3. So, at the proper time, God our Saviour gave this message and told me to announce what he had said.
4. Titus, because of our faith, you are like a son to me. I pray that God our Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!
5. I left you in Crete to do what had been left undone and to appoint leaders for the churches in each town. As I told you,
6. they must have a good reputation and be faithful in marriage. Their children must be followers of the Lord and not have a reputation for being wild and disobedient.
7. Church officials are in charge of God's work, and so they must also have a good reputation. They must not be bossy, quick-tempered, heavy drinkers, bullies, or dishonest in business.
8. Instead, they must be friendly to strangers and enjoy doing good things. They must also be sensible, fair, pure, and self-controlled.
9. They must stick to the true message they were taught, so that their good teaching can help others and correct everyone who opposes it.
10. There are many who don't respect authority, and they fool others by talking nonsense. This is especially true of some Jewish followers.
11. But you must make them be quiet. They are after money, and they upset whole families by teaching what they should not.
12. It is like one of their own prophets once said,“The people of Cretealways tell lies.They are greedy and lazylike wild animals.”