[Faith-talk] The Book of Titus (All 3 Chapters)

[Everett Gavel]

Titus - Chapters 1-3
New International Version (NIV)

Titus 1

1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ 
for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the 
truth that leads to godliness-- 
2 a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal 
life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the 
beginning of time,
3 and at his appointed season he brought his word to 
light through the preaching entrusted to me 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.

Titus' Task on Crete

5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might 
straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint[a] 
elders in every town, as I directed you.
6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one 
wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to 
the charge of being wild and disobedient.
7 Since an overseer[b] is entrusted with God's work, he 
must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick-tempered, 
not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing 
dishonest gain.
8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is 
good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and 
disciplined.
9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it 
has been taught, so that he can encourage others by 
sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers 
and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision 
group.
11 They must be silenced, because they are ruining 
whole households by teaching things they ought not to 
teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
12 Even one of their own prophets has said, "Cretans 
are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons."
13 This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them 
sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith
14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the 
commands of those who reject the truth.
15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who 
are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In 
fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they 
deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit 
for doing anything good.

Footnotes:
Titus 1:5 Or ordain
Titus 1:7 Traditionally bishop



Titus 2

What Must Be Taught to Various Groups

1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of 
respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love 
and in endurance.
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the 
way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much 
wine, but to teach what is good.
4 Then they can train the younger women to love their 
husbands and children,
5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, 
to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so 
that no one will malign the word of God.

6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be 
self-controlled.
7 In everything set them an example by doing what is 
good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness
8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so 
that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they 
have nothing bad to say about us.

9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in 
everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to 
them,
10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they 
can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will 
make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has 
appeared to all men.
12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly 
passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and 
godly lives in this present age,
13 while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious 
appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all 
wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are 
his very own, eager to do what is good.

15 These, then, are the things you should teach. 
Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let 
anyone despise you.



Titus 3

Doing What is Good

1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and 
authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever 
is good,
2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, 
and to show true humility toward all men.
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, 
deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and 
pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and 
hating one another.
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior 
appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had 
done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the 
washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus 
Christ our Savior,
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might 
become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to 
stress these things, so that those who have trusted in 
God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what 
is good. These things are excellent and profitable for 
everyone.

9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and 
arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are 
unprofitable and useless.
10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a 
second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.
11 You may be sure that such a man is warped and 
sinful; he is self-condemned.

Final Remarks

12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do 
your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have 
decided to winter there.
13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and 
Apollos on their way and see that they have everything 
they need.
14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing 
what is good, in order that they may provide for daily 
necessities and not live unproductive lives.
15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those 
who love us in the faith.
      Grace be with you all.


New International Version (NIV)
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