The Epistle of St Paul the Apostle
Unto Titus
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The 1st
Chapter
Paul the servant of God and an Apostle of *Jesu Christ, to
preach the faith of Gods elect, and the knowledge of that truth,
which is after godliness upon the hope of eternal life, which life
God that cannot lie has promised before the world began: but has
opened his word at the time appointed through preaching, which
preaching is committed unto me, by the commandment of God our
saviour. To Titus his natural son in the common faith.
Grace mercy and peace from God the father, and from the Lord
Jesu Christ our saviour.
For this cause left I you in Crete, that you should perform
that which was lacking, and should ordain elders in every city as I
appointed you. If any be faultless, the husband of one wife, having
faithful children, which are not *sclandered of riot, neither are disobedient. For
a bishop must be faultless, as it becomes the minister of God: not
stubborn, not angry, no drunkard, no fighter, not given to filthy
*lucre: but harbourous, one that loves goodness, sober minded,
righteous, holy, temperate, and such as cleaves unto the true word
of doctrine, that he may be able to exhort with wholesome learning,
and to improve them that say against it.
For there are many disobedient and talkers of vanity and
deceivers of minds, namely they of the circumcision, whose mouths
must be stopped, which pervert whole houses, teaching things which
they ought not because of filthy lucre. One being of themselves,
which was a poet of their own, said: The Cretans are always liars
evil beasts, and slow bellies. This witness is true, wherefore
rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith, and not
taking heed to Jewes fables and commandments of men that turn from
the truth. Unto the pure, are all things pure: but unto them that
are defiled and unbelieving, is nothing pure: but even the very
minds and consciences of them are defiled. They confess that they
know God: but with the deeds they deny him, and are abominable and
disobedient, and unto all good works *discommendable.
*Jesu: Hebrew
for Jesus. *sclandered (scandal and slander) *lucre (shameful gain):
*discommendable (not worthy).
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The 2nd
Chapter
But speak you that which becomes wholesome learning. That, that
the elder men be sober, honest, discreet, sound in the faith in love
and in patience. And the elder women likewise, that they be in such
raiment as becomes holiness, not false accusers, not given to much
drinking, but teachers of honest things, to make the young women
soberminded, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be
discreet, chaste, housewifely, good and obedient unto their own
husbands that the word of God be not evil spoken of. Young men
likewise exhort that they sober minded.
Above all things show yourself an example of good works with
uncorrupt doctrine with honesty, and with the wholesome word which
cannot be rebuked, that he which withstands, may be ashamed, having
nothing in you that he may dispraise. The servants exhort to be
obedient unto their own masters and to please in all things, not
answering again, neither be pickers, but that they show all good
faithfulness, that they may do worship to the doctrine of our
saviour God in all things. For the grace of God, that brings
salvation unto all men, has appeared and teaches us that we should
deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and that we should live sober
minded, righteously and godly in this present world, looking for
that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the mighty God, and of
our saviour Jesu Christ which gave himself for us, to redeem us from
all unrighteousness, and to purge us a peculiar people unto himself,
fervently given unto good works. These things speak, and exhort, and
rebuke, with all commanding. See that no man despise you.
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The 3rd
Chapter
Warn them that they submit themselves to rule and power, to
obey the officers, that they be ready unto all good works, that they
speak evil of no man, that they be no fighters, but soft, showing
all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were in times past,
unwise: disobedient, deceived, in danger to lusts, and to diverse
manners of *voluptuousness, living in maliciousness and envy, full
of hate, hating one another.*voluptuousness:
indecent pride
But after that the kindness and love of our saviour God to man
ward appeared, not of the deeds of righteousness which we wrought
but of his mercy he saved us, by the fountain of the new birth, and
with the renewing of the holy ghost, which he shed on us abundantly,
through Jesus Christ our saviour, that we once justified by his
grace, should be heirs of eternal life, through hope. This is a true
saying.
Of these things I would you should certify, that they which
believe God, might be diligent to go forward in good works. These
things are good and profitable unto men. Foolish questions, and
*genealogies and brawlings and strife about the law, avoid, for they
are unprofitable and *superfluous. A man that is given to heresy,
after the first and the second *admonition, avoid: remembering, that
he that is such, is perverted and sins, even damned by his own
judgement.
When I shall send Artemas unto you, or Tychicus, be diligent to
come to me unto Nicopolis. For I have determined there to winter.
Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that
nothing be lacking unto them. And let ours also learn to excel in
good works, as far forth as need requires, that they be not
unfruitful. All that are with me, salute you. Greet them that love
us in the faith. Grace be with you all: Amen.
Here ends the
epistle of saint Paul the Apostle unto Titus Written from Nicopolis
a city of Macedonia.
*voluptuousness: indecent
pride,lust of eye, lust of flesh and pride of goods. *genealogies
(family trees, ancestry) *superfluous (vain ganglings ) *admonition
(mild rebuke), |
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