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, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is according 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 hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world 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.

But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed to me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

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 own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

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.

For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

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.

If any is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or rebellion.

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 a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, 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,

But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober minded, just, holy, temperate;

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 fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convict those who contradict.

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 and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they 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.

Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest 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 themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians 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 sharply, that they may 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.

Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn 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 them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is 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 that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and to every good work disqualified.