The first Chapter.
Paul the servant of God and an Apostle of Iesu Christ, to preach the
faith of God's elect, and the knowledge of that truth, which truth is
in serving God in hope of eternal life, which life God cannot lie, hath
promissed before the world began: but hath at the time appointed opened
his word by preaching, which preaching is committed unto me, by the
commandment of God our saviour.
To Titus his natural son in the common faith.
Grace mercy and peace from God the father, and from the lord Iesu
Christ our saviour.
For this cause left I thee in Creta, that thou shouldest perform that
which was lacking and shouldest ordain seniors in every city as I
appointed thee. If any be such as no man can complain on, the husband
of one wife, having faithful children, which are not sclandred of riot,
neither are disobedient. For a bishop must be such as no man can
complain on, as it be cometh the minister of God not stubborn, not
angry, no drunkard, no fighter, not given to filthy lucre: but
harbourous, one that loveth goodness, of honest behavior, righteous,
holy temperate, and such as cleaveth unto the true word of doctrine,
that he may be able to exhort with wholesome learning, and to improve
them that say against it.
For there are many disobedient and talkers of vanity, and deceivers of
minds, namely they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped,
which pervert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not,
because of filthy lucre. One being of themselves, which was a poet of
their own said: The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and
slowbellies. This witness is true, wherefore rebuke them sharply, that
they may be sound in the faith, and not taking heed to jewes fables,
and commandments of men, which turn from the truth. Unto the pure, are
all things pure: but unto them that are defiled, and unbelieving, is
nothing pure: but even the very minds and consciences of them are
defiled. They confess that they know God: but with deeds they deny him
and are abominable, and disobedient, and unto all good works
discommendable.
The .ij. Chapter.
But speak thou that which becometh wholesome learning: That the elder
men be sober, honest, discreet, sound in the faith, in love and in
patience. And the elder women likewise that they be in such raiment, as
becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much drinking, but
teachers of honest things, that they nurture the young women to love
their husbands, to love their children, to be of honest behaviour,
chaste, housewifely, good, and obedient unto their own husbands, that
the word of God be not evil spoken of. Young men likewise exhort that
they be of honest manners.
Above all things shew thyself an ensample of good works in the
doctrine, shew uncorruption, honesty, and the wholesome word which
cannot be rebuked, that he which withstandeth may be ashamed, having no
thing in you that he may dispraise. The servants exhort to be obedient
unto their own masters, and to please in all things, not answering
again, neither be pickers, but that they shew all good faithfulness,
that they may do worship to the doctrine of God our saviour in all
things. For the grace of God, that bringeth health unto all men, hath
appeared and teacheth us that we should deny ungodliness and worldly
lusts, and that we should live honestly, righteously, and godly in this
present world, looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of
the mighty God, and of our saviour Iesu Christ: which gave himself for
us, to redeem us from all unrighteousness, and to purge us a peculiar
people unto himself, fervently given unto good works. These things
speak, and exhort, and rebuke, with all commanding. See that no man
despise thee.
The .iij. Chapter.
Warn them that they submit themselves to rule and power, to obey the
officers, that they be prompt unto all good works, that they speak evil
of no man, that they be no fighters, but soft, shewing all meekness
unto all men. For we ourselves also were in times past, unwise,
disobedient, deceived, in danger to lusts, and to divers manners of
voluptuousness, living in maliciousness and envy, full of hate, hating
one another.
But after that the kindness and love of our saviour to manward
appeared, not of the deeds of righteousness which we wrought, but of
his mercy, he saved us, by the fountain of the new birth, and with the
renewing of the holy ghost, which he shed on us abundantly, thorow
Iesus Christ our saviour, that we once justified by his grace, should
be heirs of eternal life, thorow hope. This is a true saying.
Of these things I would thou shouldest certify, that they which believe
God, might be studious to go forward in good works. These things are
good and profitable unto men. Foolish questions, and genealogies, and
brawlings and strife about the law avoid, for they are unprofitable,
and superfluous. A man that is the actor {aucthor} of sects, after the
first and the second admonition avoid, remembering that he that is
such, is perverted, and sinneth, even damned by his own judgement.
When I shall send Artemas unto thee or Tichicus be diligent to come to
me unto Nichopolis. For I have determined there to winter. Bring Zenas
the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be
lacking unto them. And let ours also learn to excel in good works as
far forth as need requireth, that they be not unfruitful. All that are
with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be
with you all, Amen.
Written from Nichopolis a citie of Macedonia.