Titus 1

1 Paul [a bondservant, servant of God], a servant of God [the one true deity] and an apostle [messenger, delegate] of Jesus Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] for the faith [trust, confidence] of God’s elect [chosen ones, select] and their knowledge [deep understanding, recognition] of the truth [reality, sincerity] that leads to godliness [piety, reverence for God], word study 2 in the hope [expectation, trusting in God’s goodness] of eternal [lasting forever, without end] life [physical and spiritual existence], which God [the one true deity, who is ever truthful], who cannot lie [is absolutely truthful, faithful], promised [declared, announced] before [prior to, preceding] time [ages, eternity] began [existed, came into being]. word study 3 In His own time [at the proper moment, in due seasons] He has made His word [the divine message, Logos] evident [manifest, revealed] in the proclamation [preaching, message] entrusted to me by the command [charge, decree] of God [the Savior, our Deliverer] our Savior [Rescuer, Redeemer]. word study 4 To Titus, my true [genuine, born of God] child [son, disciple] in our common [shared, mutual] faith [trust, confidence in God]: Grace [unmerited favor, divine kindness] and peace [harmony, inner calm] from God [Creator] the Father and Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] Jesus our Savior [Deliverer, Redeemer]. word study 5 The reason [because of, on account of] I left [abandoned, had remaining] you in Crete [an island in the Mediterranean] was that you would set in order [straighten out, arrange] what was unfinished [lacking, wanting] and appoint [conduct, establish] elders [respected leaders, older persons] in every town [city, community], as I directed [gave orders to, commanded] you. word study 6 An elder [a spiritual leader, pastor] must be blameless [irreproachable, without reproach], the husband of but one wife [faithful to one spouse], having children [sons and daughters] who are believers [faithful, trusting in God] and who are not open to accusation [not guilty, without charge] of indiscretion [debauchery, reckless behavior] or insubordination [disobedience, unruly conduct]. word study 7 As God’s [the supreme Creator, Elohim] steward, an overseer [bishop, church leader] must be above reproach [blameless, irreproachable]—not [absolutely not] self-absorbed [self-willed, arrogant], not [certainly not] quick-tempered [easily angered, irascible], not [by no means] given to drunkenness [addicted to wine, a heavy drinker], not [never] violent [a bully, a striker], not [in no way] greedy for money [motivated by filthy lucre, a lover of dishonest gain]. word study 8 Instead, he must be [given to, a lover of] hospitable [welcoming to guests], a lover [devoted to, promoting] of good [virtue, righteousness], self-controlled [sober-minded], upright [just, fair, and innocent], holy [sacred, pure, and holy], and [temperate, having self-mastery] disciplined. word study 9 He must hold firmly [cling to, be devoted to] to the faithful [trustworthy, reliable] word [message, doctrine] as it was taught [according to the teaching, in line with sound doctrine], so that he can encourage [exhort, comfort] others by sound [healthy, uncorrupt] teaching [instruction, doctrine] and refute [rebuke, correct] those who contradict [dispute, argue against] it. word study 10 For many [there are numerous, a large number] are rebellious [insubordinate, disobedient] and full of empty [vain, meaningless] talk [idle chatter, babbling] and deception [falsehood, misleading], especially [mostly, particularly] those of the circumcision [Jewish believers, the circumcised], word study 11 who must be silenced [stopped from speaking, restrained]. For the sake of [because of, on account of] dishonorable [shameful, base] gain [profit, advantage], they undermine [subvert, overthrow] entire [whole, complete] households [homes, families] and teach [instruct, proclaim] things they should not [ought not, are not supposed to]. word study 12 As one [a certain prophet] of their own [private, personal] prophets has said, “Cretans [natives of the island of Crete] are always [continually, forever] liars [intentional deceivers], evil [worthless, harmful] beasts [wild, dangerous animals], lazy [idle, inactive] gluttons [excessive eaters].” word study 13 This testimony [witness, evidence] is true [genuine, authentic]. Therefore rebuke [convict, correct sharply] them sternly [severely, abruptly], so that they will be sound [healthy, uncorrupt] in the faith [trust, confidence in God] word study 14 and will pay no attention [give no heed, turn a deaf ear] to Jewish [customs and traditions of the Jewish people] myths [fables, fictional stories] or to the commands [instructions, divine orders] of men [human beings, people] who have rejected [turned away from, deviated from] the truth [reality, authenticity]. word study 15 To the pure [clean in heart, having a right spirit], all things [every matter, every circumstance] are pure [clean, undefiled]; but to the defiled [morally polluted, stained] and unbelieving [without faith, lacking trust], nothing [no thing, not a single thing] is pure [clean, acceptable]. Indeed, both their minds [intellect, understanding] and their consciences [moral awareness, inner guide] are defiled [made unclean, corrupted]. word study 16 They profess [claim, say they have knowledge of] to know God [the one true deity], but by their actions [works, deeds] they deny [reject, refuse to acknowledge] Him. They are detestable [abominable, hated by all], disobedient [unwilling to obey, unpersuadable], and unfit [worthless, reprobate] for any good [beneficial, righteous] deed [work, act]. word study