^aRemind people ^bto be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ^cready and willing to do good, 2 to slander or abuse no one, ^ato be kind and conciliatory and gentle, ^bshowing unqualified consideration and courtesy toward everyone. 3 ^aFor we too once were foolish, ^bdisobedient, ^cdeceived, ^denslaved to ^evarious sinful desires and pleasures, spending and wasting our life in ^fmalice and ^genvy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and ^akindness of ^bGod our Savior and His love for mankind ^cappeared in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ, 5 ^aHe saved us, ^bnot because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but ^cbecause of His own compassion and mercy, by the ^dcleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and ^erenewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 ^awhom He poured out ^brichly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that we would be justified made free of the guilt of sin by His compassionate, undeserved grace, and that we would be acknowledged as acceptable to Him and made ^aheirs of eternal life actually experiencing it according to our hope (His guarantee) . 8 ^aThis is a faithful and trustworthy saying; and concerning these things I ^bwant you to speak with great confidence, so that those who have ^cbelieved God that is, those who have trusted in, relied on, and accepted Christ Jesus as Savior, will be careful to ^dparticipate in doing good and honorable things. These things are excellent in themselves and profitable for the people. 9 But ^aavoid ^bfoolish and ill-informed and stupid controversies and ^cgenealogies and dissensions and ^dquarrels about the Law, for they are ^eunprofitable and useless. 10 ^aAfter a first and second warning ^breject a ^cdivisive man who promotes heresy and causes dissension—ban him from your fellowship and have nothing more to do with him, 11 well aware that such a person is ^atwisted and is sinning; he is convicted and self-condemned and is gratified by causing confusion among believers.

12 When I send Artemas or perhaps ^aTychicus to you, ^bmake every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to ^cspend the winter there. 13 Do your best to help Zenas the ^alawyer and ^bApollos on their way; see that they are supplied and lack nothing. 14 ^aOur people must learn to ^bdo good deeds to meet ^cnecessary demands whatever the occasion may require, so that they will not be ^dunproductive.

15 ^aAll who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us ^bin the faith.

^cGrace be with all of you.