Titus 1-2

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Greeting

1 Paul,^(A) a slave of God^(B) and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to build up^[a] the faith of God’s elect^(C) and their knowledge of the truth^(D) that leads^[b] to godliness,^{(E) 2} in the hope of eternal life^(F) that God, who cannot lie,^(G) promised before time began.^{(H) 3} In His own time He has revealed^(I) His message^(J) in the proclamation that I was entrusted^(K) with by the command^(L) of God our Savior:^(M)

⁴ To Titus,^(N) my true son^(O) in our common faith.

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

Titus’s Ministry in Crete

⁵ The reason I left you in Crete^(Q) was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders^(R) in every town: ⁶ one^(S) who is blameless,^(T) the husband of one wife, having faithful^[c] children not accused of wildness or rebellion. ⁷ For an overseer,^(U) as God’s administrator, must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, ⁸ but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, ⁹ holding to the faithful message as taught,^(V) so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching^(W) and to refute those who contradict it.

¹⁰ For there are also many rebellious people, full of empty talk and deception, especially those from Judaism.^{[d] 11} It is necessary to silence them; they overthrow whole households by teaching what they shouldn’t in order to get money dishonestly. ¹² One of their very own prophets said,

¹³ This testimony is true.^(X) So, rebuke them sharply,^(Y) that they may be sound in the faith ¹⁴ and may not pay attention to Jewish myths^(Z) and the commands of men who reject the truth.^(AA)

¹⁵ To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience^(AB) are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess to know God,^(AC) but they deny Him by their works.^(AD) They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.^(AE)

Sound Teaching and Christian Living

2 But you must say the things that are consistent with sound teaching.^{(AF) 2} Older men^(AG) are to be level headed, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love,^(AH) and endurance. ³ In the same way, older women^(AI) are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. They are to teach what is good, ⁴ so they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, pure, homemakers, kind, and submissive^(AJ) to their husbands, so that God’s message^(AK) will not be slandered.

⁶ In the same way, encourage the young men^(AL) to be self-controlled ⁷ in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity^[f] in your teaching. ⁸ Your message is to be sound beyond reproach,^(AM) so that the opponent will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.

⁹ Slaves are to be submissive to their masters^(AN) in everything, and to be well-pleasing,^(AO) not talking back ¹⁰ or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior^(AP) in everything.

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared with salvation^[g] for all people,^{(AQ) 12} instructing us to deny godlessness^(AR) and worldly lusts^(AS) and to live in a sensible, righteous,^(AT) and godly^(AU) way in the present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope^(AV) and appearing of the glory^(AW) of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ He gave Himself for us^(AX) to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession,^(AY) eager to do good works.

¹⁵ Say these things, and encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard^[h] you.