Titus 1
1Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, sent to advance the faith of God’s chosen ones and their full knowledge of the truth that leads to true devotion, 2based on the hope of eternal life—which the God who never lies promised before the ages began. 3At his own appointed time, he revealed his word through the proclamation with which I was entrusted by the command of God our Savior.
4To Titus, my legitimate child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
5For this reason I left you behind in Crete: so that you might set right what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every city, just as I directed you. 6An elder must be above reproach, a man of one woman, having children who are faithful and not accused of reckless living or rebellion. 7For it is necessary for the overseer to be above reproach as God’s household steward—not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not a heavy drinker, not violent, and not greedy for shameful profit. 8Instead, he must be a lover of strangers, a lover of what is good, sensible, just, devout, and self-disciplined. 9He must hold firmly to the trustworthy word that accords with the teaching, so that he may be able both to encourage others with healthy instruction and to correct those who speak against it.
10For there are many who are rebellious, empty talkers and mind-deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11It is necessary to muzzle them, because they are overturning whole households by teaching things they should not for the sake of shameful profit. 12One of them, a prophet of their own, said: “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy bellies.” 13This testimony is true. For this reason, correct them sharply so that they may be healthy in the faith, 14not paying attention to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
15To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and faithless, nothing is pure—instead, both their minds and their consciences have been polluted. 16They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions; they are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.