1 Paul, a [a]servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised [b]before times eternal; 3 but in [c]his own seasons manifested his word in the [d]message, wherewith I was intrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour; 4 to Titus, my true child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.
5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge; 6 if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For the [e]bishop must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, [f]no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; 8 but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled; 9 holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the [g]sound [h]doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.
10 For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said,
Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle [i]gluttons.
13 This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be [j]sound in the faith, 14 not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Footnotes
- Titus 1:1 Greek bondservant.
- Titus 1:2 Or, long ages ago
- Titus 1:3 Or, its
- Titus 1:3 Or, proclamation
- Titus 1:7 Or, overseer
- Titus 1:7 Or, not quarrelsome over wine
- Titus 1:9 Greek healthful.
- Titus 1:9 Or, teaching
- Titus 1:12 Greek bellies.
- Titus 1:13 Greek healthy.