Titus 1

Salutation

1¹ Paul , a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ , [1]for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness , ² in the hope of eternal life , which God , who cannot lie , promised [2] long ages ago , ³ but at the proper time manifested , even His word , in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior , ⁴ To Titus , my true child [3]in a common faith : Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior .

Qualifications of Elders and Bishops

⁵ For this reason I left you in Crete , that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,

⁶ namely, if any man is above reproach , the husband of one wife , having children who believe , not accused of dissipation or rebellion . ⁷ For the [4] overseer must be above reproach as God's steward , not self-willed , not quick-tempered , not addicted to wine , not pugnacious , not fond of sordid gain , ⁸ but hospitable , loving what is good , sensible , just , devout , self-controlled , ⁹ holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching , so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict . ¹⁰ For there are many rebellious men , empty talkers and deceivers , especially those of the circumcision , ¹¹ who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families , teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain . ¹² One of themselves , a prophet of their own , said , " Cretans are always liars , evil beasts , lazy gluttons ." ¹³ This testimony is true . For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith , ¹⁴ not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth . ¹⁵ To the pure , all things are pure ; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving , nothing is pure , but both their mind and their conscience are defiled . ¹⁶ They profess to know God , but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed .