Titus 3:1–11

Saved in Order to Do Good

3Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities,^w to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,^{x 2}to slander no one,^y to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

³At one time^z we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴But when the kindness^a and love of God our Savior^b appeared,^{c 5}he saved us,^d not because of righteous things we had done,^e but because of his mercy.^f He saved us through the washing^g of rebirth and renewal^h by the Holy Spirit, ⁶whom he poured out on usⁱ generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that, having been justified by his grace,^j we might become heirs^k having the hope^l of eternal life.^{m 8}This is a trustworthy saying.ⁿ And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.^o These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

⁹But avoid^p foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels^q about the law,^r because these are unprofitable and useless.^{s 10}Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.^{t 11}You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.