Titus 1:1-1:9

God's Appointments

In the opening portion of Pauls letter to Titus, he encourages him to establish strong leadership in the churches on the island of Crete. Pauls exhortation for Church leaders centers around personal character and divine calling rather than natural gifts or personal achievement.

  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;
  2. In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
  3. But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
  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.
  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:
  6. If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
  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;
  8. But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
  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.