1Sha’ul, a servant of Elohim and an emissary of יהושע Messiah, according to the belief of Elohim’s chosen ones and knowledge of the truth according to reverence,

2in expectation of everlasting life which Elohim, who does not lie, promised before times of old,

3but in its own times has manifested His word through preaching, with which I was entrusted according to the command of Elohim our Saviour,

4to Titus, a genuine child according to our common belief: Favour, compassion, peace from Elohim the Father and the Master יהושע Messiah our Saviour.

5The reason I left you in Crete was that you should straighten out what was left undone, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you:

6if anyone is unreprovable, the husband of one wife, having believing children not accused of loose behaviour, or unruly.

7For an overseer has to be unreprovable, as a managing one of Elohim, not self-pleasing, not wroth, not given to wine, no brawler, not greedy for filthy gain,

8but kind to strangers, a lover of what is good, sensible, righteous, set-apart, self-controlled,

9clinging to the trustworthy word, according to the teaching, in order to be able both to encourage by sound teaching, and to reprovea those who oppose it.

10For there are many unruly men, senseless talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

11whose mouths have to be stopped, who upset entire households, teaching what they should not teach, for the sake of filthy gain.

12One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

13This witness is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, in order for them to be sound in the belief,

14not paying attention to Yehuḏite fables, and commands of men who turn from the truth.

15Indeed, all matters are clean to the clean, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving no matter is clean, but both their mind and conscience are defiled.

16They profess to know Elohim, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unfit for any good work.a