1 ¶ Paul, slave of God, and apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness;

Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

2 f or the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the times of the ages

in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,

3 a nd has manifested in due times. It is his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior,

4 t o Titus, true son in the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus, the Christ, our Saviour.

To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. Qualifications of Elders

5 ¶ For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou should correct that which is lacking and set in place elders in every city, as I had commanded thee:

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

6 ¶ He who is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children who can not be accused of dissoluteness, nor insubordinate.

namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.

7 F or the bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God; not arrogant, not quick to anger, not given to wine, not hurtful, not greedy of dishonest gain,

For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,

8 b ut a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, temperate, just, holy, gentle,

but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,

9 h olding fast the doctrine according to the faithful word, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

10 F or there are many insubordinate and vain talkers and deceivers of souls, especially those of the circumcision,

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

11 w hose mouths it is expedient to stop, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain.

who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.

12 O ne of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, lazy bellies.

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

13 T his witness is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,

14 n ot giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

15 F or unto the pure all things are pure, but unto those that are defiled and unfaithful, nothing is pure, but even their soul and conscience is defiled.

To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

16 T hey profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable and rebellious and reprobate unto every good work.

They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.