Titus 1

1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Christ Jesus, for the faith of God's elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

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.

2 in hope of everlasting life, which God, who cannot lie, promised from the most ancient times, (aiōnios g166)

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

3 but in his own seasons manifested his word through the preaching with which I was intrusted by the commandment of God our Saviour:

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.

4 to Titus, true child after the common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

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.

5 For this cause I left thee behind in Crete, that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed thee;

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.

6 if any one is without reproach, the husband of one wife, having believing children, that are not accused of dissoluteness, or unruly.

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.

7 For a bishop must be without reproach, as God's steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, not a striker, not greedy of base gain,

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.

8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, discreet, just, holy, temperate,

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,

9 holding fast the sure word according to what he was taught, that he may be able by sound teaching both to exhort, and to refute the gainsayers.

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.

10 For there are many unruly vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision;

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

11 whose mouths must be stopped, since they overturn whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of base gain.

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

12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said: “The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slothful gluttons.”

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

13 This testimony is true; for which cause rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

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

14 not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

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

15 To the pure all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure, but both their mind and conscience are defiled.

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.

16 They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and for every good work reprobate.

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.