Titus 3:1–11

CHRISTIAN LIVING AMONG OUTSIDERS

3Remind them to submit^a to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, ²to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness^b to all people. ³For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions^c and pleasures,^d living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

⁴But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,^{e 5}he saved us^f—not by works of righteousness that we had done,^g but according to his mercy^h—through the washing of regenerationⁱ and renewal by the Holy Spirit.^{j 6}He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly^k through Jesus Christ our Savior ⁷so that, having been justified by his grace,^l we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.^{m 8}This saying is trustworthy.ⁿ 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. ⁹But avoid foolish debates,^o genealogies,^p quarrels,^q and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless. ¹⁰Reject a divisive^r person after a first and second warning.^{s 11}For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned.