Titus 1

Greeting

1 Paul, a servant ▼
▼ Or slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)
 of God and b an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and c their knowledge of the truth d which accords with godliness, 2  e in hope of eternal life, which God f who never lies g promised h before the ages began ▼
▼ Greek before times eternal
 3 and j at the proper time manifested in his word k through the preaching l with which I have been entrusted m by the command of God our Savior;

4 To Titus, n my true child in o a common faith:

p Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Qualifications for Elders

5  q This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and r appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6  s if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife ▼
▼ Or a man of one woman
 and his children are believers ▼
▼ Or  are faithful
 and not open to the charge of v debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer ▼
▼ Or bishop; Greek episkopos
 x as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not y be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent z or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy aa and disciplined. 9 He must ab hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in ac sound ▼
▼ Or healthy; also verse 13
 doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

10 For there are many who are insubordinate ae empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of af the circumcision party. ▼
▼ Or  especially those of the circumcision
 11 They must be silenced, since ah they are upsetting whole families by teaching ai for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12  aj One of the Cretans ▼
▼ Greek  One of them
 a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ▼
▼ Probably from Epimenides of Crete
 13 This testimony is true. Therefore am rebuke them an sharply, that they ao may be sound in the faith, 14  ap not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and aq the commands of people ar who turn away from the truth. 15  as To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and at unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both au their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16  av They profess to know God, but they aw deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient ax unfit for any good work.

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