1: Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus
Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of
the truth which is after godliness; |
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2: In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised
before the world began; |
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3:
But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching,
which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our
Saviour; |
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4: To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy,
and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
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5: For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set
in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city,
as I had appointed thee: |
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6: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful
children not accused of riot or unruly. |
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7: For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not
selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to
filthy lucre; |
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8: But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just,
holy, temperate; |
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9: Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he
may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the
gainsayers. |
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10: For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers,
specially they of the circumcision: |
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11: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses,
teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. |
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12: One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The
Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. |
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13: This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that
they may be sound in the faith; |
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14: Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men,
that turn from the truth. |
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15: Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are
defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and
conscience is defiled. |
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16: They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him,
being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. |