1 P aul, 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,

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

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

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

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

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 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;

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

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 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;

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

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

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 those who contradict him.

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

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

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

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

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

13 T his testimony is true. For this cause, reprove 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 paying attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

not paying attention to Jewish myths 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 that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

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