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 ² in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, ³ and at the proper time manifested in his word[c] through the preaching with which I have been entrusted 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. 5 ⁵ The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint 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 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 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. ⁹ But avoid foolish debates and genealogies and strife and conflict about the law. Those things are unprofitable and worthless. 10 ¹⁰ Reject anyone who is causing divisions among you, after one or two warnings, 11 ¹¹ knowing that such a person has turned from the right way and is sinning and condemns himself. ¹² One of the Cretans,[i] a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”[j] 13 ¹³ This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, ¹⁴ Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives ¹⁵ Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.