Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to arouse faith in those whom God has chosen, and the comprehension of religious truth,

in the hope of eternal life which God, who never lies, promised ages ago

Who, in his time, made clear his word in the good news, of which, by the order of God our Saviour, I became a preacher;

[It is being sent] to Titus, my true son, [who shares] in a common faith. [May you have] unearned favor and peace [which come] from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

I left you behind in Crete expressly to correct what defects there were, and to appoint elders in each town, as I directed you??6 men of irreproachable character, who have been married only once, whose children are Christians, free from any suspicion of profligacy or disobedience.

men who are blameless, the husband of one wife, with believing children who are not accused of riot or insubordination.

For the bishop must be blame less, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not passionate, not fond of wine, not quarrelsome, not one who makes money by base means;

[He must be] hospitable, someone who loves what is good, sensible, upright, devout and self-controlled.

and a man who continues to cling to the trustworthy message as he was taught it, so that he may be competent to encourage others with wholesome teaching and to convict those who oppose him.

For there are many individuals who are unruly, empty talkers and deceivers, particularly those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped;

who must be muzzled, men who subvert whole houses, teaching things that they ought not, for sake of ugly profit.

It was a Cretan, a prophet of their own, who said, "Cretans are always liars, savage brutes, lazy gluttons,"

by ceasing to give attention to Jewish myths and to the commands of men who turn their backs on the truth.

Truly to the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

that the elder women in like manner be in deportment as becoming those who have to say to sacred things, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of what is right;

Saying true and right words, against which no protest may be made, so that he who is not on our side may be put to shame, unable to say any evil of us.

For the grace of God who saves, was manifested to all men,

who gave Himself for us to ransom us from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people to be His very own, zealous of good works.

Constantly remind people to submit to and obey the rulers who have authority over them, so as to be ready for any good enterprise,

whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

It is a message to be trusted, and I want you to be emphatic about these things, so that those who believe in God may be careful to take the lead in doing good. These things are right and render service to mankind.

After one or two warnings to a man who is factious, stop having anything to do with him,

having known that he hath been subverted who is such, and doth sin, being self-condemned.

And let those who belong to us learn also to be pre-eminent in good works for all necessary calls, that they be not without fruits.

All who are with me wish to be remembered to you. Remember me to all who love me as Christians. Spiritual blessing be with you all.