Sound Doctrine

2 But you must teach what agrees with sound doctrine. ² Instruct the older men to be sober, sensible, and self-controlled; to be sound in their faith, love, and endurance. ³ In the same way instruct the older women to behave as women should who live a holy life. They must not be slanderers or slaves to wine. They must teach what is good, ⁴ in order to train the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, and to be good housewives who submit themselves to their husbands, so that no one will speak evil of the message that comes from God.

⁶ In the same way urge the young men to be self-controlled. ⁷ In all things you yourself must be an example of good behavior. Be sincere and serious in your teaching. ⁸ Use sound words that cannot be criticized, so that your enemies may be put to shame by not having anything bad to say about us.

⁹ Slaves are to submit themselves to their masters and please them in all things. They must not talk back to them ¹⁰ or steal from them. Instead, they must show that they are always good and faithful, so as to bring credit to the teaching about God our Savior in all they do.

¹¹ For God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all people. ¹² That grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world, ¹³ as we wait for the blessed Day we hope for, when the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ^[a] will appear. ^14 (A)He gave himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to him alone and are eager to do good.

¹⁵ Teach these things and use your full authority as you encourage and rebuke your hearers. Let none of them look down on you.

Christian Conduct

3 Remind your people to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey them, and to be ready to do good in every way. ² Tell them not to speak evil of anyone, but to be peaceful and friendly, and always to show a gentle attitude toward everyone. ³ For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and wrong. We were slaves to passions and pleasures of all kinds. We spent our lives in malice and envy; others hated us and we hated them. ⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was revealed, ⁵ he saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us. ⁶ God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that by his grace we might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for.

Sound Doctrine

2 But you must teach what agrees with sound doctrine. ² Instruct the older men to be sober, sensible, and self-controlled; to be sound in their faith, love, and endurance. ³ In the same way instruct the older women to behave as women should who live a holy life. They must not be slanderers or slaves to wine. They must teach what is good, ⁴ in order to train the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, and to be good housewives who submit themselves to their husbands, so that no one will speak evil of the message that comes from God.

⁶ In the same way urge the young men to be self-controlled. ⁷ In all things you yourself must be an example of good behavior. Be sincere and serious in your teaching. ⁸ Use sound words that cannot be criticized, so that your enemies may be put to shame by not having anything bad to say about us.

⁹ Slaves are to submit themselves to their masters and please them in all things. They must not talk back to them ¹⁰ or steal from them. Instead, they must show that they are always good and faithful, so as to bring credit to the teaching about God our Savior in all they do.

¹¹ For God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all people. ¹² That grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world, ¹³ as we wait for the blessed Day we hope for, when the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ^[a] will appear. ^14 (A)He gave himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to him alone and are eager to do good.

¹⁵ Teach these things and use your full authority as you encourage and rebuke your hearers. Let none of them look down on you.

Christian Conduct

3 Remind your people to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey them, and to be ready to do good in every way. ² Tell them not to speak evil of anyone, but to be peaceful and friendly, and always to show a gentle attitude toward everyone. ³ For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and wrong. We were slaves to passions and pleasures of all kinds. We spent our lives in malice and envy; others hated us and we hated them. ⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was revealed, ⁵ he saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us. ⁶ God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that by his grace we might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for. ⁸ This is a true saying.

I want you to give special emphasis to these matters, so that those who believe in God may be concerned with giving their time to doing good deeds, which are good and useful for everyone. ⁹ But avoid stupid arguments, long lists of ancestors, quarrels, and fights about the Law. They are useless and worthless. ¹⁰ Give at least two warnings to those who cause divisions, and then have nothing more to do with them. ¹¹ You know that such people are corrupt, and their sins prove that they are wrong.