1:1 | From Paul,* a slave* of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith* of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness, |
1:2 | in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began.* |
1:3 | But now in his own time* he has made his message evident through the preaching I was entrusted with according to the command of God our Savior. |
1:4 | To Titus, my genuine son in a common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior! |
1:5 | The 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. |
1:6 | An elder must be blameless,* the husband of one wife,* with faithful children* who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion. |
1:7 | For the overseer* must be blameless as one entrusted with God’s work,* not arrogant, not prone to anger, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain. |
1:8 | Instead he must be hospitable, devoted to what is good, sensible, upright, devout, and self-controlled. |
1:9 | He must hold firmly to the faithful message as it has been taught,* so that he will be able to give exhortation in such healthy teaching* and correct those who speak against it. |
1:10 | For there are many* rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections,* |
1:11 | who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught. |
1:12 | A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”* |
1:13 | Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith |
1:14 | and not pay attention to Jewish myths* and commands of people who reject the truth. |
1:15 | All 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. |
1:16 | They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed. |