1 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)— ² in the hope of eternal life,^(E) which God, who does not lie,^(F) promised before the beginning of time,^{(G) 3} 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)

⁴ 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)

⁵ 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. ⁶ 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. ⁷ 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) 8} Rather, he must be hospitable,^(W) one who loves what is good,^(X) who is self-controlled,^(Y) upright, holy and disciplined. ⁹ 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)

Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel

2 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.^{(AQ) 2} Teach the older men^(AR) to be temperate,^(AS) worthy of respect, self-controlled,^(AT) and sound in faith,^(AU) in love and in endurance.

³ Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers^(AV) or addicted to much wine,^(AW) but to teach what is good. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women^(AX) to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled^(AY) and pure, to be busy at home,^(AZ) to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands,^(BA) so that no one will malign the word of God.^(BB)

⁶ Similarly, encourage the young men^(BC) to be self-controlled.^{(BD) 7} In everything set them an example^(BE) by doing what is good.^(BF) In your teaching show integrity, seriousness ⁸ and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.^(BG)

⁹ Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything,^(BH) to try to please them, not to talk back to them, ¹⁰ and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior^(BI) attractive.^(BJ)

¹¹ For the grace^(BK) of God has appeared^(BL) that offers salvation to all people.^{(BM) 12} It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,^(BN) and to live self-controlled,^(BO) upright and godly lives^(BP) in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing^(BQ) of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,^{(BR) 14} who gave himself for us^(BS) to redeem us from all wickedness^(BT) and to purify^(BU) for himself a people that are his very own,^(BV) eager to do what is good.^(BW)

¹⁵ These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

Saved in Order to Do Good

3 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities,^(BX) to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,^{(BY) 2} to slander no one,^(BZ) to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

³ At one time^(CA) we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness^(CB) and love of God our Savior^(CC) appeared,^{(CD) 5} he saved us,^(CE) not because of righteous things we had done,^(CF) but because of his mercy.^(CG) He saved us through the washing^(CH) of rebirth and renewal^(CI) by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us^(CJ) generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace,^(CK) we might become heirs^(CL) having the hope^(CM) of eternal life.^{(CN) 8} This is a trustworthy saying.^(CO) And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.^(CP) These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

⁹ But avoid^(CQ) foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels^(CR) about the law,^(CS) because these are unprofitable and useless.^{(CT) 10} Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.^{(CU) 11} You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

Final Remarks

¹² As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus^(CV) to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.^{(CW) 13} Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos^(CX) on their way and see that they have everything they need. ¹⁴ Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good,^(CY) in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.

¹⁵ Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.^(CZ)

Grace be with you all.^(DA)

¹ Paul, a prisoner^(A) of Christ Jesus, and Timothy^(B) our brother,^(C)

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker^(D)— ² also to Apphia our sister and Archippus^(E) our fellow soldier^(F)—and to the church that meets in your home:^(G)

³ Grace and peace to you^[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^(H)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

⁴ I always thank my God^(I) as I remember you in my prayers,^{(J) 5} because I hear about your love for all his holy people^(K) and your faith in the Lord Jesus.^{(L) 6} I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. ⁷ Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,^(M) because you, brother, have refreshed^(N) the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

⁸ Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹ yet I prefer to appeal to you^(O) on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner^(P) of Christ Jesus— ¹⁰ that I appeal to you for my son^(Q) Onesimus,^[b](R) who became my son while I was in chains.^{(S) 11} Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

¹² I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. ¹³ I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains^(T) for the gospel. ¹⁴ But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced^(U) but would be voluntary. ¹⁵ Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— ¹⁶ no longer as a slave,^(V) but better than a slave, as a dear brother.^(W) He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner,^(X) welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸ If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.^{(Y) 19} I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand.^(Z) I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. ²⁰ I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh^(AA) my heart in Christ. ²¹ Confident^(AB) of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

²² And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be^(AC) restored to you in answer to your prayers.^(AD)

²³ Epaphras,^(AE) my fellow prisoner^(AF) in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. ²⁴ And so do Mark,^(AG) Aristarchus,^(AH) Demas^(AI) and Luke, my fellow workers.^(AJ)

²⁵ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.^(AK)