Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel
1You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
6Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
9Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
11For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
15These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
教导纯正的教义
1你的教导要符合纯正的教义。 2劝年长的男子要节制、庄重、自律,有全备的信心、爱心和耐心。 3劝年长的妇女要过敬虔的生活,不说长道短,不做酒的奴隶,要以身作则。 4这样,她们就能教导年轻的妇女爱丈夫、爱儿女、 5自制、贞洁、持家、和善、顺服丈夫,免得上帝的道被人毁谤。
6劝勉年轻的男子要自制。 7你自己要在各样善行上做众人的榜样,在教导上要诚恳、认真、 8言语纯全、无可指责,让那些反对的人无话可说、自觉羞愧。
9劝勉做奴仆的要凡事顺服主人,让主人满意,不顶撞主人, 10不偷拿主人的东西,为人要忠信可靠,好凡事尊崇我们救主上帝的教导。
11因为上帝拯救世人的恩典已经显明了, 12这恩典教导我们除掉不敬虔的心和世俗的私欲,在今世过自律、公义、敬畏上帝的生活, 13怀着美好的盼望等候我们伟大的上帝和救主耶稣基督的荣耀显现。 14主耶稣为我们牺牲自己,要救赎我们脱离一切罪恶,并洁净我们,使我们做祂热心行善的子民。
15你要讲明这些事,充分运用权柄来劝勉人、责备人,别让人轻看你。