Paul’s Son in the Faith
1Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and athe acknowledging of the truth bwhich is after godliness;
2In hope of eternal life, which God, that ccannot lie, promised before the world began;
3But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
4To dTitus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Qualifications for Leaders
5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest eset in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, fhaving faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, gnot given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Rebuke the Vain Talkers
10For there are many unruly and vain htalkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, ifor filthy lucre’s sake.
12jOne of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
13This witness is true. kWherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
14Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and lcommandments of men, that turn from the truth.
15mUnto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
16They profess that they nknow God; but oin works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, pand unto every good work reprobate.
Teach Sound Doctrine
1But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
2That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
3The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at ahome, good, bobedient to their own husbands, cthat the word of God be not blasphemed.
6Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
7In all things shewing thyself a dpattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, esincerity,
8Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
9Exhort fservants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Teachings of the Grace of God
11For gthe grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13hLooking for that blessed ihope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14jWho gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, kand purify unto himself la peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15These things speak, and mexhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Justified by God’s Grace
1Put them in mind ato be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, bto be ready to every good work,
2To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
3For cwe ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4But after that dthe kindness and love of eGod our Saviour toward man appeared,
5fNot by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by gthe washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6hWhich he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7That being justified by his grace, iwe should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Maintain Good Works
8jThis is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
9But kavoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
10A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition lreject;
11Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Closing Remarks
12When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or mTychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.
13Bring Zenas the lawyer and nApollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.
14And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
15All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.