1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and a the knowledge of the truth b that is according to godliness,
2 in hope of eternal life which God, who c cannot lie, promised before time began,
3 but has in the appointed time manifested His word through preaching that was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior,
4 to d Titus, a true son after the common faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should e set in order the things that are lacking and designate elders in every city, as I had charged you.
6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, f having faithful children not accused of being wild or rebellious.
7 For an overseer must be blameless as the steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, g not addicted to wine, not violent, not greedy of dishonest gain,
8 but hospitable, a lover of good, sensible, just, holy, self-controlled,
9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, so that he may be able by sound teaching both to exhort and refute those who contradict.
10 For there are many rebellious and idle h talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
11 whose mouths must be stopped. They subvert whole households, teaching things that they ought not i for the sake of dishonest gain.
12 j One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
13 This testimony is true. k Therefore, rebuke them sharply so that they may be sound in the faith,
14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and l commandments of men who turn from the truth.
15 m To the pure all things are pure. But to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Even their mind and conscience are defiled.
16 They profess that they n know God. But o in works they deny Him, being abominable and disobedient p and worthless for any good work.
Chapter 1 References:
a 2 Tm 2:25; b 1 Tm 3:16; c Nm 23:19; d 2 Co 2:13; 8:23;
e 1 Co 11:34; f 1 Tm 3:2-4; g Lv 10:9; h Js 1:26;
i 1 Tm 6:5; j At 17:28; k 2 Co 13:10; l Is 29:13;
m 1 Co 6:12; n Mt 7:20-23; 25:12; o 2 Tm 3:5, 7; p Rm 1:28
1 But as for you, speak the things that are proper for sound teaching.
2 Teach that the older men be sensible, grave, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, in patience.
3 The older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things,
4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be discreet, pure, a workers at home, good, b subject to their own husbands, c so that the word of God not be blasphemed.
6 Likewise, exhort young men to be discreet.
7 In all things showing yourself to be d a pattern of good works; in teaching show integrity, seriousness,
8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that he who is an opponent may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.
9 Exhort e bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things, not answering back,
10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in all things.
11 For f the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present age,
13 g looking for the blessed h hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Christ Jesus,
14 i who gave Himself for us so that He might redeem us from every lawless deed j and purify for Himself k a special people who are zealous for good works.
15 These things speak and l exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
Chapter 2 References:
a 1 Tm 5:14; b 1 Co 14:34; c Rm 2:24; d 1 Tm 4:12;
e 1 Tm 6:1; f Rm 5:15; g 1 Co 1:7; h Cl 3:4;
i Is 53:10-12; Gl 1:4; j Ez 37:23; Hb 1:3; 9:14;
k Ex 15:16; l 2 Tm 4:2
1 Remind them a to be subject to rulers and authorities, b to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, forbearing, showing all meekness to all men.
3 For c we ourselves also were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
4 But when d the kindness and love of e God our Savior toward man appeared,
5 He saved us, f not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy, g by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6 h whom He poured on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that being justified by His grace i we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 j This is a trustworthy saying, and these things I want you to affirm confidently so that those who have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
9 But k avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and contentions and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
10 l Reject a factious man after the first and second admonition,
11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.
12 When I send Artemas or m Tychicus to you, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have determined to spend the winter there.
13 Diligently support Zenas the lawyer and n Apollos on their journey so that nothing is lacking for them.
14 And let our brethren learn to maintain good works to meet urgent needs so that they will not be unfruitful.
15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
Chapter 3 References:
a 1 Pt 2:13; b Cl 1:10; c 1 Co 6:11; d Ti 2:11;
e 1 Tm 2:3; f Rm 3:20; g Jn 3:3; h Ez 36:26;
i Rm 8:17, 23, 24; j 1 Tm 1:15; k 2 Tm 2:23;
l Mt 18:17; m At 20:4; n At 18:24