1 Remind them *Rom. 13:1;1 Pet. 2:13to be submissive to rulers and authorities, *See 2 Tim. 2:21to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 *Eph. 4:31to speak evil of no one, *1 Tim. 3:3to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and *See 2 Tim. 2:25to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For *See 1 Cor. 6:11we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when *See Rom. 2:4the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, *See Rom. 3:27not because of works done by us in righteousness, but *Eph. 2:4;1 Pet. 1:3according to his own mercy, by *See John 3:5;1 Cor. 6:11;1 Pet. 3:21the washing of regeneration and *See Rom. 12:2renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he *Joel 2:28;Acts 2:33;10:45;Rom. 5:5poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that *ch. 2:11being justified by his grace we might become *Rom. 8:17heirs *See ch. 1:2according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is *See 1 Tim. 1:15trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful *ver. 14;ch. 2:14to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9 But *2 Tim. 2:16avoid foolish *See 1 Tim. 6:4controversies, *1 Tim. 1:4genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for *2 Tim. 2:14they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, *See Matt. 18:15after warning him once and then twice, *See 2 John 10have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

12 When I send Artemas or *See 2 Tim. 4:12Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me *[2 Tim. 4:10]at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and *See Acts 18:24Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14 And let our people learn *ver. 8to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not *2 Pet. 1:8;[Phil. 1:11;4:17;Col. 1:10]be unfruitful.

15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

*See Col. 4:18Grace be with you all.