Titus

Greeting

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Christ Jesus, for the sake of God’s chosen ones, and the knowledge of truth and godliness,

in the hope of eternal life promised from the very beginning by God, who never lies. 

When the time was right, he revealed his word through the message with which I was entrusted by the command of God, our Savior, 

to Titus, my true son in the faith we share: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Mission in Crete

I left you in Crete because I wanted you to fix what remains to be done, and to appoint elders in every town following my instructions.

They must be blameless, married only once, with believing children who are not accused of immorality or rebellion. 

Since a bishop is the steward of God’s house, he must be above reproach: not proud, hotheaded, addicted to wine, quarrelsome, or greedy for gain. 

On the other hand, he should be hospitable, love what is good, be wise, upright, devout, and self-controlled. 

He must hold firmly to the message of faith as it was taught so that he can teach sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Since there are many rebellious minds, talkers of nonsense, deceivers, especially those of the circumcision. 

They need to be silenced when they go around disturbing families and teaching, for sordid gain what they should not. 

A Cretan, one of their own prophets, has said, “Cretans: always liars, wicked beasts and lazy gluttons.” 

This is true. Because of this, rebuke them sharply if you want them to have a sound faith 

instead of listening to Jewish fables and practices of people who reject the truth.

To the pure, everything is pure; to the corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Their minds and consciences have been defiled. 

They claim to know God but deny him with their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, and unqualified to do any good.