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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,[a] and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. A church leader[b] 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,[c] 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:6 Or must have only one wife, or must be married only once; Greek reads must be the husband of one wife.
  2. 1:7a Or An overseer, or A bishop.
  3. 1:7b Greek must not drink too much wine.

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.

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Footnotes

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