Titus 3
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 3
1 [a]Remind them to be under the control of magistrates and authorities,[b] to be obedient, to be open to every good enterprise.(A) 2 They are to slander no one, to be peaceable, considerate, exercising all graciousness toward everyone. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded, slaves to various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful ourselves and hating one another.(B)
4 But when the kindness and generous love
of God our savior appeared,(C)
5 not because of any righteous deeds we had done
but because of his mercy,
he saved us through the bath of rebirth
and renewal by the holy Spirit,(D)
6 whom he richly poured out on us
through Jesus Christ our savior,(E)
7 so that we might be justified by his grace
and become heirs in hope of eternal life.(F)
8 This saying is trustworthy.
Advice to Titus.[c] I want you to insist on these points, that those who have believed in God be careful to devote themselves to good works; these are excellent and beneficial to others.(G) 9 [d]Avoid foolish arguments, genealogies, rivalries, and quarrels about the law,(H) for they are useless and futile. 10 After a first and second warning, break off contact with a heretic,(I) 11 realizing that such a person is perverted and sinful and stands self-condemned.
Directives, Greetings, and Blessing.[e] 12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, try to join me at Nicopolis, where I have decided to spend the winter.(J) 13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey soon, and see to it that they have everything they need.(K) 14 But let our people, too, learn to devote themselves to good works to supply urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive.(L)
15 All who are with me send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with all of you.(M)
Footnotes
- 3:1–8 The list of Christian duties continues from Ti 2:9–10, undergirded again as in Ti 2:11–13 by appeal to what God in Christ has done (Ti 2:4–7; cf. Ti 2:11–14). The spiritual renewal of the Cretans, signified in God’s merciful gift of baptism (Ti 3:4–7), should be reflected in their improved attitude toward civil authority and in their Christian relationship with all (Ti 3:1–3).
- 3:1 Magistrates and authorities: some interpreters understand these terms as referring to the principalities and powers of the heavenly hierarchy. To be open to every good enterprise: this implies being good citizens. It could also be translated “ready to do every sort of good work” (as Christians); cf. Ti 3:14.
- 3:8–11 In matters of good conduct and religious doctrine, Titus is to stand firm.
- 3:9 See note on 1 Tm 6:20–21.
- 3:12–15 Artemas or Tychicus (2 Tm 4:12) is to replace Titus, who will join Paul in his winter sojourn at Nicopolis in Epirus, on the western coast of Greece.
提多书 3
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
专心行善
3 你要提醒众人顺服执政掌权者，遵守法令，随时准备做善事。 2 不要毁谤，不要争吵，要谦和、恭敬地对待每一个人。 3 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。 4 但我们的救主上帝向人彰显了祂的恩慈和仁爱， 5 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。 6 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。 7 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。 8 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。
9 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！
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