2:1 But as for you, teach what is consistent with healthy doctrine. |
2:2 Older men are to be sober, serious, sensible, and sound in faithfulness, love, and endurance. |
2:3 Likewise, older women are to show their reverence for God by their behavior. They are not to be gossips or addicted to alcohol, but to be examples of goodness. |
2:4 They should encourage the younger women to be lovers of their husbands, lovers of their children, |
2:5 sensible, pure, managers of their households, and kind, and to submit themselves to their husbands, lest the word of God be discredited. |
2:6 Likewise, encourage the younger men to be sensible. |
2:7 Always set an example of good works. When you teach, show integrity and dignity. |
2:8 Use wholesome speech that cannot be condemned. Then any opponent will be ashamed because he cannot say anything bad about us. |
2:9 Slaves are to submit themselves to their masters in everything, aiming to please them and not argue with them |
2:10 or steal from them. Instead, they are to show complete and perfect loyalty, so that in every way they may make the teaching about God our Savior more attractive. |
2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. |
2:12 It trains us to renounce ungodly living and worldly passions so that we might live sensible, honest, and godly lives in the present world |
2:13 as we wait for the blessed hope and the glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. |
2:14 He gave himself for us to set us free from every wrong and to cleanse us so that we could be his special people who are enthusiastic about good works. |
2:15 These are the things you should say. Encourage and refute with full authority. Do not let anyone look down on you. |