Sound Teaching and Christian Living

2 But you must say the things that are consistent with sound teaching. k 2 Older men l are to be level headed, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, m and endurance. 3 In the same way, older women n are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 so they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, homemakers, kind, and submissive o to their husbands, so that God’s message p will not be slandered.

6 In the same way, encourage the young men q to be self-controlled 7 in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity r in your teaching. 8 Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, s so that the opponent will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.

9 * Slaves are to be submissive to their masters t in everything, and to be well-pleasing, u not talking back 10 or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior v in everything.

11 For the grace of God has appeared with salvation w for all people, x 12 instructing us to deny godlessness y and worldly lusts z and to live in a sensible, righteous, a and godly b way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope c and appearing of the glory d of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave Himself for us e to * redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, f eager to do good works.

15 Say these things, and encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard g you.

Christian Living among Outsiders

3 Remind them to be submissive h 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 i to all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions j and pleasures, k living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love

for mankind appeared, l

5 He saved us m—

not by works of righteousness that we had done, n

but according to His mercy, o

through the washing of regeneration p

and renewal by the Holy Spirit. q

6 He poured out this Spirit on us abundantly r

through Jesus Christ our Savior,

7 so that having been * justified by His grace, s

we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. t

8 This saying is trustworthy. u 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, v genealogies, w quarrels, x and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 Reject a divisive y person after a first and second warning, z 11 knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned.

Final Instructions and Closing

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, a make every effort to come to me b in Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos c on their journey, so that they will lack d nothing.

14 And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works for cases of urgent need, so that they will not be unfruitful. e 15 All those who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you. f

Philemon

Greeting

Paul, a a prisoner b of Christ Jesus, c and Timothy d our brother:

To Philemon our dear friend and coworker, 2 to Apphia our sister, e to Archippus f our fellow soldier, g and to the church that meets in your home. h

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love i and faith toward j the Lord Jesus and for all the * saints. 6 I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective k through knowing every good thing l that is in us m for the glory of Christ. 7 For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed n through you, brother.

An Appeal for Onesimus

8 For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, 9 I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man o and now also as a prisoner p of Christ Jesus, 10 appeal to you for my son, q Onesimus. r s I fathered t u him while I was in chains. 11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back to you as a part of myself. v w 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. 15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, 16 no longer as a * slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but even more to you, both in the flesh x and in the Lord. y z

17 So if you consider me a partner, accept a him as you would me. 18 And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. b 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: c I will repay it—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, may I have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 But meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

Final Greetings

23 Epaphras, d my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, and so do 24 Mark, e Aristarchus, f Demas, and Luke, g my coworkers.

25 The grace of the Lord h i Jesus Christ be with your spirit. j