¹³ This testimony is true. Therefore ^(A)rebuke them ^(B)sharply, that they ^(C)may be sound in the faith,

² Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, ^(A)sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.

²⁰ As for those who persist in sin, ^(A)rebuke them in the presence of all, ^(B)so that the rest may stand in fear.

¹⁵ Declare these things; exhort and ^(A)rebuke with all authority. ^(B)Let no one disregard you.

² preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; ^(A)reprove, rebuke, and ^(B)exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

¹⁰ For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come ^(A)I may not have to be ^(B)severe in my use of ^(C)the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

A Good Servant of Christ Jesus

^6 (A)If you put these things before the brothers,^[a] you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have ^(B)followed.

⁸ For ^(A)even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though ^(B)I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. ⁹ As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but ^(C)because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

¹⁰ For ^(D)godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas ^(E)worldly grief produces death. ¹¹ For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, ^(F)what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. ¹² So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one ^(G)who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.