Chronological

1 ¶ Paul, slave of God, and apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness;

² for the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the times of the ages

³ and has manifested in due times. It is his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

⁴ to Titus, true son in the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus, the Christ, our Saviour.

⁵ ¶ For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou should correct that which is lacking and set in place elders in every city, as I had commanded thee:

⁶ ¶ He who is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children who can not be accused of dissoluteness, nor insubordinate.

⁷ For the bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God; not arrogant, not quick to anger, not given to wine, not hurtful, not greedy of dishonest gain,

⁸ but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, temperate, just, holy, gentle,

⁹ holding fast the doctrine according to the faithful word, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

¹⁰ For there are many insubordinate and vain talkers and deceivers of souls, especially those of the circumcision,

¹¹ whose mouths it is expedient to stop, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain.

¹² One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, lazy bellies.

¹³ This witness is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

¹⁴ not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

¹⁵ For unto the pure all things are pure, but unto those that are defiled and unfaithful, nothing is pure, but even their soul and conscience is defiled.

¹⁶ They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable and rebellious and reprobate unto every good work.

2 ¶ But speak thou the things which are expedient unto sound doctrine,

² that the aged men be temperate, venerable, prudent, sound in faith, in charity, in tolerance.

³ The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becomes holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of honesty;

⁴ that they may teach the young women to be prudent, to love their husbands, to love their children,

⁵ to be temperate, chaste, good housekeepers, subject to their own husbands, that the word of God not be blasphemed.

⁶ Young men likewise exhort to be temperate;

⁷ in all things showing thyself as an example of good works, in doctrine showing integrity, seriousness, purity,

⁸ sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that the adversary may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

⁹ Exhort slaves to be subject to their own masters and to please them well in all things; not contradicting;

¹⁰ not defrauding, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

¹¹ ¶ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

¹² teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live temperately, righteously, and godly in this present world;

¹³ waiting for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ,

¹⁴ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a people of his own, zealous of good works.

¹⁵ ¶ These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise thee.

3 ¶ Admonish them to be subject to dominion and power, and to persuade those who have authority, that they be quick unto every good work.

² That they speak evil of no one, that they not be contentious, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.

³ For we ourselves also were foolish in another time, rebellious, deceived, serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

⁴ But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

⁵ not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

⁶ which he poured out abundantly in us through Jesus, the Christ, our Saviour;

⁷ that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

⁸ The Word is faithful, and I desire that thou affirm this constantly, that those who have believed God might be careful to conduct themselves in good works. This is good and profitable unto men.

⁹ ¶ But avoid foolish questions and genealogies and contentions and debates concerning the law, for they are unprofitable and vain.

¹⁰ A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject him,

¹¹ knowing that he that is such is subverted and sins, being condemned of his own judgment.

¹² When I shall send Artemas unto thee or Tychicus, procure to come unto me to Nicopolis; for I have determined to winter there.

¹³ Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on ahead, procuring that nothing be lacking unto them.

¹⁴ And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they not be unfruitful.

¹⁵ All that are with me salute thee. Greet those that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.