Titus 3

1 Remind them to respect and obey the rulers and authorities, to be ready for every kind of good work, to slander no one, to avoid quarrelling,

Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey them, to be ready for every good work,

2 to be reasonable, and under all circumstances to show a gentle spirit with all.

to revile no one, to not be eager to fight, and to be gentle, showing all humility toward everyone.

3 There was a time when we ourselves were foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to all kinds of desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hating ourselves and hating one another.

For once we ourselves were thoughtless and disobedient. We were led astray and enslaved by various passions and pleasures. We lived in evil and envy. We were detestable and hated one another.

4 But, when the kindness of God our Saviour and his love for humanity appeared, he saved us,

But when the kindness of God our savior and his love for mankind appeared,

5 not as the result of any righteous actions that we had done, but due to his mercy. He saved us though the washing of rebirth and renewal by the power of the Holy Spirit,

it was not by works of righteousness that we did, but by his mercy that he saved us. He saved us through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

6 which he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour –

God richly poured the Holy Spirit on us through our Savior Jesus Christ,

7 so that, having been put right with God through his grace, we become heirs to the hope of eternal life. (aiōnios g166)

so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs with the certain hope of eternal life. (aiōnios g166)

8 This saying is trustworthy! And it is on these subjects that I want you to lay special emphasis, so that those who have learned to trust in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing good. Such subjects are excellent in themselves, and of benefit to all.

This message is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to engage themselves in good works. These things are good and useful for everyone.

9 But have nothing to do with foolish controversies, or with genealogies, or with quarrels, or fights about the Law. They are useless and futile.

But avoid foolish debates and genealogies and strife and conflict about the law. Those things are unprofitable and worthless.

10 If someone is causing divisions among you then, after giving them a second warning, excuse yourself from them.

Reject anyone who is causing divisions among you, after one or two warnings,

11 You can be sure that such a person has forsaken the truth and is in the wrong. They stand self-condemned.

knowing that such a person has turned from the right way and is sinning and condemns himself.

12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, join me as quickly as possible at Nicopolis, for I have arranged to spend the winter there.

When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, hurry and come to me at Nicopolis, where I have decided to spend the winter.

13 Do your best to help Zenas, the teacher of the Law, and Apollos, on their way, and see that they want for nothing.

Do everything you can to send on their way Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, so that they lack nothing.

14 Let all our people learn to devote themselves to doing good, so as to meet the most pressing needs, and that their lives may not be unfruitful.

Our people must learn to engage themselves in good works that provide for urgent needs, and so not be unfruitful.

15 All who are with me here send you their greeting. Give my greeting to our friends in the faith. God bless you all.

All those who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in faith. Grace be with all of you.