Titus 1

1 From Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, on behalf of the faith of God’s chosen people, and their knowledge of that truth which makes for godliness

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, appointed to further the faith of God's chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness,

2 – and is based on the hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began, (aiōnios g166)

in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before time began; (aiōnios g166)

3 and has revealed at his own time in his message, with the preaching of which I was entrusted by the command of God our Saviour.

in his own time he revealed his word through the preaching with which I was entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

4 To Titus, my true child in our shared faith: May God, the Father, and Christ Jesus, our Saviour, bless you and give you peace.

to Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

5 My reason for leaving you in Crete was that you might put in order what had been left unfinished, and appoint church elders in the various towns, as I myself directed you.

The reason I left yoʋ in Crete was for yoʋ to put in order what remained to be done and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed yoʋ.

6 They are to be of irreproachable character, faithful to their partners, whose children are believers in Christ and have never been open to the charge of being wild or unruly.

An elder must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, with faithful children who are not rebellious and cannot be accused of debauchery.

7 For a supervisor, as God’s steward, ought to be of blameless character – not arrogant or quick-tempered, not given to drunkeness, violence or shady money-making.

For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for sordid gain,

8 Instead, they should be hospitable, love what is good, self-controlled, upright, people of holy life and disciplined,

but hospitable, a lover of goodness, sensible, just, holy, and self-controlled,

9 holding firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught – so that they may be able to encourage others by sound teaching, as well as to refute those who contradict it.

holding firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others with sound doctrine and refute those who contradict it.

10 For there are many undisciplined persons who lead others astray with their nonsense, especially those of the group advocating the necessity of circumcision.

For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision faction.

11 They need to be kept quiet as they disrupt whole households by teaching what they ought not to teach, simply to make shameful financial gain.

They must be silenced, because they are ruining entire households by teaching what they ought not to teach, for the sake of sordid gain.

12 It was a Cretan – one of their own prophets – who said: “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons.” This statement is true.

One of their very own prophets said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons.”

13 Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they may be sound in the faith,

This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith,

14 and may pay no attention to Jewish legends, or to the directions of those who turn their backs on the truth.

not paying any attention to Jewish myths or the commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

15 To those whose minds are pure, all things are ritually pure, but to those whose minds are tainted and unbelieving nothing is pure, as their minds and consciences are alike polluted.

To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and their consciences are defiled.

16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable and disobedient and useless for any good work.

They profess to know God, but by their works they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient, and have proven themselves to be unqualified for any good work.