Titus 1Book 56 of 66 · 16 verses · MBT primary, NKJV fallback where MBT pending

  1. Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ — for the faith of God's chosen ones, and for the full knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness,
  2. in the hope of eternal life — which God, who cannot lie, promised before the ages of time began,
  3. and at the proper time has manifested His word through the proclamation entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior:
  4. to Titus, my true son in our common faith — grace and peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
  5. For this reason I left you in Crete: that you might set in order what was lacking, and appoint elders in every city, just as I commanded you —
  6. if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe and who are not accused of dissipation or rebellion.
  7. For an overseer must be above reproach as God's steward — not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for gain;
  8. but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, righteous, holy, and self-controlled —
  9. holding fast to the faithful word as he was taught, so that he may be able both to encourage by sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.
  10. For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers — especially those of the circumcision —
  11. whose mouths must be silenced. They are upsetting whole households by teaching, for the sake of dishonest gain, things they ought not to teach.
  12. One of them — a prophet of their own — said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."
  13. This testimony is true. For this reason, rebuke them sharply — so that they may be sound in the faith,
  14. not paying attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of men who turn away from the truth.
  15. To the pure, all things are pure — but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
  16. They claim to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him — being detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.