Titus 1:5-16

English Standard Version

Qualifications for Elders

^5 (A)This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and ^(B)appoint elders in every town as I directed you— ^6 (C)if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife,^[a] and his children are believers^[b] and not open to the charge of ^(D)debauchery or insubordination. ⁷ For an overseer,^{[c] (E)}as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not ^(F)be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent ^(G)or greedy for gain, ⁸ but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, ^(H)and disciplined. ⁹ He must ^(I)hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in ^(J)sound^[d] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

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