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

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

1:3 but in his own seasons manifested his word in the message, wherewith I was intrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

1:4 to Titus, my true child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge;

1:6 if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly.

1:7 For the bishop must be blameless, as God's steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;

1:8 but given to hospitality, as lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled;

1:9 holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.

1:10 For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision,

1:11 whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

1:12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons.

1:13 This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

1:14 not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

1:15 To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

1:16 They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.