Graces of the Heirs of Grace

Remind them (A)to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, (B)to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For (C)we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when (D)the kindness and the love of (E)God our Savior toward man appeared, (F)not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through (G)the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, (H)whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace (I)we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

(J)This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

Avoid Dissension

But (K)avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 (L)Reject a divisive man after the first and second [a]admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

Final Messages

12 When I send Artemas to you, or (M)Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Send Zenas the lawyer and (N)Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. 14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

Farewell

15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Titus 3:10 warning

Maintain Good Deeds

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey them, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, but gentle, showing all humility toward everyone.

We also were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various desires and pleasures, living in evil and envy, filled with hatred and hating each other. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward mankind appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of rebirth and the renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, being justified by His grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you constantly to affirm, so that those who have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to everyone.

But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, contentions, and arguments about the law, for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

Personal Instructions and Greetings

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, be diligent to come to me in Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Diligently send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey. See that they lack nothing. 14 And let our people also learn to continue doing good works to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unproductive.

15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all. Amen.

Justificados por gracia

Recuérdales que se sujeten a los gobernantes y autoridades, que obedezcan, que estén dispuestos a toda buena obra. Que a nadie difamen, que no sean pendencieros, sino amables, mostrando toda mansedumbre para con todos los hombres. Porque nosotros también éramos en otro tiempo insensatos, rebeldes, extraviados, esclavos de concupiscencias y deleites diversos, viviendo en malicia y envidia, aborrecibles, y aborreciéndonos unos a otros. Pero cuando se manifestó la bondad de Dios nuestro Salvador, y su amor para con los hombres, nos salvó, no por obras de justicia que nosotros hubiéramos hecho, sino por su misericordia, por el lavamiento de la regeneración y por la renovación en el Espíritu Santo, el cual derramó en nosotros abundantemente por Jesucristo nuestro Salvador, para que justificados por su gracia, viniésemos a ser herederos conforme a la esperanza de la vida eterna.

Palabra fiel es esta, y en estas cosas quiero que insistas con firmeza, para que los que creen en Dios procuren ocuparse en buenas obras. Estas cosas son buenas y útiles a los hombres. Pero evita las cuestiones necias, y genealogías, y contenciones, y discusiones acerca de la ley; porque son vanas y sin provecho. 10 Al hombre que cause divisiones, después de una y otra amonestación deséchalo, 11 sabiendo que el tal se ha pervertido, y peca y está condenado por su propio juicio.

Instrucciones personales

12 Cuando envíe a ti a Artemas o a Tíquico,(A) apresúrate a venir a mí en Nicópolis, porque allí he determinado pasar el invierno. 13 A Zenas intérprete de la ley, y a Apolos,(B) encamínales con solicitud, de modo que nada les falte. 14 Y aprendan también los nuestros a ocuparse en buenas obras para los casos de necesidad, para que no sean sin fruto.

Salutaciones y bendición final

15 Todos los que están conmigo te saludan. Saluda a los que nos aman en la fe.

La gracia sea con todos vosotros. Amén.

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.]