²¹ And after they had ^(A)preached the gospel to that city and had ^(B)made a good number of disciples, they returned to ^(C)Lystra, to ^(D)Iconium, and to ^(E)Antioch, ²² strengthening the souls of ^(F)the disciples, encouraging them to continue in ^(G)the faith, and saying, “^(H)It is through many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God.” ²³ When ^(I)they had appointed ^(J)elders for them in every church, having ^(K)prayed with fasting, they ^(L)entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

⁴ To ^(A)Titus, ^(B)my true ^[a]son ^[b]in a ^(C)common faith: ^(D)Grace and peace from God the Father and ^(E)Christ Jesus our Savior.

Qualifications of Elders

⁵ For this reason I left you in ^(F)Crete, that you would set in order what remains and ^(G)appoint ^(H)elders in every city as I directed you, ⁶ namely, ^(I)if any man is beyond reproach, the ^(J)husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of ^(K)indecent behavior or ^(L)rebellion. ⁷ For the ^[c](M)overseer must be beyond reproach as ^(N)God’s steward, not ^(O)self-willed, not quick-tempered, not ^(P)overindulging in wine, not ^[d]a bully, ^(Q)not greedy for money, ⁸ but ^(R)hospitable, ^(S)loving what is good, self-controlled, righteous, holy, disciplined, ^9 (T)holding firmly the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to ^[e]exhort in ^(U)sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.

Concerning Elders

^17 (A)The elders who ^(B)lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who ^(C)work hard ^[a]at preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, “^(D)You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing,” and “^(E)The laborer is worthy of his wages.” ¹⁹ Do not accept an accusation against an ^(F)elder except on the basis of ^(G)two or three witnesses. ²⁰ Those who continue in sin, ^(H)rebuke in the presence of all, ^(I)so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. ^21 (J)I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.

The Tongue Is a Fire

3 ^(A)Do not become teachers in large numbers, ^(B)my brothers, since you know that we who are teachers will incur a ^[a]stricter judgment.