New Living Translation NLT
The Message Bible MSG
1 Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.
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Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand
2 They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.
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No insults, no fights. God's people should be bighearted and courteous.
3 Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.
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It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back.
4 But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love,
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But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in,
5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.
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he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit.
6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
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Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously.
7 Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.
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God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there's more life to come - an eternity of life!
8 This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.
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You can count on this.
9 Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time.
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Stay away from mindless, pointless quarreling over genealogies and fine print in the law code. That gets you nowhere.
10 If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them.
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Warn a quarrelsome person once or twice, but then be done with him.
11 For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.
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It's obvious that such a person is out of line, rebellious against God. By persisting in divisiveness he cuts himself off.
12 I am planning to send either Artemas or Tychicus to you. As soon as one of them arrives, do your best to meet me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to stay there for the winter.
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As soon as I send either Artemas or Tychicus to you, come immediately and meet me in Nicopolis. I've decided to spend the winter there.
13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos with their trip. See that they are given everything they need.
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Give Zenas the lawyer and Apollos a hearty send-off. Take good care of them.
14 Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.
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Our people have to learn to be diligent in their work so that all necessities are met (especially among the needy) and they don't end up with nothing to show for their lives.
15 Everybody here sends greetings. Please give my greetings to the believers—all who love us. May God’s grace be with you all.
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All here want to be remembered to you. Say hello to our friends in the faith. Grace to all of you.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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.