Titus 1

1 Paul, a servant of God, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, in agreement with the faith of the saints of God and the full knowledge of what is true in harmony with religion,

Paul, a bondservant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ for building up the faith of God's own people and spreading a full knowledge of the truths of religion,

2 In the hope of eternal life, which was made certain before eternal time, by the word of God who is ever true; (aiōnios g166)

in hope of the Life of the Ages which God, who is never false to His word, promised before the commencement of the Ages. (aiōnios g166)

3 Who, in his time, made clear his word in the good news, of which, by the order of God our Saviour, I became a preacher;

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:

4 To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

To Titus my own true child in our common faith. May grace and peace be granted to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

5 I did not take you with me when I went away from Crete, so that you might do what was necessary to put things in order there, placing men in authority over the churches in every town, as I said to you;

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;

6 Men having a good record, husbands of one wife, whose children are of the faith, children of whom it may not be said that they are given to loose living or are uncontrolled.

wherever there is a man of blameless life, true to his one wife, having children who are themselves believers and are free from every reproach of profligacy or of stubborn self-will.

7 For it is necessary for a Bishop to be a man of virtue, as God's servant; not pushing himself forward, not quickly moved to wrath or blows, not desiring profit for himself;

For, as God's steward, a minister must be of blameless life, not over-fond of having his own way, not a man of a passionate temper nor a hard drinker, not given to blows nor greedy of gain,

8 But opening his house freely to guests; a lover of what is good, serious-minded, upright, holy, self-controlled;

but hospitable to strangers, a lover of goodness, sober-minded, upright, saintly, self-controlled;

9 Keeping to the true word of the teaching, so that he may be able to give comfort by right teaching and overcome the arguments of the doubters.

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.

10 For there are men who are not ruled by law; foolish talkers, false teachers, specially those of the circumcision,

For there are many that spurn authority--idle, talkative and deceitful persons, who, for the most part, are adherents of the Circumcision.

11 By whom some families have been completely overturned; who take money for teaching things which are not right; these will have to be stopped.

You must stop the mouths of such men, for they overthrow the faith of whole families, teaching what they ought not, just for the sake of making money.

12 One of their prophets has said, The men of Crete are ever false, evil beasts, lovers of food, hating work.

One of their own number--a Prophet who is a countryman of theirs--has said, "Cretans are always liars, dangerous animals, idle gluttons."

13 This witness is true. So say sharp words to them so that they may come to the right faith,

This testimony is true. Therefore sternly denounce them, that they may be robust in their faith,

14 Giving no attention to the fictions of the Jews and the rules of men who have no true knowledge.

and not give attention to Jewish legends and the maxims of men who turn their backs on the truth.

15 To the clean in heart all things are clean: but to those who are unclean and without faith nothing is clean; they become unclean in mind and in thought.

To the pure everything is pure; but to the polluted and unbelieving nothing is pure, but on the contrary their very minds and consciences are polluted.

16 They say that they have knowledge of God, while by their acts they are turning their backs on him; they are hated by all, hard-hearted, and judged to be without value for any good work.

They profess to know God; but in their actions they disown Him, and are detestable and disobedient men, and for any good work are utterly useless.