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。

Doing Helpful Things

Remind your people to obey the rulers and authorities and not to be rebellious. They must always be ready to do something helpful and not say cruel things or argue. They should be gentle and kind to everyone. We used to be stupid, disobedient, and foolish, as well as slaves of all sorts of desires and pleasures. We were evil and jealous. Everyone hated us, and we hated everyone.

God our Savior showed us
    how good and kind he is.
He saved us because
    of his mercy,
and not because
of any good things
    we have done.

God washed us by the power
    of the Holy Spirit.
He gave us new birth
    and a fresh beginning.
God sent Jesus Christ
our Savior
    to give us his Spirit.

Jesus treated us much better
    than we deserve.
He made us acceptable to God
and gave us the hope
    of eternal life.

This message is certainly true.

These teachings are useful and helpful for everyone. I want you to insist that the people follow them, so that all who have faith in God will be sure to do good deeds. But don't have anything to do with stupid arguments about ancestors. And stay away from disagreements and quarrels about the Law of Moses. Such arguments are useless and senseless.

10 Warn troublemakers once or twice. Then don't have anything else to do with them. 11 You know their minds are twisted, and their own sins show how guilty they are.

Personal Instructions and Greetings

12 (A) I plan to send Artemas or Tychicus to you. After he arrives, please try your best to meet me at Nicopolis. I have decided to spend the winter there.

13 (B) When Zenas the lawyer and Apollos get ready to leave, help them as much as you can, so they won't have need of anything.

14 Our people should learn to spend their time doing something useful and worthwhile.

15 Greetings to you from everyone here. Greet all of our friends who share in our faith.

I pray that the Lord will be kind to all of you!