The Letter to Titus

The Letter to Titus is a practical pastoral letter that provides instructions for the organization and the leadership of the Christian community on the island of Crete. Paul emphasizes the importance of appointing elders who are beyond reproach and who are able to teach the truth while silencing domestic false teachers. We find a strong focus on the relationship between good works and the grace of God that has appeared for the salvation of all. This letter reminds us that those who have believed in God should be careful to devote themselves to good work.

The message highlights the transformative power of the Gospel for every group within the Church from the older men to the younger slaves. We are encouraged to live lives that are temperate and sensible and godly as we wait for the blessed hope of the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior. Paul stresses the importance of avoiding foolish controversies and of rejecting those who cause division within the body of believers. The Letter to Titus invites us to be people who are zealous for good deeds and who reflect the beauty of our faith in our daily lives.

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Chapters

1 2 3

Chapter 1

¹Paul, a servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, in accord with the faith of God�s elect and in acknowledgment of the truth which is accompanied by piety, ? ²in the hope of the eternal life that God, who does not lie, promised before the ages of time, ? ³which, at the proper time, he has manifested by his Word, in the preaching that has been entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior; ? ⁴to Titus, beloved son according to the common faith. Grace and peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Savior. ? ⁵For this reason, I left you behind in Crete: so that those things which are lacking, you would correct, and so that you would ordain, throughout the communities, priests, (just as I also ordained you) ? ⁶if such a man is without offense, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of self-indulgence, nor of insubordination. ? ⁷And a bishop, as a steward of God, must be without offense: not arrogant, not short-tempered, not a drunkard, not violent, not desiring tainted profit, ? ⁸but instead: hospitable, kind, sober, just, holy, chaste, ? ⁹embracing faithful speech which is in agreement with doctrine, so that he may be able to exhort in sound doctrine and to argue against those who contradict. ? ¹⁰For there are, indeed, many who are disobedient, who speak empty words, and who deceive, especially those who are of the circumcision. ? ¹¹These must be reproved, for they subvert entire houses, teaching things which should not be taught, for the favor of shameful gain. ? ¹²A certain one of these, a prophet of their own kind, said: �The Cretans are ever liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.� ? ¹³This testimony is true. Because of this, rebuke them sharply, so that they may be sound in the faith, ? ¹⁴not paying attention to Jewish fables, nor to the rules of men who have turned themselves away from the truth. ? ¹⁵All things are clean to those who are clean. But to those who are defiled, and to unbelievers, nothing is clean; for both their mind and their conscience have been polluted. ? ¹⁶They claim that they know God. But, by their own works, they deny him, since they are abominable, and unbelieving, and reprobate, toward every good work. ?

Chapter 2

¹But you are to speak the things that befit sound doctrine. ? ²Old men should be sober, chaste, prudent, sound in faith, in love, in patience. ? ³Old women, similarly, should be in holy attire, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teaching well, ? ⁴so that they may teach prudence to the young women, so that they may love their husbands, love their children, ? ⁵be sensible, chaste, restrained, have concern for the household, be kind, be subordinate to their husbands: so that the Word of God may be not blasphemed. ? ⁶Exhort young men similarly, so that they may show self-restraint. ? ⁷In all things, present yourself as an example of good works: in doctrine, with integrity, with seriousness, ? ⁸with sound words, irreproachably, so that he who is an opponent may dread that he has nothing evil to say about us. ? ⁹Exhort servants to be submissive to their masters, in all things pleasing, not contradicting, ? ¹⁰not cheating, but in all things showing good fidelity, so that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. ? ¹¹For the grace of God our Savior has appeared to all men, ? ¹²instructing us to reject impiety and worldly desires, so that we may live soberly and justly and piously in this age, ? ¹³looking forward to the blessed hope and the advent of the glory of the great God and of our Savior Jesus Christ. ? ¹⁴He gave himself for our sake, so that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse for himself an acceptable people, pursuers of good works. ? ¹⁵Speak and exhort and argue these things with all authority. Let no one despise you. ?

Chapter 3

¹Admonish them to be subordinate to the rulers and authorities, to obey their dictates, to be prepared for every good work, ? ²to speak evil of no one, not to be litigious, but to be reserved, displaying all meekness toward all men. ? ³For, in times past, we ourselves were also unwise, unbelieving, erring, servants of various desires and pleasures, acting with malice and envy, being hateful and hating one another. ? ⁴But then the kindness and humanity of God our Savior appeared. ? ⁵And he saved us, not by works of justice that we had done, but, in accord with his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and by the renovation of the Holy Spirit, ? ⁶whom he has poured out upon us in abundance, through Jesus Christ our Savior, ? ⁷so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ? ⁸This is a faithful saying. And I want you to confirm these things, so that those who believe in God may take care to excel in good works. These things are good and useful to men. ? ⁹But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, as well as arguments against the law. For these are useless and empty. ? ¹⁰Avoid a man who is a heretic, after the first and second correction, ? ¹¹knowing that one who is like this has been subverted, and that he offends; for he has been condemned by his own judgment. ? ¹²When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, hurry to return to me at Nicopolis. For I have decided to winter there. ? ¹³Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollo ahead with care, and let nothing be lacking to them. ? ¹⁴But let our men also learn to excel in good works pertaining to the necessities of life, so that they may not be unfruitful. ? ¹⁵All those who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. May the grace of God be with you all. Amen. ?