1Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness,
2in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
3In His own time He has made His word evident in the proclamation entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.
4To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
5The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
6An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination.
7As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.
8Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
9He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.
