^1:1From Paul,¹ a slave² of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith³ of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness, ^1:2in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began.⁴^1:3But now in his own time⁵ he has made his message evident through the preaching I was entrusted with according to the command of God our Savior. ^1:4To Titus, my genuine son in a common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior!

Titus’ Task on Crete

^1:5The 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. ^1:6An elder must be blameless,⁶ the husband of one wife,⁷ with faithful children⁸ who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion. ^1:7For the overseer⁹ must be blameless as one entrusted with God’s work,¹⁰ not arrogant, not prone to anger, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain. ^1:8Instead he must be hospitable, devoted to what is good, sensible, upright, devout, and self-controlled. ^1:9He must hold firmly to the faithful message as it has been taught,¹¹ so that he will be able to give exhortation in such healthy teaching¹² and correct those who speak against it.

^1:10For there are many¹³ rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections,¹⁴^1:11who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught. ^1:12A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”¹⁵^1:13Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith ^1:14and not pay attention to Jewish myths¹⁶ and commands of people who reject the truth. ^1:15All 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. ^1:16They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.

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Footnotes

1 Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.
2 Traditionally, “servant” or “bondservant.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. notes that “ ‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times … in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” ( ). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force. Undoubtedly the background for the concept of being the Lord’s slave or servant is to be found in the Old Testament scriptures. For a Jew this concept did not connote drudgery, but honor and privilege. It was used of national Israel at times (Isa 43:10), but was especially associated with famous OT personalities, including such great men as Moses (Josh 14:7), David (Ps 89:3; cf. 2 Sam 7:5, 8) and Elijah (2 Kgs 10:10); all these men were “servants (or slaves) of the Lord.”
3 Grk “for the faith,” possibly, “in accordance with the faith.”
4 Grk “before eternal ages.”
5 The Greek text emphasizes the contrast between vv. 2b and 3a: God promised this long ago but now has revealed it in his own time.
6 Grk “if anyone is blameless …” as a continuation of v. 5b, beginning to describe the elder’s character.
7 Or “married only once,” “devoted solely to his wife.” See the note on “wife” in ; also 1 Tim 3:12; 5:9.
8 Or “believing children.” The phrase could be translated “believing children,” but the parallel with 1 Tim 3:4 (“keeping his children in control”) argues for the sense given in the translation.
9 The overseer is another term for the same official position of leadership as the “elder.” This is seen in the interchange of the two terms in this passage and in Acts 20:17, 28, as well as in the parallels between these verses and 1 Tim 3:1–7.
10 Grk “as God’s steward.”
11 Grk “the faithful message in accordance with the teaching” (referring to apostolic teaching).
12 Grk “the healthy teaching” (referring to what was just mentioned).
13 The earliest and best lack καί (kai) after πολλοί (polloi; so א A C P 088 81 104 365 614 629 630 sy co), though the conjunction is found in several significant witnesses, chiefly of the Western and Byzantine texts (D F G I Ψ 33 1739 1881 𝔐 lat). Although it is possible that some scribes omitted the word, thinking it was superfluous, it is also possible that others added the conjunction for clarification. Judging by the pedigree of the witnesses and the inconclusiveness of the internal evidence, the shorter reading is considered to be most likely original. puts the conjunction in brackets, indicating some doubts as to its authenticity.
14 Grk “those of the circumcision.” Some translations take this to refer to Jewish converts to Christianity (cf. “Jewish Christians”; “converts from Judaism”; “Jewish followers”) while others are less clear (cf. “those who insist on circumcision for salvation”).
15 A saying attributed to the poet Epimenides of Crete (6th century b.c.).
16 Jewish myths were legendary tales characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus and Crete. See parallels in 1 Tim 1:4; 4:7; and 2 Tim 4:4.