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,

1:2 In the hope of eternal life, which was made certain before

eternal time, by the word of God who is ever true;

1:3 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;

1:4 To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace

from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

1:5 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;

1:6 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.

1:7 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;

1:8 But opening his house freely to guests; a lover of what is

good, serious-minded, upright, holy, self-controlled;

1:9 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.

1:10 For there are men who are not ruled by law; foolish

talkers, false teachers, specially those of the circumcision,

1:11 By whom some families have been completely overturned; who

take money for teaching things which are not right; these will

have to be stopped.

1:12 One of their prophets has said, The men of Crete are ever

false, evil beasts, lovers of food, hating work.

1:13 This witness is true. So say sharp words to them so that

they may come to the right faith,

1:14 Giving no attention to the fictions of the Jews and the

rules of men who have no true knowledge.

1:15 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.

1:16 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.

2:1 But let your words be in agreement with true and right

teaching:

2:2 That old men are to be simple in their tastes, serious,

wise, true in faith, in love, and of a quiet mind.

2:3 That old women are to be self-respecting in behaviour, not

saying evil of others, not given to taking much wine, teachers

of that which is good,

2:4 Training the younger women to have love for their husbands

and children,

2:5 To be wise in mind, clean in heart, kind; working in their

houses, living under the authority of their husbands; so that

no evil may be said of the word of God.

2:6 To the young men give orders to be wise and serious-minded:

2:7 In all things see that you are an example of good works;

holy in your teaching, serious in behaviour,

2:8 Saying true and right words, against which no protest may be

made, so that he who is not on our side may be put to shame,

unable to say any evil of us.

2:9 Servants are to be under the authority of their masters,

pleasing them in all things, without argument;

2:10 Not taking what is not theirs, but giving clear signs of

their good faith, in all things doing credit to the teaching of

God our Saviour.

2:11 For the grace of God has come, giving salvation to all men,

2:12 Training us so that, turning away from evil and the desires

of this world, we may be living wisely and uprightly in the

knowledge of God in this present life;

2:13 Looking for the glad hope, the revelation of the glory of

our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ;

2:14 Who gave himself for us, so that he might make us free from

all wrongdoing, and make for himself a people clean in heart

and on fire with good works.

2:15 On all these points give teaching and help, and make clear

what is right with all authority. Let all men give you honour.

3:1 Make clear to them that they are to put themselves under

rulers and authorities, to do what they are ordered, to be

ready for every good work,

3:2 To say no evil of any man, not to be fighters, to give way

to others, to be gentle in behaviour to all men.

3:3 For in the past we were foolish, hard in heart, turned from

the true way, servants of evil desires and pleasures, living in

bad feeling and envy, hated and hating one another.

3:4 But when the mercy of God our Saviour, and his love to man

was seen,

3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but in

the measure of his mercy, he gave us salvation, through the

washing of the new birth and the giving of new life in the Holy

Spirit,

3:6 Which he gave us freely through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

3:7 So that, having been given righteousness through grace, we

might have a part in the heritage, the hope of eternal life.

3:8 This is a true saying; and it is my desire that you may give

certain witness about these things, so that those who have had

faith in God may give attention to good works. These things are

good and of profit to men;

3:9 But have nothing to do with foolish questionings, and lists

of generations, and fights and arguments about the law; for

they are of no profit and foolish.

3:10 A man whose opinions are not those of the church, after a

first and second protest, is to be kept out of your society;

3:11 Clearly he is in error and a sinner, being self-judged.

3:12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to

come to me at Nicopolis: for it is my purpose to be there for

the winter.

3:13 Send Zenas, the man of law, and Apollos on their journey

with all care, so that they may be in need of nothing.

3:14 And let our people go on with good works for necessary

purposes, so that they may not be without fruit.

3:15 All who are with me send you their love. Give our love to

our friends in the faith. Grace be with you all.