Be Ready for Every Good Work

1 Remind them ^xto be submissive to rulers and authorities, ^yto be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 ^zto speak evil of no one, ^ato avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and ^bto show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For ^cwe ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when ^dthe goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, ^enot because of works done by us in righteousness, but ^faccording to his own mercy, by ^gthe washing of regeneration and ^hrenewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he ⁱpoured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that ^jbeing justified by his grace we might become ^kheirs ^laccording to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is ^mtrustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful ⁿto devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9 But ^oavoid foolish ^pcontroversies, ^qgenealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for ^rthey are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, ^safter warning him once and then twice, ^thave nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Final Instructions and Greetings

12 When I send Artemas or ^uTychicus to you, do your best to come to me ^vat Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and ^wApollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14 And let our people learn ^xto devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not ^ybe unfruitful.

15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

^zGrace be with you all.

Encouragement to Give Generously

1 We want you to know, brothers,¹ about the grace of God that has been ^hgiven among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and ⁱtheir extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave ^jaccording to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly ^kfor the favor² of taking part in ^lthe relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they ^mgave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, ⁿwe urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you ^othis act of grace. 7 But as ^pyou excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you³—^qsee that you excel in this act of grace also.

8 ^rI say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ^sthough he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

The Cheerful Giver

6 The point is this: ^vwhoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully¹ will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, ^wnot reluctantly or under compulsion, for ^xGod loves a cheerful giver. 8 And ^yGod is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency² in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,

10 He who supplies ^aseed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and ^bincrease the harvest of your righteousness. 11 ^cYou will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which ^dthrough us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying ^ethe needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, ^fthey³ will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your ^gconfession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.

17 As for the rich in ^athis present age, charge them ^bnot to be haughty, nor ^cto set their hopes on ^dthe uncertainty of riches, but on God, ^ewho richly provides us with everything to enjoy.