grk “Eagerly help.”
  15. Titus 3:13 tn Although it is possible the term νομικός (nomikos) indicates an expert in Jewish religious law here, according to L&N 33.338 and 56.37 it is more probable that Zenas was a specialist in civil law.
  16. Titus 3:13 tn Grk “that nothing may be lacking for them.”
  17. Titus 3:14 tn Grk “that those who are ours” (referring to the Christians).
  18. Titus 3:14 tn Grk “and also let our people learn.”
  19. Titus 3:15 tn Or “faithfully.”
  20. Titus 3:15 tc Most witnesses (א2 D1 F G H Ψ 0278 1241 1505 M lat sy bo) conclude this letter with ἀμήν (amēn, “amen”). Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. Further, early and excellent witnesses (א* A C D* 048 33 81 1739 1881 sa) lack the particle, rendering the omission the preferred reading.