1 Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.
2 They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.
3 Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.
4 But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love,
5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.
6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
7 Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”
8 This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.
9 Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time.
10 If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them.
11 For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.
GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
1 Remind your people to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey them, and to be ready to do good in every way.
2 Tell them not to speak evil of anyone, but to be peaceful and friendly, and always to show a gentle attitude toward everyone.
3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and wrong. We were slaves to passions and pleasures of all kinds. We spent our lives in malice and envy; others hated us and we hated them.
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was revealed,
5 he saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us.
6 God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that by his grace we might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for.
8 This is a true saying. I want you to give special emphasis to these matters, so that those who believe in God may be concerned with giving their time to doing good deeds, which are good and useful for everyone.
9 But avoid stupid arguments, long lists of ancestors, quarrels, and fights about the Law. They are useless and worthless.
10 Give at least two warnings to those who cause divisions, and then have nothing more to do with them.
11 You know that such people are corrupt, and their sins prove that they are wrong.
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