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.

10 (Q)For there are many (R)rebellious people, (S)empty talkers and deceivers, especially (T)those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting (U)whole families, teaching (V)things they should not teach (W)for the sake of [d]dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “(X)Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason (Y)reprimand them (Z)severely so that they may be (AA)sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish (AB)myths and (AC)commandments of men who (AD)turn away from the truth. 15 (AE)To the pure, all things are pure; but (AF)to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their (AG)mind and their conscience are defiled. 16 (AH)They profess to know God, but by their deeds they (AI)deny Him, being (AJ)detestable and (AK)disobedient and (AL)worthless (AM)for any good deed.

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Footnotes

  1. Titus 1:7 Or bishop
  2. Titus 1:7 Or combative
  3. Titus 1:9 Or encourage
  4. Titus 1:11 Or disgraceful

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