Salutation

11 Paul, bondman of God, and apostle of Jesus Christ according to [the] faith of God's elect, and knowledge of [the] truth which [is] according to piety; 2 in [the] hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the ages of time, 3 but has manifested in its own due season his word, in [the] proclamation with which I have been entrusted, according to [the] commandment of our Saviour God; 4 to Titus, my own child according to [the] faith common [to us]: Grace and peace from God [the] Father, and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

Qualifications of Elders and Bishops

5 For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou mightest go on to set right what remained [unordered], and establish elders in each city, as I had ordered thee:

6 if any one be free from all charge [against him], husband of one wife, having believing children not accused of excess or unruly. 7 For the overseer must be free from all charge [against him] as God's steward; not headstrong, not passionate, not disorderly through wine, not a striker, not seeking gain by base means; 8 but hospitable, a lover of goodness, discreet, just, pious, temperate, 9 clinging to the faithful word according to the doctrine taught, that he may be able both to encourage with sound teaching and refute gainsayers. 10 For there are many and disorderly vain speakers and deceivers of people's minds, specially those of [the] circumcision, 11 who must have their mouths stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which ought not [to be taught] for the sake of base gain. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, has said, Cretans are always liars, evil wild beasts, lazy gluttons. 13 This testimony is true; for which cause rebuke them severely, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not turning [their] minds to Jewish fables and commandments of men turning away from the truth. 15 All things [are] pure to the pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving nothing [is] pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but in works deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and found worthless as to every good work.

The Teaching of Sound Doctrine

21 But do thou speak the things that become sound teaching; 2 that the elder men be sober, grave, discreet, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3 that the elder women in like manner be in deportment as becoming those who have to say to sacred things, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of what is right; 4 that they may admonish the young women to be attached to [their] husbands, to be attached to [their] children, 5 discreet, chaste, diligent in home work, good, subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be evil spoken of. 6 The younger men in like manner exhort to be discreet: 7 in all things affording thyself as a pattern of good works; in teaching uncorruptedness, gravity, 8 a sound word, not to be condemned; that he who is opposed may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us: 9 bondmen to be subject to their own masters, to make themselves acceptable in everything; not gainsaying; 10 not robbing [their masters], but shewing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the teaching which [is] of our Saviour God in all things.

11 For the grace of God which carries with it salvation for all men has appeared, 12 teaching us that, having denied impiety and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, and justly, and piously in the present course of things, 13 awaiting the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works.

15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise thee.

Be Careful to Maintain Good Works

31 Put them in mind to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient to rule, to be ready to do every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, [to be] mild, shewing all meekness towards all men. 3 For we were once ourselves also without intelligence, disobedient, wandering in error, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love to man of our Saviour God appeared, 5 not on the principle of works which [have been done] in righteousness which we had done, but according to his own mercy he saved us through [the] washing of regeneration and renewal of [the] Holy Spirit, 6 which he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 that, having been justified by his grace, we should become heirs according to [the] hope of eternal life. 8 The word [is] faithful, and I desire that thou insist strenuously on these things, that they who have believed God may take care to pay diligent attention to good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

9 But foolish questions, and genealogies, and strifes, and contentions about the law, shun; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 An heretical man after a first and second admonition have done with, 11 knowing that such a one is perverted, and sins, being self-condemned.

Personal Instructions

12 When I shall send Artemas to thee, or Tychicus, use diligence to come to me to Nicopolis; for I have decided to winter there. 13 Zenas the lawyer and Apollos set forward diligently on their way, that nothing may be lacking to them; 14 and let ours also learn to apply themselves to good works for necessary wants, that they may not be unfruitful.

Benediction

15 All with me salute thee. Salute those who love us in [the] faith. Grace [be] with you all.

Salutation

11 Paul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon the beloved and our fellow-workman, 2 and to the sister Apphia and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the assembly which [is] in thine house. 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and [the] Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon's Love and Faith

4 I thank my God, always making mention of thee at my prayers, 5 hearing of thy love and the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints, 6 in such sort that thy participation in the faith should become operative in the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in us towards Christ [Jesus]. 7 For we have great thankfulness and encouragement through thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

Paul Pleads for Onesimus

8 Wherefore having much boldness in Christ to enjoin thee what is fitting, 9 for love's sake I rather exhort, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10 I exhort thee for my child, whom I have begotten in [my] bonds, Onesimus, 11 once unserviceable to thee, but now serviceable to thee and to me: 12 whom I have sent back to thee: [but do thou receive] him, that is, my bowels: 13 whom I was desirous of keeping with myself, that for thee he might minister to me in the bonds of the glad tidings; 14 but I have wished to do nothing without thy mind, that thy good might not be as of necessity but of willingness: 15 for perhaps for this reason he has been separated [from thee] for a time, that thou mightest possess him fully for ever; 16 not any longer as a bondman, but above a bondman, a beloved brother, specially to me, and how much rather to thee, both in [the] flesh and in [the] Lord? 17 If therefore thou holdest me to be a partner [with thee], receive him as me; 18 but if he have wronged thee anything or owe anything [to thee], put this to my account. 19 I Paul have written [it] with mine own hand; I will repay [it]: that I say not to thee that thou owest even thine own self also to me. 20 Yea, brother, I would have profit of thee in [the] Lord: refresh my bowels in Christ. 21 Being confident of thine obedience, I have written to thee, knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say. 22 But withal prepare me also a lodging; for I hope that I shall be granted to you through your prayers.

Final Greetings

23 Epaphras salutes thee, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus; 24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workmen. 25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit.