Titus 1–3

Greeting

1Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and ^athe acknowledgment of the truth ^bwhich accords with godliness, ²in hope of eternal life which God, who ^ccannot lie, promised before time began, ³but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;

⁴To ^dTitus, a true son in our common faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and ¹the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

Qualified Elders

⁵For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should ^eset in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—⁶if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, ^fhaving faithful children not accused of ²dissipation or insubordination. ⁷For a ³bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, ^gnot given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, ⁸but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, ⁹holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

The Elders’ Task

¹⁰For there are many insubordinate, both idle ^htalkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, ⁱfor the sake of dishonest gain. ^12jOne of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ¹³This testimony is true. ^kTherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, ¹⁴not giving heed to Jewish fables and ^lcommandments of men who turn from the truth. ^15mTo the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. ¹⁶They profess to ⁿknow God, but ^oin works they deny Him, being ⁴abominable, disobedient, ^pand disqualified for every good work.

Qualities of a Sound Church

2But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: ²that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; ³the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—⁴that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵to be discreet, chaste, ^ahomemakers, good, ^bobedient to their own husbands, ^cthat the word of God may not be blasphemed.

⁶Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, ⁷in all things showing yourself to be ^da pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, ^eincorruptibility, ⁸¹sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of ²you.

⁹Exhort ^fbondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, ¹⁰not ³pilfering, but showing all good ⁴fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

Trained by Saving Grace

¹¹For ^gthe grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹²teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ^13hlooking for the blessed ⁱhope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ^14jwho gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed ^kand purify for Himself ^lHis own special people, zealous for good works.

¹⁵Speak these things, ^mexhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Graces of the Heirs of Grace

3Remind them ^ato be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, ^bto be ready for every good work, ²to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. ³For ^cwe ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. ⁴But when ^dthe kindness and the love of ^eGod our Savior toward man appeared, ^5fnot by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through ^gthe washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, ^6hwhom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷that having been justified by His grace ⁱwe should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

^8jThis is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

Avoid Dissension

⁹But ^kavoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. ^10lReject a divisive man after the first and second ¹admonition, ¹¹knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

Final Messages

¹²When I send Artemas to you, or ^mTychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. ¹³Send Zenas the lawyer and ⁿApollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. ¹⁴And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

Farewell

¹⁵All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all. Amen.