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THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO
TITUS.
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CHAPTER 1.
AUL, 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;
"Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures
(Rom., 1:2)."
3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching,
which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God
our Saviour;
"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who hath
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abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through
the gospel (II. Tim., 1:9, 10)."
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.
"That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith
both of you and me (Rom., 1:12)."
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:
"And the rest will I set in order when I come (I. Cor., 11:34)."
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful
children not accused of riot or unruly.
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;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just,
holy, temperate;
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.
"This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop,
he desireth a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant,
sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient,
not a brawler, not covetous;
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection
with all gravity;
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take
care of the church of God?)
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the
condemnation of the devil.
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he
fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued,
not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a
deacon, being found blameless (I. Tim., 3:1-10)."
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers,
specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses,
teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said,
The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that
they may be sound in the faith;
"Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I
should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given
me to edification, and not to destruction (II. Cor., 13:10)."
14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men,
that turn from the truth.
"But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase
unto more ungodliness (II. Tim., 2:16)."
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.
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God
(Matt., 5:8)."
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny
him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good
work reprobate.
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such
turn away (II. Tim., 3:5)."
CHAPTER 2.
UT speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his
kingdom;
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke,
exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine (II. Tim., 4:1, 2)."
2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith,
in charity, in patience.
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
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home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not
blasphemed.
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,
"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers,
in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity
(I. Tim., 4:12)."
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.
"This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me
with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men (Matt., 15:8, 9)."
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.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matt., 5:16)."
"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without
rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye
shine as lights in the world (Phil., 2:15)."
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared
to all men,
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through him might be saved (Jno., 3:17)."
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present
world;
"It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God.
Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father,
cometh unto me (Jno., 6:45)."
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of
the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first (I. Thess., 4:16)."
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.
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them
(Eph., 2:10)."
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all
authority. Let no man despise thee.
CHAPTER 3.
UT them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey
magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no
power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God
(Ro., 13:1)."
2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle,
shewing all meekness unto all men.
"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil
speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (Eph., 4:31, 32)."
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.
"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified,
but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit
of our God (I. Cor., 6:11)."
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward
man appeared,
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men
(Titus 2:11)."
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 Spirit;
"And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have
followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the
throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the
twelve tribes of Israel (Matt., 19:28)."
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto
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thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God (Jno., 3:5)."
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so
we also should walk in newness of life (Rom., 6:4)."
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Saviour;
"And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace
(Jno., 1:16)."
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life.
"Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith
only (Jas., 2:24)."
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.
9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions,
and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second
admonition reject;
"This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth
of two or three witnesses shall every word be established
(II. Cor., 13:1)."
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth,
being condemned of himself.
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.
13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey
diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.
14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary
uses, that they be not unfruitful.
15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in
the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
¶ It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church
of the Cretians, from
Nicopolis of Macedonia.
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