Greeting
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Paul, a servanta of God and 1an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and 2their knowledge of the truth, 3which accords with godliness,
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and 8at the proper time manifested in his word 9through the preaching 10with which I have been entrusted 11by the command of God our Savior;
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To Titus, 12my true child in 13a common faith: 14Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Qualifications for Elders
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15This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and 16appoint elders in every town as I directed you--
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17if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife,c and his children are believers and not open to the charge of 18debauchery or insubordination.
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For an overseer,d19as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not 20be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent 21or greedy for gain,
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but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, 22and disciplined.
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He must 23hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in 24sounde doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
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For there are many who are insubordinate, 25empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of 26the circumcision party.
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They must be silenced, since 27they are upsetting whole families by teaching 28for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
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29One of the Cretans,f a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."g
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This testimony is true. Therefore 30rebuke them 31sharply, that they 32may be sound in the faith,
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33not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and 34the commands of people 35who turn away from the truth.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)