Titus 1:6-3:11

English Standard Version

^6 (A)if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife,^[a] and his children are believers^[b] and not open to the charge of ^(B)debauchery or insubordination. ⁷ For an overseer,^{[c] (C)}as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not ^(D)be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent ^(E)or greedy for gain, ⁸ but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, ^(F)and disciplined. ⁹ He must ^(G)hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in ^(H)sound^[d] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

¹⁰ For there are many who are insubordinate, ^(I)empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of ^(J)the circumcision party.^{[e] 11} They must be silenced, since ^(K)they are upsetting whole families by teaching ^(L)for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. ^12 (M)One of the Cretans,^[f] a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”^{[g] 13} This testimony is true. Therefore ^(N)rebuke them ^(O)sharply, that they ^(P)may be sound in the faith, ^14 (Q)not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and ^(R)the commands of people ^(S)who turn away from the truth. ^15 (T)To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and ^(U)unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both ^(V)their minds and their consciences are defiled. ^16 (W)They profess to know God, but they ^(X)deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, ^(Y)unfit for any good work.

Teach Sound Doctrine

2 But as for you, teach what accords with ^(Z)sound^[h] doctrine. ² Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, ^(AA)sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. ^3 (AB)Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, ^(AC)not slanderers ^(AD)or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, ⁴ and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, ^(AE)pure, ^(AF)working at home, kind, and ^(AG)submissive to their own husbands, ^(AH)that the word of God may not be reviled. ⁶ Likewise, urge ^(AI)the younger men to be self-controlled. ⁷ Show yourself in all respects to be ^(AJ)a model of good works, and in your teaching ^(AK)show integrity, ^(AL)dignity, ⁸ and ^(AM)sound speech that cannot be condemned, ^(AN)so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. ^9 (AO)Bondservants^[i] are to be submissive to their own masters ^(AP)in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰ not pilfering, ^(AQ)but showing all good faith, ^(AR)so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

¹¹ For ^(AS)the grace of God ^(AT)has appeared, bringing salvation ^(AU)for all people, ¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and ^(AV)worldly passions, and ^(AW)to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in ^(AX)the present age, ^13 (AY)waiting for our blessed ^(AZ)hope, the ^(BA)appearing of the glory of our great ^(BB)God and Savior Jesus Christ, ^14 (BC)who gave himself for us to ^(BD)redeem us from all lawlessness and ^(BE)to purify for himself ^(BF)a people for his own possession who are ^(BG)zealous for good works.

¹⁵ Declare these things; exhort and ^(BH)rebuke with all authority. ^(BI)Let no one disregard you.

Be Ready for Every Good Work

3 Remind them ^(BJ)to be submissive to rulers and authorities, ^(BK)to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, ^2 (BL)to speak evil of no one, ^(BM)to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and ^(BN)to show perfect courtesy toward all people. ³ For ^(BO)we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. ⁴ But when ^(BP)the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, ^(BQ)not because of works done by us in righteousness, but ^(BR)according to his own mercy, by ^(BS)the washing of regeneration and ^(BT)renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he ^(BU)poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that ^(BV)being justified by his grace we might become ^(BW)heirs ^(BX)according to the hope of eternal life. ⁸ The saying is ^(BY)trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful ^(BZ)to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. ⁹ But ^(CA)avoid foolish ^(CB)controversies, ^(CC)genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for ^(CD)they are unprofitable and worthless. ¹⁰ As for a person who stirs up division, ^(CE)after warning him once and then twice, ^(CF)have nothing more to do with him, ¹¹ knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.