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Salutation

Paul, (A)a bond-servant of God and an (B)apostle of Jesus Christ, [a]for the faith of those (C)chosen of God and (D)the knowledge of the truth which is (E)according to godliness, in (F)the hope of eternal life, which God, (G)who cannot lie, (H)promised [b](I)long ages ago, but (J)at the proper time revealed His word in (K)the proclamation (L)with which I was entrusted (M)according to the commandment of (N)God our Savior;

To (O)Titus, (P)my true [c]son [d]in a (Q)common faith: (R)Grace and peace from God the Father and (S)Christ Jesus our Savior.

Qualifications of Elders

For this reason I left you in (T)Crete, that you would set in order what remains and (U)appoint (V)elders in every city as I directed you, namely, (W)if any man is beyond reproach, the (X)husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of (Y)indecent behavior or (Z)rebellion. For the [e](AA)overseer must be beyond reproach as (AB)God’s steward, not (AC)self-willed, not quick-tempered, not (AD)overindulging in wine, not [f]a bully, (AE)not greedy for money, but (AF)hospitable, (AG)loving what is good, self-controlled, righteous, holy, disciplined, (AH)holding firmly the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to [g]exhort in (AI)sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.

10 (AJ)For there are many (AK)rebellious people, (AL)empty talkers and deceivers, especially (AM)those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting (AN)whole families, teaching (AO)things they should not teach (AP)for the sake of [h]dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “(AQ)Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason (AR)reprimand them (AS)severely so that they may be (AT)sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish (AU)myths and (AV)commandments of men who (AW)turn away from the truth. 15 (AX)To the pure, all things are pure; but (AY)to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their (AZ)mind and their conscience are defiled. 16 (BA)They profess to know God, but by their deeds they (BB)deny Him, being (BC)detestable and (BD)disobedient and (BE)worthless (BF)for any good deed.

Footnotes

  1. Titus 1:1 Or according to
  2. Titus 1:2 Lit before eternal times
  3. Titus 1:4 Or child
  4. Titus 1:4 Lit according to
  5. Titus 1:7 Or bishop
  6. Titus 1:7 Or combative
  7. Titus 1:9 Or encourage
  8. Titus 1:11 Or disgraceful

Greetings from Paul

This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to[a] those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began. And now at just the right time he has revealed this message, which we announce to everyone. It is by the command of God our Savior that I have been entrusted with this work for him.

I am writing to Titus, my true son in the faith that we share.

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

Titus’s Work in Crete

I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife,[b] and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. A church leader[c] is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker,[d] violent, or dishonest with money.

Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.

10 For there are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others. This is especially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation. 11 They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money. 12 Even one of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.”[e] 13 This is true. So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith. 14 They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth.

15 Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 Or to strengthen the faith of.
  2. 1:6 Or must have only one wife, or must be married only once; Greek reads must be the husband of one wife.
  3. 1:7a Or An overseer, or A bishop.
  4. 1:7b Greek must not drink too much wine.
  5. 1:12 This quotation is from Epimenides of Knossos.

Greetings from Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I was sent to help God’s chosen people have faith and understand the truth that produces a life of devotion to God. This faith and knowledge make us sure that we have eternal life. God promised that life to us before time began—and God does not lie. At the right time, God let the world know about that life. He did this through the telling of the Good News message, and he trusted me with that work. I told people that message because God our Savior commanded me to.

To Titus, a true son to me in the faith we share together.

Grace and peace to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Titus’ Work in Crete

I left you in Crete so that you could finish doing what still needed to be done. And I also left you there so that you could choose men to be elders in every town. To be an elder, a man must not be guilty of living in a wrong way. He must be faithful to his wife,[a] and his children must be faithful to God.[b] They must not be known as children who are wild or don’t obey. An elder[c] has the job of taking care of God’s work. So people should not be able to say that he lives in a wrong way. He must not be someone who is proud and selfish or who gets angry quickly. He must not drink too much, and he must not be someone who likes to fight. He must not be a man who will do almost anything for money. An elder must be ready to help people by welcoming them into his home. He must love what is good. He must be wise. He must live right. He must be devoted to God and pleasing to him. And he must be able to control himself. An elder must be faithful to the same true message we teach. Then he will be able to encourage others with teaching that is true and right. And he will be able to show those who are against this teaching that they are wrong.

10 This is important, because there are many people who refuse to obey—people who talk about worthless things and mislead others. I am talking especially about those who say that men who are not Jews must be circumcised to please God. 11 These people must be stopped, because they are destroying whole families by teaching what they should not teach. They teach only to cheat people and make money. 12 Even one of their own prophets said, “Cretans are always liars. They are evil animals and lazy people who do nothing but eat.” 13 The words that prophet said are true. So tell those people that they are wrong. You must be strict with them. Then they will become strong in the faith, 14 and they will stop paying attention to the stories told by those Jews. They will stop following the commands of those who have turned away from the truth.

15 To people who are pure, everything is pure. But to those who are full of sin and don’t believe, nothing is pure. Really, their thinking has become evil and their consciences have been ruined. 16 They say they know God, but the evil things they do show that they don’t accept him. They are disgusting. They refuse to obey God and are not capable of doing anything good.

Footnotes

  1. Titus 1:6 faithful to his wife Literally, “a man of one woman.”
  2. Titus 1:6 faithful to God This word can mean “trustworthy” or “believers.” Here, both meanings may be included. Compare this verse with 1 Tim. 3:4.
  3. Titus 1:7 elder Here, literally, “overseer.” See “elders (New Testament)” in the Word List.

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 a su debido tiempo(J), manifestó 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). Lo designarás, si el anciano 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 debe ser irreprensible(AA) como administrador de Dios(AB), no obstinado(AC), no iracundo, no dado a la bebida[d](AD), no pendenciero, no amante de ganancias deshonestas(AE). Antes bien, debe ser hospitalario(AF), amante de lo bueno(AG), prudente, justo, santo, dueño de sí mismo. Debe retener 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[e](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 y no presten 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), pero 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. 1:1 O para.
  2. 1:3 O en la proclamación con que yo fui confiado.
  3. 1:4 Lit. según.
  4. 1:7 Lit. al vino.
  5. 1:10 I.e. judíos convertidos.
  6. 1:11 Lit. los cuales.
  7. 1:11 O casas.

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