Titus 1

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,

in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began

and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—

if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,

but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.

They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.

One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.

To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

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Titus 1:13

“This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,”

This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith — Paul affirms the Epimenides quotation as true (alēthēs), applying it to the false teachers; the Cretans' reputation for mendacity characterizes those spreading false doctrine. Sharp rebuke (elegche apostomōs) employs the toughest corrective available; the goal remains soteriological — restored soundness (hygiainein) in faith. Discipline serves redemption, not punishment.

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Elena Petrova93d ago

NoteLessons in obedience - Titus 1

God is faithful in every circumstance. The imagery here is agricultural - the original audience would have immediately understood the metaphor of sowing, waiting, and harvesting. God is faithful in every circumstance. The early church would have heard this very differently than we do today. God is faithful in every circumstance. This is one of those passages that reads differently in every season of life. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing - both the anguish and the hope. God is faithful in every circumstance. We bring nothing; He provides everything. God is faithful in every circumstance. God is faithful in every circumstance. We bring nothing; He provides everything. The contrast between human weakness and divine strength is so vivid in this passage. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. The early church would have heard this very differently than…

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Titus 1:13

“This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,”

Community Reflections

Elena Petrova93d ago

NoteLessons in obedience - Titus 1

Read the note →

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