Gabriel Predicts John’s Birth

⁵ In the days of King Herod^(A) of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division^(B) named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ Both were righteous in God’s sight,^(C) living without blame^(D) according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. ⁷ But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.^(E)

⁸ When his division was on duty^(F) and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ it happened that he was chosen by lot,^(G) according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.^{(H) 10} At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. ¹¹ An angel of the Lord^(I) appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.^{(J) 12} When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear.^{(K) 13} But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid,^(L) Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard.^(M) Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.^{(N) 14} There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer.^(O) He will be filled with the Holy Spirit^(P) while still in his mother’s womb.^{(Q) 16} He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.^{(R) 17} And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children,^(S) and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”^(T)

Sound Teaching and Christian Living

2 But you are to proclaim things consistent with sound teaching.^{(A) 2} Older men^(B) are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love,^(C) and endurance. ³ In the same way, older women^(D) are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, ⁴ so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission^(E) to their husbands, so that God’s word^(F) will not be slandered.

⁶ In the same way, encourage the young men^(G) to be self-controlled ⁷ in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity^[a] in your teaching. ⁸ Your message is to be sound beyond reproach,^(H) so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us.

⁹ Slaves are to submit to their masters^(I) in everything, and to be well-pleasing,^(J) not talking back ¹⁰ or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior^(K) in everything.

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation^[b] for all people,^{(L) 12} instructing us to deny godlessness^(M) and worldly lusts^(N) and to live in a sensible, righteous,^(O) and godly^(P) way in the present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope,^(Q) the appearing of the glory^(R) of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ He gave himself for us^(S) to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession,^(T) eager to do good works.

¹⁵ Proclaim these things; encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard^[c] you.

Christian Living among Outsiders

3 Remind them to submit^(U) to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, ² to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness^(V) to all people. ³ For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions^(W) and pleasures,^(X) living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

⁴ But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,^{(Y) 5} he saved us^(Z)—not by works of righteousness that we had done,^(AA) but according to his mercy^(AB)—through the washing of regeneration^(AC) and renewal by the Holy Spirit.^{(AD) 6} He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly^(AE) through Jesus Christ our Savior ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace,^(AF) we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.^{(AG) 8} This saying is trustworthy.^(AH) I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone. ⁹ But avoid foolish debates,^(AI) genealogies,^(AJ) quarrels,^(AK) and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless. ¹⁰ Reject a divisive^(AL) person after a first and second warning.^{(AM) 11} For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned.

Final Instructions and Closing

¹² When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you,^(AN) make every effort to come to me^(AO) in Nicopolis, because I have decided to spend the winter there. ¹³ Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos^(AP) on their journey, so that they will lack^(AQ) nothing.

¹⁴ Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works for pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.^{(AR) 15} All those who are with me send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.^(AS)

Pattern of Sin and Judgment

2 The angel of the Lord^(A) went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you out of Egypt and led you into the land^(B) I had promised to your ancestors.^(C) I also said: I will never break my covenant with you. ² You are not to make a covenant^(D) with the inhabitants of this land. You are to tear down their altars.^(E) But you have not obeyed me. What have you done? ³ Therefore, I now say: I will not drive out these people before you.^(F) They will be thorns^[a] in your sides,^(G) and their gods will be a trap for you.”^{(H) 4} When the angel of the Lord had spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly. ⁵ So they named that place Bochim^[b] and offered sacrifices there to the Lord.

Joshua’s Death

⁶ Previously, when Joshua had sent the people away, the Israelites had gone to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance.^{(I) 7} The people worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua. They had seen all the Lord’s great works^(J) he had done for Israel.

⁸ Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. ⁹ They buried him in the territory of his inheritance, in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim,^(K) north of Mount Gaash. ¹⁰ That whole generation was also gathered to their ancestors. After them another generation rose up who did not know the Lord^(L) or the works he had done for Israel.

¹¹ The Israelites did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.^(M) They worshiped the Baals^{(N) 12} and abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed other gods from the surrounding peoples^(O) and bowed down to them. They angered the Lord,^{(P) 13} for they abandoned him and worshiped Baal and the Ashtoreths.^(Q)

¹⁴ The Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and he handed them over to marauders who raided them. He sold^(R) them to the enemies around them, and they could no longer resist their enemies. ¹⁵ Whenever the Israelites went out, the Lord was against them^(S) and brought disaster on them, just as he had promised and sworn to them.^(T) So they suffered greatly.

¹⁶ The Lord raised up^(U) judges, who saved them from the power of their marauders, ¹⁷ but they did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted^(V) themselves with other gods, bowing down to them. They quickly turned from the way^(W) of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the Lord’s commands. They did not do as their ancestors did. ¹⁸ Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for the Israelites, the Lord was with^(X) him and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive. The Lord was moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them. ¹⁹ Whenever the judge died, the Israelites would act even more corruptly^(Y) than their ancestors, following other gods to serve them and bow in worship to them. They did not turn from their evil practices or their obstinate^(Z) ways.

²⁰ The Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and he declared, “Because this nation has violated my covenant^(AA) that I made with their ancestors^(AB) and disobeyed me, ²¹ I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left^(AC) when he died.^{(AD) 22} I did this to test Israel and to see whether or not they would keep the Lord’s way^(AE) by walking in it, as their ancestors had.”^{(AF) 23} The Lord left these nations and did not drive them out immediately. He did not hand them over to Joshua.