1:1  Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness,

1:2  in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,

1:3  but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which God entrusted me according to the commandment of God our Savior,

1:4  To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

1:5  For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,

1:6  namely, if any man lives above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.

1:7  For the overseer must live above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,

1:8  but hospitable, loving what we know as good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,

1:9  holding fast the faithful word which accords with the teaching, so that he will have the capability to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

1:10  For we can identify many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

1:11  who you must silence because they upset whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.

1:12  One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans always lie, acting like evil beasts and lazy gluttons."

1:13  This testimony seems true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may become sound in the faith,

1:14  not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

1:15  To the pure, all things appear pure; but to those who have become defiled and unbelieving, nothing seems pure, but both their mind and their conscience have become defiled.

1:16  They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, behaving detestably, disobediently and worthlessly for any good deed.