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Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

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in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began,

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but in due times manifested his word through the preaching of the gospel, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

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To Titus, my 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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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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if any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

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For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

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but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

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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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For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

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whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

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One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, “The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.”

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This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

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not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

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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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They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

📖 Titus 1 – Standards for Church Leaders and a Warning against False Teachers

🧾 Summary of the Passage

Titus 1 is a letter from Paul to Titus, his spiritual son, who was placed in Crete to set the church in order. Paul explains Titus’ main task: to appoint godly elders and to oppose false teachers who were harming the faith of the congregation. The focus of this chapter is the moral and spiritual standards of leaders, as well as the danger of false teaching, especially from those who “hold to the law” yet deny the truth of the gospel.

📘 Verse-by-Verse Explanation

Verse	Main Point	Explanation
1–4	Paul’s greeting	Paul introduces himself as a servant of God, emphasizing the hope of eternal life and Titus’ role as a true son in the faith.
5–9	Qualifications for elders	Titus is appointed to establish elders who are blameless: faithful to one wife, not quick-tempered, not greedy, living wisely, and firm in sound teaching.
10–16	Warning against false teachers	There are many rebellious people, full of empty talk, especially from the circumcision party. They must be silenced because they ruin households for dishonest gain.

✨ Main Teachings

Church leadership requires high integrity
Spiritual leaders must be blameless, not only in teaching, but also in daily conduct and in the home.
Sound doctrine must be preserved
Paul stresses the importance of right teaching, because many false teachings were spreading and leading people astray.
The danger of false teachers is real
Even people who seem religious can twist the truth for personal gain.
True faith produces a right life
A person may claim to know God, but if his deeds are evil, that claim is false.

💡 Spiritual Meaning

Titus 1 teaches that purity of doctrine and the character of spiritual leaders cannot be compromised. An unfaithful leader can mislead many. The church must be taught to distinguish between outward religious appearance and a life that is right before God. Paul wanted the church to be strong from within.

📖 Key Verse

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him.”
— Titus 1:16