Greeting

1 Paul,^(A) a slave of God^(B) and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to build up^[a] the faith of God’s elect^(C) and their knowledge of the truth^(D) that leads^[b] to godliness,^{(E) 2} in the hope of eternal life^(F) that God, who cannot lie,^(G) promised before time began.^{(H) 3} In His own time He has revealed^(I) His message^(J) in the proclamation that I was entrusted^(K) with by the command^(L) of God our Savior:^(M)

⁴ To Titus,^(N) my true son^(O) in our common faith.

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.^(P)

Titus’s Ministry in Crete

⁵ The reason I left you in Crete^(Q) was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders^(R) in every town: ⁶ one^(S) who is blameless,^(T) the husband of one wife, having faithful^[c] children not accused of wildness or rebellion. ⁷ For an overseer,^(U) as God’s administrator, must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, ⁸ but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, ⁹ holding to the faithful message as taught,^(V) so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching^(W) and to refute those who contradict it.

¹⁰ For there are also many rebellious people, full of empty talk and deception, especially those from Judaism.^{[d] 11} It is necessary to silence them; they overthrow whole households by teaching what they shouldn’t in order to get money dishonestly. ¹² One of their very own prophets said,

¹³ This testimony is true.^(X) So, rebuke them sharply,^(Y) that they may be sound in the faith ¹⁴ and may not pay attention to Jewish myths^(Z) and the commands of men who reject the truth.^(AA)

¹⁵ To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience^(AB) are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess to know God,^(AC) but they deny Him by their works.^(AD) They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.^(AE)