Let Rulers See the Good in You
1Tell believers they’re to obey the government rulers and officials and to stay alert for opportunities to do something good for someone.2Tell them not to bad-mouth anyone. In dealing with other people, they should always try to be peaceful, kind, and gentle. 3I can testify that there was a time when we, too, acted like disobedient fools. We got baited and hooked by the sinful pleasures of this world. And we ended up living evil lives. We envied and hated other people. They disgusted us.
Thank God for His Kindness
4But that all changed. [1]God our Savior came to us
bringing with him his goodness and kindness.
Not because of anything good we had done,
but because of his mercy.
He washed us spiritually clean.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit
we became new again.
6God, through Jesus Christ our Savior,
poured the Spirit all over us.
7We’re now right with God,
for no reason other than God’s kindness. [2]
We’ve got an inheritance waiting for us too.
That hope is eternal life. 8You can count on those words. I want you to insist that believers accept these teachings. This way, those who believe in God will be able to devote themselves to doing good things for other people. Everyone can benefit from it.
How to Deal with Troublemakers
9Avoid getting into arguments about dumb ideas, genealogies, and debates about Jewish laws. [3] There’s nothing helpful about that. Talk like that only hurts people.10If you’ve got a troublemaker causing splits in your group, give that person a first warning and the second warning. After that, give that person elbow room—don’t have anything more to do with the individual. 11People like that are damaged goods, warped in the head. They actually condemn themselves as sinners. They do it by the way they live.
On a Personal Note
12I’m going to send either Artemas or Tychicus to you. When that person gets there, please do your best to meet me in Nicopolis. [4] I’m planning to spend the winter there. 13Also, do your best to help the lawyer Zenas along with Apollos when they get ready to leave. Make sure they have everything they need for the trip.14Also, help our people to get into the habit of doing good things for others, so we can begin to meet the urgent needs ahead. Otherwise, the people are not going to be much good for anything. 15Everyone with me says hello to you. Please give our greetings to those believers who love us. May all of you experience God’s kindness. [5]
