1 P aul, 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,

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s chosen ones, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

2 i n the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,

in hope of eternal life, which God, who can’t lie, promised before time began;

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

but in his own time revealed his word in the message with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior;

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

to Titus, my true child according to a common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

5 F or 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,

I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you;

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

if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior.

7 F or 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,

For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain;

8 b ut hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,

but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled;

9 h olding 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.

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

10 F or there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

For there are also many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

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

whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain’s sake.

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

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

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

This testimony is true. For this cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

14 n ot paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

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

15 T o 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.

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

They profess that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.