1 T his 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.

Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,

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

in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,

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

but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;

4 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

To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. Qualified Elders

5 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.

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—

6 T heir 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.

if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.

7 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.

For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

8 H e 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.

but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,

9 H e 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

holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. The Elders’ Task

10 T here 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.

For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

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

whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

12 O ne 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.”

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

13 T his 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.

This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

14 D o 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.

not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.

15 A ll 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.

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

16 T hey 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.

They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.