✧1Paul, 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 after godliness; ✧2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; ✧3But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; ✧4To Titus, [mine] own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. ✧5For this cause left I 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: ✧6If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. ✧7For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
King James Version (KJV). King James Version (1769 text). Public domain outside the United Kingdom.
✧8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
✧9Holding 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.
✧10For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
✧11Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
✧12One of themselves, [even] a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians [are] alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
✧13This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
✧14Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
✧15Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
✧16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.