Sound Teaching and Christian Living

1But you are to proclaim things consistent with sound teaching.a 2Older mena are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love,b and endurance. 3In the same way, older womena are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, 4so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, 5to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submissiona to their husbands, so that God’s wordb will not be slandered.

6In the same way, encourage the young mena to be self-controlled 7in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignityA in your teaching. 8Your message is to be sound beyond reproach,a so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us.

9Slaves are to submit to their mastersa in everything, and to be well-pleasing,b not talking back 10or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Saviora in everything.

11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvationA for all people,a 12instructing us to deny godlessnessa and worldly lustsb and to live in a sensible, righteous,c and godlyd way in the present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope,a the appearing of the gloryb of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14He gave himself for usa to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession,b eager to do good works.

15Proclaim these things; encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregardA you.