For, as God's steward, a minister must be of blameless life, not over-fond of having his own way, not a man of a passionate temper nor a hard drinker, not given to blows nor greedy of gain,

They must be silenced, because they are the kind of people who ruin whole families by teaching what they should not teach in order to make money in a shameful way.

Everything is clean to those who are clean, but nothing is clean to those who are corrupt and unbelieving. Indeed, their very way of thinking and their consciences have been corrupted.

In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. They are to teach what is good,

In this way they will train the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children,

In a similar way urge the young men to be sensible and self-controlled and to behave wisely [taking life seriously].

showing yourself to be an example of good works in every way. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,

Urge bond-servants to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be pleasing and not talk back,

or steal from them. Instead, they are to show complete and perfect loyalty, so that in every way they may make the teaching about God our Savior more attractive.

instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,

To say no evil of any man, not to be fighters, to give way to others, to be gentle in behaviour to all men.

For in the past we were foolish, hard in heart, turned from the true way, servants of evil desires and pleasures, living in bad feeling and envy, hated and hating one another.

Zenas the lawyer and Apollos set forward diligently on their way, that nothing may be lacking to them;

Here is another way that our people can learn to engage in good works to meet pressing needs and so not be unfruitful.