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Titus 1-3
New Life Version
Titus 1-3
New Life Version
1 This letter is from Paul, a servant owned by God, and a missionary of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to those God has chosen for Himself. I am to teach them the truth that leads to God-like living. 2 This truth also gives hope of life that lasts forever. God promised this before the world began. He cannot lie. 3 He made this known at the right time through His Word. God, the One Who saves, told me I should preach it. 4 I am writing to you, Titus. You are my true son in the faith which we both have. May you have loving-favor and peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ, the One Who saves.
What a Church Leader Must Be Like
5 I left you on the island of Crete so you could do some things that needed to be done. I asked you to choose church leaders in every city. 6 Their lives must be so that no one can talk against them. They must have only one wife. Their children must be Christians and known to be good. They must obey their parents. They must not be wild. 7 A church leader is God’s servant. His life must be so that no one can say anything against him. He should not try to please himself and not be quick to get angry over little things. He must not get drunk or want to fight. He must not always want more money for himself. 8 He must like to take people into his home. He must love what is good. He must be able to think well and do all things in the right way. He must live a holy life and be the boss over his own desires. 9 He must hold to the words of truth which he was taught. He must be able to teach the truth and show those who are against the truth that they are wrong.
False Teachers
10 There are many men who will not listen or will not obey the truth. Their teaching is foolish and they lead people to believe a lie. Some Jews believe their lies. 11 This must be stopped. It turns whole families from the truth. They teach these things to make money. 12 One of their own teachers said, “People of the island of Crete always lie. They are like wild animals. They are lazy. All they want to do is eat.” 13 This is true of them. Speak sharp words to them because it is true. Lead them in the right way so they will have strong faith. 14 Do not let them listen to Jewish stories made up by men. Do not let them listen to man-made rules which lead them away from the truth. 15 All things are pure to the man with a pure heart. But to sinful people nothing is pure. Both their minds and their hearts are bad. 16 They say they know God, but by the way they act, they show that they do not. They are sinful people. They will not obey and are of no use for any good work.
Right Teaching
2 You must teach what is right and true. 2 Older men are to be quiet and to be careful how they act. They are to be the boss over their own desires. Their faith and love are to stay strong and they are not to give up. 3 Teach older women to be quiet and to be careful how they act also. They are not to go around speaking bad things about others or things that are not true. They are not to be chained by strong drink. They should teach what is good.
4 Older women are to teach the young women to love their husbands and children. 5 They are to teach them to think before they act, to be pure, to be workers at home, to be kind, and to obey their own husbands. In this way, the Word of God is honored. 6 Also teach young men to be wise. 7 In all things show them how to live by your life and by right teaching. 8 You should be wise in what you say. Then the one who is against you will be ashamed and will not be able to say anything bad about you.
9 Those who are servants owned by someone must obey their owners and please them in everything. They must not argue. 10 They must not steal from their owners but prove they can be trusted in every way. In this way, their lives will honor the teaching of God Who saves us.
11 God’s free gift of being saved is being given to everyone. 12 We are taught to have nothing to do with that which is against God. We are to have nothing to do with the desires of this world. We are to be wise and to be right with God. We are to live God-like lives in this world. 13 We are to be looking for the great hope and the coming of our great God and the One Who saves, Christ Jesus. 14 He gave Himself for us. He did this by buying us with His blood and making us free from all sin. He gave Himself so His people could be clean and want to do good. 15 Teach all these things and give words of help. Show them if they are wrong. You have the right and the power to do this. Do not let anyone think little of you.
The Work of a Leader
3 Teach your people to obey the leaders of their country. They should be ready to do any good work. 2 They must not speak bad of anyone, and they must not argue. They should be gentle and kind to all people.
God Saved Us from All These Things
3 There was a time when we were foolish and did not obey. We were fooled in many ways. Strong desires held us in their power. We wanted only to please ourselves. We wanted what others had and were angry when we could not have them. We hated others and they hated us.
4 But God, the One Who saves, showed how kind He was and how He loved us 5 by saving us from the punishment of sin. It was not because we worked to be right with God. It was because of His loving-kindness that He washed our sins away. At the same time He gave us new life when the Holy Spirit came into our lives. 6 God gave the Holy Spirit to fill our lives through Jesus Christ, the One Who saves. 7 Because of this, we are made right with God by His loving-favor. Now we can have life that lasts forever as He has promised.
8 What I have told you is true. Teach these things all the time so those who have put their trust in God will be careful to do good things. These things are good and will help all men.
9 Do not argue with people about foolish questions and about the Law. Do not spend time talking about all of your early fathers. This does not help anyone and it is of no use. 10 Talk once or twice to a person who tries to divide people into groups against each other. If he does not stop, have nothing to do with him. 11 You can be sure he is going the wrong way. He is sinning and he knows it.
12 I will send Artemas or Tychicus to you. As soon as one of them gets there, try to come to me in the city of Nicopolis. I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Zenas, the man who knows the law, and Apollos are going on a trip. Do everything you can to help them. 14 Our people must learn to work hard. They must work for what they need and be able to give to others who need help. Then their lives will not be wasted. 15 All those with me here greet you. Greet my Christian friends there. May you have God’s loving-favor.
Titus 1-3
New International Version
Titus 1-3
New International Version
1 Paul, a servant of God(A) and an apostle(B) of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth(C) that leads to godliness(D)— 2 in the hope of eternal life,(E) which God, who does not lie,(F) promised before the beginning of time,(G) 3 and which now at his appointed season(H) he has brought to light(I) through the preaching entrusted to me(J) by the command of God(K) our Savior,(L)
4 To Titus,(M) my true son(N) in our common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.(O)
Appointing Elders Who Love What Is Good(P)
5 The reason I left you in Crete(Q) was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint[a] elders(R) in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless,(S) faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe[b] and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer(T) manages God’s household,(U) he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.(V) 8 Rather, he must be hospitable,(W) one who loves what is good,(X) who is self-controlled,(Y) upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly(Z) to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine(AA) and refute those who oppose it.
Rebuking Those Who Fail to Do Good
10 For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk(AB) and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.(AC) 11 They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households(AD) by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of Crete’s own prophets(AE) has said it: “Cretans(AF) are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”[c] 13 This saying is true. Therefore rebuke(AG) them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith(AH) 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths(AI) or to the merely human commands(AJ) of those who reject the truth.(AK) 15 To the pure, all things are pure,(AL) but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure.(AM) In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.(AN) 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.(AO) They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.(AP)
Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel
2 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.(AQ) 2 Teach the older men(AR) to be temperate,(AS) worthy of respect, self-controlled,(AT) and sound in faith,(AU) in love and in endurance.
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers(AV) or addicted to much wine,(AW) but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women(AX) to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled(AY) and pure, to be busy at home,(AZ) to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands,(BA) so that no one will malign the word of God.(BB)
6 Similarly, encourage the young men(BC) to be self-controlled.(BD) 7 In everything set them an example(BE) by doing what is good.(BF) In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.(BG)
9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything,(BH) to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior(BI) attractive.(BJ)
11 For the grace(BK) of God has appeared(BL) that offers salvation to all people.(BM) 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,(BN) and to live self-controlled,(BO) upright and godly lives(BP) in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing(BQ) of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,(BR) 14 who gave himself for us(BS) to redeem us from all wickedness(BT) and to purify(BU) for himself a people that are his very own,(BV) eager to do what is good.(BW)
15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Saved in Order to Do Good
3 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities,(BX) to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,(BY) 2 to slander no one,(BZ) to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
3 At one time(CA) we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness(CB) and love of God our Savior(CC) appeared,(CD) 5 he saved us,(CE) not because of righteous things we had done,(CF) but because of his mercy.(CG) He saved us through the washing(CH) of rebirth and renewal(CI) by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us(CJ) generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace,(CK) we might become heirs(CL) having the hope(CM) of eternal life.(CN) 8 This is a trustworthy saying.(CO) And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.(CP) These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
9 But avoid(CQ) foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels(CR) about the law,(CS) because these are unprofitable and useless.(CT) 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.(CU) 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.
Final Remarks
12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus(CV) to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.(CW) 13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos(CX) on their way and see that they have everything they need. 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good,(CY) in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.
15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.(CZ)
Grace be with you all.(DA)
Footnotes
- Titus 1:5 Or ordain
- Titus 1:6 Or children are trustworthy
- Titus 1:12 From the Cretan philosopher Epimenides
Titus 1-3
King James Version
Titus 1-3
King James Version
1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
13 This witness is true. Wherefore 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 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing 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 unto every good work reprobate.
2 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
3 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
12 When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.
13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.
14 And let our's also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
New Life Version (NLV)
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