THE

EPISTLE TO TITUS.

It is not known where the Apostle Paul was when he wrote this Epistle.

It is supposed to have been written in the year of our Lord 64. Titus was the messenger of Paul to the Corinthians, both with the first and second Epistle, and the frequent companion of his ministry.

It contains three chapters.

CHAP. I.

1 PAUL, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of all those chosen of God from the beginning of the world, and the acknowledging of that truth which is according to godliness;

2 A servant of God for the promulgation of that hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised to his Son Jesus Christ before [or to Adam when] the world began ;

3 But hath now, in the proper season, shewn forth by his word, through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour.

4 I Paul, write to Titus, my own son, after the common faith, [having been the means of his conversion,] grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

5 For this cause left I thee at Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting [left undone], and, by thy episcopal office, ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed [directed] thee;

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 self-willed, 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.

10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially the conceited Jews:

11 Whose mouths must be stopped [by the plain and true word of God condemning their practices]; who subvert whole houses [families], teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

12 One of their own writers [supposed the poet

Epimenides] said of them in the spirit of prophecy, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts [dangerous wicked men, with brutal dispositions], slow bellies [slothful, intemperate].

13 This witness is true; wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be brought back to the sound doctrine [the true faith].

14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables [genealogies, superstitions,] and the commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

15 Unto the pure [those really in the faith of Jesus Christ] all things are pure and lawful, but unto them that are defiled [worldly, giving heed to superstitions rather than the truth,] and to unbelievers, nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

CHAP. II.

1 BUT, son Titus, speak thou the things which become sound doctrine;

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 home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed, through the lives of those who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ.

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;

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.

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.

11 For the grace of God [the gospel of Jesus Christ,] that bringeth salvation, hath appeared unto all men.

12 Teaching us that denying [mortifying, forsaking] ungodliness and worldly lusts, we who have received the truth, should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world ;

13 Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God our Saviour Jesus Christ:

14 Who for our sakes became man [gave himself for us, a sacrifice,] that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

15 These things speak [preach] and exhort, and

rebuke the gainsayers with all authority, holding thyself so pure, and delivering such sound doctrine, that no man may despise thee.

CHAP. III.

1 PUT thy hearers in mind to be subject to all constituted authority, to obey magistrates, and to be ready for the performance of every good work,

2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.

3 For we ourselves were in time past [before our conversion,] foolish, disobedient, deceived by the world and the devil, slaves to divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful to God, and hating one another.

4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

5 Not that we had done any thing to deserve his goodness, but according to his free gift of mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration [the outward and visible sign of baptism,] and by the renewing [continual refreshment] of the Holy Ghost:

6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God [have been converted to Christianity,] should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.