1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of Gods elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness,
1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of Gods elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness--
2 in hope of eternal life which God, who never lies, promised ages ago
2 a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,
3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by command of God our Savior;
3 and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,
4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
5 This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you,
5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
6 if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of being profligate or insubordinate.
6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.
7 For a bishop, as Gods steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,
7 Since an overseer is entrusted with Gods work, he must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.
8 but hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself, upright, holy, and self-controlled;
8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.
9 he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it.
9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
10 For there are many insubordinate men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially the circumcision party;
10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group.
11 they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for base gain what they have no right to teach.
11 They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."
12 Even one of their own prophets has said, "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons."
13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
13 This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith
14 instead of giving heed to Jewish myths or to commands of men who reject the truth.
14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth.
15 To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are corrupted.
15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their deeds; they are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good deed.
16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.