Salutation

1 Paul, ^(A)a bond-servant of God and an ^(B)apostle of Jesus Christ, ^[a]for the faith of those ^(C)chosen of God and ^(D)the knowledge of the truth which is ^(E)according to godliness, ² in ^(F)the hope of eternal life, which God, ^(G)who cannot lie, ^(H)promised ^[b](I)long ages ago, ³ but ^(J)at the proper time revealed His word in ^(K)the proclamation ^(L)with which I was entrusted ^(M)according to the commandment of ^(N)God our Savior;

⁴ To ^(O)Titus, ^(P)my true ^[c]son ^[d]in a ^(Q)common faith: ^(R)Grace and peace from God the Father and ^(S)Christ Jesus our Savior.

Qualifications of Elders

⁵ For this reason I left you in ^(T)Crete, that you would set in order what remains and ^(U)appoint ^(V)elders in every city as I directed you, ⁶ namely, ^(W)if any man is beyond reproach, the ^(X)husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of ^(Y)indecent behavior or ^(Z)rebellion. ⁷ For the ^[e](AA)overseer must be beyond reproach as ^(AB)God’s steward, not ^(AC)self-willed, not quick-tempered, not ^(AD)overindulging in wine, not ^[f]a bully, ^(AE)not greedy for money, ⁸ but ^(AF)hospitable, ^(AG)loving what is good, self-controlled, righteous, holy, disciplined, ^9 (AH)holding firmly the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to ^[g]exhort in ^(AI)sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.

^10 (AJ)For there are many ^(AK)rebellious people, ^(AL)empty talkers and deceivers, especially ^(AM)those of the circumcision, ¹¹ who must be silenced because they are upsetting ^(AN)whole families, teaching ^(AO)things they should not teach ^(AP)for the sake of ^[h]dishonest gain. ¹² One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “^(AQ)Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ¹³ This testimony is true. For this reason ^(AR)reprimand them ^(AS)severely so that they may be ^(AT)sound in the faith, ¹⁴ not paying attention to Jewish ^(AU)myths and ^(AV)commandments of men who ^(AW)turn away from the truth. ^15 (AX)To the pure, all things are pure; but ^(AY)to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their ^(AZ)mind and their conscience are defiled. ^16 (BA)They profess to know God, but by their deeds they ^(BB)deny Him, being ^(BC)detestable and ^(BD)disobedient and ^(BE)worthless ^(BF)for any good deed.

Proclaim Sound Doctrine

2 But as for you, proclaim the things which are fitting for ^(BG)sound doctrine. ^2 (BH)Older men are to be ^[i](BI)temperate, dignified, self-controlled, ^(BJ)sound ^(BK)in faith, in love, in ^[j]perseverance.

³ Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, ^(BL)not malicious gossips nor ^(BM)enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, ⁴ so that they may ^[k]encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ to be sensible, pure, ^(BN)workers at home, kind, being ^(BO)subject to their own husbands, ^(BP)so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

⁶ Likewise urge ^(BQ)the young men to be ^[l]sensible; ⁷ in all things show yourself to be ^(BR)an example of good deeds, with ^[m]purity in doctrine, dignified, ⁸ sound in speech which is beyond reproach, ^(BS)so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

⁹ Urge ^[n](BT)slaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be pleasing, not ^[o]argumentative, ¹⁰ not stealing, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of ^(BU)God our Savior in every respect.

¹¹ For the grace of God has ^(BV)appeared, ^[p](BW)bringing salvation to all people, ^12 [q]instructing us to deny ungodliness and ^(BX)worldly desires and ^(BY)to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner ^(BZ)in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and the ^(CA)appearing of the glory of ^[r](CB)our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, ¹⁴ who ^(CC)gave Himself for us ^(CD)to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to ^(CE)purify for Himself a ^(CF)people for His own possession, ^(CG)eager for good deeds.

¹⁵ These things speak and ^(CH)[s]exhort, and ^(CI)rebuke with all authority. ^(CJ)No one is to disregard you.

Godly Living

3 ^(CK)Remind them ^(CL)to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ^(CM)ready for every good deed, ² to slander no one, ^(CN)not to be contentious, to be ^(CO)gentle, ^(CP)showing every consideration for all people. ^3 (CQ)For we too were once foolish, ^(CR)disobedient, ^(CS)deceived, ^(CT)enslaved to ^(CU)various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in ^(CV)malice and ^(CW)envy, hateful, hating one another. ⁴ But when the ^(CX)kindness of ^(CY)God our Savior and His love for mankind ^(CZ)appeared, ^5 (DA)He saved us, ^(DB)not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but ^(DC)in accordance with His mercy, by the ^(DD)washing of regeneration and ^(DE)renewing by the Holy Spirit, ^6 (DF)whom He ^(DG)richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that being justified by His grace we would be made ^(DH)heirs ^[t]according to the hope of eternal life. ^8 (DI)This statement is trustworthy; and concerning these things I ^(DJ)want you to speak confidently, so that those who have ^(DK)believed God will be careful to ^(DL)engage in good deeds. These things are good and beneficial for people. ⁹ But ^(DM)avoid ^(DN)foolish controversies and ^(DO)genealogies and strife and ^(DP)disputes about the Law, for they are ^(DQ)useless and worthless. ^10 (DR)Reject a ^[u](DS)divisive person ^(DT)after a first and second warning, ¹¹ knowing that such a person has ^(DU)deviated from what is right and is sinning, being self-condemned.

Personal Concerns

¹² When I send Artemas or ^(DV)Tychicus to you, ^(DW)make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to ^(DX)spend the winter there. ¹³ Diligently help Zenas the ^(DY)lawyer and ^(DZ)Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them. ^14 (EA)Our people must also learn to ^(EB)engage in good ^[v]deeds to meet ^(EC)pressing needs, so that they will not be ^(ED)unproductive.

^15 (EE)All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us ^(EF)in the faith.

^(EG)Grace be with you all.