Christian Living among Outsiders

¹Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,[#3:1 Rm 13:1–7; 1Pt 2:13–14]

²to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people.[#3:2 Jms 3:13]

³For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.[#3:3 2Pt 1:4; 2:10; #3:3 Jms 4:1]

⁴But when the kindness of God our Saviour and his love for mankind appeared,[#3:4 1Tm 1:1; 2:3; Ti 1:3; 2:10; Jd 25]

⁵he saved us #– #not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy #– #through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.[#3:5 Rm 11:14; 2Tm 1:9; #3:5 Eph 2:9; #3:5 Eph 2:4; 1Pt 1:3; #3:5 Jn 3:5; Eph 5:26; 1Pt 3:21; #3:5 Rm 12:2]

⁶He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour[#3:6 Jl 2:28; Ac 2:33; 10:45; Rm 5:5]

⁷so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.[#3:7 Ac 13:43; 15:11; 1Co 8:1; Gl 1:6; 1Pt 4:10; #3:7 Ti 1:2]

⁸This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.[#3:8 1Tm 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2Tm 2:11]

⁹But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless.[#3:9 1Tm 6:4; #3:9 1Tm 1:4; #3:9 Rm 1:29; 13:13; 1Co 1:11; 3:3; 2Co 12:20; Gl 5:20; Php 1:15; 1Tm 6:4]

¹⁰Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning.[#3:10 1Tm 1:9; #3:10 Mt 18:15; 2Th 3:15]

¹¹For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned.

Final Instructions and Closing

¹²When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me in Nicopolis, because I have decided to spend the winter there.[#3:12 Ac 20:4; Eph 6:21; Col 4:7; 2Tm 4:12; #3:12 Lk 14:26; 2Tm 4:9]

¹³Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey, so that they will lack nothing.[#3:13 Ac 18:24; 19:1; 1Co 1:12; 3:4–6,22; 4:6; 16:12; #3:13 Jms 2:15]

¹⁴Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works for pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.[#3:14 Mt 13:22; Mk 4:19; 1Co 14:14; Gl 5:22; Eph 5:11; 2Pt 1:8; Jd 12]

¹⁵All those who are with me send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.[#3:15 Col 4:18; 2Th 3:16]