Doing Helpful Things
1 Remind your people to obey the rulers and authorities and not to be rebellious. They must always be ready to do something helpful 2 and not say cruel things or argue. They should be gentle and kind to everyone. 3 We used to be stupid, disobedient, and foolish, as well as slaves of all sorts of desires and pleasures. We were evil and jealous. Everyone hated us, and we hated everyone.
4 God our Savior showed us
how good and kind he is.
5 He saved us because
of his mercy,
and not because
of any good things
we have done.
God washed us by the power
of the Holy Spirit.
He gave us new birth
and a fresh beginning.
6 God sent Jesus Christ
our Savior
to give us his Spirit.
7 Jesus treated us much better
than we deserve.
He made us acceptable to God
and gave us the hope
of eternal life.
8 This message is certainly true.
These teachings are useful and helpful for everyone. I want you to insist that the people follow them, so that all who have faith in God will be sure to do good deeds. 9 But don't have anything to do with stupid arguments about ancestors. And stay away from disagreements and quarrels about the Law of Moses. Such arguments are useless and senseless.
10 Warn troublemakers once or twice. Then don't have anything else to do with them. 11 You know their minds are twisted, and their own sins show how guilty they are.
Personal Instructions and Greetings
12 I plan to send Artemas or Tychicus to you. After he arrives, please try your best to meet me at Nicopolis. I have decided to spend the winter there.
13 When Zenas the lawyer and Apollos get ready to leave, help them as much as you can, so they won't have need of anything.
14 Our people should learn to spend their time doing something useful and worthwhile.
15 Greetings to you from everyone here. Greet all of our friends who share in our faith.
I pray that the Lord will be kind to all of you!
1 Atgādini viņiem, lai padodas un paklausa valdībām un varām, lai ir gatavi uz katru labu darbu, 2 nevienu nepulgo, tur mieru, izturas laipni un visiem cilvēkiem parāda lēnprātību. 3 Jo arī mēs kādreiz bijām neprātīgi, nepaklausīgi, maldījāmies, kalpodami dažādām iekārēm un priekiem, dzīvodami ļaunprātībā un skaudībā, ienīsti un cits citu nīzdami. 4 Bet, kad atspīdēja Dieva, mūsu Glābēja, laipnība un mīlestība uz cilvēkiem, 5 Viņš mūs izglāba, nevis taisnības darbu dēļ, ko mēs būtu darījuši, bet pēc Savas žēlsirdības, ar mazgāšanu atdzimšanai un atjaunošanos Svētajā Garā, 6 ko Viņš bagātīgi pār mums izlējis caur Jēzu Kristu, mūsu Pestītāju, 7 lai, Viņa žēlastībā taisnoti, mēs kļūtu cerētās mūžīgās dzīvības mantinieki. 8 Šis vārds ir patiess; un es gribu, lai tu par šīm lietām stipri stāvi, ka tie, kas Dievam tic, cenšas veikt labus darbus. Tas cilvēkiem ir labi un vajadzīgs. 9 Bet no ģeķīgiem strīdiem un cilts rakstiem, ķildām un bauslības kariem izvairies. Tie ir nederīgi un tukši. 10 Cilvēku, kas turas pie maldu mācības, vienreiz un otrreiz pamācījis, noraidi, 11 zinādams, ka tāds ir samaitāts un grēkodams pats sevi notiesā. 12 Kad es aizsūtīšu pie tevis Artemi vai Tihiku, tad steidzies nākt pie manis uz Nikopoli, jo tur esmu nodomājis pavadīt ziemu. 13 Likumu pratēju Zēnu un Apollu apgādā krietni, lai viņiem, tālāk ceļojot, nekā netrūktu. 14 Mūsu ļaudīm jāmācās ar labiem darbiem palīdzēt, kur vajadzība spiež, lai tie nebūtu neauglīgi. 15 Visi, kas pie manis, tevi sveicina. Sveicini tos, kas ticībā mūs mīl. Žēlastība lai ir ar jums visiem!
