Greeting

1Paul, 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,

2in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before time began;

3in his own time he revealed his word through the preaching with which I was entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

4to Titus, my true child in our common faith: ⁰Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and ¹the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

Qualifications for Elders

5The 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.

6An elder must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, with faithful children who are not rebellious and cannot be accused of debauchery.

7For 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,

8but hospitable, a lover of goodness, sensible, just, holy, and self-controlled,

9holding 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.

10For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision faction.

11They must be silenced, because they are ruining entire households by teaching what they ought not to teach, for the sake of sordid gain.

12One of their very own prophets said,
“Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons.”

13This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith,

14not paying any attention to Jewish myths or the commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

15To 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.

16They 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.