Titus 1:1-9
1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further
the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that
leads to godliness— 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God,
who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, 3 and
which now at his appointed season he has brought to light
through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God
our Savior,
4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace
from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Appointing Elders Who Love What Is Good
5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order
what was left unfinished and appoint[a]elders in every town, as I
directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife,
a man whose children believe[b] and are not open to the charge
of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer manages
God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not
quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not
pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather, he must be hospitable, one
who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy
and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy
message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others
by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.