The Letter from Paul the Apostle to Titus

1

Paul, servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of the chosen ones of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness 2 in hope of life eternal, which God promised to those unknowing of lies before time immemorial, 3 and has revealed in its due time his word in the proclamation, which is committed to me according to the commandment of God our savior, 4 to Titus my beloved son according to the common faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the father, and the Lord Jesus Christ our savior.

5 For this reason I left you in Crete, to correct those things which lack, and appoint elders in each city as I have appointed you, 6 if anyone is guiltless, husband to only one wife, has faithful children not prone to crime and who are not incorrigible. 7 For the supervisor must be guiltless, like a steward of God, not arrogant or hot-tempered, nor a wino, nor a striker, nor given to dirty riches, 8 but hospitable, studious of good things, sober, righteous, godly, modest, 9 holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound teaching, and to win over those who contradict.

10 For there are many who are incorrigible and speakers of vanity, and seducers of minds; worst of all those who are of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be shut up, who turn away entire houses, teaching those things which they should not for the sake of dirty riches. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.” 13 This statement is true. For this reason, rebuke them most strongly, that they may be whole in faith, 14 not minding the fables of the Jews and the precepts of people who turn them away from the truth. 15 Indeed, to the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unfaithful nothing is pure, but their mind and conscience is corrupt. 16 They say to themselves that they know God, but in their deeds they deny him, for they are abominable, and disbelieving, and reprobate to every good work.

2

As for you, though, speak those things which are becoming to sound teaching: 2 to the older men, that they may be sober, modest, firm in faith, love, patience; 3 to the older women, likewise, that they may be in their behavior as is becoming to holiness, not slanderers, not slaves to much wine, who can teach well, 4 to instruct the young women to be modest, that they should have love for their husbands, that they should love their children, 5 that they may be sober, pure, keepers of the house, kind, subject to their husband, that no bad word of God be heard.

6 As for young men, likewise exhort them to be sober, 7 above all, showing yourself as the very example of good works, in teaching, integrity, seriousness, 8 a sound word, blameless, that the one who repugns shall be embarrassed, having nothing evil to say about any of you.

9 As for servants, exhort them to obey their lords, to please them in all things, not talking back, 10 not deceiving, but showing all good faith, that they may adorn themselves in all things with the teaching of God our savior.

11 For the grace of God has appeared, which gives salvation to all mankind, 12 teaching us that having denied ungodliness and the lusts of this world, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this age, 13 awaiting that blessed hope and the appearance of our great God and savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and that he might purify to himself a most excellent people, set apart to good works.

15 These things, speak and exhort, and dispute with all authority, studiously; may no one despise you.

3

Admonish them that they should be subject to principalities and authorities, that they should obey the magistrates, that they should be prepared to every good work, 2 speak evil of no one, not be prone to fight; but humane, showing all meekness toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were sometimes fools, disobedient, straying, serving various desires and lusts, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating each other. 4 But after that the kindness and love toward all people of God our savior appeared, 5 not from works which are in righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy, he has made us whole by the washing of rebirth and renewal of the holy spirit, 6 which he shed on us abundantly by Jesus Christ our savior, 7 that, justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of life eternal.

8 This word is without doubt: of these things I want you to confirm that those who have been believing in God maintain good works; for these things are honest, and useful to mankind. 9 And foolish queries and genealogies and contentions and legal battles avoid; for they are useless and vain. 10 A man dissenting, after one warning and after another, flee; 11 knowing him to be turned aside to his own self, and sins, by himself condemned.

12 Now, when I shall send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, do your best to come to me in Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Be studious to bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos along, that they be lacking nothing, 14 and also, our own should learn to maintain good works to necessary use, that they may not be barren of fruit. 15 All who are with me greet you; greed those who love us in faith. May the grace of God be with all of you. Amen.

To Titus, ordained the first supervisor of the Cretan community. Written from Nicopolis of Macedonia.