EMTV - Titus

Chapter 1

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

1:2  in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time itself,

1:3  but has in due time manifested His word in a proclamation, with which I was entrusted according to the command of God our Savior;

1:4  To Titus, my own son according to our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

1:5  For this reason I left you behind in Crete, so that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and you should appoint elders in every city as I commanded you:

1:6  if a man is unimpeachable, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or who are insubordinate.

1:7  For a bishop must be unimpeachable, as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

1:8  but hospitable, loving good, prudent, just, holy, temperate,

1:9  holding fast to the faithful word as he was taught, that he may be able to exhort by sound doctrine, and to convince those who oppose it.

1:10  For there are also many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

1:11  whom it is necessary to shut their mouths, who overturn whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

1:12  There said a certain one of them, a prophet of their own, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons."

1:13  This testimony is true; for which cause rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

1:14  not giving heed to Jewish myths and to commands of men turning away from the truth.

1:15  All things indeed are pure to the pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience have been defiled.

1:16  They profess to know God, but in their works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

Chapter 2

2:1  But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.

2:2  Older men are to be sober, serious, temperate, sound in the faith, in love, in endurance.

2:3  Older women likewise are to be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teaching what is good,

2:4  so that they may urge the young women to be lovers of their husbands, lovers of their children,

2:5  temperate, pure, homemakers, good, submitting to their own husbands, lest the word of God be blasphemed.

2:6  Likewise exhort the young men to be sensible,

2:7  in all respects showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, dignity, incorruptibility,

2:8  sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

2:9  Exhort bondservants to be subject to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not talking back,

2:10  not embezzling, but showing good faith, so that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

2:11  For the saving grace of God has appeared to all men,

2:12  teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

2:13  looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

2:14  who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people as His own possession, zealous for good works.

2:15  Speak these things, exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Chapter 3

3:1  Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

3:2  to slander no one, to be peaceable, gentle, demonstrating all meekness to all men.

3:3  For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, being deceived, being enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

3:4  But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,

3:5  not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

3:6  whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

3:7  that having been justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

3:8  Faithful is this word, and concerning these things I want you to strongly affirm, so that those who have believed in God may take thought to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

3:9  But avoid foolish disputes and genealogies, and strifes and legal fights; for they are unprofitable and futile.

3:10  Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,

3:11  knowing that such a person has been perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

3:12  Whenever I shall send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, hasten to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.

3:13  Speedily send forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, in order that they may lack nothing.

3:14  And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, lest they be unfruitful.

3:15  All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.