Titus, Chapter 1

1. Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, in agreement with the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is in harmony with godliness;    2. In hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began;    3. But has at the right time made his word known through preaching, which is committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;    4. To Titus, my own son in the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.    5. For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and ordain elders in every city, as I had directed you:    6. If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of uproar or unruly.    7. For a leader must be blameless, as the steward of God; not domineering, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to unjust gain;    8. But a lover of hospitality, a lover of those who are good, sober, just, holy, temperate;    9. Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able by sound teaching both to exhort and to convince the opposers.    10. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision:    11. Whose mouths must be stopped, who corrupt whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for unjust gain's sake.    12. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.    13. This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;    14. Not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men that turn from the truth.    15. To the pure all things are pure: but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.    16. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and worthless for every good work.