Bible (American Standard)/Titus

The Epistle of Paul to Titus
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==Chapter 1==
 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ,
according to the faith of God's elect, and the knowledge of the
truth which is according to godliness, 
 in hope of eternal
life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal;
 but in his own seasons manifested his word in the message,
wherewith I was entrusted according to the commandment of God
our Saviour; 
 to Titus, my true child after a common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our
Saviour. 
 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou
shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint
elders in every city, as I gave thee charge; 
 if any man is
blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that
believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly. 
 For the
bishop must be blameless, as God's steward; not self-willed, not
soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;
 but given to hospitality, as lover of good, sober-minded,
just, holy, self-controlled; 
 holding to the faithful word
which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to
exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.
 For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and
deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, 
 whose
mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching
things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 
 One
of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always
liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons. 
 This testimony is
true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be
sound in the faith, 
 not giving heed to Jewish fables, and
commandments of men who turn away from the truth. 
 To the
pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and
unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their
conscience are defiled. 
 They profess that they know God;
but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and
disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
==Chapter 2==
 But speak thou the things which befit the sound
doctrine: 
 that aged men be temperate, grave, sober-minded,
sound in faith, in love, in patience: 
 that aged women
likewise be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers nor enslaved to
much wine, teachers of that which is good; 
 that they may
train the young women to love their husbands, to love their
children, 
 [to be] sober-minded, chaste, workers at home,
kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word
of God be not blasphemed: 
 the younger men likewise exhort
to be sober-minded: 
 in all things showing thyself an
ensample of good works; in thy doctrine [showing] uncorruptness,
gravity, 
 sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he
that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil
thing to say of us. 
 [Exhort] servants to be in subjection
to their own masters, [and] to be well-pleasing [to them] in all
things; not gainsaying; 
 not purloining, but showing all
good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our
Saviour in all things. 
 For the grace of God hath
appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 
 instructing us,
to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present
world; 
 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the
glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 
 who
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity,
and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous
of good works. 
 These things speak and exhort and reprove
with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
==Chapter 3==
 Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to
authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work,
 to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be
gentle, showing all meekness toward all men. 
 For we also
once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts
and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one
another. 
 But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and his
love toward man, appeared, 
 not by works [done] in
righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his
mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and
renewing of the Holy Spirit, 
 which he poured out upon us
richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 
 that, being
justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the
hope of eternal life. 
 Faithful is the saying, and
concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently,
to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to
maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto
men: 
 but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and
strifes, and fightings about law; for they are unprofitable and
vain. 
 A factious man after a first and second admonition
refuse; 
 knowing that such a one is perverted, and
sinneth, being self-condemned. 
 When I shall send Artemas
unto thee, or Tychicus, give diligence to come unto me to
Nicopolis: for there I have determined to winter. 
 Set
forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey
diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them. 
 And let
our [people] also learn to maintain good works for necessary
uses, that they be not unfruitful. 
 All that are with me
salute thee. Salute them that love us in faith. Grace be with
you all.