Paul, a servant of God, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, in agreement with the faith of the saints of God and the full knowledge of what is true in harmony with religion,

I did not take you with me when I went away from Crete, so that you might do what was necessary to put things in order there, placing men in authority over the churches in every town, as I said to you;

But opening his house freely to guests; a lover of what is good, serious-minded, upright, holy, self-controlled;

He must be devoted to the trustworthy message that agrees with what we teach, so that he may be able to encourage others with healthy doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

for they upset whole households and, for filthy lucre's sake, teach what they ought not to teach.

They profess to know God [to recognize and be acquainted with Him], but by their actions they deny and disown Him. They are detestable and disobedient and worthless for good work of any kind.

You must continue telling the people what is proper for wholesome teaching:

but what is agreeable to sound doctrine: advise the aged to be prudent, grave, temperate, sound in faith,

the older women, too, to be reverent in their deportment, and not to be slanderers or slaves to heavy drinking, but to be teachers of what is right,

that they should teach what is right, so as to train the younger women to love their husbands and children,

And in all things show yourself to be an example of good works, with purity in doctrine [having the strictest regard for integrity and truth], dignified,

Slaves are to be subject to their own masters in everything, to do what is wanted and not talk back,

Not taking what is not theirs, but giving clear signs of their good faith, in all things doing credit to the teaching of God our Saviour.

On all these points give teaching and help, and make clear what is right with all authority. Let all men give you honour.

Make clear to them that they are to put themselves under rulers and authorities, to do what they are ordered, to be ready for every good work,

This is a secure rule, and what I would have you constantly maintain, that they who have believed in God, should take care to be examples of virtue, for that is commendable and useful to mankind.

Make every effort to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; make sure they have what they need.