Introduction

1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which is according to godliness,

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

3 but at its own season revealed in preaching, by which I was entrusted according to the command of God our Saviour,

4 to Titus, my true child according to the common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

Qualifications for Elders

5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you,

6 if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of riot or unruly.

7 For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain,

8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, disciplined,

9 holding firmly the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

10 For there are many rebellious, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

11 whom it is necessary to silence, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not for dishonest gain’s sake.

12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

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

14 not giving heed to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those 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 detestable and disobedient and unfit for every good work.