The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine.
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But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
2 Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance.
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Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
3 Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness.
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Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,
4 By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children,
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and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,
5 be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don't want anyone looking down on God's Message because of their behavior.
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to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
6 Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.
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Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
7 But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, incorruptible in your teaching,
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Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,
8 your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around.
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and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
9 Guide slaves into being loyal workers, a bonus to their masters - no back talk,
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Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
10 no petty thievery. Then their good character will shine through their actions, adding luster to the teaching of our Savior God.
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not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
11 God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone!
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For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
12 We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now,
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training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
13 and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears.
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waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14 He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.
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who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
15 Tell them all this. Build up their courage, and discipline them if they get out of line. You're in charge. Don't let anyone put you down.
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Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
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.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.