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 slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of God's elect and a real knowledge of the Truth that accords with 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 life God, who cannot lie, promised before the ages of time (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 has manifested by a proclamation of His Word at chosen times, which word was entrusted to me by the command of our Savior God;

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, a true son in a common faith: Grace, mercy, peace, from Father God and Sovereign Jesus Christ, our Savior.

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.

I left you in Crete for this reason, that you should set in order the things that were lacking and appoint elders in every town as I directed you

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 a man is blameless, a one-woman man, having children who believe and who are not open to the charge of being wild or disobedient.

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.

Because as an administrator under God the overseer must be blameless; not self-willed, not hotheaded, not given to wine, not a bully, not avaricious;

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 rather hospitable, a lover of what is good, prudent, just, holy, disciplined;

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 trustworthy Word as taught, so that he may be competent both to exhort with the sound doctrine and to correct those who oppose it.

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

Because there really are lots of rebels, loudmouths and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group,

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.

who must be silenced—they are ruining whole households, teaching things that they ought not, and for dishonest gain!

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

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

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

This testimony is true. Therefore correct them rigorously, 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 paying attention to Jewish fables or to commands of men who are rejecting 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.

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; in fact, both their minds and their consciences are 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 to know God, but by their actions they deny Him, being detestable, disobedient and disqualified for any good work.