Titus 1

Qualified Leaders in the Church

1 This is Paul, a servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am here to help God’s people grow in faith and know the truth that leads to godly living.

2 This truth is built on the hope of eternal life, promised by God who do not lie, even before time began.

3 At the right time, He revealed His Word through preaching, which He trusted me to do by His command.

4 Titus, my son in the faith we share, grace, peace, and love from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

5 I left you in Crete to handle business: put the churches in order and appoint leaders in every town, just like I told you.

6 A leader must be blameless, faithful to their spouse, with kids who act right and believe, not wild or rebellious.

7 Since an overseer manages God’s work, they cannot be arrogant, quick-tempered, drunk, violent, or greedy for money.

8 Instead, they need to show hospitality, love good, stay disciplined, and live upright and holy.

9 They must hold tight to sound teaching so they can encourage others with the truth and shut down false teachers.

Rebuking False Teachers

10 There is a lot of jokers, especially those pushing nonsense from circumcision groups, who talk big but mess folks up.

11 Shut them down. They are ruining whole families for money, teaching what is straight trash.

12 Even one of Crete’s own prophets said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, and lazy gluttons.”

13 And they were not lying! So check them hard so they can get their faith right,

14 and stop listening to Jewish myths and commands from people who reject the truth.

15 To the pure, everything is pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure, their minds and consciences are dirty.

16 They claim to know God, but their actions say otherwise. They are fake, disobedient, and useless for doing any good.