1 Herinner hulle daaraan om onderdanig te wees aan owerhede en magte, om gehoorsaam te wees, bereid tot elke goeie werk;
2 om niemand te belaster nie, nie strydlustig te wees nie, vriendelik te wees en aan alle mense alle sagmoedigheid te bewys.
3 Want ons was ook vroeër onverstandig, ongehoorsaam, op 'n dwaalweg, verslaaf aan allerhande begeerlikhede en singenot; ons het in boosheid en afguns gelewe; ons was haatlik en het mekaar gehaat.
4 Maar toe die goedertierenheid van God, ons Verlosser, en sy liefde tot die mens verskyn het --
5 nie op grond van die werke van geregtigheid wat ons gedoen het nie, maar na sy barmhartigheid het Hy ons gered deur die bad van die wedergeboorte en die vernuwing deur die Heilige Gees
6 wat Hy ryklik uitgestort het op ons deur Jesus Christus, ons Verlosser;
7 sodat ons, geregverdig deur sy genade, erfgename kan word ooreenkomstig die hoop van die ewige lewe.
8 Dit is 'n betroubare woord, en ek wil hê dat jy hierdie dinge beslis bevestig, sodat die wat in God glo, sorg kan dra om goeie werke voor te staan; d¡t is wat goed en nuttig is vir die mense.
9 Maar vermy dwase strydvrae en geslagsregisters en twis en stryery oor die wet, want dit is nutteloos en doelloos.
10 Aan 'n man wat partyskap verwek, moet jy jou onttrek n die eerste en tweede vermaning,
11 wetende dat so iemand op 'n verkeerde pad is en sonde doen en selfveroordeeld staan.
12 Wanneer ek Artemas of T¡chikus na jou stuur, doen dan jou bes om na my te kom in Nikopolis, want ek het besluit om daar te oorwinter.
13 Jy moet Senas, die wetgeleerde, en Apollos ywerig voorthelp, sodat dit hulle aan niks ontbreek nie.
14 Ons mense moet ook leer om vir die noodsaaklike behoeftes goeie werke voor te staan, sodat hulle nie onvrugbaar mag wees nie.
15 Almal wat saam met my is, groet jou. Groet die wat vir ons liefhet in die geloof. Die genade sy met julle almal! Amen.
1 Make clear to them that they are to put themselves under rulers and authorities, to do what they are ordered, to be ready for every good work,
2 To say no evil of any man, not to be fighters, to give way to others, to be gentle in behaviour to all men.
3 For in the past we were foolish, hard in heart, turned from the true way, servants of evil desires and pleasures, living in bad feeling and envy, hated and hating one another.
4 But when the mercy of God our Saviour, and his love to man was seen,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but in the measure of his mercy, he gave us salvation, through the washing of the new birth and the giving of new life in the Holy Spirit,
6 Which he gave us freely through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 So that, having been given righteousness through grace, we might have a part in the heritage, the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a true saying; and it is my desire that you may give certain witness about these things, so that those who have had faith in God may give attention to good works. These things are good and of profit to men;
9 But have nothing to do with foolish questionings, and lists of generations, and fights and arguments about the law; for they are of no profit and foolish.
10 A man whose opinions are not those of the church, after a first and second protest, is to be kept out of your society;
11 Clearly he is in error and a sinner, being self-judged.
12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis: for it is my purpose to be there for the winter.
13 Send Zenas, the man of law, and Apollos on their journey with all care, so that they may be in need of nothing.
14 And let our people go on with good works for necessary purposes, so that they may not be without fruit.
15 All who are with me send you their love. Give our love to our friends in the faith. Grace be with you all.