[0] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. [1]
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith
of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with
godliness, [2] in hope of eternal life which God, who never lies, promised
ages ago [3] and at the proper time manifested in his word through the
preaching with which I have been entrusted by command of God our Savior;
[4] To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God
the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. [5] This is why I left you in
Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint elders in every
town as I directed you, [6] if any man is blameless, the husband of one
wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of being
profligate or insubordinate. [7] For a bishop, as God's steward, must be
blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or
violent or greedy for gain, [8] but hospitable, a lover of goodness, master
of himself, upright, holy, and self-controlled; [9] he must hold firm to
the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in
sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it. [10] For there
are many insubordinate men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially the
circumcision party; [11] they must be silenced, since they are upsetting
whole families by teaching for base gain what they have no right to teach.
[12] One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always
liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." [13] This testimony is true. Therefore
rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, [14] instead of
giving heed to Jewish myths or to commands of men who reject the truth.
[15] To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving
nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are corrupted. [16] They
profess to know God, but they deny him by their deeds; they are detestable,
disobedient, unfit for any good deed.
