The Message Bible MSG
New International Version NIV
9 and have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth to either spur people on in knowledge or stop them in their tracks if they oppose it.
9
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
10 For there are a lot of rebels out there, full of loose, confusing, and deceiving talk. Those who were brought up religious and ought to know better are the worst.
10
For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.
11 They've got to be shut up. They're disrupting entire families with their teaching, and all for the sake of a fast buck.
11
They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
12 One of their own prophets said it best: The Cretans are liars from the womb, barking dogs, lazy bellies.
12
One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”
13 He certainly spoke the truth. Get on them right away. Stop that diseased talk of Jewish make-believe and made-up rules
13
This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith
14 so they can recover a robust faith.
14
and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth.
15 Everything is clean to the clean-minded; nothing is clean to dirty-minded unbelievers. They leave their dirty fingerprints on every thought and act.
15
To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
16 They say they know God, but their actions speak louder than their words. They're real creeps, disobedient good-for-nothings.
16
They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.