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Godly Living

^1 (C1)Remind people ^(C2)to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ^(C3)ready and willing to do good,² to slander or abuse no one, ^(C1)to be kind and conciliatory and gentle, ^(C2)showing unqualified consideration and courtesy toward everyone.^3 (C1)For we too once were foolish, ^(C2)disobedient, ^(C3)deceived, ^(C4)enslaved to ^(C5)various sinful desires and pleasures, spending and wasting our life in ^(C6)malice and ^(C6)envy, hateful, hating one another.⁴ But when the goodness and ^(C1)kindness of ^(C2)God our Savior and His love for mankind ^(C3)appeared in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ,^5 (C1)He saved us, ^(C2)not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but ^(C3)because of His own compassion and mercy, by the ^(C4)cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and ^(C5)renewing by the Holy Spirit,^6 (C1)whom He poured out ^(C2)richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior,⁷ so that we would be justified made free of the guilt of sin by His compassionate, undeserved grace, and that we would be acknowledged as acceptable to Him and made ^(C1)heirs of eternal life actually experiencing it according to our hope (His guarantee).^8 (C1)This is a faithful and trustworthy saying; and concerning these things I ^(C2)want you to speak with great confidence, so that those who have ^(C3)believed God that is, those who have trusted in, relied on, and accepted Christ Jesus as Savior, will be careful to ^(C4)participate in doing good and honorable things. These things are excellent in themselves and profitable for the people.⁹ But ^(C1)avoid ^(C2)foolish and ill-informed and stupid controversies and ^(C3)genealogies and dissensions and ^(C4)quarrels about the Law, for they are ^(C5)unprofitable and useless.^10 (C1)After a first and second warning ^(C2)reject a ^(C3)divisive man who promotes heresy and causes dissension—ban him from your fellowship and have nothing more to do with him,¹¹ well aware that such a person is ^(C1)twisted and is sinning; he is convicted and self-condemned and is gratified by causing confusion among believers.

Personal Concerns

¹² When I send Artemas or perhaps ^(C1)Tychicus to you, ^(C2)make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to ^(C3)spend the winter there.¹³ Do your best to help Zenas the ^(C1)lawyer and ^(C2)Apollos on their way; see that they are supplied and lack nothing.^14 (C1)Our people must learn to ^(C2)do good deeds to meet ^(C3)necessary demands whatever the occasion may require, so that they will not be ^(C4)unproductive.

^15 (C1)All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us ^(C2)in the faith. ^(C3)Grace be with all of you.