For there will be a time when people ¹  will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, ²  they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things. ³ 

But now in his own time ¹  he has made his message evident through the preaching I was entrusted with according to the command of God our Savior.

The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

He must hold firmly to the faithful message as it has been taught, ¹  so that he will be able to give exhortation in such healthy teaching ²  and correct those who speak against it.

he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit,

For he has come to deserve greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house deserves greater honor than the house itself!

But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,” that none of you may become hardened by sin’s deception.

When he says above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you did not desire nor did you take delight in them” ¹  (which are offered according to the law),

And every priest stands day after day ¹  serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again – sacrifices that can never take away sins.

For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.

With it we bless the Lord ¹  and Father, and with it we curse people ²  made in God’s image.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.

Do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, ¹  so that you may not be judged. See, the judge stands before the gates! ² 

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by being set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for sprinkling ¹  with Jesus Christ’s blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure! ² 

And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here ¹  in reverence.

Above all, understand this: ¹  In the last days blatant scoffers ²  will come, being propelled by their own evil urges ³ 

And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, ¹  just as also our dear brother Paul ²  wrote to you, ³  according to the wisdom given to him,

And this is the confidence that we have before him: that ¹  whenever ²  we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face. ¹  (1:15) Peace be with you. ²  The friends here ³  greet you. Greet the friends ⁴  there ⁵  by name.

These people are grumblers and ¹  fault-finders who go ²  wherever their desires lead them, ³  and they give bombastic speeches, ⁴  enchanting folks ⁵  for their own gain. ⁶