Dual Panel1Now you must tell them the sort of character which should from sound teaching.
2The old men should be temperate, serious, wisespiritually healthy through their faith and love and patience.
3Similarly the old women should be reverent in their behaviour, should not make unfounded complaints and should not be addicted to wine. They should be examples of the good life,
4so that the younger women may learn to love their husbands and their children,
5to be sensible and chaste, homelovers, kindhearted and willing to adapt themselves to their husbandsa good advertisement for the Christian faith.
6The young men, too, you should urge to take life seriously,
7letting your own life stand as a pattern of good living. In all your teaching show the strictest regard for truth, and show that you appreciate the seriousness of the matters you are dealing with.
8Your speech should be unaffected and above criticism, so that your opponent may feel ashamed at finding nothing with which to discredit us.
9Slaves should be told that it is their duty as Christians to obey their masters and to give them satisfactory service in every way.
10They are not to answer back or to be lightfingered, but they are to show themselves utterly trustworthy, a shining testimonial to the teaching of God our saviour.
11For the grace of God, which can save every man, has now been shown for all men, and it
12teaches us to have no more to do with godlessness or the desires of this world but to live, here and now, responsible, honourable and Godfearing lives.
13And while we live this life we hope and wait for the glorious denouement of the great God and of Christ Jesus our saviour.
14For he gave himself for us, that he might set us free from all our evil ways and make for himself a people of his own, clean and pure, with our hearts set upon living a life that is good.
15Tell men of these things. Plead with them, prove the truth to them with full authorityand let no one treat you with contempt.