The Book of
Titus is one of Paul's Epistles. Epistles are
letters Paul wrote to Christians in the early churches.
Titus was a Greek, and he was one of Paul's friends. Titus was
a Gentile (not-Jewish). Paul converted him, and he became a
Christian. After he became a Christian, he traveled with Paul. He
helped Paul spread the news about Jesus. Paul put Titus in
charge of some of the new churches. One of the new churches
was on the island of Crete.
The island of Crete was near
Greece. When this book of the Bible was written, Crete had a bad
reputation. The people in Crete were famous for telling lies
and having immoral behavior.
Paul wrote this letter to Titus
in about the year 63 AD. Paul was in the Greek city of
Nicopolis at this time. In his letter, Paul gives Titus advice on leading the church
in Crete.
Paul writes about how to choose leaders for the church. He
describes how they should and should not act.
Paul writes about how Christians should act.
Paul reminds Titus that
Jesus Christ makes us acceptable to God.
Paul writes that people need to do things that are useful and
worthwhile.
Titus 1 - 3 Jesus saved us, so we should behave well.
God's grace is for everyone. Paul tells
Titus how different groups of people should act.
Titus 1
Paul tells
Titus how different groups of people should act.
This letter is from Paul, a servant of
God and a follower of Jesus Christ.We have faith in God and know the truth. We
know we will have eternal life. God promised that before the world began, and
God cannot lie. God's word is seen on earth through people who preach. God has
commanded me to preach His word.
[1] Paul, 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; [2] In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie,
promised before the world began; [3] But hath in due times manifested
his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the
commandment of God our Saviour; This letter is to Titus. You are like my own son
in our faith in Jesus. I send you grace, mercy, and peace from God the
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. [4] To Titus, mine own son after the
common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ our Saviour. I left you in Crete to take care of things in the
church. I gave you the job of finding leaders in each city. [5] For 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: Church leaders should be good men. They should be
married to one wife and have children who do not cause trouble. [6] If any be blameless, the husband of
one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. A bishop should be a
well-behaved servant of God. He should not be selfish, hot-tempered, drink
wine, love money, or act violently. [7]
For 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; He should welcome people to
his home, have good friends, stay sober, be fair, and be holy. [8]
But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; A bishop should
follow God's rules that he has been taught so that he will be able to talk to
other people about God. [9] Holding 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.
There are many bad people who lie. They
especially lie about the laws of circumcision. [10]
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the
circumcision:
They must be stopped. They tell people the wrong thing. They only love money. [11] Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole
houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
One of the bad
people themselves said, "The people who live on Crete are always liars, evil
beasts, and lazy." [12]
One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway
liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This person tells the truth about the people on Crete.
You should be strict on the people of Crete so their faith can grow. [13] This witness is true. Wherefore
rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Don't pay attention to Jewish
stories that are false or rules made by men who do not follow the truth. [14] Not
giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Everything is pure
and clean for people who have clean minds. Unbelievers do not have pure minds.
They think unclean thoughts. They say they know God, but their actions show
they don't. They do very bad things. They do not obey God. They hate good
things.
[15] Unto 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. [16] They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being
abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Titus 2
Tell people the
way they should act. [1] But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: Older men should
act serious. They should have strong faith. They should be patient, generous,
and stay sober. [2]
That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in
patience. Older
women should have holy behavior. They should not tell false stories or drink too
much wine. They should teach good things to the young women. They should stay
sober and love their husbands and their children. They should have discreet
behavior and take care of their homes. They should obey their husbands and keep
the word of God. [3] The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as
becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good
things; [4] That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love
their husbands, to love their children, [5] To be discreet, chaste,
keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be
not blasphemed. The young men should also be serious. They should
be good workers. They should be honest and sincere. They should say good words
so that no one can criticize them. They should behave well so that even their
enemies have nothing bad to say about them. [6] Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. [7]
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing
uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, [8] Sound speech, that cannot be
condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil
thing to say of you. Tell the workers to obey their bosses. They should do
what they are told to do. They should not talk back or steal anything. They
should be faithful. They should show everyone what it means to be a Christian at
all times.
[9] Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own
masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; [10]
Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine
of God our Saviour in all things.
God's grace is for everyone. God's grace is
sent so that everyone can be saved. [11] For the grace of God that
bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, It teaches us to reject sin
and lust. We should live good, godly, and seriously in our present world. [12] Teaching us that,
denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and
godly, in this present world; We should always look for the blessed hope when our
God and Saviour Jesus Christ comes back in glory. [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and
the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Jesus died so that
He could save us from all sin. We can be pure and be eager to do good
work. [14]
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify
unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus, say all of these things
with confidence. Correct others who are behaving badly. Earn everyone's respect. [15] These
things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise
thee.
Titus 3
Jesus saved us, and we should behave well.
Tell the people to obey the government
leaders. They should do good work. They should not say bad things about anyone.
They should not fight. They should be gentle and kind to everyone. [1] Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey
magistrates, to be ready to every good work, [2] To speak evil of no
man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. We were once
foolish and did not obey. We lied and did bad things. We were jealous and
hateful of others. [3]
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving
divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one
another. But
then, Jesus appeared. He was the kindness and love of God our Saviour. [4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour
toward man appeared, Jesus saved us with His mercy. He did not save
us because of good things we did. He cleaned us and saved us through the Holy
Spirit. [5] Not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Saviour; We are clean now because of His grace. Now, we belong
to Jesus and have hope for eternal life. [7] That being justified by his
grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
This will always be true. I will tell it
constantly. People who believe in God should always do good things and help
others. [8]
This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly,
that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.
These things are good and profitable unto men. Avoid trying to answer trick
questions. Don't argue about the law and family histories. This is not a good
use of time. [9] But avoid foolish
questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for
they are unprofitable and vain. If you try to witness to someone, and they reject
you once, then twice, you should reject them. [10] A man that is an heretick after
the first and second admonition reject; Their minds are nor right, and they are sinful. [11] Knowing that he that is
such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Final instructions and a
blessing.
I am
going to send Artemas or Tychicus to you. After they get there, try to meet
me here in Nicopolis. I am planning to stay here for the winter. [12] When
I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to
Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. Zenas the lawyer and Apollos
are getting ready to leave you. Help them so that they don't need anything. [13] Bring Zenas the
lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto
them. I hope
that our people there can continue to do good things. They should not waste
time. [14] And let ours also learn to maintain good works for
necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. Everyone who is here with me
says hello to you. Say hello to our followers there. I pray that God's
Grace will be with all of you. Amen. [15] All that are with me
salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
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