1 ¶ Pablo, siervo de Dios, y apóstol de Jesús el Cristo, según la fe de los escogidos de Dios, y el conocimiento de la verdad que es según la piedad,

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 p ara la esperanza de la vida eterna, la cual prometió el Dios, que no puede mentir, antes de los tiempos de los siglos,

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

3 y la manifestó a su tiempo: Es su palabra por la predicación, que me es a mí encomendada por mandamiento de nuestro Salvador Dios;

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, verdadero hijo en la común fe: Gracia, misericordia, y paz del Dios Padre, y del Señor Jesús el Cristo, Salvador nuestro.

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 ¶ Por esta causa te dejé en Creta, para que corrigieras lo que falta, y pusieras ancianos por las villas, así como yo te mandé;

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 ¶ el que fuere irreprensible, marido de una mujer, que tenga hijos fieles que no pueden ser acusados de disolución, ni contumaces.

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 orque es necesario que el obispo sea irreprensible, como dispensador de Dios; no soberbio, no iracundo, no dado al vino, no heridor, no codicioso de ganancias deshonestas;

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 s ino hospedador, amador de los buenos, templado, justo, santo, continente;

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 etenedor de la doctrina conforme a la fiel palabra, para que también pueda exhortar con sana doctrina, y convencer a los que contradicen.

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 hay aún muchos contumaces, y habladores de vanidades, y engañadores (de las almas), mayormente los que son de la circuncisión,

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 los cuales es preciso tapar la boca; que trastornan casas enteras; enseñando lo que no conviene, por ganancia deshonesta.

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

12 D ijo uno de ellos, su propio profeta: Los cretenses, siempre mentirosos, malas bestias, vientres perezosos.

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 testimonio es verdadero; por tanto, repréndelos duramente, para que sean sanos en la fe,

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 o atendiendo a fábulas judaicas, ni a mandamientos de hombres que se apartan de la verdad.

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 P orque todas las cosas son limpias a los limpios; mas a los contaminados e infieles nada es limpio; antes su alma y conciencia son 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 P rofesan conocer a Dios; mas con los hechos lo niegan, siendo abominables y rebeldes, y reprobados para toda buena 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.