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Teach Sound Doctrine

But as for you, teach what is consistent with sound instruction. Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.

Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or enslaved to much wine; they are to teach what is good,(A) so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.(B)

Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled in all things, offering yourself as a model of good works and in your teaching offering integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.(C)

Urge slaves to be submissive to their masters in everything, to be pleasing, not talking back,(D) 10 not stealing, but showing complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the teaching of God our Savior.

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,[a](E) 12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly,(F) 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior,[b] Jesus Christ.(G) 14 He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.(H)

15 Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority.[c] Let no one look down on you.

Footnotes

  1. 2.11 Or has appeared to all, bringing salvation
  2. 2.13 Or of the great God and our Savior
  3. 2.15 Gk commandment

But speak thou the things that become sound doctrine:

That the aged men be sober, chaste, prudent, sound in faith, in love, in patience.

The aged women, in like manner, in holy attire, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teaching well:

That they may teach the young women to be wise, to love their husbands, to love their children,

To be discreet, chaste, sober, having a care of the house, gentle, obedient to their husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Young men, in like manner, exhort that they be sober.

In all things shew thyself an example of good works, in doctrine, in integrity, in gravity,

The sound word that can not be blamed: that he, who is on the contrary part, may be afraid, having no evil to say of us.

Exhort servants to be obedient to their masters, in all things pleasing, not gainsaying:

10 Not defrauding, but in all things shewing good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things:

11 For the grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men;

12 Instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly in this world,

13 Looking for the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ,

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works.

15 These things speak, and exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

A God-Filled Life

1-6 Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.

7-8 But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, trustworthy in your teaching, your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around.

9-10 Guide slaves into being loyal workers, a bonus to their masters—no back talk, no petty thievery. Then their good character will shine through their actions, adding luster to the teaching of our Savior God.

11-14 God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.

15 Tell them all this. Build up their courage, and discipline them if they get out of line. You’re in charge. Don’t let anyone put you down.