Titus’s Ministry in Crete

5 The reason I left you in Crete s was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders t in every town: 6 one u who is blameless, v the husband of one wife, having faithful w children not accused of wildness or rebellion. 7 For an * overseer, x as God’s administrator, must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding to the faithful message as taught, y so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching z and to refute those who contradict it.

10 For there are also many rebellious people, full of empty talk and deception, especially those from Judaism. a 11 It is necessary to silence them; they overthrow whole households by teaching what they shouldn’t in order to get money dishonestly. 12 One of their very own prophets said,

Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. b

13 This testimony is true. c So, rebuke them sharply, d that they may be sound in the faith 14 and may not pay attention to Jewish myths e and the commands of men who reject the truth. f

15 To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience g are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, h but they deny Him by their works. i They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work. j

Sound Teaching and Christian Living

2 But you must say the things that are consistent with sound teaching. k 2 Older men l are to be level headed, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, m and endurance. 3 In the same way, older women n are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 so they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, homemakers, kind, and submissive o to their husbands, so that God’s message p will not be slandered.

6 In the same way, encourage the young men q to be self-controlled 7 in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity r in your teaching. 8 Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, s so that the opponent will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.

9 * Slaves are to be submissive to their masters t in everything, and to be well-pleasing, u not talking back 10 or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior v in everything.