提多書 3
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
專心行善
3 你要提醒眾人順服執政掌權者，遵守法令，隨時準備做善事。 2 不要毀謗，不要爭吵，要謙和、恭敬地對待每一個人。 3 從前我們也愚蠢、悖逆、易受迷惑，受各種私慾和享樂的驅使，心裡充滿了嫉妒和惡念，令人憎惡，也彼此憎恨。 4 但我們的救主上帝向人彰顯了祂的恩慈和仁愛， 5 藉著重生之洗和聖靈的更新拯救了我們，這並非因為我們有義行，而是因為祂的憐憫。 6 上帝藉著我們的救主耶穌基督把聖靈豐豐富富地澆灌在我們身上。 7 這樣，我們既然靠著祂的恩典而被稱為義人，就可以成為後嗣，有永生的盼望。 8 以上這些話是可信的，希望你認真教導，使信上帝的人專心行善。這都是造福眾人的美事。
9 要避免愚昧的爭論、有關家譜的辯駁和律法上的爭執，因為這些毫無益處。 10 對於製造分裂的人，警告過一兩次後，要和他斷絕來往。 11 因為你知道這種人已經背道犯罪，自定己罪。
信末的囑咐與問候
12 我會派亞提馬或者推基古去見你。到時候，你要立刻到尼哥波立來見我，因為我決定在那裡過冬。 13 你要為西納律師和亞波羅送行，盡力幫助他們，讓他們路上一無所缺。 14 我們的弟兄姊妹也要學習行善，供應有急需的人，免得毫無貢獻。
15 這裡的弟兄姊妹都問候你，也請你問候那些因信仰而愛我們的人。
願恩典常與你們眾人同在！
Titus 3
New English Translation
Conduct Toward Those Outside the Church
3 Remind them to be subject to rulers and[a] authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. 2 They must not slander[b] anyone, but be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people. 3 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. 4 [c] But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 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, 6 whom he poured out on us in full measure[d] through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 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
8 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. 9 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
- 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.
- Titus 3:2 tn Or “discredit,” “damage the reputation of.”
- 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.
- Titus 3:6 tn Or “on us richly.”
- 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…”
- Titus 3:7 tn Grk “heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
- 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.
- Titus 3:8 tn Grk “concerning these things.”
- Titus 3:9 tn Cf. 1 Tim 1:4.
- 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).
- Titus 3:11 tn Grk “knowing” (as a continuation of the previous clause).
- Titus 3:11 tn Grk “is perverted and is sinning.”
- Titus 3:11 tn Grk “is sinning, being self-condemned.”
- Titus 3:13 tn Grk “Eagerly help.”
- 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.
- Titus 3:13 tn Grk “that nothing may be lacking for them.”
- Titus 3:14 tn Grk “that those who are ours” (referring to the Christians).
- Titus 3:14 tn Grk “and also let our people learn.”
- Titus 3:15 tn Or “faithfully.”
- 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.
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