Titus 1:1–9

GREETING

1 Paul,a a servant of Godb and an apostle of Jesus Christ, forA the faith of God’s electc and their knowledge of the truthd that leadsB to godliness,e 2 in the hope of eternal lifef that God, who cannot lie,g promised before time began.h 3 In his own time he has revealedi his wordj in the preaching with which I was entrustedk by the commandl of God our Savior:m

4 To Titus,n my true sono in our common faith.

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

TITUS’S MINISTRY IN CRETE

5 The reason I left you in Creteq was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint eldersr in every town. 6 An elders must be blameless,t the husband of one wife, with faithfulC children who are not accused of wildness or rebellion. 7 As an overseeru of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, 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,v so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teachingw and to refute those who contradict it.