1:1 Paul, a bondservant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's chosen and the full knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness*,
1:2 in hope of everlasting life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times everlasting.
1:3 But in his own seasons, he manifested his word in the preaching in which I was entrusted, according to the commandment of God our Savior.
1:4 To Titus, my genuine child according to the common faith: grace, mercy, peace from God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.
1:5 Because of this, I left you in Crete, that* you might amend the things which are lacking* and should designate elders in every city, as I commanded you.
1:6 If anyone is irreproachable, the husband of one wife, having believing children, who is not in an accusation of riotousness or rebellious.
1:7 For* it is essential for the overseer to be irreproachable as God's steward; not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not a drunkard, not a bully, not covetous;
1:8 but hospitable, who loves good, sensible, just, holy, self-controlled;
1:9 holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that* he may be able both to encourage with the sound teaching and to convict those who contradict it.
1:10 For* there are many even rebellious men, empty-talkers and deceivers, especially those out of the circumcision,
1:11 whom it is essential to gag; men who are perverting whole houses, teaching things which they ought not teach, because of shameful covetous.
1:12 One out of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are liars habitually, evil beasts, idle gluttons.
1:13 This testimony is true. Because of which cause, reprove them sharply, that* they may be sound in the faith,
1:14 not taking-heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.
1:15 Indeed, all things are clean to the clean, but nothing is clean to those who have been defiled and are unbelieving, but both their mind and their conscience have been defiled.
1:16 They are professing that they know God, but they are denying him by their works, being detestable and disobedient and unapproved toward every good work.