Chronological
Greetings
1 Paul, a slave of God and an emissary of Messiah Yeshua, for the faith of God’s chosen and the knowledge of truth that is in keeping with godliness, 2 based on the hope of eternal life. God—who cannot lie[a]—promised this before the beginning of time. 3 But in His own time He made His message known, through a proclamation with which I was entrusted, by the command of God our Savior.
4 To Titus, a true child of our common faith:
Grace and shalom from God the Father and Messiah Yeshua, our Savior!
Setting the Community in Order
5 The reason I left you in Crete was so that you would set in order the things that remain and appoint elders in every city as I directed you— 6 if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children of faith with no charge of wild living or rebellion. 7 For the overseer must be blameless as God’s administrator—not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain. 8 Rather he must be hospitable, loving what is good, self-controlled, upright, devout, disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message in keeping with the teaching, so he can both encourage by instruction that is sound and convict those who speak against it.
10 For there are many who are rebellious, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those from the circumcision. 11 They must be silenced—those who upset entire households by teaching what they should not, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so they might be sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Judaic myths and commands of men who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Both their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They claim to know God but their deeds deny Him. They are despicable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.
Advice for Behavior in Community
2 But as for you, speak things that are fitting for sound instruction. 2 Older men are to be clear-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, in patience. 3 Likewise, older women are to be sanctified in demeanor—not backbiting or enslaved to much wine. Let them be teachers of what is good, 4 so that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, managing their household, kind, submitted to their own husbands, so that God’s word may not be dishonored.
6 Likewise urge the younger men to be self-controlled, 7 in all things showing yourself to be an example of good deeds—integrity in instruction, dignity, 8 sound speech beyond criticism—so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
9 Urge slaves to submit themselves to their own masters in all things, well-pleasing and not back-talking, 10 not stealing but showing all good faithfulness, so that they may do credit to the teaching about God our Savior in everything.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 training us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live in a manner that is self-controlled and righteous and godly in the present age. 13 We wait for the blessed hope and appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua. 14 He gave Himself for us so that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and so that He might purify for Himself a chosen people, zealous for good deeds. [b] 15 So communicate these things, and encourage and correct with complete authority. Let no one look down on you.
Be Ready for Good Deeds
3 Remind the people to be submitted to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to slander no one, without fighting, gentle, showing every courtesy to all people. 3 For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deluded, enslaved to various desires and pleasures, spending our lives in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior
and His love for mankind appeared—
5 not by deeds of righteousness
which we had done ourselves,
but because of His mercy—
He saved us through the mikveh of
rebirth
and renewing of the Ruach ha-Kodesh,
6 whom He abundantly poured out on us
through Messiah Yeshua our Savior,
7 so that being set right by His grace,
we might become heirs
with the confident hope of eternal life!
8 Trustworthy is the saying, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have put their trust in God may be careful to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are good and beneficial for people.
9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about Torah, for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Dismiss a quarrelsome person after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a person is twisted and is sinning—he is self-condemned.
Final Words
12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, hurry to come to me in Nicopolis, for I have decided to winter there. 13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with great care, so that nothing is lacking for them. 14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to doing mitzvot to meet urgent needs, so they will not be unfruitful.
15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.