in hope of the Life of the Ages which God, who is never false to His word, promised before the commencement of the Ages.

And at the appointed time He clearly made known His Message in the preaching with which I was entrusted by the command of God our Saviour:

I have left you behind in Crete in order that you may set right the things which still require attention, and appoint Elders in every town, as I directed you to do;

holding fast to the faithful Message which he has received, so that he may be well qualified both to encourage others with sound teaching and to reply successfully to opponents.

and healthy language which no one can censure, so that our opponents may feel ashamed at having nothing evil to say against us.

But when the goodness of God our Saviour, and His love to man, dawned upon us, not in consequence of things which we,

which He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;