專心行善

你要提醒眾人順服執政掌權者,遵守法令,隨時準備做善事。 不要毀謗,不要爭吵,要謙和、恭敬地對待每一個人。 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。 但我們的救主上帝向人彰顯了祂的恩慈和仁愛, 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。 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。 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。 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。

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!

Remind them to be "V’NISHMA" ("obedient, and we will obey!" SHEMOT 24:7) to sarim (rulers), to shiltonim (authorities), to be submissive, to be obedient, ready for every ma’aseh tov.

Speak lashon hora of no one, be not ohev riv (quarrelsome). Be eidel (gentle), displaying anavah (meekness) to kol Bnei Adam.

For all of us were once without da’as, sorrarim (disobedient), being led astray, avadim (slaves) of ta’avot and to various ta’anugot (pleasures) of the Olam Hazeh, spending our lives in eyvah (enmity BERESHIS 3:15) and kina (jealousy), hated, and hating one another.

But when the Chen v’Chesed and the ahavas Hashem Moshieynu appeared to Bnei Adam,

Not by tzidkateynu (our righteousness) in ma’asim tovim which is to our zchus (merit), but according to His rachamim, He granted us Yeshu’at Eloheynu through the mikveh mayim ruchani of rebirth and renewing of the Ruach Hakodesh [Yn 3:3],

Which Hashem poured out on us richly through Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua Moshieynu,

That, having been made YITZDAK IM HASHEM (IYOV 25:4) by the Chen v’Chesed of Hashem, we might become yoreshim (heirs) in the tikvah HaChayyei Olam.

This dvar Emes is trustworthy. And I counsel you to strongly affirm the divrei torah I am handing on to you, that those who have become ma’aminim in Hashem may be shomer for ma’asim tovim. These things to Bnei Adam are good, tov me’od.

But pilpul minutiae controversies and toldot and quarrels and fights about the Torah, avoid, for they are unprofitable hevel.

10 An ish hacholek (a man of division, a divisive man) after one or two warnings, avoid,

11 Having da’as that such a man is perverted and sinful, bringing harsha’ah (condemnation) upon himself.

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, try to come to me at Nicopolis, for there I have decided to spend the choref (winter).

13 Do your utmost to speed Zenas, the Ben Torah (scholar), and Apollos on their way, that nothing for them may be lacking.

14 Let anshei adateynu (the men of our community) learn to be concerned about ma’asim tovim so as to supply urgent needs, that they may not be lo poreh (unfruitful).

15 Drishat Shalom from all the ones with me. Drishat Shalom to those who have ahavah for us in the emunah [of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach]. Chen v’Chesed Hashem to all of you. [T.N. In the next letter, Rav Sha’ul’s ministry bore fruit in freedom in a messianic shtiebel in Colossae for a slave boy who had run away in the shackles of sin before Moshiach the Go’el set him free.]