Titus

1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,

²in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,

³but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;

⁴To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

⁵For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you--

⁶if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.

⁷For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

⁸but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,

⁹holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

¹⁰For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

¹¹whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

¹²One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."

¹³This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

¹⁴not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.

¹⁵To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

¹⁶They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

2But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:

²that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;

³the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things--

⁴that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

⁵to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

⁶Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded,

⁷in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,

⁸sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

⁹Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back,

¹⁰not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

¹¹For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

¹²teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

¹³looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

¹⁴who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

¹⁵Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

3Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,

²to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

³For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

⁴But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,

⁵not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

⁶whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

⁷that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

⁸This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

⁹But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.

¹⁰Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,

¹¹knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

¹²When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.

¹³Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing.

¹⁴And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

¹⁵All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.