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.

Read full chapter

Qualifications of Elders

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

10 (Q)For there are many (R)rebellious people, (S)empty talkers and deceivers, especially (T)those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting (U)whole families, teaching (V)things they should not teach (W)for the sake of [d]dishonest gain.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Titus 1:7 Or bishop
  2. Titus 1:7 Or combative
  3. Titus 1:9 Or encourage
  4. Titus 1:11 Or disgraceful