Titus

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

1This letter is from Paul. I am a servant of God. I am also an apostle of Jesus Christ, someone he sent out to teach. My work helps the people God chose to trust him. It helps them know the truth that leads to a life that pleases God.

2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

2We wait with hope for life that never ends. God promised this life before the world began. And God cannot lie.

3But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

3At the right time, God made his message clear to everyone. He did this through the preaching he trusted to me. God our Savior, the one who saves us, told me to do it.

4To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

4I am writing to Titus. He is like my own son, because we share the same faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior be kind to you. May they give you peace.

5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

5I left you on the island of Crete for a reason. You are to finish the work that was not done. You are to choose leaders, called elders, in every town. Do it the way I told you.

6If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

6An elder must be a man no one can blame. He must be the husband of one wife. His children should believe too. No one should be able to say they are wild or refuse to obey.

7For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

7A church leader takes care of God's people, like a manager caring for God's house. So he must be a man no one can blame. He must not be selfish or quick to get angry. He must not drink too much. He must not hit people. He must not be greedy for money.

NoteThe KJV says "bishop." In 1611 that word meant an overseer, a leader who watches over a group of believers. It is the same job as the "elders" in verse 5. "Filthy lucre" means money gotten in a greedy or dishonest way.

8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

8Instead, he must welcome guests into his home. He must love what is good. He must control himself. He must be fair, holy, and steady.

9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

9He must hold on tight to the true message he was taught. Then he can help people with good teaching. He can also show that people who argue against it are wrong.

10For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

10Many people there refuse to obey. They talk a lot but say nothing useful. They fool other people. This is true most of all among the circumcision group.

Note"The circumcision" names a group of people. Circumcision was a small cutting of skin that Jewish baby boys received as a sign that they belonged to God. This group said that all believers had to keep doing it.

11Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

11Someone must stop them from talking. They upset whole families with what they teach. They teach things they should not teach. They do it to get money in a dishonest way.

12One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

12One of Crete's own prophets said this about them. A prophet was someone who spoke messages for God or for the people. He said, "People from Crete are always liars. They are like mean animals. They are lazy and they eat too much."

Note"Cretians" means people from the island of Crete. "Slow bellies" is an old way of saying lazy people who eat too much.

13This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

13What he said is true. So correct them firmly. Then their faith will be strong and healthy.

14Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

14Tell them to stop listening to made-up Jewish stories. Tell them to stop obeying rules made by men who turned away from the truth.

15Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

15To people who are clean inside, everything is clean. But nothing is clean to people who are dirty inside and do not believe. Even their thoughts and their sense of right and wrong are dirty.

16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

16They say that they know God. But the way they act says they do not. They are disgusting, and they will not obey. They are no use for doing anything good.