UNTO TITUS
[1] PAUL, bondman of God, and apostle of Jesus Christ, according to faith of God's elect and knowledge of truth :according to godliness [2] in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal;1 [3] but in his2 own seasons manifested his :word in a message,3 wherewith I was intrusted according to commandment of :God our Saviour; [4] to Titus, my true child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our :Saviour.
[5] For this cause left I thee in Crētē, that thou shouldest set in order the things wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge; [6] if any man is blameless, husband of one wife, having believing children not accused of riot or unruly. [7] For the overseer must be blameless, as God's steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no4 brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; [8] but lover of strangers, lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled; [9] holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching,5 that he be able both to exhort in the :sound6 teaching,5 and to convict the gainsayers.
[10] For many are unruly, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision,
[11] whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
[12] One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said,
Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle bellies.
[13] This :testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they be sound7 in the faith, [14] not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. [15] To the pure all things are pure: but to the defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their :mind and :conscience are defiled. [16] They profess to know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.8
[1] But speak thou the things which befit the sound1 teaching: [2] that aged men be temperate, grave, sober minded, sound1 in :faith, :love, :patience:2 [3] that aged women likewise be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers3 nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of what is good; [4] that they may train the young women to be loving their husbands, loving their children, [5] to be soberminded, chaste, workers at home, kind, subject to their own husbands, that the word of :God be not blasphemed: [6] the younger men likewise exhort to be sober-minded: [7] in all things showing thyself an ensample of good works; in the teaching showing uncorruptness, gravity, [8] sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil to say of us. [9] Exhort bondmen to be subject to their own masters in all things to be well-pleasing: not gainsaying; [10] not purloining, but showing all good faithfulness; that they may adorn the teaching of :God our Saviour in all things.
[11] For the grace of :God hath appeared to all men bringing salvation, [12] instructing us, to the intent that, denying :ungodliness and worldly :lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present age; [13] looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of4 the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; [14] who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.
[15] These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority.5 Let no one despise thee.
[1] Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work, [2] to speak evil of no one, to be not contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men. [3] For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. [4] But when the kindness of :God our Saviour, and his love to man, appeared, [5] not by :works which we did in righteousness, but according to his :mercy he saved us, through a washing1 of regeneration and2 renewing of the Holy Spirit, [6] which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our :Saviour; [7] that, being justified by his :grace, we might become heirs according to hope of eternal life. [8] Faithful the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain3 good works. These things are good and profitable for :men: [9] but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about law; for they are unprofitable and vain. [10] A factious4 man after one admonition and a second refuse;5 [11] knowing that :such is perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned.
[12] When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, give diligence to come unto me to Nicopolis: for there I have determined to winter. [13] Set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting to them. [14] And let :our people also learn to maintain3 good works for :necessary uses,6 that they be not unfruitful.
[15] All that are with me salute thee. Salute them that love us in faith.
The grace be with you all.