Letter to Titus 2

¹ It is for you, then, to preach the behaviour which goes with healthy doctrine.

² The older men should be reserved, dignified, moderate, sound in faith and love and constancy.

³ Similarly, the older women should behave as though they were religious, with no scandalmongering and no habitual wine-drinking – they are to be the teachers of the right behaviour

⁴ and show the younger women how they should love their husbands and love their children,

⁵ how they are to be sensible and chaste, and how to work in their homes, and be gentle, and do as their husbands tell them, so that the message of God is never disgraced.

⁶ In the same way, you have got to persuade the younger men to be moderate

⁷ and in everything you do make yourself an example to them of working for good: when you are teaching, be an example to them in your sincerity and earnestness

⁸ and in keeping all that you say so wholesome that nobody can make objections to it; and then any opponent will be at a loss, with no accusation to make against us.

⁹ Tell the slaves that they are to be obedient to their masters and always do what they want without any argument;

¹⁰ and there must be no petty thieving – they must show complete honesty at all times, so that they are in every way a credit to the teaching of God our saviour.

¹¹ You see, God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race

¹² and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world,

¹³ while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great God and saviour Christ Jesus.[*a]

¹⁴ He sacrificed himself for us in order to set us free from all wickedness[*b] and to purify a people so that it could be his very own[*c] and would have no ambition except to do good.

¹⁵ Now this is what you are to say, whether you are giving instruction or correcting errors; you can do so with full authority, and no one is to question it.