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Greetings and Grace

Paul, (A)a slave of God and an (B)apostle of Jesus Christ, [a]for the faith of God’s (C)elect and (D)the full knowledge of the truth which is (E)according to godliness, in (F)the hope of eternal life, which the God (G)who cannot lie (H)promised [b](I)from all eternity, but (J)at the proper time manifested His word in (K)preaching, (L)with which I was entrusted (M)according to the commandment of (N)God our Savior,

To (O)Titus, (P)my genuine child according to our (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 faithful children, who are not accused of (Y)dissipation, or (Z)rebellious. For the [c](AA)overseer must be beyond reproach as (AB)God’s steward, not (AC)self-willed, not quick-tempered, not (AD)addicted to wine, not pugnacious, (AE)not fond of dishonest gain, but (AF)hospitable, (AG)loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, (AH)holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in (AI)sound doctrine and to reprove those who contradict.

10 (AJ)For there are many (AK)rebellious men, (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 dishonest gain. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “(AQ)Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason (AR)reprove 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 works they (BB)deny Him, being (BC)detestable and (BD)disobedient and (BE)unfit (BF)for any good work.

Footnotes

  1. Titus 1:1 Or according to
  2. Titus 1:2 Lit before times eternal
  3. Titus 1:7 Or bishop

Greeting

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God’s elect people and the knowledge of the truth that conforms to godliness, based on the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began. At the proper time he revealed this in his word, in the preaching that was entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,

To Titus, my true child in our common faith:

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

Titus’ Work in Crete

The reason I left you in Crete was so that you would set in order the things that were left unfinished and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you. Such a man is to be blameless, the husband of only one wife, and to have believing children who are not open to a charge of wild living or disobedience. Indeed an overseer, since he is God’s steward, must be blameless, not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not a drunkard, not violent, not eager for dishonest gain. Instead, he must be hospitable, loving what is good, self-controlled, upright, devout, and disciplined. He must cling to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he will be able both to encourage people by the sound teaching and also to correct[b] those who oppose him.

10 For there are many who are rebellious, whose words are empty, and who deceive, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 The mouths of these people must be stopped, because they are ruining whole households by teaching what they should not teach, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of their own prophets said, “Cretans are always liars, vicious beasts, and lazy gluttons.”[c] 13 This testimony is true. For this reason, correct them sharply so that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths or the commands of people who turn their backs on the truth. 15 All things are pure to those who are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are defiled and do not believe; rather, both their minds and consciences are defiled. 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit to do anything good.

Footnotes

  1. Titus 1:4 A few witnesses to the text add mercy. (“Witnesses to the text” mentioned in footnotes may include Greek manuscripts, lectionaries, translations, and quotations in the church fathers.)
  2. Titus 1:9 Or expose
  3. Titus 1:12 This statement is attributed to Epimenides, a Cretan poet (sixth century bc).