and at the appointed time has made known His word and revealed it as His message, through preaching, which was entrusted to me according to the command of God our Savior—

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Now this tendency is true. So continue correcting them severely, that they may be healthy in faith,

Giving no attention to the fictions of the Jews and the rules of men who have no true knowledge.

All things are pure to the pure; but to the contaminated and the faithless nothing is pure, nay, their very minds and consciences are tainted.

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

To be wise in mind, clean in heart, kind; working in their houses, living under the authority of their husbands; so that no evil may be said of the word of God.

and above all make your own life a pattern of right conduct, having in your teaching no taint of insincerity, but a serious tone,

Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and eager worldly desires, we should live discreetly, and justly, and religiously, in the time now;

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Remind your hearers to respect and obey the Powers that be, to be ready for every kind of good work, to speak ill of no one, to avoid quarreling,

To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

And so, made heirs by his own grace, eternal life we now embrace.

But have nothing to do with foolish questionings, and lists of generations, and fights and arguments about the law; for they are of no profit and foolish.

After a first and a second warning have no more to do with a factious person;

for, as you know, a man of that description has turned aside from the right path and is a sinner self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or [perhaps] Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.