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chapter 3
1. Remind people to submit to the government and its officials, to obey them, to be ready to do any honorable kind of work,
2. to slander no one, to avoid quarrelling, to be friendly, and to behave gently towards everyone.
3. For at one time, we too were foolish and disobedient, deceived and enslaved by a variety of passions and pleasures. We spent our lives in evil and envy; people hated us, and we hated each other.
4. But when the kindness and love for mankind of God our Deliverer was revealed,
5. he delivered us. It was not on the ground of any righteous deeds we had done, but on the ground of his own mercy. He did it by means of the mikveh of rebirth and the renewal brought about by the Ruach HaKodesh,
Mikveh, the Jewish ritual bath, renders Greek loutron, "washing," found in the New Testament only here and at Ep 5:26&N. The reference is clearly to immersion (baptism); see Mt 3:1N. 

6. whom he poured out on us generously through Yeshua the Messiah, our Deliverer.
7. He did it so that by his grace we might come to be considered righteous by God and become heirs, with the certain hope of eternal life.
8. You can trust what I have just said, and I want you to speak with confidence about these things, so that those who have put their trust in God may apply themselves to doing good deeds. These are both good in themselves and valuable to the community.
Compare Ep 2:3-10. The same relationship between individual salvation and good works is taught here (especially in v. 8) as throughout Sha'ul's letters. 

9. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, quarrels and fights about the Torah; because they are worthless and futile.
10. Warn a divisive person once, then a second time; and after that, have nothing more to do with him.
11. You may be sure that such a person has been perverted and is sinning: he stands self-condemned.
Controversies, genealogies, quarrels and fights about the Torah. See 1:14 above; 1 Ti l:3b-4&N, 6:4; 2 Ti 2:14-16&N, 2:23. A congregation leader cannot tolerate divisiveness in a group with the task of "doing good deeds" (v. 8) by the power of the Ruach HaKodesh (v. 6); the unity for which the Messiah prayed (Yn 17:21) is essential if the group is serious and dedicated. 

12. When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you. Do your best to come to me in Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
Artemas, not mentioned elsewhere. Tychicus, see Ep 6:2N 1. Nieopolis, a city in Thrace near the boundary with Macedonia. 

13. Do your best to help Zenas the Torah expert and Apollos with their arrangements for travelling, so that they will lack nothing.
Zenas, not mentioned elsewhere.
Torak expert. Same term, Greek nomikus, as at Mt 22:35: Lk 7:30, 10:25&N, 11:45-52,14:3.
Apollos. An Alexandrian Jew, an eloquent speaker with a thorough knowledge of the Tanakh, whom Priscilla and Aquila instructed (Ac 18:24-19:1) and who had followers in Corinth (1С 1:12&N). 

14. And have our people learn to apply themselves to doing good deeds that meet genuine needs, so that they will not be unproductive.
15. All who are with me send you greetings. Give our greetings to our friends in the faith. Grace be with you all.