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.