¹⁶ They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.^(A) They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.^(B)

Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel

2 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.^{(C) 2} Teach the older men^(D) to be temperate,^(E) worthy of respect, self-controlled,^(F) and sound in faith,^(G) in love and in endurance.

³ Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers^(H) or addicted to much wine,^(I) but to teach what is good. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women^(J) to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled^(K) and pure, to be busy at home,^(L) to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands,^(M) so that no one will malign the word of God.^(N)

⁶ Similarly, encourage the young men^(O) to be self-controlled.^{(P) 7} In everything set them an example^(Q) by doing what is good.^(R) In your teaching show integrity, seriousness ⁸ and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.^(S)

⁹ Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything,^(T) to try to please them, not to talk back to them, ¹⁰ and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior^(U) attractive.^(V)