rsv Titus:1-3 SEEK
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Paul ,
a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ ,
to further the faith of God '
s elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness ,
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in hope of eternal life which God ,
who never lies ,
promised ages ago
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and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by command of God our Savior ;
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To Titus ,
my true child in a common faith :
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior .
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This is why I left you in Crete ,
that you might amend what was defective ,
and appoint elders in every town as I directed you ,
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if any man is blameless ,
the husband of one wife ,
and his children are believers and not open to the charge of being profligate or insubordinate .
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For a bishop ,
as God '
s steward ,
must be blameless ;
he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain ,
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but hospitable ,
a lover of goodness ,
master of himself ,
upright ,
holy ,
and self-controlled ;
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he must hold firm to the sure word as taught ,
so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it .
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For there are many insubordinate men ,
empty talkers and deceivers ,
especially the circumcision party ;
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they must be silenced ,
since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for base gain what they have no right to teach .
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One of themselves ,
a prophet of their own ,
said , "
Cretans are always liars ,
evil beasts ,
lazy gluttons ."
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This testimony is true .
Therefore rebuke them sharply ,
that they may be sound in the faith ,
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instead of giving heed to Jewish myths or to commands of men who reject the truth .
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To the pure all things are pure ,
but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure ;
their very minds and consciences are corrupted .
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They profess to know God ,
but they deny him by their deeds ;
they are detestable ,
disobedient ,
unfit for any good deed .
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But as for you ,
teach what befits sound doctrine .
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Bid the older men be temperate ,
serious ,
sensible ,
sound in faith ,
in love ,
and in steadfastness .
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Bid the older women likewise to be reverent in behavior ,
not to be slanderers or slaves to drink ;
they are to teach what is good ,
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and so train the young women to love their husbands and children ,
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to be sensible ,
chaste ,
domestic ,
kind ,
and submissive to their husbands ,
that the word of God may not be discredited .
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Likewise urge the younger men to control themselves .
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Show yourself in all respects a model of good deeds ,
and in your teaching show integrity ,
gravity ,
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and sound speech that cannot be censured ,
so that an opponent may be put to shame ,
having nothing evil to say of us .
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Bid slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect ;
they are not to be refractory ,
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nor to pilfer ,
but to show entire and true fidelity ,
so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior .
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For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men ,
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training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions ,
and to live sober ,
upright ,
and godly lives in this world ,
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awaiting our blessed hope ,
the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ ,
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who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds .
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Declare these things ;
exhort and reprove with all authority .
Let no one disregard you .
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Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities ,
to be obedient ,
to be ready for any honest work ,
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to speak evil of no one ,
to avoid quarreling ,
to be gentle ,
and to show perfect courtesy toward all men .
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For we ourselves were once foolish ,
disobedient ,
led astray ,
slaves to various passions and pleasures ,
passing our days in malice and envy ,
hated by men and hating one another ;
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but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared ,
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he saved us ,
not because of deeds done by us in righteousness ,
but in virtue of his own mercy ,
by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit ,
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which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior ,
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so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life .
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The saying is sure .
I desire you to insist on these things ,
so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds ;
these are excellent and profitable to men .
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But avoid stupid controversies ,
genealogies ,
dissensions ,
and quarrels over the law ,
for they are unprofitable and futile .
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As for a man who is factious ,
after admonishing him once or twice ,
have nothing more to do with him ,
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knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful ;
he is self-condemned .
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When I send Artemas or Tych '
icus to you ,
do your best to come to me at Nicop '
olis ,
for I have decided to spend the winter there .
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Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apol '
los on their way ;
see that they lack nothing .
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And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds ,
so as to help cases of urgent need ,
and not to be unfruitful .
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All who are with me send greetings to you .
Greet those who love us in the faith .
Grace be with you all .