2 Timothy 4

1 I can't impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule,2 so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple.

3 You're going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food-catchy opinions that tickle their fancy.4 They'll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages.5 But you-keep your eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God's servant.

6 You take over. I'm about to die, my life an offering on God's altar.7 This is the only race worth running. I've run hard right to the finish, believed all the way.8 All that's left now is the shouting-God's applause! Depend on it, he's an honest judge. He'll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.

9 Get here as fast as you can.10 Demas, chasing fads, went off to Thessalonica and left me here. Crescens is in Galatia province, Titus in Dalmatia.11 Luke is the only one here with me. Bring Mark with you; he'll be my right-hand man12 since I'm sending Tychicus to Ephesus.13 Bring the winter coat I left in Troas with Carpus; also the books and parchment notebooks.

14 Watch out for Alexander the coppersmith.15 Fiercely opposed to our Message, he caused no end of trouble. God will give him what he's got coming.

16 At my preliminary hearing no one stood by me. They all ran like scared rabbits. But it doesn't matter -17 the Master stood by me and helped me spread the Message loud and clear to those who had never heard it. I was snatched from the jaws of the lion!18 God's looking after me, keeping me safe in the kingdom of heaven. All praise to him, praise forever! Oh, yes!

19 Say hello to Priscilla and Aquila; also, the family of Onesiphorus.20 Erastus stayed behind in Corinth. I had to leave Trophimus sick in Miletus.

21 Try hard to get here before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all your friends here send greetings.

22 God be with you. Grace be with you.

Titus 1

1 I, Paul, am God's slave and Christ's agent for promoting the faith among God's chosen people, getting out the accurate word on God and how to respond rightly to it.2 My aim is to raise hopes by pointing the way to life without end. This is the life God promised long ago-and he doesn't break promises!3 And then when the time was ripe, he went public with his truth. I've been entrusted to proclaim this Message by order of our Savior, God himself.4 Dear Titus, legitimate son in the faith: Receive everything God our Father and Jesus our Savior give you!

A Good Grip on the Message

5 I left you in charge in Crete so you could complete what I left half-done. Appoint leaders in every town according to my instructions.6 As you select them, ask, "Is this man well-thought-of? Are his children believers? Do they respect him and stay out of trouble?"7 It's important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God's house, be looked up to-not pushy, not short-tempered, not a drunk, not a bully, not money-hungry.8 He must welcome people, be helpful, wise, fair, reverent, have a good grip on himself,9 and have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth to either spur people on in knowledge or stop them in their tracks if they oppose it.

10 For there are a lot of rebels out there, full of loose, confusing, and deceiving talk. Those who were brought up religious and ought to know better are the worst.11 They've got to be shut up. They're disrupting entire families with their teaching, and all for the sake of a fast buck.12 One of their own prophets said it best: The Cretans are liars from the womb, barking dogs, lazy bellies.13 He certainly spoke the truth. Get on them right away. Stop that diseased talk of Jewish make-believe and made-up rules14 so they can recover a robust faith.15 Everything is clean to the clean-minded; nothing is clean to dirty-minded unbelievers. They leave their dirty fingerprints on every thought and act.16 They say they know God, but their actions speak louder than their words. They're real creeps, disobedient good-for-nothings.

Titus 2

A God-Filled Life

1 Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine.2 Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance.3 Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness.4 By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children,5 be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don't want anyone looking down on God's Message because of their behavior.6 Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.

7 But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, incorruptible in your teaching,8 your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around.

9 Guide slaves into being loyal workers, a bonus to their masters-no back talk,10 no petty thievery. Then their good character will shine through their actions, adding luster to the teaching of our Savior God.

11 God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone!12 We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now,13 and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears.14 He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.

15 Tell them all this. Build up their courage, and discipline them if they get out of line. You're in charge. Don't let anyone put you down.