问候

我保罗做上帝的奴仆和耶稣基督的使徒,是为了使上帝拣选的人有信心、明白真理,从而过敬虔的生活, 有永生的盼望。这永生是从不说谎的上帝在亘古以前应许的。 祂在所定的时候,借着人的传扬将自己的道显明出来。我奉我们救主上帝的命令传扬这道。

提多啊,我写信给你,就我们共同的信仰来说,你是我真正的儿子。

愿父上帝和我们的救主基督耶稣赐给你恩典和平安!

长老的资格

当初,我把你留在克里特岛,是要你完成未办完的事工,并照我的指示在各城选立长老。 做长老的必须无可指责,只有一位妻子,儿女都信主、没有放荡不羁的行为。 身为上帝的管家,做监督的必须无可指责,不傲慢,不暴躁,不酗酒,不好斗,不贪财。 他必须好客、乐善、自制、正直、圣洁、自律, 持守所领受的真道,以便能够以纯正的教导劝勉人,驳倒那些反对的人。

10 因为有许多悖逆之人喜欢空谈,善于欺骗,尤其是那些奉行割礼的人。 11 你一定要堵住他们的口,因为他们为了不义之财教不该教的,误导了别人全家。 12 克里特人自己的一位先知说:“克里特人说谎成性,邪恶如兽,好吃懒做。” 13 这话是真的。因此你要严正地斥责他们,使他们有纯正的信仰, 14 不理会犹太人荒诞的传说和那些违背真理之人的诫律。 15 对洁净的人而言,一切都是洁净的;对污秽不信的人而言,什么都不洁净,连他们的思想和良心都是污秽的。 16 他们自称认识上帝,在行为上却否认祂。他们令人可憎,悖逆成性,一无是处。

From Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.

I was chosen and sent to help the faith of God's chosen people and to lead them to the truth taught by our religion, which is based on the hope for eternal life. God, who does not lie, promised us this life before the beginning of time, and at the right time he revealed it in his message. This was entrusted to me, and I proclaim it by order of God our Savior.

(A)I write to Titus, my true son in the faith that we have in common.

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace.

Titus' Work in Crete

I left you in Crete, so that you could put in order the things that still needed doing and appoint church elders in every town. Remember my instructions: (B)an elder must be without fault; he must have only one wife,[a] and his children must be believers and not have the reputation of being wild or disobedient. For since a church leader is in charge of God's work, he should be without fault. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered, or a drunkard or violent or greedy for money. He must be hospitable and love what is good. He must be self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the message which can be trusted and which agrees with the doctrine. In this way he will be able to encourage others with the true teaching and also to show the error of those who are opposed to it.

10 For there are many, especially the converts from Judaism, who rebel and deceive others with their nonsense. 11 It is necessary to stop their talk, because they are upsetting whole families by teaching what they should not, and all for the shameful purpose of making money. 12-13 It was a Cretan himself, one of their own prophets, who spoke the truth when he said, “Cretans are always liars, wicked beasts, and lazy gluttons.” For this reason you must rebuke them sharply, so that they may have a healthy faith 14 and no longer hold on to Jewish legends and to human commandments which come from people who have rejected the truth. 15 Everything is pure to those who are themselves pure; but nothing is pure to those who are defiled and unbelieving, for their minds and consciences have been defiled. 16 They claim that they know God, but their actions deny it. They are hateful and disobedient, not fit to do anything good.

Footnotes

  1. Titus 1:6 have only one wife; or be married only once.

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.