Titus

Agreeing with God

_dwm

Titus 1

Greetings

¹Thank You for Paul, Your servant, O God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of Your Christians, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, ²in hope of eternal life, which You, my God, Who can not lie, promised before time began.

³Thank You that in Your own time You revealed Your word in the message with which Paul was entrusted according to Your commandment, O God our Savior. ⁴Thank You that Paul wrote to Titus, his true child according to a common faith. Thank You that grace, mercy, and peace was sent to Titus (and to me) from You, God my Father, and from my Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

Elders, Overseers, Bishops

⁵I understand that Paul left Titus in Crete for this reason, that he would set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as he had directed Titus. ⁶I agree that an elder is to be blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior. ⁷I affirm that  the overseer must be blameless, as Your steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain; ⁸but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled; ⁹holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to stand up to those who contradict him.

False Teachers

¹⁰For as in Paul’s time so also in mine, there are many unruly people, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹whose mouths must be stopped; people who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain’s sake.

¹²I understand that one of them, a Cretan prophet said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons.” ¹³This testimony is true. For this cause, Titus was to reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, ¹⁴not paying attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

¹⁵I agree that to the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. ¹⁶They profess that they know You, O God, but by their works they deny You, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

Titus 2

Living in Christ

¹But I agree with Paul about the things which fit sound doctrine, ²that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in patience: ³and that older women, likewise, be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good; ⁴that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that Your word may not be blasphemed.

⁶Likewise, I agree that the younger men are to be sober minded; ⁷in all things showing themselves as examples of good works; in their teaching showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility, ⁸and soundness of speech that can not be condemned. I want anyone who opposes them to be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about them.

⁹I also agree that servants be in subjection to our own masters, and to be well-pleasing in all things; not contradicting; ¹⁰not stealing, but showing all good loyalty; that we may adorn Your doctrine, O God our Savior, in all things.

Grace

¹¹For I know, Father, that Your grace has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, ¹²instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; ¹³looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; ¹⁴Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works. ¹⁵I agree to say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. I choose to not let anyone despise me.

 

Titus 3

¹Remind me, Father, to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, ²to speak evil of no one, to not be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all people.

Your Mercy

³For I was also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating others. ⁴But when Your kindness, O God my Savior, and Your love toward mankind appeared, ⁵not by works of righteousness, which I did myself, but according to Your mercy, You saved me, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, ⁶Whom You poured out on me richly, through Jesus Christ my Savior; ⁷that, being justified by Your grace, I might be made an heir according to the hope of eternal life.

Living in Christ

⁸I agree that this teaching is faithful, and concerning these things Paul desired that I affirm confidently, so that I may believed You and may be careful to maintain good works. I agree that these things are good and profitable to people; ⁹that we shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. ¹⁰I choose to avoid a divisive person after a first and second warning; ¹¹knowing that such a one is perverted, and sins, being self-condemned.

Paul

¹²When Paul send Artemas or Tychicus to Titus, he wanted Titus to be diligent to come to him to Nicopolis, for Paul had determined to winter there. ¹³He wanted Titus to send Zenas, the lawyer, and Apollos on their journey speedily, seeing that they had everything that they needed. ¹⁴I agree that as Christian people we must also learn to help those who need our help, that we may lead fruitful lives.

Greetings

¹⁵All those who were with Paul greeted the Cretan Christians. Paul greeted those who loved them in faith (which includes me.) Grace is with us all. Amen.