Godly Living

3 ^(A)Remind them ^(B)to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ^(C)ready for every good deed, ² to slander no one, ^(D)not to be contentious, to be ^(E)gentle, ^(F)showing every consideration for all people. ^3 (G)For we too were once foolish, ^(H)disobedient, ^(I)deceived, ^(J)enslaved to ^(K)various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in ^(L)malice and ^(M)envy, hateful, hating one another. ⁴ But when the ^(N)kindness of ^(O)God our Savior and His love for mankind ^(P)appeared, ^5 (Q)He saved us, ^(R)not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but ^(S)in accordance with His mercy, by the ^(T)washing of regeneration and ^(U)renewing by the Holy Spirit, ^6 (V)whom He ^(W)richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that being justified by His grace we would be made ^(X)heirs ^[a]according to the hope of eternal life.

Qualifications of Elders

⁵ 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, ⁶ 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. ⁷ 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, ⁸ but ^(M)hospitable, ^(N)loving what is good, self-controlled, righteous, holy, disciplined, ^9 (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.

^10 (Q)For there are many ^(R)rebellious people, ^(S)empty talkers and deceivers, especially ^(T)those of the circumcision,