| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, | 1Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work, |
| 2to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. | 2to malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, showing full consideration to everyone. |
| 3For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. | 3For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. |
| 4But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, | 4But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, |
| 5not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, | 5He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. |
| 6whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, | 6This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, |
| 7that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. | 7so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life. |
| 8This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. | 8This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people. |
| 9But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. | 9But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless. |
| 10Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, | 10Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition, |
| 11knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. | 11knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned. |
| 12When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. | 12As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. |
| 13Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. | 13Do your best to equip Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, so that they will have everything they need. |
| 14And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. | 14And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful. |
| 15All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. | 15All who are with me send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you. |
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