問候

我保羅作上帝的奴僕和耶穌基督的使徒,是為了使上帝揀選的人有信心、明白真理,從而過敬虔的生活, 有永生的盼望。這永生是從不說謊的上帝在亙古以前應許的。 祂在所定的時候,藉著人的傳揚將自己的道顯明出來。我奉我們救主上帝的命令傳揚這道。

提多啊,我寫信給你,就我們共同的信仰來說,你是我真正的兒子。

願父上帝和我們的救主基督耶穌賜給你恩典和平安!

長老的資格

當初,我把你留在克里特島,是要你完成未辦完的事工,並照我的指示在各城選立長老。 作長老的必須無可指責,只有一位妻子,兒女都信主、沒有放蕩不羈的行為。 身為上帝的管家,作監督的必須無可指責,不傲慢,不暴躁,不酗酒,不好鬥,不貪財。 他必須好客、樂善、自制、正直、聖潔、自律, 持守所領受的真道,以便能夠以純正的教導勸勉人,駁倒那些反對的人。

10 因為有許多悖逆之人喜歡空談,善於欺騙,尤其是那些奉行割禮的人。 11 你一定要堵住他們的口,因為他們為了不義之財教不該教的,誤導了別人全家。 12 克里特人自己的一位先知說:「克里特人說謊成性,邪惡如獸,好吃懶做。」 13 這話是真的。因此你要嚴正地斥責他們,使他們有純正的信仰, 14 不理會猶太人荒誕的傳說和那些違背真理之人的誡律。 15 對潔淨的人而言,一切都是潔淨的;對污穢不信的人而言,什麼都不潔淨,連他們的思想和良心都是污穢的。 16 他們自稱認識上帝,在行為上卻否認祂。他們令人可憎,悖逆成性,一無是處。

Salutation

Paul, a servant[a] of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness, in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began— in due time he revealed his word through the proclamation with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior,

To Titus, my loyal child in the faith we share:

Grace[b] and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Titus in Crete

I left you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you should put in order what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you: someone who is blameless, married only once,[c] whose children are believers, not accused of debauchery and not rebellious. For a bishop,[d] as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain; but he must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, prudent, upright, devout, and self-controlled. He must have a firm grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.

10 There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision; 11 they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach. 12 It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said,

“Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons.”

13 That testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure. Their very minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Footnotes

  1. Titus 1:1 Gk slave
  2. Titus 1:4 Other ancient authorities read Grace, mercy,
  3. Titus 1:6 Gk husband of one wife
  4. Titus 1:7 Or an overseer

Paul, a servant of God(A) and an apostle(B) of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth(C) that leads to godliness(D) in the hope of eternal life,(E) which God, who does not lie,(F) promised before the beginning of time,(G) and which now at his appointed season(H) he has brought to light(I) through the preaching entrusted to me(J) by the command of God(K) our Savior,(L)

To Titus,(M) my true son(N) in our common faith:

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

Appointing Elders Who Love What Is Good(P)

The reason I left you in Crete(Q) was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint[a] elders(R) in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless,(S) faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe[b] and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer(T) manages God’s household,(U) he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.(V) Rather, he must be hospitable,(W) one who loves what is good,(X) who is self-controlled,(Y) upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly(Z) to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine(AA) and refute those who oppose it.

Rebuking Those Who Fail to Do Good

10 For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk(AB) and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.(AC) 11 They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households(AD) by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of Crete’s own prophets(AE) has said it: “Cretans(AF) are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”[c] 13 This saying is true. Therefore rebuke(AG) them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith(AH) 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths(AI) or to the merely human commands(AJ) of those who reject the truth.(AK) 15 To the pure, all things are pure,(AL) but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure.(AM) In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.(AN) 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.(AO) They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.(AP)

Footnotes

  1. Titus 1:5 Or ordain
  2. Titus 1:6 Or children are trustworthy
  3. Titus 1:12 From the Cretan philosopher Epimenides

Saludo

Pablo, siervo de Dios(A) y apóstol de Jesucristo(B), conforme a[a] la fe de los escogidos de Dios(C) y al pleno conocimiento de la verdad(D) que es según la piedad(E), con la esperanza de vida eterna(F), la cual Dios, que no miente(G), prometió(H) desde los tiempos eternos(I), y manifestó a su debido tiempo(J) su palabra por la predicación(K) que me fue confiada[b](L) conforme al mandamiento(M) de Dios nuestro Salvador(N), a Tito(O), verdadero hijo(P) en[c] la común fe(Q): Gracia y paz de parte de Dios el Padre(R) y de Cristo Jesús nuestro Salvador(S).

Requisitos para ancianos y obispos

Por esta causa te dejé en Creta(T), para que pusieras en orden lo que queda, y designaras(U) ancianos en cada ciudad como te mandé(V), esto es, si alguno es irreprensible(W), marido de una sola mujer(X), que tenga hijos creyentes, no acusados de disolución(Y) ni de rebeldía(Z). Porque el obispo[d] debe ser irreprensible(AA) como administrador de Dios(AB), no obstinado(AC), no iracundo, no dado a la bebida[e](AD), no pendenciero, no amante de ganancias deshonestas(AE), sino hospitalario(AF), amante de lo bueno(AG), prudente, justo, santo, dueño de sí mismo, reteniendo la palabra fiel(AH) que es conforme a la enseñanza, para que sea capaz también de exhortar con sana doctrina(AI) y refutar a los que contradicen.

Los falsos maestros censurados

10 Porque hay muchos(AJ) rebeldes(AK), habladores vanos(AL) y engañadores, especialmente los de la circuncisión(AM), 11 a quienes es preciso tapar la boca, porque[f] están trastornando familias[g](AN) enteras, enseñando, por ganancias(AO) deshonestas, cosas que no deben(AP). 12 Uno de ellos, su propio profeta, dijo: Los cretenses son siempre mentirosos, malas bestias, glotones ociosos(AQ). 13 Este testimonio es verdadero. Por eso, repréndelos(AR) severamente(AS) para que sean sanos en la fe(AT), 14 no prestando atención a mitos judaicos(AU) y a mandamientos de hombres(AV) que se apartan de la verdad(AW). 15 Todas las cosas son puras para los puros(AX), mas para los corrompidos e incrédulos nada es puro(AY), sino que tanto su mente como su conciencia están corrompidas(AZ). 16 Profesan conocer a Dios(BA), pero con sus hechos lo niegan(BB), siendo abominables(BC) y desobedientes(BD) e inútiles(BE) para cualquier obra buena(BF).

Footnotes

  1. Tito 1:1 O, para
  2. Tito 1:3 O, en la proclamación con que yo fui confiado
  3. Tito 1:4 Lit., según
  4. Tito 1:7 O, supervisor
  5. Tito 1:7 Lit., al vino
  6. Tito 1:11 Lit., los cuales
  7. Tito 1:11 O, casas