Greeting

1 Paul, a a * slave of God b and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to build up c the faith of God’s elect d and their knowledge of the truth e that leads f to godliness, g 2 in the hope of eternal life h that God, who cannot lie, i promised before time began. j 3 In His own time He has revealed k His message l in the proclamation that I was entrusted m with by the command n of God our Savior: o

4 To Titus, p my true son q in our common faith.

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

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