Titus 1
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1Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s chosen ones, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, 2in hope of eternal life, which God, who can’t lie, promised before time began; 3but in his own time revealed his word in the message with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior; 4to Titus, my true child according to a common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. 5I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you; 6if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior. 7For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain; 8but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled; 9holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him. 10For there are also many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain’s sake. 12One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons.” 13This testimony is true. For this cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14not paying attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. 15To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. 16They profess that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.
World English Bible (public domain)
“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
Titus 1:9
Summary
Titus chapter 1 serves as the introduction to Paul's letter to Titus, a trusted companion and leader on the island of Crete. Paul begins by affirming his apostolic authority and his mission to further the faith and knowledge of God's truth. He emphasizes the hope of eternal life promised by God and introduces the theological importance of sound doctrine. Paul instructs Titus to appoint elders in every town, providing specific qualifications that these leaders must adhere to. These include being blameless, faithful in marriage, temperate, and sound in doctrine. Paul warns against false teachers, particularly those among the circumcision party, who were leading whole families astray with false teachings for dishonest gain. The chapter underscores the necessity of confronting such falsehoods and establishing leaders who hold firm to the trustworthy word.
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