1 P aul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

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 i n hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal;

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

3 b ut in his own seasons manifested his word in the message, wherewith I was intrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

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

4 t o Titus, my true child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

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 F or this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge;

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 i f any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly.

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 F or the bishop must be blameless, as God's steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;

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 b ut given to hospitality, as lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled;

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 h olding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.

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 F or there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision,

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 w hose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

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

12 O ne of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons.

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 T his testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

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 ot giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

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 o the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

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 T hey profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

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.