Greeting

1Paul,a a servant of Godb and an apostle of Jesus Christ, forA the faith of God’s electc and their knowledge of the truthd that leadsB to godliness,e 2in the hope of eternal lifea that God, who cannot lie,b promised before time began.c 3In his own time he has revealeda his wordb in the preaching with which I was entrustedc by the commandd of God our Savior:e

4To Titus,a my true sonb in our common faith.

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.c

Titus’s Ministry in Crete

5The reason I left you in Cretea was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint eldersb in every town. 6An eldera must be blameless,b the husband of one wife, with faithfulA children who are not accused of wildness or rebellion. 7As an overseera of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money, 8but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, 9holding to the faithful message as taught,a so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teachingb and to refute those who contradict it.

10For there are many rebellious people, full of empty talk and deception, especially those from the circumcision party. 11It is necessary to silence them; they are ruining entire households by teaching what they shouldn’t in order to get money dishonestly. 12One of their very own prophets said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13This testimony is true.a For this reason, rebuke them sharply,b so that they may be sound in the faith 14and may not pay attention to Jewish mythsa and the commands of people who reject the truth.b

15To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and consciencea are defiled. 16They claim to know God,a but they deny him by their works.b They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.c