1 P aulo, servo de Deus, e apóstolo de Jesus Cristo, segundo a fé dos eleitos de Deus, e o pleno conhecimento da verdade que é segundo a piedade,

This letter is from Paul, a servant owned by God, and a missionary of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to those God has chosen for Himself. I am to teach them the truth that leads to God-like living.

2 n a esperança da vida eterna, a qual Deus, que não pode mentir, prometeu antes dos tempos eternos,

This truth also gives hope of life that lasts forever. God promised this before the world began. He cannot lie.

3 e no tempo próprio manifestou a sua palavra, mediante a pregação que me foi confiada segundo o mandamento de Deus, nosso Salvador;

He made this known at the right time through His Word. God, the One Who saves, told me I should preach it.

4 a Tito, meu verdadeiro filho segundo a fé que nos é comum, graça e paz da parte de Deus Pai, e de Cristo Jesus, nosso Salvador.

I am writing to you, Titus. You are my true son in the faith which we both have. May you have loving-favor and peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ, the One Who saves. What a Church Leader Must Be Like

5 P or esta causa te deixei em Creta, para que pusesses em boa ordem o que ainda não o está, e que em cada cidade estabelecesses anciãos, como já te mandei;

I left you on the island of Crete so you could do some things that needed to be done. I asked you to choose church leaders in every city.

6 a lguém que seja irrepreensível, marido de uma só mulher, tendo filhos crentes que não sejam acusados de dissolução, nem sejam desobedientes.

Their lives must be so that no one can talk against them. They must have only one wife. Their children must be Christians and known to be good. They must obey their parents. They must not be wild.

7 P ois é necessário que o bispo seja irrepreensível, como despenseiro de Deus, não soberbo, nem irascível, nem dado ao vinho, nem espancador, nem cobiçoso de torpe ganância;

A church leader is God’s servant. His life must be so that no one can say anything against him. He should not try to please himself and not be quick to get angry over little things. He must not get drunk or want to fight. He must not always want more money for himself.

8 m as hospitaleiro, amigo do bem, sóbrio, justo, piedoso, temperante;

He must like to take people into his home. He must love what is good. He must be able to think well and do all things in the right way. He must live a holy life and be the boss over his own desires.

9 r etendo firme a palavra fiel, que é conforme a doutrina, para que seja poderoso, tanto para exortar na sã doutrina como para convencer os contradizentes.

He must hold to the words of truth which he was taught. He must be able to teach the truth and show those who are against the truth that they are wrong. False Teachers

10 P orque há muitos insubordinados, faladores vãos, e enganadores, especialmente os da circuncisão,

There are many men who will not listen or will not obey the truth. Their teaching is foolish and they lead people to believe a lie. Some Jews believe their lies.

11 a os quais é preciso tapar a boca; porque transtornam casas inteiras ensinando o que não convém, por torpe ganância.

This must be stopped. It turns whole families from the truth. They teach these things to make money.

12 U m dentre eles, seu próprio profeta, disse: Os cretenses são sempre mentirosos, bestas ruins, glutões preguiçosos.

One of their own teachers said, “People of the island of Crete always lie. They are like wild animals. They are lazy. All they want to do is eat.”

13 E ste testemunho é verdadeiro. Portanto repreende-os severamente, para que sejam são na fé,

This is true of them. Speak sharp words to them because it is true. Lead them in the right way so they will have strong faith.

14 n ão dando ouvidos a fábulas judaicas, nem a mandamentos de homens que se desviam da verdade.

Do not let them listen to Jewish stories made up by men. Do not let them listen to man-made rules which lead them away from the truth.

15 T udo é puro para os que são puros, mas para os corrompidos e incrédulos nada é puro; antes tanto a sua mente como a sua consciência estão contaminadas.

All things are pure to the man with a pure heart. But to sinful people nothing is pure. Both their minds and their hearts are bad.

16 A firmam que conhecem a Deus, mas pelas suas obras o negam, sendo abomináveis, e desobedientes, e réprobos para toda boa obra.

They say they know God, but by the way they act, they show that they do not. They are sinful people. They will not obey and are of no use for any good work.