Greetings to Titus

1Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

2In hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the ages began;

3But has in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior;

4To Titus, my own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

Qualifications for Elders (Pastors)

5For this cause I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed you:

6If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of rebellion or unruly.

7For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, not violent, not given to dishonest gain;

8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good, sensible, just, holy, temperate;

9Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to refute the opposition.

Correct False Teachers

10For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision:

11Whose mouths must be stopped, who ruin whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain.

12One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.

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

14Not giving heed to Jewish myths, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

15Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.