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 chosen ones, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

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

in hope of everlasting life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time 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 in his own time revealed his word in the message with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior;

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, my true child according to a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus 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 would set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city, 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 anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior.

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 the bishop must be blameless, as God's steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain;

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 given to hospitality, as a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and 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 to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.

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

For there are many rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those 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 silenced; who are upsetting whole families, teaching things which they should not, for the sake of 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, and idle 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. For this cause, reprove 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 paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of people who reject 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; but both their mind and their conscience 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 that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.