Titus 1

1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of the elect of God and the acknowledging of the truth, which is according to godliness:

This letter comes from Paul, servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I'm sent to build up the trust of God's chosen people and to share the knowledge of the truth that leads to lives lived for God.

2 Unto the hope of life everlasting, which God, who lieth not, hath promised before the times of the world: (aiōnios g166)

This gives them the hope of eternal life that God (who cannot lie) promised ages ago, (aiōnios g166)

3 But hath in due times manifested his word in preaching, which is committed to me according to the commandment of God our Saviour:

but which at the proper time he revealed through his word in the message which I was entrusted to give, following the command of God our Savior.

4 To Titus my beloved son, according to the common faith, grace and peace from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus our Saviour.

This letter is sent to Titus, my true son through the trust in God we share in common. May you have grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

5 For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and shouldest ordain priests in every city, as I also appointed thee:

The reason I left you in Crete was for you to organize what was still needed and to appoint elders in every town, as I told you.

6 If any be without crime, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of riot, or unruly.

An elder must have a good reputation, the husband of one wife, and have children who believe and who are not accused of being wild or disobedient.

7 For a bishop must be without crime, as the steward of God: not proud, not subject to anger, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre:

As a leader for God, a head elder must have a good reputation and not be arrogant. He should not have a quick temper nor get drunk; he shouldn't be violent or greedy for money.

8 But given to hospitality, gentle, sober, just, holy, continent:

He should be hospitable, someone who loves what's good and does what's right. He should be living a life for God, self-controlled,

9 Embracing that faithful word which is according to doctrine, that he may be able to exhort in sound doctrine, and to convince the gainsayers.

and must be devoted to the trustworthy message as it's taught. In this way he can encourage others through correct teaching, and be able to convince those who disagree.

10 For there are also many disobedient, vain talkers, and seducers: especially they who are of the circumcision:

For there are many rebels around who talk a lot of deceptive nonsense, especially from the circumcision group.

11 Who must be reproved, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

Their talking must stop, these people who throw whole families into turmoil, teaching things that aren't right for the sake of making money.

12 One of them a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slothful bellies.

As someone of their own people, a prophet, has stated, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts who are lazy, greedy people.”

13 This testimony is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

This is a true statement! Consequently give them a good telling-off so that they can have a healthy trust in God,

14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men, who turn themselves away from the truth.

not paying attention to Jewish myths and human commandments from those who deviate from the truth.

15 All things are clean to the clean: but to them that are defiled, and to unbelievers, nothing is clean: but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

To those who have clean minds everything is clean, but to those who are corrupt and refuse to trust in God, nothing is clean—both their minds and their consciences are corrupt.

16 They profess that they know God: but in their works they deny him; being abominable, and incredulous, and to every good work reprobate.

They claim to know God, but they prove this is false by what they do. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.