Greeting
TITUS 1 [†]Paul, a servant [1] of God and a an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and b their knowledge of the truth, c which accords with godliness, 2[†] d in hope of eternal life, which God, e who never lies, f promised g before the ages began [2] 3and h at the proper time manifested in his word i through the preaching j with which I have been entrusted k by the command of God our Savior;
4To Titus, l my true child in m a common faith:
n Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Qualifications for Elders
5[†] o This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and p appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6[†] q if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, [3] and his children are believers [4] and not open to the charge of r debauchery or insubordination. 7For an overseer, [5] s as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not t be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent u or greedy for gain, 8but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, v and disciplined. 9[†]He must w hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in x sound [6] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
10[†]For there are many who are insubordinate, y empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of z the circumcision party. [7] 11[†]They must be silenced, since a they are upsetting whole families by teaching b for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12[†] c One of the Cretans, [8] a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” [9] 13This testimony is true. Therefore d rebuke them e sharply, that they f may be sound in the faith, 14[†] g not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and h the commands of people i who turn away from the truth. 15[†] j To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and k unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both l their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16[†] m They profess to know God, but they n deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, o unfit for any good work.
Teach Sound Doctrine
TITUS 2 [†]But as for you, teach what accords with p sound [1] doctrine. 2[†]Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, p sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3[†] q Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, r not slanderers s or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5[†]to be self-controlled, t pure, u working at home, kind, and v submissive to their own husbands, w that the word of God may not be reviled. 6Likewise, urge x the younger men to be self-controlled. 7Show yourself in all respects to be y a model of good works, and in your teaching z show integrity, a dignity, 8and b sound speech that cannot be condemned, c so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 d Bondservants [2] are to be submissive to their own masters e in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10not pilfering, f but showing all good faith, g so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
11[†]For h the grace of God i has appeared, bringing salvation j for all people, 12[†]training us to renounce ungodliness and k worldly passions, and l to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in m the present age, 13[†] n waiting for our blessed o hope, the p appearing of the glory of our great q God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14[†] r who gave himself for us to s redeem us from all lawlessness and t to purify for himself t a people for his own possession who are u zealous for good works.
15[†]Declare these things; exhort and v rebuke with all authority. w Let no one disregard you.
Be Ready for Every Good Work
TITUS 3 [†]Remind them x to be submissive to rulers and authorities, y to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2[†] z to speak evil of no one, a to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and b to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3[†]For c we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4[†]But when d the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5[†]he saved us, e not because of works done by us in righteousness, but f according to his own mercy, by g the washing of regeneration and h renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6whom he i poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that j being justified by his grace we might become k heirs l according to the hope of eternal life. 8[†]The saying is m trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful n to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9[†]But o avoid foolish p controversies, q genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for r they are unprofitable and worthless. 10[†]As for a person who stirs up division, s after warning him once and then twice, t have nothing more to do with him, 11knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Final Instructions and Greetings
12[†]When I send Artemas or u Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me v at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13[†]Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and w Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14[†]And let our people learn x to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not y be unfruitful.
15[†]All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
z Grace be with you all.