Tito 3

Christian Living among Outsiders

1 Remind them to submit  * 3:1 Rm 13:1–7; 1Pt 2:13–14 to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness  * 3:2 Jms 3:13 to all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions  * 3:3 2Pt 1:4; 2:10 and pleasures,  * 3:3 Jms 4:1 living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,  * 3:4 1Tm 1:1; 2:3; Ti 1:3; 2:10; Jd 255 he saved us  * 3:5 Rm 11:14; 2Tm 1:9  — not by works of righteousness that we had done,  * 3:5 Eph 2:9 but according to his mercy  * 3:5 Eph 2:4; 1Pt 1:3  — through the washing of regeneration  * 3:5 Jn 3:5; Eph 5:26; 1Pt 3:21 and renewal by the Holy Spirit.  * 3:5 Rm 12:26 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly  * 3:6 Jl 2:28; Ac 2:33; 10:45; Rm 5:5 through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by his grace,  * 3:7 Ac 13:43; 15:11; 1Co 8:1; Gl 1:6; 1Pt 4:10 we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.  * 3:7 Ti 1:28 This saying is trustworthy.  * 3:8 1Tm 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2Tm 2:11 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. 9 But avoid foolish debates,  * 3:9 1Tm 6:4 genealogies,  * 3:9 1Tm 1:4 quarrels,  * 3:9 Rm 1:29; 13:13; 1Co 1:11; 3:3; 2Co 12:20; Gl 5:20; Php 1:15; 1Tm 6:4 and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 Reject a divisive  * 3:10 1Tm 1:9 person after a first and second warning.  * 3:10 Mt 18:15; 2Th 3:1511 For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned.

Final Instructions and Closing

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you,  * 3:12 Ac 20:4; Eph 6:21; Col 4:7; 2Tm 4:12 make every effort to come to me  * 3:12 Lk 14:26; 2Tm 4:9 in Nicopolis, because I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos  * 3:13 Ac 18:24; 19:1; 1Co 1:12; 3:4–6,22; 4:6; 16:12 on their journey, so that they will lack  * 3:13 Jms 2:15 nothing.

14 Let 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 1215 All 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