Titus 1-3

21st Century King James Version

1 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 according to godliness,

² in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began,

³ but hath in due times manifested His Word through preaching which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior,

⁴ To Titus, my own son in the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

⁵ For this cause I left 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:

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

⁷ For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God, not selfwilled, not quick to anger, not given to wine, not violent, not given to filthy lucre;

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

⁹ holding 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.

¹⁰ For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the Circumcision,

¹¹ whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not for the sake of filthy lucre.

¹² One among themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, “The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slothful gluttons.”

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

¹⁴ not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.

¹⁵ Unto the pure, all things are pure; but unto those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

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

2 But speak thou the things which befit sound doctrine:

² that the older men be sober, serious, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience;

³ the older women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things,

⁴ that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

⁵ to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the Word of God be not blasphemed.

⁶ Likewise exhort the young men to be soberminded,

⁷ in all things showing thyself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing uncorruptness, seriousness, sincerity,

⁸ sound speech which cannot be condemned, that he that is of a contrary mind may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

⁹ Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things, not gainsaying,

¹⁰ not purloining, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

¹¹ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world,

¹³ looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ,

¹⁵ These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

3 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready for every good work,

² to speak evil of no man, not to be brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.

³ For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

⁴ But after the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared,

⁵ He saved us not by works of righteousness which we had done, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration, and by the renewing of the Holy Ghost,

⁶ which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

⁷ that, being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

⁸ This is a faithful saying, and these things I enjoin that thou affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

⁹ But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain.

¹⁰ If a man is a heretic, after the first and second admonition reject him,

¹¹ knowing that such as he is subverted and sinneth, being condemned by himself.

¹² When I send Artemas unto thee or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me in Nicopolis, for I have determined to winter there.

¹³ Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.

¹⁴ And let our own also learn to perform good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

¹⁵ All that are with me salute thee. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.