Titus 1 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
Around AD 63 to 65, between Paul's Roman imprisonments and shortly before Nero's persecution
Location
Written to the island of Crete in the eastern Mediterranean, where congregations had formed in scattered towns
Audience
Titus, a Greek co-worker Paul left in charge on Crete, and through him the young churches there
Situation
Paul reminds Titus why he was left on Crete, which was to finish organizing the congregations and appoint elders town by town. He lists the character required of an elder and then warns about disruptive teachers, especially those pushing Jewish circumcision rules.
Key Background
Crete had a poor reputation across the Roman world for dishonesty, and the line Paul quotes about Cretans always lying was a well known saying attributed to the Cretan poet Epimenides, so Paul is using a stereotype his readers already knew. Appointing elders in every town reflects a normal pattern in the Greek world, where civic associations chose respected householders as officers, and household management was treated as evidence of fitness to lead. New congregations in this period met in homes without written manuals or resident apostles, so a trusted delegate travelling through to install local leadership was the practical solution.
From Paul, a of God and an of Jesus the sent to strengthen the of those God has chosen and to deepen their understanding of the truth that leads to a
rooted in the hope of that God — who — promised before time even began,
and at just the right time, he the through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our
To Titus, my in the trust we share: and to you from God the Father and the One, Jesus, our Rescuer.
I left you in to finish organizing what still needed to be done and to appoint for the in every town, just as I directed you.
A leader must be someone whose life is — to with children who trust God and aren't known for being out of control or rebellious.
Because an manages his life must be above criticism. He can't be arrogant, short-tempered, a heavy drinker, violent, or greedy for money.
Instead, he should be to passionate about what is good, fair, to and disciplined.
He must hold firmly to the as it was taught, so that he can both encourage others with and expose those who argue against it.
Because there are many people who are full of empty talk and deception — especially those from a —
and they need to be because they're by teaching things they shouldn't — all for the sake of dishonest profit.
One of their own said it: "People from Crete are always liars, vicious animals, and lazy gluttons."
This assessment is accurate. So correct them sharply, so that they become in their
instead of paying attention to and the of people who have turned away from the truth.
To those who are on the inside, everything is But to those who are and refuse to trust, nothing is — even their minds and are contaminated.
They claim to know God, but their actions completely contradict it. They are disobedient, and for