Holding to the Faithful Word

Paul writes to Titus, his true child according to a common faith. Paul describes himself as a servant of God, working in hope of eternal life, which God, who can't lie, promised before time began. In His own time God revealed His word in the message entrusted to Paul by the command of God our Savior.

Paul writes: I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking and appoint elders in every city. An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with children who believe. For the overseer must be blameless, as God's steward: not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain. Instead he must be given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, and self-controlled.

He must hold to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage with sound teaching and convict those who contradict it. Paul warns that there are many unruly talkers and deceivers, who upset whole households by teaching what they should not, for dishonest gain. Titus must correct them sharply, so they will be sound in the faith and not follow myths and human commands. Paul writes: To the pure, all things are pure. But those who do not believe are defiled in mind and conscience. They profess that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him.