Titus

1:1 Paul, a servant of God, now an apostle, one sent of Jesus Christ, according to faith in the selection of God, and the acknowledgement of truth, which is according to good reverence. 2 This acknowledgment of truth is found in the hope of life age-abiding, which God, who cannot lie, promised before age-continuing time [a] {a. that is, out from Himself separate from time}. 3 This promise He has now revealed, in His own opportune times or seasons, in His word found inside of the proclamation entrusted to me according to the certain arrangement of God our Savior. 4 To Titus, my true child according to our shared faith; Grace and peace from Father God and Christ Jesus our Savior. 

5 For this reason, I left you in Crete, so that you might set in order the things lacking and might appoint elders, shepherds of the flock, in every town as I directed you. 6 Select [as an elder] one is irreproachable, the husband of one wife, one who has believing children, and is not under any charge of excessiveness or non-submissiveness. 7 It is necessary for the watch-carer to be irreproachable as the manager and guardian of God’s household; not self-pleasing, not prone to anger, not given to alcohol, not contentious, and not greedy of dishonest gain. 8 Rather select one who is hospitable, a lover of good, one who possesses a sound mind, that is, one who is calm, just, reverential, and temperate or modest, 9 one who holds firmly to the teaching of a faithful word, so that he may be able to encourage with sound teaching as well as to reprove those who contradict or speak against.

10 For there are many also who are unsubmissive, empty speakers of empty words, and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision. 11 It is necessary to silence these, for they overturn whole households, teaching things that they ought not for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of those empty talkers, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, gluttons, and lazy.” 13 This testimony [of what these empty talkers say] is true, for which cause rebuke them severely, so that they may be sound and healthy inside of the faith. 14 Do not give heed to Jewish fables {b. all the many things that Jews say about the Old Testament that are not actually in the text}, or to the injunctions or purposes of men who pervert the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and without faith, nothing is pure; instead, their mind and their consciousness are both defiled. 16 They speak the same word as if to know God; they contradict Him in works, however, being detestable and unwilling to be persuaded, being unapproved for any good work.


2:1 You, however, speak the things that are consistent with sound and healthy teaching. 2 Older men are to be sober [not drunk], venerable, of sound mind, sound and healthy in faith, in love, and in perseverance. 3 Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or accusers, not being enslaved to too much wine, but teachers of what is good 4 so that they may teach the young women to love their husbands and to love their children. 5 These younger women should be self-controlled, pure, caring for their homes, kind, and in submission to their own husbands, so that the word of God should not be maligned.

6 Encourage the younger men, likewise, to be modest and temperate. 7 In all things, you yourself should present a pattern of good works, in teaching be a pattern of integrity and reverence. 8 Speak sound words beyond reproach, so that whoever is contrary may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say concerning us. 9 Servants are to be submissive to their own masters, being well-pleasing in everything, not speaking against, 10 not stealing, but showing all good fidelity, so that they may set forth the teaching of God our Savior in all things.

11 For the gift and grace of God has become visible, bringing salvation to all humans, 12 teaching us that, having refused irreverence and worldly desires, we should live moderately, justly, and devotedly inside the present age, 13 welcoming in every present moment the blessed hope and visible display of the great God, that is our Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 the One who gave Himself for us, for our sakes, that He might redeem us out from all lawlessness and might purify to Himself a people, His own personal treasure, who are zealous of good works.

15 Speak these things and encourage and convince with all authority. Let no one despise you.


3:1 Remind the brothers and sisters also to be submissive and obedient to rulers and authorities, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable and gentle, showing all humility towards all men and women. 3 For we ourselves were once also without understanding, unwilling to be persuaded, wandering, serving various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 When, however, the kindness and love of the God of our Savior for mankind became visible, 5 not out of works of rightness that we did, but according to His mercy, He saved us through the bath of the rebirth [regeneration] and through the renewing and making fresh of the Holy Spirit 6 whom He poured out upon us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, 17 so that, having been made pure and holy by that grace [the gift of God Himself], we should be heirs according to the hope of age-unfolding life.

8 This word is trustworthy, and I want to affirm confidently concerning these things, so that those believing God may take care to give full attention to good works. These things are beautiful and beneficial to humans. 9 Avoid foolish controversies, however, and genealogies that is, claims made on the basis of natural birth, and arguments and quarrels over the law, for they are worthless and useless. [c] {c. This was the practice of the Pharisees, to argue over the law. Their arguments for the next 1000 years after Christ became The Talmud, the book of a false religion.} 10 Reject a man who causes divisions after a first and second warning, 11 being aware that such a man is turned inside out and is falling short, being self-condemned.

12 When I shall send Artemas or Tychicus to you, be diligent to come to me into Nicopolis; for there I have decided to winter. 13 Earnestly equip and send out Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, so that nothing should be lacking to them. 14 Let our people also learn to devote themselves to good works for obtaining essential needs, so that they should not be without fruit. 15 All those who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us inside the faith. Grace [God Himself] be with all of you. Let it be so – it is so.