Study Desk

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—

a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,

and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,

To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.

An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.

Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.

Since an overseer manages God's household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.

Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.

Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group.

For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.

They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.

They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.

Even one of their own prophets has said, "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons."

One of Crete's own prophets has said it: "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons."

This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith

This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith

and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth.

and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth.

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.

They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.