About This Book
Titus provides instruction for establishing church leadership and promoting sound doctrine in Crete, where Paul left Titus to set things in order. Paul, a servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and knowledge of truth which accords with godliness, writes to Titus, his true child in a common faith. Paul left Titus in Crete to put what remained into order and appoint elders in every town as Paul directed. An elder must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, with believing children not accused of debauchery or insubordination.
As God's steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not arrogant, quick-tempered, a drunkard, violent, or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so he may give instruction in sound doctrine and rebuke those who contradict it. There are many rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers, especially among the circumcision party, who must be silenced since they're upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.
This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and commands of people who reject the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; their minds and consciences are defiled. They profess to know God but deny Him by their works, being detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men should be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and steadfastness. Older women likewise should be reverent, not slanderers, not slaves to wine, teaching what is good, training young women to love husbands and children, be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, submissive to husbands, that God's word may not be reviled. Young men should be self-controlled.
Show yourself a model of good works with integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned. Bondservants should be submissive to masters, giving satisfaction, not talking back, not pilfering, but showing all good faith to adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training believers to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and live self-controlled, upright, godly lives, waiting for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ who gave Himself to redeem believers from all lawlessness and purify for Himself a people for His own possession zealous for good works. When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved believers not because of works done in righteousness but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit whom He poured out richly through Jesus Christ so that being justified by His grace they might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law which are unprofitable and worthless. After a first and second warning, have nothing more to do with a person who is divisive.