Titus 1
1 Paul, a servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, in accord with the faith of Gods elect and in acknowledgment of the truth which is accompanied by piety,2 in the hope of the eternal life that God, who does not lie, promised before the ages of time,3 which, at the proper time, he has manifested by his Word, in the preaching that has been entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior;4 to Titus, beloved son according to the common faith. Grace and peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Savior.5 For this reason, I left you behind in Crete: so that those things which are lacking, you would correct, and so that you would ordain, throughout the communities, priests, (just as I also ordained you)6 if such a man is without offense, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of self-indulgence, nor of insubordination.7 And a bishop, as a steward of God, must be without offense: not arrogant, not short-tempered, not a drunkard, not violent, not desiring tainted profit,8 but instead: hospitable, kind, sober, just, holy, chaste,9 embracing faithful speech which is in agreement with doctrine, so that he may be able to exhort in sound doctrine and to argue against those who contradict.10 For there are, indeed, many who are disobedient, who speak empty words, and who deceive, especially those who are of the circumcision.11 These must be reproved, for they subvert entire houses, teaching things which should not be taught, for the favor of shameful gain.12 A certain one of these, a prophet of their own kind, said: The Cretans are ever liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.13 This testimony is true. Because of this, rebuke them sharply, so that they may be sound in the faith,14 not paying attention to Jewish fables, nor to the rules of men who have turned themselves away from the truth.15 All things are clean to those who are clean. But to those who are defiled, and to unbelievers, nothing is clean; for both their mind and their conscience have been polluted.16 They claim that they know God. But, by their own works, they deny him, since they are abominable, and unbelieving, and reprobate, toward every good work.
Titus 1
Salutation
1 From Paul,t a slavets of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faitht of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness,2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began.t3 But now in his own timet he has made his message evident through the preaching I was entrusted with according to the command of God our Savior.
4 To Titus, my genuine son in a common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior!
Titus’ Task on Crete
5 The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.6 An elder must be blameless,t the husband of one wife,t with faithful childrent who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion.7 For the overseers must be blameless as one entrusted with God’s work,t not arrogant, not prone to anger, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain.8 Instead he must be hospitable, devoted to what is good, sensible, upright, devout, and self-controlled.
9 He must hold firmly to the faithful message as it has been taught,t so that he will be able to give exhortation in such healthy teachingt and correct those who speak against it.
10 For there are manys rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections,t11 who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught.12 A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”s13 Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith14 and not pay attention to Jewish mythss and commands of people who reject the truth.15 All is pure to those who are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
16 They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.