I.  

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God's chosen, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness; 2upon hope of eternal life, which God, who can not lie, promised before eternal ages, 3but in its own times manifested his word in the preaching, with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of our Savior God; 4to Titus, a true child according to the common faith: Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

5For this cause I left thee behind in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and appoint elders in each city, as I directed thee; 6if any one is without reproach, the husband of one wife, having believing children not accused of rioting or unruly. 7For the overseer must be, without reproach, as God's steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, not a striker, not greedy of gain; 8but hospitable, a lover of the good, discreet, just, holy, temperate; 9holding fast the faithful word according to the teaching, that he may be able with the sound teaching both to exhort, and to refute the gainsayers. 10For there are many unruly vain talkers and deceivers, chiefly they of the circumcision; 11whose mouths must be stopped, who overturn whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of base gain. 12One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said: Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. 13This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, who turn away from the truth.

15To the pure all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and conscience are defiled. 16They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and for every good work reprobate.

II.  

But do thou speak the things which become the sound teaching; 2that aged men be sober, grave, discreet, sound in the faith, in love, in patience; 3that aged women likewise be in behavior as becomes holiness, not false accusers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good; 4that they may teach the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

6The younger men likewise exhort to be sober-minded. 7In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works; in teaching, showing uncorruptness, gravity, 8sound speech, that can not be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be put to shame, having no evil thing to say of us.

9Exhort servants to submit themselves to their own masters, to be well-pleasing in all things; not contradicting, 10not purloining, but showing all good faith; that they may adorn the teaching of our Savior God in all things,

11For the saving grace of God appeared to all men, 12teaching us that, having denied ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13looking for the blissful hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; 14who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and cleanse for himself a people to be his own, zealous of good works.

15These things speak, and exhort, and reprove with all authority. Let no one despise thee.

III.  

Put them in mind to submit themselves to governments, to authorities, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2to speak evil of no one, to be averse to strife, forbearing, showing all meekness to all men.

3For we ourselves also were once foolish, disobedient, going astray, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4But when the kindness and the love toward man of our Savior God appeared, 5not by works of righteousness which we did, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the bathing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit; 6which he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior; 7that, having been justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

8Faithful is the saying; and concerning these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they who have believed God may be careful to take the lead in good works. These things are good and profitable to men. 9But avoid foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and contentions about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

10A man that causes divisions, after a first and second admonition, avoid; 11knowing that he that is such is perverted, and sins, being self-condemned.

12When I shall send Artemas to thee, or Tychicus, endeavor to come to me to Nicopolis; for I have determined there to winter.

13Zenas the lawyer, and Apollos, send forward on their journey zealously, that nothing may be wanting to them. 14And let ours also learn to take the lead in good works for necessary wants, that they may not be unfruitful.

15All that are with me salute thee. Salute those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.

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