Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

3 This saying is trustworthy:^(A) “If anyone aspires to be an overseer,^[a](B) he desires a noble work.” ² An overseer,^(C) therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible,^(D) respectable, hospitable,^(E) able to teach, ³ not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy.^{(F) 4} He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. ⁵ (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) ⁶ He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil.^{(G) 7} Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s^(H) trap.

⁸ Deacons,^(I) likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, ⁹ holding the mystery of the faith^(J) with a clear conscience.^{(K) 10} They must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons. ¹¹ Wives,^[b](L) likewise, should be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled,^(M) faithful in everything. ¹² Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently. ¹³ For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

¹⁴ I write these things to you, hoping to come^(N) to you soon. ¹⁵ But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household,^(O) which is the church of the living God,^(P) the pillar and foundation of the truth.^{(Q) 16} And most certainly, the mystery of godliness^(R) is great:

Greeting

1 Paul,^(A) a servant of God^(B) and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for^[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 word^(J) in the preaching with which I was entrusted^(K) 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 An elder^(S) must be blameless,^(T) the husband of one wife, with faithful^[c] children who are not accused of wildness or rebellion. ⁷ As an overseer^(U) of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, 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 many rebellious people, full of empty talk and deception, especially those from the circumcision party. ¹¹ It is necessary to silence them; they are ruining entire households by teaching what they shouldn’t in order to get money dishonestly. ¹² One of their very own prophets said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ¹³ This testimony is true.^(X) For this reason, rebuke them sharply,^(Y) so that they may be sound in the faith ¹⁴ and may not pay attention to Jewish myths^(Z) and the commands of people 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 claim to know God,^(AC) but they deny him by their works.^(AD) They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.^(AE)