1 1 Paul, a servant of our Father and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of our Father's chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, 2 in the hope of eternal life, which our Father, who never lies, promised before the ages began, 3 and at the proper time he revealed his word through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of our Father, our Savior 4 —To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from our Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Elders Who Reflect the Father's Character
5 This is why I left you in Crete: so that you might put right what still needed doing and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you 6 —an elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with faithful children who are not accused of wild living or rebellion. 7 For an overseer, as our Father's steward, must be blameless—not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it was taught, so that he can encourage others with sound teaching and refute those who oppose it.
10 For there are many rebellious people, full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. a a v10 The 'circumcision group' refers to Jewish-background teachers who insisted Gentile believers must be circumcised to be truly saved. 11 They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and all for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of their own prophets said it: "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are corrupted and unbelieving, nothing is pure—their very minds and consciences are defiled. 16 They claim to know our Father, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for anything good.