4. To Titus, a genuine child in the faith we share.Good will and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Savior are yours!
5. I left you in Crete to do what still needed to be done—appointing spiritual leaders in every city as I directed you.
6. A spiritual leader must have a good reputation. He must have only one wife and have children who are believers. His children shouldn’t be known for having wild lifestyles or being rebellious.
7. Because a bishop is a supervisor appointed by God, he must have a good reputation. He must not be a stubborn or irritable person. He must not drink too much or be a violent person. He must not use shameful ways to make money.
8. Instead, he must be hospitable, love what is good, use good judgment, be fair and moral, and have self-control.
9. He must be devoted to the trustworthy message we teach. Then he can use these accurate teachings to encourage people and correct those who oppose the word.
10. There are many believers, especially converts from Judaism, who are rebellious. They speak nonsense and deceive people.
11. They must be silenced because they are ruining whole families by teaching what they shouldn’t teach. This is the shameful way they make money.
12. Even one of their own prophets said, “Cretans are always liars, savage animals, and lazy gluttons.”
13. That statement is true. For this reason, sharply correct believers so that they continue to have faith that is alive and well.
14. They shouldn’t pay attention to Jewish myths or commands given by people who are always rejecting the truth.
15. Everything is clean to those who are clean. But nothing is clean to corrupt unbelievers. Indeed, their minds and their consciences are corrupted.