Chapter 1

Salutation

1 Paul, aa bond-servant of God and an bapostle of Jesus Christ, 1for the faith of those cchosen of God and dthe knowledge of the truth which is eaccording to godliness,

2 in athe hope of eternal life, which God, bwho cannot lie, cpromised 1dlong ages ago,

3 but aat the proper time manifested, even His word, in bthe proclamation cwith which I was entrusted daccording to the commandment of eGod our Savior,

4 To aTitus, bmy true child 1in a ccommon faith: dGrace and peace from God the Father and eChrist Jesus our Savior.

Qualifications of Elders

5 For this reason I left you in aCrete, that you would set in order what remains and bappoint celders in every city as I directed you,

6 namely, aif any man is above reproach, the bhusband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of cdissipation or drebellion.

7 For the 1aoverseer must be above reproach as bGod’s steward, not cself-willed, not quick-tempered, not daddicted to wine, not pugnacious, enot fond of sordid gain,

8 but ahospitable, bloving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,

9 aholding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in bsound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

10 aFor there are many brebellious men, cempty talkers and deceivers, especially dthose of the circumcision,

11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting awhole families, teaching bthings they should not teach cfor the sake of sordid gain.

12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “aCretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

13 This testimony is true. For this reason areprove them bseverely so that they may be csound in the faith,

14 not paying attention to Jewish amyths and bcommandments of men who cturn away from the truth.

15 aTo the pure, all things are pure; but bto those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their cmind and their conscience are defiled.

16 aThey profess to know God, but by their deeds they bdeny Him, being cdetestable and ddisobedient and eworthless ffor any good deed.