Mafundisho Sahihi

Lakini wewe, mafundisho yako ni lazima yawe sahihi. Wafundishe wazee kuwa na kiasi, watulivu, wenye busara na tha biti katika imani, upendo na subira. Hali kadhalika akina mama wazee wawe na mwenendo wa unyenyekevu. Wasiwe wachonganishi, wala wasiwe watumwa wa pombe; bali waonyeshe mfano mwema. Hivyo wawafundishe akina mama vijana kuwapenda waume zao na watoto wao na kuwa wenye kiasi na safi, wakitumia wakati wao kushughulika nyumbani mwao. Wawe wema na watii kwa waume zao, ili neno la Mungu lisije likadharauliwa kwa ajili yao. Vile vile uwahimize vijana kuwa na kiasi. Katika mambo yote wewe mwenyewe uwe kielelezo cha matendo mema. Uonyeshe usa hihi na uthabiti katika mafundisho yako. Maneno yako yawe na kina na mantiki safi, mtu asiweze kuyatoa kasoro na hata yule anayepinga aaibike kwa kukosa lo lote baya la kusema juu yetu.

Wahimize watumwa kuwatii mabwana wao na kuwapendeza katika mambo yote; wasijibishane nao 10 wala kuwaibia, bali watumwa waonyeshe kuwa wanaweza kuaminika kabisa ili katika kila hali mafundisho ya Mungu Mwokozi wetu yapate sifa njema.

11 Kwa maana neema ya Mungu iletayo wokovu imedhihirishwa kwa watu wote. 12 Neema hiyo inatufundisha kukataa uovu na tamaa za dhambi, tupate kuishi maisha ya kiasi, ya haki na ya kumcha Mungu, katika ulimwengu huu. Wakati huo huo 13 tukingojea tumaini letu lenye baraka - kuja kwa utukufu wa Mungu wetu Mkuu na Mwokozi wetu, Yesu Kristo. 14 Yeye alijitoa mwenyewe kwa ajili yetu ili atukomboe katika uasi wote, na kutufanya tuwe safi kwa ajili yake; na tuwe watu wake kabisa, ambao wana juhudi katika kutenda mema.

15 Fundisha mambo haya; himiza na kemea kwa mamlaka yote. Mtu ye yote asikudharau.

Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel

You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.(A) Teach the older men(B) to be temperate,(C) worthy of respect, self-controlled,(D) and sound in faith,(E) in love and in endurance.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers(F) or addicted to much wine,(G) but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women(H) to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled(I) and pure, to be busy at home,(J) to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands,(K) so that no one will malign the word of God.(L)

Similarly, encourage the young men(M) to be self-controlled.(N) In everything set them an example(O) by doing what is good.(P) In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.(Q)

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything,(R) to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior(S) attractive.(T)

11 For the grace(U) of God has appeared(V) that offers salvation to all people.(W) 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,(X) and to live self-controlled,(Y) upright and godly lives(Z) in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing(AA) of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,(AB) 14 who gave himself for us(AC) to redeem us from all wickedness(AD) and to purify(AE) for himself a people that are his very own,(AF) eager to do what is good.(AG)

15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Qualities of a Sound Church

But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, (A)homemakers, good, (B)obedient to their own husbands, (C)that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be (D)a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, (E)incorruptibility,[a] sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of [b]you.

Exhort (F)bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10 not [c]pilfering, but showing all good [d]fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

Trained by Saving Grace

11 For (G)the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 (H)looking for the blessed (I)hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 (J)who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed (K)and purify for Himself (L)His own special people, zealous for good works.

15 Speak these things, (M)exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Footnotes

  1. Titus 2:7 NU omits incorruptibility
  2. Titus 2:8 NU, M us
  3. Titus 2:10 thieving
  4. Titus 2:10 honesty