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 for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to 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 cannot 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 Savior.

In His own time He has made His word evident in the proclamation entrusted to me 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 Savior, bless you and give you peace.

To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus 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 you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

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 blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination.

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.

As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.

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

Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

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.

He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching 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 many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision,

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.

who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not.

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.

As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

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

This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sternly, so that they will be 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.

and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of men who have rejected 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 the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Indeed, 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 actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.