| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. | 1Remind believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, and to be ready to do any honorable kind of work. |
| 2They must not slander anyone, but be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people. | 2They are not to insult anyone or be argumentative. Instead, they are to be gentle and perfectly courteous to everyone. |
| 3For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another. | 3After all, we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and misled. We were slaves to many kinds of lusts and pleasures, spending our days in malice and jealousy. We were despised, and we hated one another. |
| 4But "when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, | 4In grace our Savior God appeared, to make his love for mankind clear. |
| 5he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, | 5Twas not for deeds that we had done, but by his steadfast love alone, he saved us through a second birth, renewed us by the Spirit's work, |
| 6whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. | 6and poured him out upon us, too, through Jesus the Messiah our Savior true. |
| 7And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life." | 7And so, made heirs by his own grace, eternal life we now embrace. |
| 8This saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, so that those who have placed their faith in God may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good and beneficial for all people. | 8This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have put their faith in God may devote themselves to good actions. These things are good and helpful to other people. |
| 9But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law, because they are useless and empty. | 9But avoid foolish controversies, arguments about genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the Law. These things are useless and worthless. |
| 10Reject a divisive person after one or two warnings. | 10Have nothing to do with a divisive person after you have warned him once or twice. |
| 11You know that such a person is twisted by sin and is conscious of it himself. | 11For you know that a person like this is corrupt and keeps on sinning, being self-condemned. |
| 12When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. | 12As soon as I send Artemas to you, or perhaps Tychicus, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. |
| 13Make every effort to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; make sure they have what they need. | 13Do all you can to send Zenas the expert in the Law and Apollos on their way, and see that they have everything they need. |
| 14Here is another way that our people can learn to engage in good works to meet pressing needs and so not be unfruitful. | 14Our own people should also learn to make good deeds a priority when urgent needs arise, so they won't be unproductive. |
| 15Everyone with me greets you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. | 15All who are with me send you greetings. Greet our fellow believers who love us. May grace be with all of you! Amen. Greetings |
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