Titus 1

1 This letter comes from Paul, servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I'm sent to build up the trust of God's chosen people and to share the knowledge of the truth that leads to lives lived for God.

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

2 This gives them the hope of eternal life that God (who cannot lie) promised ages ago, (aiōnios g166)

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (aiōnios g166)

3 but which at the proper time he revealed through his word in the message which I was entrusted to give, following the command of God our Savior.

But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

4 This letter is sent to Titus, my true son through the trust in God we share in common. May you have grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

To Titus, [mine] own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

5 The reason I left you in Crete was for you to organize what was still needed and to appoint elders in every town, as I told you.

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

6 An elder must have a good reputation, the husband of one wife, and have children who believe and who are not accused of being wild or disobedient.

If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

7 As a leader for God, a head elder must have a good reputation and not be arrogant. He should not have a quick temper nor get drunk; he shouldn't be violent or greedy for money.

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

8 He should be hospitable, someone who loves what's good and does what's right. He should be living a life for God, self-controlled,

But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

9 and must be devoted to the trustworthy message as it's taught. In this way he can encourage others through correct teaching, and be able to convince those who disagree.

Holding 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.

10 For there are many rebels around who talk a lot of deceptive nonsense, especially from the circumcision group.

For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

11 Their talking must stop, these people who throw whole families into turmoil, teaching things that aren't right for the sake of making money.

Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

12 As someone of their own people, a prophet, has stated, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts who are lazy, greedy people.”

One of themselves, [even] a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians [are] alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

13 This is a true statement! Consequently give them a good telling-off so that they can have a healthy trust in God,

This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and human commandments from those who deviate from the truth.

Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

15 To those who have clean minds everything is clean, but to those who are corrupt and refuse to trust in God, nothing is clean—both their minds and their consciences are corrupt.

Unto 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.

16 They claim to know God, but they prove this is false by what they do. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.