Paul, a servant of Goda and an apostleb of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truthc that leads to godlinessd—2 in the hope of eternal life,e which God, who does not lie,f promised before the beginning of time,g 3 and which now at his appointed seasonh he has brought to lighti through the preaching entrusted to mej by the command of Godk our Savior,l

4 To Titus,m my true sonn in our common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.o

Appointing Elders Who Love What Is Good

1:6–8Ref—1Ti 3:2–4

5 The reason I left you in Cretep was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appointa eldersq in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless,r faithful to his wife, a man whose children believeb and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseers manages God’s household,t he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.u 8 Rather, he must be hospitable,v one who loves what is good,w who is self-controlled,x upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmlyy to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrinez and refute those who oppose it.