Study Desk

Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel

You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.^(a)

Teach the older men^(b) to be temperate,^(c) worthy of respect, self-controlled,^(d) and sound in faith,^(e) in love and in endurance.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers^(f) or addicted to much wine,^(g) but to teach what is good.

Then they can urge the younger women^(h) to love their husbands and children,

to be self-controlled⁽ⁱ⁾ and pure, to be busy at home,^(j) to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands,^(k) so that no one will malign the word of God.^(l)

Similarly, encourage the young men^(m) to be self-controlled.⁽ⁿ⁾

In everything set them an example^(o) by doing what is good.^(p) In your teaching show integrity, seriousness

and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.^(q)

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything,^(r) to try to please them, not to talk back to them,

and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior^(s) attractive.^(t)

For the grace^(u) of God has appeared^(v) that offers salvation to all people.^(w)

It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions,^(x) and to live self-controlled,^(y) upright and godly lives^(z) in this present age,

while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing^(aa) of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,^(ab)

who gave himself for us^(ac) to redeem us from all wickedness^(ad) and to purify^(ae) for himself a people that are his very own,^(af) eager to do what is good.^(ag)

These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.