But say the things which fit sound doctrine, 2that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober-minded, sound in faith, in love, and in patience: 3and that older women likewise be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good; 4that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed.
6Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober-minded; 7in all things showing yourself an example of good works; in your teaching showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility, 8and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned; that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.
9Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing in all things; not contradicting; 10not stealing, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God1, our Saviour, in all things.
11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; 13looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, ‘ISA2 AL-MASIH3; 14who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.
15Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise you.
- 2:10 God, English translation of theos. It is the Greek equivalent of elohim and eloah (Hebrew) which are related to allah (Arabic) and alaha (Syriac), all of which translate as “God,” and refer to the one true God. ↩︎
- 2:13 ‘ISA – The names ‘ISA (Arabic), ISHO (Syriac) and JESUS (Greek, IESOUS) are all derived from the Hebrew name YEHOSHUA, which means “YAHWEH saves.” (YAHWEH is God’s personal name revealed to Prophet Musa in the Taurat, Exodus 3:15 – God said moreover to Musa, “You shall tell Bani-Israel this, ‘YAHWEH, the God of your fathers, the God of Ibrahim, the God of Ishaq, and the God of Yaqub, has sent me to you.’ This is my Name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered to all generations.”) ↩︎
- 2:13 AL-MASIH – an Arabic title equivalent to the Messiah (Hebrew) or Christ (Greek), all of which mean the Anointed One, that is, God’s Chosen One. In ancient times, divinely-appointed kings, priests and prophets were anointed with oil to signify their appointment to office. All of them point ahead to God’s ultimate Anointed One, the Messiah, AL-MASIH. Al-Kitab unanimously points to ‘ISA Ibn Maryam as the only person worthy to bear the title AL-MASIH. He is the one whom God sent into this world to save people from sin, and to usher in God’s Kingdom at his Second Coming. ↩︎