mt1=THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO TITUS p={c1}{v1}Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Christ Jesus, for the faith of God's elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, {v2}in hope of everlasting life, which God, who cannot lie, promised from the most ancient times, {v3}but in his own seasons manifested his word through the preaching with which I was intrusted by the commandment of God our Saviour: {v4}to Titus, true child after the common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour. {v5}For this cause I left thee behind in Crete, that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed thee; {v6}if any one is without reproach, the husband of one wife, having believing children, that are not accused of dissoluteness, or unruly. {v7}For a bishop must be without reproach, as God's steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, not a striker, not greedy of base gain, {v8}but hospitable, a lover of what is good, discreet, just, holy, temperate, {v9}holding fast the sure word according to what he was taught, that he may be able by sound teaching both to exhort, and to refute the gainsayers. {v10}For there are many unruly vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision; {v11}whose mouths must be stopped, since they overturn whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of base gain. {v12}One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said: “The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slothful gluttons.” {v13}This testimony is true; for which cause rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, {v14}not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. {v15}To the pure all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure, but both their mind and conscience are defiled. {v16}They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and for every good work reprobate. p={c2}{v1}But do thou speak the things which become sound teaching; {v2}that aged men be sober, grave, discreet, sound in faith, in love, in patience; {v3}that aged women likewise be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of what is good, {v4}that they may teach the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, {v5}to be discreet, chaste, workers at home, good, in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. {v6}The younger men likewise exhort to be sober-minded; {v7}in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works, in teaching showing uncorruptness, gravity, {v8}sound speech that cannot be condemned; that he that is opposed to us may be put to shame, having no evil thing to say of us. {v9}Exhort bond-servants to be in subjection to their own masters, in all things to be well-pleasing to them, {v10}not contradicting, not purloining, but showing all good faith; that they may adorn the teaching of God our Saviour in all things. {v11}For the grace of God, that bringeth salvation to all men, was manifested, {v12}teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in the present world; {v13}looking for the blessed hope, and appearing of the glory of the great God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ; {v14}who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a people to be his own, zealous in good works. {v15}These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise thee. p={c3}{v1}Put them in mind to submit themselves to governments, to authorities, to obey magistrates, to be ready for every good work, {v2}to speak evil of no one, to be averse to strife, forbearing, showing all meekness to all men. {v3}For we ourselves also were once foolish, disobedient, going astray, slaves to divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. {v4}But when the kindness and love for men of God our Saviour appeared, {v5}not by works of righteousness which we did, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the bath of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit, {v6}which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, {v7}that having been accepted as righteous by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of everlasting life. {v8}True is the saying; and these things I desire that thou affirm earnestly, that they who have believed in God may be careful to practise good works. These things are good and profitable to men; {v9}but avoid foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and contentions about the Law; for they are unprofitable and vain. {v10}A man that stirs up divisions, after a first and second admonition, avoid; {v11}knowing that he that is such is utterly perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned. {v12}When I shall have sent Artemas to thee, or Tychicus, use diligence to come to me to Nicopolis; for there I have determined to pass the winter. {v13}Zenas the lawyer and Apollos forward on their journey diligently, that nothing may be wanting to them. {v14}And let those also who belong to us learn to practise good works for the necessary wants that arise, that they may not be unfruitful. {v15}All that are with me salute thee. Salute those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.