Paul, a slave of 'Elohiym and a shalach of Yeshuwah haMashiyach, according to the 'emuwnah of the chosen people of 'Elohiym and da`ath of ha'Emeth, which leads to piety – resting on the confidence of Chay l`Owlam, which 'Elohiym, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and in His own time He revealed His Word through a declaration entrusted to me by the authority of 'Elohiym, our Savior,
To Titus, a true son in our common 'emuwnah:
Grace, racham and shalom from 'Elohiym, the Father, and Yeshuwah haMashiyach, our Savior.
The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and confirm zaqeniym in every town, as I directed you, who must be of tamiym, the husband of a woman, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being insubordinate or unbelieving. Since an overseer is entrusted by 'Elohiym, he must be of tamiym – not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not quarrelsome, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, discreet, upright, pious and self-controlled. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy Word as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
For there are many insubordinate people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things that are not correct – and that for the sake of dishonest gain. One of them, a prophet, has even said, "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons." This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in 'emuwnah and will pay no attention to Yhuwdiy myths or to the authoritative commands of men, who pervert the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are tame' and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are tame'. They claim to acknowledge 'Elohiym, but by their actions they deny Him. They are tow`ebah and not persuadable, unfit for doing anything good.
You speak of what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the zaqeniym to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, discreet, and sound in 'emuwnah. In checed, he endures cheerfully.
Likewise, teach female zaqeniym to be reverent in the way they live, not to be gossipers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good, that they can train the women recently converted to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be good, and to be subordinate to their husbands, so that no one will blaspheme the Word of 'Elohiym.
Similarly, encourage the recently converted men to be self-controlled, in all things setting them an example of doing good in the doctrine – in purity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to be well-pleasing to them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show themselves trustworthy, so that in every way they make the teaching of our Savior, 'Elohiym, attractive.
For the grace of 'Elohiym that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us, who have denied impiety and worldly lusts, to live self-controlled, upright and pious lives in the present age, while we wait for the blessed expectation and appearance of the Kabowd of 'El `Elyown, our Savior, Yeshuwah haMashiyach, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all risha` and to purify for Himself a special people, zealots for doing what is good.
Teach these things and encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Remind the people to be subordinate to rulers and authorities, to submit, ready to be good in all acts, slandering no one, amicable and patient with everyone, and exhibiting humility to all men.
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But His checed and His benevolence appeared, as our Savior, 'Elohiym, not because of any righteous things we had done, but by His mercy He saved us, through the baptism of being born again, and regeneration of the Ruach haQodesh, whom He poured out on us generously through Yeshuwah haMashiyach, our Savior, so that, having been made tsaddiyqiym by His grace, we could become heirs according to the confidence of Chay l`Owlam.
This is trustworthy doctrine. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in 'Elohiym will be sure to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are good and helpful to man.
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the Torah, because these are useless and idolatrous. After warning an apostate a second time, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is perverted and engages in chatta'ah; he has condemned himself.
As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, hurry to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. Do everything you can to help Zenas, the lawyer, and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, to practice constraint in business, that they will not be unfruitful.
Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who have affection for us in 'emuwnah.
Grace is with you all.
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