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Be Ready for Every Good Work

^1 (C1)Remind them ^(C2)to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ^(C3)ready for every good work,² to slander no one, ^(C1)to be peaceable, ^(C1)considerate, ^(C2)demonstrating all gentleness to all men.^3 (C1)For we ourselves also once were foolish, ^(C2)disobedient, ^(C3)deceived, ^(C4)enslaved to ^(C5)various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in ^(C6)malice and ^(C6)envy, despicable, hating one another.⁴ But when the ^(C1)kindness and affection of ^(C2)God our Savior ^(C3)appeared,^5 (C1)He saved us, ^(C2)not by works which we did in righteousness, but ^(C3)according to His mercy, through the ^(C4)washing of regeneration and ^(C5)renewing by the Holy Spirit,^6 (C1)whom He poured out upon us ^(C2)richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,⁷ so that having been justified by His grace, we would become ^(C1)heirs ^(F1)according to the hope of eternal life.^8 (C1)This is a trustworthy saying. And concerning these things I ^(C2)want you to speak confidently, so that those who have ^(C3)believed God will be intent to ^(C4)lead in good works. These things are good and profitable for men.⁹ But ^(C1)avoid ^(C2)foolish controversies and ^(C3)genealogies and strife and ^(C4)conflicts about the Law, for they are ^(C5)unprofitable and worthless.^10 (C1)Reject a ^(C2)factious man ^(C3)after a first and second warning,¹¹ knowing that such a man is ^(C1)perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

Personal Instructions and Greetings

¹² When I send Artemas or ^(C1)Tychicus to you, ^(C2)be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to ^(C3)spend the winter there.¹³ Diligently help send Zenas the ^(C1)lawyer and ^(C2)Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them.^14 (C1)And our people must also learn to ^(C2)lead in good ^(F1)works to meet ^(C3)pressing needs, so that they will not be ^(C4)unfruitful.

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