From Paul, a servant of God, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, charged to strengthen the faith of God's Chosen People, and their knowledge of that Truth which makes for godliness, .

My reason for leaving you in Crete was that you might put in order what had been left unsettled, and appoint Officers of the Church in the various towns, as I myself directed you.

For a Presiding-Officer, as God's steward, ought to be a man of irreproachable character; not self-willed or quick-tempered, nor addicted to drink or to brawling or to questionable money-making.

On the contrary, he should be hospitable, eager for the right discreet, upright, a man of holy life and capable of self-restraint,

whose mouths ought to be stopped; for they upset whole households by teaching what they ought not to teach, merely to make questionable gains.

They profess to know God, but by their actions they disown him. They are degraded and self-willed; and, as far as anything good is concerned, they are utterly worthless.

For the loving-kindness of God has been revealed, bringing Salvation for all;

For he gave himself on our behalf, to deliver us from all wickedness, and to purify for himself a People who should be peculiarly his own and eager to do good.

Remind your hearers to respect and obey the Powers that be, to be ready for every kind of good work, to speak ill of no one, to avoid quarreling,

But, when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for man were revealed, he saved us,

As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, join me as quickly as possible at Nicopolis, for I have arranged to spend the winter there.

Do your best to help Zenas, the Teacher of the Law, and Apollos, on their way, and see that they want for nothing.